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.  

Fun and Games in Abingdon

Onward we did go but at a much more civilised hour and after an excellent breakfast in the Barley Mow pub.    Its a good 10 minute walk but well worth it.  Geoff was somewhat tired on the walk which we should have taken as a warning sign!

A lovely run to Abingdon but somewht dismayed to find the right hnd bank where we usually moor was all cordoned off for an event.   However someone was looking after us as we managed to find the last space on the town side.   It transpired that the next day was dragon boat racing hence the no mooring.  So we had a ringside view.

We were  in good time to have a siesta before being collected and transported to friends Dick and Jackie for supper.   Lovely evening catching up and then a taxi back.

That was the end of the good times!!!

Day 1.....Next morning, Sunday Geoff woke with chest pains again.  Shortness of breath etc so it was 999 yet again.

They carted him off to the John Radcliffe in Oxford as his heart rate was somewhat high.   They had given him Oygen before he left so he was somewhat better.  Sent home later in the day with one of his medications increased.

Day 2    Next morning Monday was a repeat procedure.  Chest pains rapid heart rate, 999 and this time he got the blue lights as they left.  Heart rate was 200+.   All sorts of tests etc in A & E but eventually released with yet another increase in his medication.

Day3    Woke with chest pains yet again (geting monotonous now) same symptoms so 999 again.   This time it was pouring with rain so I really should have had the video going as he was carted off yet again. I tried to walk alongside the stretcher with a big umbrella to keep him dry but in the end I gave up as they were going too fast for me to keep up!   Off with blue lights again.   

This time they decided to shock his heart back into rhythm.   This had much more effect.   Complete change of medication now and they said they would keep him overnight to monitor.  I breathed a sigh of relief as it meant I would not have a 4th morning of calling the ambulance.

The relief lasted until about 6.30pm when he called to say that due to lack of beds he was being discharged!   However he had to wait for the new meds.  This he did waiting in the corridor in A&E until 11pm!  Giles picked him up and delivered him back home by which time he was somewhat stressed and incredibly tired.

Hey ho and on we go.........or rather we dont yet.    He is still feeling none too good and rather weak. so we shall rest here a few days and then try to make haste slowly to get back to Cropredy.

Meanwhile I was moored in a delightful spot

Early morning mist and narrowboat Lily behind.  

and a ringside view of the dragon boat racing.

In addition I have the widebeam Whats the Hurry moored in front with Jane and Andy who have been marvellous.   He has done the engine routine stuff that Geoff would have done on Sunday morning and changed the gas bottles over for me.   They have stayed moored here to be company and if I needed anything.   So nice to have friendly faces around as I must admit by the 3rd carting off yesterday I was getting a little frazzled.

We will see what the next few days bring as Geoff gathers his strength again.

very dreek morning

 My day did not start well.  We had agreed we would leave at 7am but contrary to my normal practice of waking at 4/5 am I was still sleeping at 6.45 when Geoff woke me with a cup of tea!   Getting on the go when not fully awake is not good.   

We managed two locks and planned to have breakfast above Cleeve lock whilst the tank was filling.   That was not to be as when Geoff attached the hose it was worse than ever with leaking.   So we abandoned the effort before we even started.   

Then this happened.  

It’s the first  time we have really been caught out by the rain this year so can’t complain.I nobly stayed below doing the bacon sandwiches.  

Unfortunately I dont have a photo of the next incident which is a great shame.   I was on the tiller with Geoff standing on the top step when he suddenly disappeared as the step gave way.   The look on his face was priceless!  I have an unfortunate habit of involuntary laughter at peoples misfortunes so I was in hysterics!  So much so that Geoff had to extricate himself and take over steering whilst I had to clamber below and rush to the loo.   I’m still laughing….

Still we are now tied up on the moorings at Clifton Hamden Lock but still tired from my early awakening

There has been a certain amount of bad language around as Geoff tried to utilise his somewhat precarious DIY skills on the back step.   No success yet although I keep finding glue in various places and having to scrape it off!.

Hey Ho…on we go tomorrow.

Geoffrey completes the hat trick!

 Its becoming montonous now!!!  Set off bright and early.  Just round the corner was Caversham lock.   As we tied up for me to let Geoff ashore I sensed that all was not well.....which he reluctantly admitted.    Chest pains again and difficulty breathing.   He chooses his spots with care as I just had to reverse back to the end of the lock landing out of the way.   999 again and they were here withing 5 minuts.  We were a stones throw from the Royal Berksire and at this time of the morning they were not busy.  Needless to say he was carted off again...any chest pains and it seems to be standard practice.

So this time he only spent the morning in A&E having blood tests and ECG`s  etc.   Result was yet again increased medication and he was home by 2pm.    So he has now sampled three different hospitals and is awaing an out patient at the second one.   We have no idea what will happen next!   Giles picked him up which was great and he rested for the day and then early Wednesday morning we tried again.

Made it through the lock this time!  then the long run through the environs of Reading. 
 We passed the tail end of the cleaning up after Reading Festival.

one lonely cow having a paddle

while his mates (or her mates) form a strange huddle

And so to Goring.   A pleasant run and although the mooring looked quite full as we approached, a narrow boat pulled away leaving us a vey convenient spot.   So kind.

Lovely family BBQ with Giles and Zan and family in the evening and today Zan and I enjoyed a leisurely lunch in the Coppa club at the Swan Hotel.  Time to catch up with all the doings with the 3 grandchildren whilst in delightful surroundings.

So another early start tomorrow, Thursday but the forecast is not brilliant and it could be that we get a little wet.

Goring

and so to Reading

 

Shiplake lockside

A pleasant few days at Henley.  Not the week we had originally planned as we are a little behind after Geoffs two sojourns in hospital!.   It was also mistimed as far as family were concerned as Giles departed for a swimming event in the Scillies!   We were moored just half a dozen boats up from his boat White Velvet.    However Boe is still around so on the Thursday she collected us and we met up with Giles and Susannah and managed to see the first stages of their house being built.

Lazy day on Friday and up early on Saturday to partake of an excellent and incredibly cheap breakfast in Wetherspoons!!  

We then set off for Sonning for the weekend as it had a pub and a church!

Watered above Shiplake lock and by a miracle we managed to get a full tank in just under an hour.  A decided improvement on our ast two attempts.

No trouble mooring at Sonning below the lock.   

Sunday morning we went to the local church and wonder of wonders we were allowed to sing.......such a treat.    A full church with a good sized choir including some of the younger generation.   Wonderful to see.

Anne and Keith arrived at noon and since the weather had decided to shape up a bit a very convivial afternoon was spent by the waterside, interspersed mid way with an excellent lunch at the Coppa Club just along the towpath.    Sorry Thames path........we are not back on the canals yet.

Monday was another early departure as I needed to be moored up ready at 10am to try and get tickets for the ABBA concert next year.   I had registered on Ticketmaster for the presale day, my first attempt at doing this.    It was eventually achieved with some difficulty, but not without a massive trauma on my part..  There had been various chopping and changing in the numbers that were going and I managed to get it wrong.   I booked 4 seats instead of the required 5.    It was finally resolved this evening by my son-in-law gallantly stepping down and we are back to an all girls outing.    Its not until next July so just have to hope we are all fit and well still.  

A day of contrasts.  Peaceful mornng departure from Sonning

A later walk into the Oracle Centre

The walk was to take my mind off the trauma of the tickets.  I decided I needed a change of scene and maybe a chocolate milkshake.    I was fresh out of luck as Macdonalds had no milk shakes......  however I managed to find an excellent one at another venue, albeit it at more than twice the price.

weekend in Windsor

 The plan was to have a rest day and carry on but after initially thinking we couldnt find a suitble mooring we found a space right on the end of the island which was ideal.    So good in fact that we decided to stay for the whole of the holiday weekend.   On the basis that it would be busy everywhere we would settle for out nice comfy spot!

Normally this area on Baths Island is a very popular picnic spot so we anticipated this would be heaving over the weekend.   However it seems picnickers are definitely fair weather people and since the weather, whilst not raining at least, was cloudy most of the time, we were left in relative peace.

Thursday we had visitors Mike and aso an old friend from RAF days whom we last saw about 40 years ago!!!   The sun was kind so we were able to eat outside but the clouds chased us back inside for our coffee.

Sunday Giles came to visit and provided lunch for us.....on the boat this time as too cold to sit out.  Hard to believe its still August.   He also took me shopping so we have a full fridge again.

Monday Emma and Kensa came out on the train and once again too cold to sit out.

Plenty of life on the river to keep us amused.

Every morning almost 100 swans would come upstream
 for their morning constitional

kk

First time we had seen this way of paddle boarding...they are peddling 

In addition there were plentiful little hire boats plying up and down including the bright yellow duck amphibians full of tourists.

Windsor town was relatively busy but nowhere near as busy as previous years and we noticed that the coach park was very empty.

Tuesday was definitely time to move on so we had a very early start so we could water before the next lock and we also needed fuel.   What a frustrating start to the day!  The water supply proved as bad as the last place due to these new taps.  After 1 and 3/4 of an hour we gave up before the tank was full.

Next stop was Windsor Marine for fuel.   Took Geoff a while to find someone who said he would be with us in 15 minutes.......after 40 minutes we left after I had spoken to Bray marine who confirmed there was someone there to serve us.  And this was after we had turned the boat so that we could reach the fuel tank!  

So much for the early start.  All the world was up now!

Lots of little day boats about now

So our projected day of 3 to 3 1/2 hours turned out to be 7 hours.

As expected Cookham was very full, but we just managed to squeeze into the last space as a friendly boat behind moved back slightly so we could fit in.

Lovely surprise later as Boe arrived about 4.30.   She had been warned that we planned to have an early start on Wednesday to get to Henley.  She planned for this and departed at 7.30 to find a cafe for breakfast before visiting a friend and using her house to teach her first online lesson at 9am!   What would we do without the internet?

Off at 7.30 and this time not such a frustrating day, in fact very pleasant.   We had company in the first two locks at Marlow and Temple which makes life a little easier as we were prior to the lock keepers duty time.

Cliveden up on the hill

...and so to Henley

Tehy are still packing away after the regatta but the crowds are all gone.   Moorings quite busy but we found a congenial spot just past Giles boat, White Velvet

White Velvet is the blue and white boat 

Another few days of R&R before we move on to Sonning on Saturday

released from Hospital and on the move again

My safe and pleasant mooring whilst Geoffrey was being tended to in St Peters Hospital

My daily views

 Geoff kept hoping they would let him out daily but he was still there on Sunday night.   Meanwhile I had a great day on Sunday.  Son-in-law Dave and his mum and grandaughter came out to visit.  Tony Fletcher also called in.  We all took the ferry across to Weybridge and had an excellent lunch in the Minnow pub.   The original plan had been to go to the pub on our side, Thmames Court but we were disappointed when we reached there to find it shut due to staff shortages.   Still the ferry was a pleasant 4 minute ride which Kensa enjoyed, albeit somewhat expensive at £5 return!

Most of Monday was spent waiting to hear if Geoff could escape.  He eventually made it back to Petroc about 6pm.  He was loaded up with yet more pills and the propect of 2 outpatient appointments.  It appears that he had PAF (Pesistant Atrial Fibrillation and a small heart attack with minimal damage.    So could have been a lot worse.   Treatment was excellent, he reports, but the hospital very understaffed.

Tuesday was declared a rest day to regroup and consider next plan....no no must not plan.....

I had previously called Spelthorne Council and explained why we were overstaying on the mooring and they were great.   I could stay as long as I liked....within reason........

Today  Wednesday Geoff couldnt wait to be off!!!  We needed to top up with water and with the modification that has been done to seemingly all the water taps on the Thames, it is an exceedingly slow process.   We stopped before the first lock of the day at Chertsey but had to give up after an hour and a half.   Still not a full tank.  

Windsor here we come

Last lock of the day and getting quite busy now.

Boats everywhere when we neared Windsor.   Little boats, trip boats, just every sort.   We headed for the island where we have previously moored and initially thought we were out of luck but someone was looking after us as there was one place right on the end and its ideal.

The original idea was to have a rest day tomorrow and continue up river on Friday but we feel we are so lucky to find a place here and it is bank holiday weekend so we shall stay for the weekend.

So a much longer day than needed really but now we can relax

Stalled at Shepperton

 Made plans again…..fatal.

We thought we would go up to Windsor for the weekend……..until Geoff got up Thursday morning.   Pains in the chest again……..999 again…..we are getting our money’s worth from the NHS it’s year.

The ambulance was here in 10 minutes, it turns out their depot is just around the corner and we obviously hit it at a slack time.  We were very lucky as it was not at all like I have seen on the program Ambulance on TV where the wait is horrendous in some places.   He did spend all day in A & E before being taken to the ward and it did get busy with stretchers waiting in the corridor.

So he is presently residing in the Acute Cardiac Ward at St Peters Hospital in Chertsey.

They can’t get his heart rate down and can’t decide if he has had a heart attack or not.  He is cheerful enough to but says he is bored.  He has 5 inmates in his side ward and a fair bit of chat appears to go on.

I was allowed to visit yesterday which was a great experience.  I had to book a slot and on arrival I had to don plastic apron and plastic gloves.  Mask was already on.  No temperature taken though.

Meanwhile I am in a safe and pleasant mooring albeit not near shops.   Various friends have been great coming to visit and also take me shopping.   

We shall see what tomorrow brings.

Kingston to Shepperton

 Geoff enjoyed 5 days on hos own at Kingston whilst I made my monthly trip to London. 

We did interrupt his peace on Saturday when Emma Kensa and I went out to visit him.  We had a very good meal in the White Hart.

The weather was somewhat varied but luckily not too much rain.

Looking from Kingston bridge.   All sorts of craft.
To hire one of the electric small boats will set you back £80 an hour.

Afer my return on Tuesday morning we went a couple of mile around the corner to Hampton Court Palace.   With our impeccable timing we managed to find a mooring with no problem,  This surprised us as we had discovered there was a music festival on in the palace courtyard and we thought it might be full, especially as Geoff had earlier seen 6 big wide beams going up the river close together.    They cerainly hadnt all stopped at Hampton Court.   We did watch several others attempting to moor just in front of us later on, some successful some not.   

The only trouble witth the mooring here is that no matter how hard we try we continually bang against the wall with so many boats going past.   However, somewhat surprisingly, we were not disturbed by music from the festival.  

A dull start to Wednesday but we were off reasonably early (8.30) as we wanted to water above the first lock.   We wee too early for the lockeeper as they dont start until 9 but at least they are electric so not nearly as hard for Geoff as the Grand Union had been.   We had to wait for a boat ahead of us to finish watering and when we eventually hooked up discovered that it had a very slow flow and leaked like a sieve.   The lock keeper stopped to chat as he came on duty and told us that new taps had been fitted (something to do with an EU regulaion!!!!) which were causing the problem.    We eventually gave up at 10am before the tank was full.....

Houseboats galore......some very smart

Maybe too big for us.

Geoff was hoping we could moor just above Shepperton lock as there was a pub right there for his evening pint.   He was out of luck as we couldnt squeeze in, although I did try.   We were luckier just a little further on, loads of space and 24 hours free.   Sadly a longer walk back to the pub so Geoff stayed on board!  The dull day had given way to a beautiful afternoon if somewhat breezy.   The wind was blowing onto the shore and we watched a boat ahead having great trouble getting off much to the dismay, I suspect, of a couple of fishermen who were perched on the moorings at the end.

We have passed some lovely riverside houses which we do me nicely if someone could lend us a couple of million.   Some ultra modern and some just waiting for conversion!