Really the end.

 So I had one last trip on the faithful Petroc.   Giles joined me to take the new owners Ralph and Michelle,  on a familiarisation trip from Cropredy to Banbury

The weather was exceptionally kind to us so I should really say it was a lovely day…..in reality I found it an incredibly sad day.however we are thankful for the 15 great years we have had aboard.   We have been over almost the entire network apart from the middle levels. 

Geoff is safely home in Cornwall and doing better than expected with his mobility.. Onward with the next chapter in our lives.

That’s all folks

The end of the end (more or less)

 Well Geoff is home, doing better than expected although a way to go yet.

As for the good ship Petroc she is sold!

A very sad day for us as we have had 15 great years on her.   She didnt even get as far as the brokers.  A lovely Australian couple came to see her and I think it must have been love at first sight.  

Today is our last day of ownership, although not quite my last day on her.   I have promised to go up at the end of the month and take them on their first trip down from Cropredy to Banbury.  Son Giles is coming with me as I think he fancies a last trip on her.

The beginning of the end

 Geoff eventually had his appointment for nerve conduction rests last Tuesday.   Complete waste of time.   The consultant who did the tests said she couldn’t see any improvement but we all, including Geoff, see a big improvement.  She then went on to say that sometimes this sort of damage can be caused by a prolonged stay in hospital!   Since he was admitted with the problem which started suddenly, also not true. So as I said…..waste of time.

Later that evening when Geoff was safely tucked up I had a call to say a bed had been found for him in Cornwall.   Since the application only went in 2 days previously, that is nothing short of miraculous considering the stories of bed shortages in Cornwall.  The fly in the ointment is that the bed was in Helston, you can’t get a lot further down south than that.  However as bird in the hand so they say😎😎

Helston actually wanted him to take it up the next day but Abingdon said they couldn’t organise transport so quickly so Thursday was agreed.   I went in on Wednesday to sort out all his clothes and belongings and pack into one case which was all the ambulance will take.   On Thursday the transport didn’t turn up until 5.15 as they had had problems on their first trip of the day.  After a very long journey he was eventually tucked up in bed in Helston in a single room ( all new admissions have to start in single room until they prove to be germ free🤣🤣) 

Now starts my job this end……..Petroc has to be sold which is incredibly sad.  So after a weekend recovering from a very hectic and stressful couple of days, I will start the clearing and packing etc etc.   I need to get her professionally cleaned ( I do not have the energy!) and ready to go on the market.  Provisionally Boe and I will be back in Cornwall by about 6/7 March.

We initially thought Geoff would not be able to have visitors as Helston has been closed to visiting for nearly two years.   That all changed yesterday when they started opening up again but in a very limited way.  With luck I should manage to get a couple of one hour slots for friends next week.   They do not anticipate his stay will be very long.  They need to assess his capabilities and then our house to see what his needs are, so he could be home before the end of March.  On the 18th of March (if still there) he will have been in hospital 6 months.   

It’s the start of a new Chapter……we have had 15 years of a great life on the canals with Petroc, just hope we can find a buyer who will get the same enjoyment from her.

Winter on the canal…….The saga continues

There have been some lovely sunny days amongst the cold and wet ones so life is not all bad.

However whilst the hospital has been shut to visitors, Boe and I have both had COVID.   She was ahead of me so has been out of purdah a few days, I was set free today and miraculously the hospital is opening up from tomorrow so I can get in to see Geoff again. Neither of us had it very severely, just like a bad cold although it has left me with a distinct lack of oomph😎😎

Sadly we heard this morning that his already rescheduled hospital appointment for nerve conduction tests has been cancelled as the consultant is off sick!   It has
been rescheduled for 22nd.  Geoff very disappointed.   However his physio has been continuing during the hospital lockdown, although most of the time he was confined to his 4 bed bay.   Big plus today as he was taken outside for the first time for a stroll this afternoon.

Good friends and neighbours are keeping an eye on our house and fortunately there have been no further reports of the roof leaking.   Fingers and toes crossed it stays that way.

My way of getting fresh air

Boe likes it slightly more active!

She has been rather put off however.  Soon after that picture was taken she was dive bombed by a swan which threw her off her board and into the canal.   She had only been bragging to me earlier that she had never fallen off!

COVID

 caught at last!

Not such a good start to 2022 after all. Geoff has now tested positive. He is a little under the weather but nothing drastic. We hope that having had 2 jabs and a booster wall keep it that way. The worst thing for him is being moved into isolation which he does not like - On the plus side they have managed to rebook his nerve conduction tests for 3rd February.

Because of the visiting embargo Boe and I haven't been near for several days so don't have to isolate.

Roll on 2023!

Happy New Year

Brrrh🥶🥶🥶

It is a little chilly on board the good ship at the moment.  However extra clothes, extra bed coverings and hot water bottles seem to solve it most of the time. We just have to make sure the water tank on Petroc is kept topped up as they turn the water off on the pontoons if a frost is forecast.

Christmas was different to other years but good. Time with Giles and family followed by time in London

With Emma and family.. Geoff was not forgotten. and one or more of us visited every day. He was moved to a single ward the week before as they said he had to be in isolation before and after his PET scan. We have no idea why, afterwards we could understand as he was pumped full of something radioactive. Mind you we didn't see any glowing on return.🤣🤣

We all thought it was lovely as he had his own loo and a small kitchen area with a fridge and microwave etc. Although he was not capable of using any of this himself, it allowed us to take him in nice snacks over Christmas and keep things fresh. We even took him a portion of Christmas pudding. Not that the hospital were lacking in that department but their pudding appeared to be non- alcoholic. He also had his own tv. The big problem for him was feeling lonely and missing people toing and froing on his 4 bed bay.

So he was moved back after Christmas to his bed by the window.

A week ago he lost the big walker that was on loan and on which he had made great strides (not literally)it was needed for someone else. He was initially very downcast but they brought forward the transition to a smaller triangular gadget and he has adjusted well. However his daily walks down the corridor with it have now come to a grinding halt, as on Tuesday someone in his bay has just tested positive yet again

All in lockdown again until 25th we are told. Apparently the cutting of quarantine time does not apply in

Hospitals and its 14 days. We are now awaiting news of how this will affect his appointment for nerve conduction tests at the John Radcliffe on 20th.

Happy Christmas

 LIFE continues aboard the good ship Petroc.  Boe and I are managing remarkably well considering. When we feel somewhat chilly I remind myself that once upon a time we lived without central heating and one did have to think twice before getting out of bed on a cold morning The answer then, as now, is more clothes🤣🤣

Meanwhile life continues for Geoffrey in Abingdon. He is still making progress but it's very slow going.. He now has his own wheelchair and a very fancy new walker which has made a huge difference. His appointment for the awaited PET scan has been scheduled for 29th December and he has an appointment with neurology on 20th January.. What, if anything, either of these will tell us is debatable.

I have tried, unsuccessfully, to find a suitable abode in this area to which he could be discharged safely, albeit with a care package. I even enlisted SSAFA but to no avail. Ever if we could afford the exorbitant rents, we need somewhere suitable for someone with mobility issues. Petroc will never be that!

There are rumblings from the hospital in Abingdon that we should be considering the next stage. As far as we can see that will have to be our annexe in Cornwall. Realistically it will have to be via a similar community style hospital down there, whilst our home is assessed for his needs. We are hoping to stay up here as long as possible. He has almost daily physiotherapy which is making such a difference. In addition the family are within striking distance which makes such a help with visiting.

We are also hoping that there are no more patients testing COVID positive before Christmas as all visiting will be cancelled yet again. The last two episodes proved to be false positives so we lost visiting unnecessarily.

The bright spot of yesterday was seeing the new film of West side story. Boe and I already had tickets booked for the matinee in the Abbey cinema in Abingdon.. . Lovely independent cinema and we had 2 swivel comfy chairs around a table for our drinks. We can thoroughly recommend the film and the cinema.

Error at the lab!

 So the lab got it wrong…..sorry for the error……visiting is on again😱😱😱👍👍👍😎😎😎

Birthday weekend

 A fabulous weekend courtesy of my great family.   I now need a few days recovery time.   Not necessarily alcohol but everything packed into the celebration.    Geoffrey was sorely missed but we all agreed that his tolerance for travelling might not have lasted…..there was a lot of travelling involved.   Boats had to figure somewhere and that came with an excellent lunch on board one of the Thames trip boats.

The intention was to visit him on my return and take all my cards and tell him about the weekend.    However………..best laid plans..........    COVID has reared its ugly head again.  One of the patients in his bay has tested positive so we are on a visiting ban for 14 days..  

There are also rumblings from the hospital about the next stage..   they obviously can’t keep him forever!   Due to him getting physiotherapy every day, he is making progress, but not quite at the stage where he (and we) can cope at home in Cornwall.   He has an appointment with neurology on 20th January at the John Radcliffe in Oxford,so unlikely to have a change before then.  At least we hope so.   The longer he is receiving physio the more we think he will improve.

We are trying to find an interim solution at the moment, but finding accommodation in the Oxfordshire area that is suitable for someone with mobility issues and that is not at a silly price is not easy.

We await developments..........................................

Brrrh!

Definitely getting wintry! Meanwhile Boe and I are quite comfortable on Petroc with the aid of heaters and hot water bottles. 

Geoff continues to make progress albeit slowly. He reports the faint feeling on the tips of two of his fingers and is managing to send text on his phone although with some difficulty. He wont be home for Christmas so Boe and I will share our time with the rest of the family, taking it it turns to visit Geoff daily.

We continue to be thankful that he is up here in hospital and not back in Cornwall as he has been able to have several visits from friends other than family which makes a change for him.

since we will not be home for Christmas and can’t receive post in the marina Christmas cards are off my menu this year.   I shall resort to online greeting to all!

Getting chillier

 Rehabilitation for Geoff continues slowly in Abingdon, with not a lot of hope of being back in Cornwall for Christmas.

However Boe and I continue to survive aboard the good ship Petroc.

It is getting a little colder now and wam clothes needed. We use the central heating (diesel) and an oil filled electric heater. I am very reluctant to use the wood burner as it has been out of use for several years- we are not normally On board at this time of year! I would want the chimney inspected before any use.

The physios and other staff are great and there is definite progress,

Geoff has now had a few non family members to visit which has been good for him. The hospital are sticking rigidly to the one person for one hour in allotted time slots each day which have to be booked in advance. In addition they only allow I visitor in each bay where there are 4 beds 'so it is not always possible to book the preferred time.

Outside my confidence at driving in traffic has improved of necessity! I am now getting to be a regular user of the m40.

Hospital visiting is interspersed with occasional visits to friends and friends visiting us.. This has been much easier up here than if we had been back on Cornwall..

 Boe and I sampled the delights of breakfast in the New canalside Premier Inn in Banbury yesterday which was voted a hit! £9.50 all you can eat include drinks.

Fun and games over the weekend

 Just when we thought we were settled into a new routine !!  

Friday evening Geoff’s heart decided to play up again so he was whisked off by ambulance from Abingdon to the JR.   Heart shocked and sent back to Abingdon.   Nicely settled back in his corner but his heart was having none of this.  Ambulance to JR a second time of the day.    Heat shocked back to rhythm again!

Whilst they were considering what to do next the fire alarm went off and all hell broke loose! At one stage I think Geoff thought he was going to be abandoned. The result of this after all the furore died down was that his heart objected again. Another shock back into rhythm.

By this time the Penny dropped and it was decided that a different approach was needed.

I think after all this time concentrating on the effects of the auto immune response, the cause of which may never be determined despite all the extensive tests they have done, the heart decided it was being ignored so decided to remind us that it was not entirely happy.

Thankfully this manifested itself whilst he was still in medical care. However this time he was in the- hands, of the cardiologists and I don't think the staff fully appreciated how little he could do for himself because of the nerve damage caused by the auto immune response. He still can do nothing for himself. Can't feed, go to the loo, walk or even work his phone or iPad! So his four days back in J R have been somewhat stressful for all.

On the outside we were worried about losing his bed in Abingdon just when he was settling into a routine of therapy.

Geoff was stressed as nobody was telling him what was going on.. The exception to this was a very nice consultant Who was there when I arrived and explained that they were going to do a catheter ablation as soon as possible. He went into a lot of detail most of which went over our heads but he did take the time which was great.

This was done on Monday and appears successful so far. Tuesday was a long long stressful day waiting to see it he would get his bed back in Abingdon

Thankfully 'The Eagle has landed' and he is back as of 10.30pm Tuesday

 Meanwhile back at the ranch Boe has been to Cornwall and collected her car, I have spent a lovely long weekend with friends in front of a roaring log fire most evenings being looked after so well.

I have now become more confident driving again,

Boe I are back aboard Petroc where the staff at Cropredy are so helpful and friendly that it makes life so much easier.

New we resume rehabilitation and hospital visiting with no idea of time. 

Someone said Christmas was just six weeks away😎😎😎😎

Petrol is back in her winter home

 but we are not in ours!

I

With the aid of very able crew, daughter Emma, we left our very convenient mooning Just below the lock in Banbury. With the blessing Of CRT we spent several weeks adjacent to the Station. A short train ride to Oxford followed by half an hour on a bus, initially to the John Radcliffe and now to Abingdon Community Hospital. A slightly longer bus ride but still reasonable.

Geoff is settled in his new abode. He is now in the hands of the physiotherapists and occupational therapists - we await progress. We have no idea at all of how long he will be there. The laid down visiting regulations are exactly the same as in the JR but not interpreted in so lenient a fashion. He still can't feed himself, so we had been assisting when he was in the JR, but here they don't like visitors between 12 and 2. They also like to stick to their laid down l hour slots, which is not always possible when using public transport.

Meanwhile daughter Boe and I continue to reside on the faithful Petroc. I have escaped temporarily for the weekend to stay, with friends so have had the benefit of a roaring log fire which was so welcome after a very chilly trip yesterday. In just over three and a half hours, we didn't meet another boat on the move.. She has escaped to Cornwall for a few days to collect her car.

The big question now is whether we will all get home for Christmas??

Back to Abingdon but not on the water

 Just when we are nicely settled into a routine it is all change.

Geoff has been in the John Radcliffe for almost 6 weeks.   He is consderably improved in a lot of respects but still cannot make his hands work, with the result that he cannot do anything for himself.    Still no diagnosis but I think we now realise that there is never going to be an answer for us.   The priority now is for him to get his strength back and get walking again and most importantly make his hands function again.

So the next step along the road is a move to Abingdon Community Hospital.   This happened very suddenly this afternoon.   It had been mentioned a few days ago but we thought there would be a long wait for a bed.   I had a call from the discharge nurse just as I was trying to board a busy train in a noisy station.    Emma and I were en route to visit him anyway so we were able to help gather all his belongings and escort him as far as the ambulance.   

So we are entering a new phase.  Tomorrow Boe and I will try the public transport journey to Abingdon and see how we get on.   We are still moored in Banbury just below the lock and had planned to move up to Cropredy on Sunday.   However the forecast is less than pleasant so unless the forecasters have it completely wrong we will delay until a week today when it is looking better.

We are hoping that the visiting will be as accommodating as the John Radcliffe.  The rule everywhere seems to be 1 person for 1 hour each day.   But we have happily been two of us and staying well beyond that and everyone very laid back about it.   We shall see.

Facing reality-PETROC will have to be sold.

 We knew we were on borrowed time. Our bi-yearly cruising was a 5 year plan and we have had 15. We have been over the whole of the connected canal system with the exception of the middle levels. She is our second home and has served us wonderfully.it is going to be so sad to leave her, but realistically Geoff is not coming back on board. His recovery is going to be a slow process. It is a way of life that will be difficult to leave. So if anyone out there as looking for a comfortable live aboard that is in good condition please do get in touch

L

One small step for mankind

Geoffs symptoms are slightly improved but still no nearer a diagnosis, and frustratingly no prognosis. He continues to be an enigma.  However today was promising as he’s eating a little puréed food and only has the NT line for food at night.

Meanwhile Boe and I are quite comfortable on Petroc. We take it in turns to visit Geoff with Giles and Emma also visiting so he always has a visitor each day and sometimes two.

Banbury is a good place to be holed up for a while. Plenty of places to go out for a drink or a meal, even a Cinema where we watched the latest James Bond.. The shopping centre is convenient, although a great shame it has lost M and S, and of course British Home stores and latterly Debenhams.

Big mistake today however as Boe and I  decided to have our meal in Oxford after visiting. Oxford was heaving and the only place we could get a table was in a very short staffed Wetherspoons - it was not quite the Sunday lunch I had in mind. Rail replacement buses today so a  longer journey than normal.

Hey Ho!   Onward and upward. -

Extended stay in Banbury

 there are much worse places to be😃

Geoff continues to baffle the doctors in the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.  Some of his original symptoms have improved but he continues in his confused state.   He has had CT and MRI scans, a lumbar puncture, skin biopsy, a flexible sigmoidoscopy and countless blood tests.  The latest round of blood tests have been sent to specialist labs for analysis.  A hitherto unknown disease (to us) has been mentioned as a possibility.     /guillain-barre-syndrome/(GBS).  However this is not confirmed and there are other possibilities.   It seems to be a waiting game at the moment.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Boe has joined me on Petroc which is great.  She can continue her online teaching thanks to modern technology.   We are moored just below the lock in Banbury right by the station.  Just over a quarter of an hour on frequent trains to Oxford and then a half hour bus ride to the hospital.  Everyone has been very helpful including CRT who have granted me an ‘ approved overstay’.😎😎

The family are not a million miles away which would be the case had this happened when we were back in Cornwall.  

We are taking it in turns to visit so that he always has at least one and sometimes two family members each day.  Despite the current rule of 1 visitor for 1 hour each day which you have to book, they are reasonably relaxed and two people seem fine.  This allows me a couple of days in the week to catch up with work( still doing Giles accounts) and some respite for Boe.  She has joined the Spiceball Leisure centre for a month.  This has a swimming pool and large gym and she has just gone off for her first swim 0640am!)

So for the moment we are comfortable here and will stay until at least we have a positive diagnosis and plan for recovery and rehabilitation.  It is obviously going to be a long haul as Geoff has now been in hospital for almost 3 weeks and at is moment he still has a feeding tube in. He is being well looked after and has even had a couple of visits from his god-daughter who is a paramedic in this area

This was not how we planned to end our cruising season😳😳😳

Made it to Banbury

 

Another long day this time with Giles.  It didn’t take him long to decide he could adapt to Narrowboats, in fact by the last lock before Banbury he decided he’d like to have a go single handing as he had seen the boat in front doing it.

He didn’t do too badly apart from getting half way up the steps to the lock and realising he’d forgotten his winch handle.   However I was told very firmly that I was not to do anything and he sorted himself out and there were no mishaps.    

The final run in to Banbury was interesting as the levels were down and we went aground twice, a good job Giles was agile with the boat pole!

It was very quiet, and we had virtually no holdups.  We passed several hire boats returning to base, but looks like the end of season.   We stopped at AynonWharf for fuel. No problem at all, unlike all road users who appear to have been queuing all day some with no success.   We also managed to get the right end for our hose.   Geoff seems to have secreted ours somewhere, I have searched all obvious places with a marked lack of success.

A very Misty day with the sun very reluctant to make a appearance until we’ll after lunch…….still there was no rain so mustn’t complain.

Today was a day for cows🤣🤣🤣

We thought this might herald rain if you believe the old saying

No progress for Geoffrey which is upsetting.  A great friend went in to see him today but don’t think Geoff was very aware.  They have not got to the bottom of the cause yet, still waiting on some further test results.  The doctor ( and Emma!) keep assuring me that his confused state is very common with people in hospital, especially at our advanced age!

The plan is to remain in Banbury for a good few days.  I am moored near the station so very handy for Oxford.

I

Making a run for home minus the skipper

The new crew member did well yesterday.   Very reluctant to take the helm.  She thought fast cars were more her scene.🤣🤣. However after a bit of practice she managed two bridges and to pass two boats on her own……..except I was not allowed to leave her side!  On the other hand she was brilliant at leaping on and off for locks and lifting bridges although she did admit that the last lock at Dashwood nearly finished her off.

It was a long day, far longer than Geoff and I would ever cruise in a day.  14.25 miles 10 locks and nearly 9 hours. We were both somewhat exhausted by the time we reached Lower Heyford.  

So we have left the mighty Thames and back to a slower pace of life on the canals.    Last night we had Boe with us and after a bit of online trawling found a gem of a pub for a meal.  The Bookbinders ale House in Jericho was a real find and we were lucky to get a table.  

We watered just beyond Aristotle Bridge where we also said goodbye to Boe who had to return to Cornwall as her last guests were arriving on Saturday in the man cave.  She is looking after letting here for the summer.

Meanwhile Geoff is lingering in the John Radcliffe.    There are still no answers as to the cause of his illness.  There has been a slight improvement over the last two days but it seems a long way to go.  Still waiting on results of some tests.  

The goal is to get the boat back to her winter home in Cropredy Marina.    Giles coming to crew on Saturday where we hope to reach Banbury.

 

Stalled in Oxford

 After the fun and games in Abingdon we decided to make a run for Oxford at get back on the Oxford Canal.   Nearly made it !  We thought we would have a last night on the Thames moored at East Street.    There I go again……..making plans…..still haven’t learnt my lesson.   

Lovely trip up the river as the weather was kind.

Plenty of space to moor when we arrived.   So far so good…….until 1am when Geoff woke me to say he felt very unwell.  Not heart this time but rash all over body and splitting headache and hands all swollen.   Tried 111 for a change of numbers!   However on telling them symptoms they upgraded and he was eventually carted off yet again by ambulance to the John Radcliffe.  

After a very frustrating day yesterday (Saturday) when I was unable to get through to hospital and find out anything at all.   I eventually had a phone call from a doctor at 10pm with some information and with profuse apologies for lack of information for 21 hours.   I was a bit upset by this time😳😳

Short story is he is vey unwell and the possible cause, yet to be confirmed, is that it is a severe allergic reaction to the new drug they put him on after his last heart episode on Tuesday.   

Giles and I managed to get in to see him today as he is now on a proper ward……you have to book a slot to visit.

Couldn’t find out much about plan of action etc but he is on insulin intravenously as the reaction has made his diabetes play up.   Also on fluids intravenously as not eating at all.  He did look a sorry sight and not able to talk very long.

Emma coming up tomorrow for visiting and hopefully she will be able to ask better question than me and we can find out more.

Meanwhile I am moored in a safe convenient place just a few miles from the hospital and have been told I can stay here as long as necessary.