That Was the Week That Was

Last Monday my brother underwent his major surgery.  I spoke to one of the surgeons involved that night and he was very positive about how things had gone but, as tactfully as he could, warned me that Graham was not looking very pretty!  I went to Guildford  to see him on Friday and, yes, he looks like he has been severely beaten up by a large gang of thugs!  Quite understandably he is feeling very sorry for himself and very despondent BUT his wounds WILL heal given time and, as each day passes, he will progress closer to that goal.  In reality this is only the beginning of a long, unpleasant journey but surely this is the worse bit? 

During the week we heard that the boating couple we were planning to cruise to York with this year have decided to sell their boat and move back onto land.  They assure us that it’s got nothing to do with the prospect of being with us!  Sue and Rob n/b “Patience” have been liveaboards now for about nine or ten years and, during that time, have made the most of exploring much of our inland waterways.  We wish them loads of happiness for the future    but will really miss them from the system. 

 

Our neighbour, Bob, who is a single-hander and quite amazing in what he does and where he goes has been to York – and Sheffield – and Boston and invited us aboard “The Beez Neez “ to see photos he took of getting to all those places.  His comprehensive and exciting photos have whetted my appetite even more and confirmed to me that, at the very least, I want us to go to Nottingham, Newark and Boston.

Turning off the tidal Trent onto the Stainforth and Keadby Canal seems to be another challenge altogether and not for the feint-hearted.

It would seem that the thing to do is:-

As you approach the lock you start to turn the boat and let the current take you sideways past the lock until you manage to do a 180 degree turn.  You then travel back up-stream and turn into the lock. !!??  It would seem that navigating the Yorkshire Ouse is not to be taken lightly either!  Apparently it goes into flood very quickly and very easily.

I read what other boaters have done and where they have been and tend to think “if they can do it, why can’t we?” BUT I’m not the one responsible for steering the boat and keeping both us and our home safe so I do respect John’s anxiety.

On Sunday we had lunch in The Red Lion at Crick with our friends, Gary and Joan, their daughters Jessica and Alison and Ali’s ‘my Andy’!  Ali is a teacher and lives with Andy in Nottingham.  Crick is a good half way point to meet up with them.

This week is half term and my good friend, Gill, accompanied by Rodney, is coming up to spend a few days with us.  I’m really looking forward to that.  We might have been stuck in one place since November but plenty has been happening to keep us occupied!!

The cold conditions have persisted all week.  One night the outside temperature went down to – 10.8.  For dramatic effect I would have called that –11 but 10.8 I was told so 10.8 it is!  Things are, however, now starting to warm up.  Let’s hope that the worst of the weather is over for the Winter and we can now  look forward to the Spring.  I can’t wait to get back out onto the cut and start cruising again.