Sunday 3rd to Sunday 10th February 2008
Walked to Church at Whetstone this Sunday morning, half an hour is a long walk for me and I was ready for a sit down when I got there. Friendly, welcoming faces, a bit like coming home. By the end of the service my feet had recovered and our walk back was rewarded with a free lunch and a very pleasant afternoon with neighbours. Thanks Paul and Dawn, smashing grub.
Life’s not without its excitement, especially now I’ve got a new wife. She’s a short haired version of the old one. Same cheeky monkey but looks completely different and I kid myself there’s two of them. Oh, I can hear Jean P now “And what would you do with two of them? You can’t manage one properly!” Whatever.
Monday’s weather was predicted nice enough for a dry dash from Blaby to Kilby. As it happened we almost made it before the wet descended, my fault for a late start.
Had to take a picture of the tent next to our last lock of the day. No sign of life then but later I met Brendan, its occupant, and discovered a friendly fella, having to live on his own again.
He survives with his little stove and two sleeping bags, taking walks around the village at night if he can’t sleep. Thought it might have been somebody else, Anthony Finch on the run, but it wasn’t. Rest easy.
Wednesday was eldest daughter’s birthday, a special day, her first 30th birthday. Me, I’ve almost had two 30ths.
One’s mind goes back to Southmead hospital, Bristol on a cold dark evening and at a most inconvenient time, my favourite program on tele.
Anyway that’s all in the past and today we’re happy to see her again, a lot larger (I don’t mean fat) and just as vocal and towing her friend Jess, cards, presents and the little furry monster – Maisy.
After tea, cake and presents the girls disappeared to get pampered (faces, feet, nails, massage and all that stuff) in a place they don’t take cats.
Introducing ourselves once again to Maisy I explained that I was the captain, V was the boss and that cats were only passengers. I didn’t expect it to bother her, she’ll probably just run the place as she usually does.
Time for bed? Nerrrr, I’m awake now and I want attention. If the cat’s awake then everyone’s awake.
The boss was out at the time K, J and M arrived, went to a clinic to get her duff knee examined. Came back with the same verdict I’d given her several months ago – torn cartilage. Might just heal up in 6 months, might not and might need a keyhole putting in it, or something like that.
Thursday was a spare day and while Maisy slept we sneaked out to see new friends Graham and Sue. The food was very good but I was there to see the radio shack with rows of radio bits, components and things to make a little boy’s eyes pop out. Even had an opportunity to employ my ham radio licence and nattered to another ex-sparkie on 3.5Mhz. Came away with a project and if I can fix this rig then I’ll be up and running on sideband or cw and be transported back 30 years in time.
Totally unrelated, there’s a website somewhere for unusual sign posts. I’d add this one if I could. It’s almost impossible to get between the signs to read the one at the back. As it happens there’s nothing posted on either but that’s not the point.
Friday was press gang day. Taking advantage of Mike and Jo’s good nature while they’re away from Sarah-Kate, we bagged them for a cruise to Debdale. Twelve locks and several miles lie between Kilby and Debdale and extra help will ensure hoppy’s rapid recovery in the knee department. Two extra pair of hands were well welcome (kid’s speak innit).
We knew BW were out on the cut somewhere because we’d watched them load workboat Avon with sand and cement and then set off south from Kilby. Sure enough we caught them up doing valuable work on mooring bollards. Treated to assisted passage through a lock we stayed on the boat and nattered to Mike the newly appointed moorings warden for Kilby Bridge, as the lock filled with water.
[warden]
A welcome appointment, Mike will bring a measure of fair play to the 48 hour moorings, we hope.
An Indian takeaway for four followed our arrival at Debdale (must take advantage of cars when you can) and I went to bed stuffed. But that wasn’t before “walking the cat” on the boat roof. Hoping to wear her out a little I froze to bits while she studied the hedgerows and off-side fields for things that squeaked at a lot higher frequency than my ears can pick up.
Saturday we moved a mile downstream and pitched at Tony’s Turn, closer to Foxton and a newspaper shop.
What a lovely day, sun from morning to night and perfect for changing engine oil, so I did.
Had to do another cat walk after dark, she wanted to explore the hedges and climb the trees but she had to do with whatever I could offer with a long arm and a stretched cat harness. It did the trick anyway, only one meow during the night and once she’d had her chin tickled (bit like V) she went back to sleep in her basket. Takes me back to rocking babies in cribs and my eyelids held apart by matchsticks.
Sunday was mostly a relaxing day while the towpath went crazy with walkers. Spotted a familiar boat - nb.Lily Pad - out for a cruise.
Couldn’t let Ian and Carol pass without refreshment and a sharing of news and we finally let them go after promises of meet-ups somewhere on the system later in the year. The river festival on the first week in June along the Mile Straight in Leicester if my memory serves me right. All boats welcome, very welcome and it’ll be a good laugh if the last couple of years is anything to go by.
And a reminder Ian, get that blog going again!!
sallyontour
Pro 
Great post, what a beautiful daughter you have! I was born at Southmead too.