Friday 7th November 2008

Back into the Pilling's Lock walk routine only this time the River Soar is IN FLOOD!!!  What is it with me and rivers??? So can't move anywhere 'till the river drops down again to safe levels.  Called Sandy at BW Newark to let her know that I'm back on Beau and will be going back to Sunderland on the 24th November for a week and all is OK with her.  Met up with Dan and Sean from Muggins Pottery (for more info on Muggins Pottery click on this link) and got all the news since Cotes Mill pub closed (my old local).  Sadly they hardly see any of the old gang as all have moved to other pubs.  Even Wilf and Rose have moved from the farm in Cotes into Loughborough overlooking the canal at Loughborough Lock.  Tried to get Gas but his phone is switched off so he must be abroad.  Good seeing Dan and Rosalie again.

Saturday 8th November 2008

Can't get down the towpath at all now due to the rising floods so we walked over the meadows instead towards the A6.  Early doors in the Bridge Inn and who should be there but Rob and his dog off Nb Raven whom I first met a year gone April at the Hope and Anchor moorings in Syston with his mate Bob.  It's that small world thing again.  Bill terrified of the fireworks again so we snuggled up on the settee for the night.

Sunday 9th November 2008

The river and the canal are both up again after last night's torrential rain.  Canal can only rise by another 6" at the most then it'll be over the top of the lock gates so safe enough here I hope.  Sunday pm in the Bridge and a DVD fest of Life on Mars.

Monday 10th November 2008 through to Saturday 15th November 2008

Much the same routine every day, taking Bill for walks, checking on the water levels and a few beers in the Bridge Inn.  Notable exceptions being Friday when I met up with Dan and Rosalie, Mark and Julian again.  River Soar opened on Friday as well.

 

Sunday 16th November 2008

River Soar still open so finally left Barrow at 10am to cruise down to Loughborough and tied up in the new basin in the centre of town - very posh.  Into the Swan in the Rushes at 1pm to meet up with Dan, Wayne and Mick.  Then Kevin (Gas) came in followed by Wilf and Rose, then Jon, Louise and Nicky.  Great to see everyone again.  Oh and Carol came in to meet Wayne and took one look at me and dragged him out to everyone's amusement.

Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th November 2008

Stayed over in the basin with the usual routine of walking down to Bishop's Meadow Lock, papers from Sandicliffe's and a few beers in the Swan.

Wednesday 19th November 2008

Usual walk with Bill and got the papers.  Took Beau to Pilling's Lock Marina to diesel up and get some prices for leaving the boat there for Christmas. What a faff paying for diesel now.  Should be 60/40 split for propulsion (taxable) and heating/charging batteries (not taxable).  But as I have separate tanks for heating + a 20ltr can also for heating there's no tax on that bit.  Also had to sign a declaration confirming the use of diesel!!! See what I mean.  Got back to the Albion moorings by 4pm.

Thursday 20th November 2008 and Saturday 22nd November 2008

Back into the Bishop's Meadows Lock routine with long walks, reading the papers and a few beers in either the Albion or the Swan.  Met up with Jon, Louise and Nicky on Saturday and had a lovely afternoon.

Sunday 23rd November 2008

Walked to Bishop's Meadow Lock and back via Sainsbury's.  PM in the Swan with Dan, Wilf and Rose.  Good craic.  Oh dear seems I've upset Jon again.  He brought the boat keys to the pub and stomped out.  Also got VERY BAD NEWS from Ali - David (big bruv) has had a stroke and is in hospital.  Managed to talk to David and he seems OK.  Have already got a hire car booked for tomorrow.

Monday 24th November 2008

Collected the car and travelled up to Sunderland and went straight to the hospital. David seems fine though the doctors said he'd had a minor stroke there is no residual damage to either his speech or motor functions.  Thank goodness, though they're keeping him in for a few days to make sure.

Tuesday 25th November to Thursday 4th December 2008 - SUNDERLAND

David was discharged from hospital on the Thursday and is glad to be home.

Thursday 4th December 2008

Travelled to Loughborough to move Beau off the towpath and into Pilling's Lock Marina.  All well onboard Beau with the batteries hardly depleted.  Spent the evening in the Swan.

Friday 5th December 2008

Walked Bill to Bishop's Meadow Lock.  Beautiful day, no breeze and not a cloud in the sky.  Cruised Beau to her new moorings, F30, and paid up to the 4th of January.  Happy now that the boat is in secure moorings and on mains electricity for charging the batteries.  Got back to Sunderland late pm.

Saturday 6th December 2008 to Wednesday 17th December 2008 - SUNDERLAND

Usual routine of walking along the beach both morning and afternoon then early doors in the Marine.  Thankfully there seems to be no lasting problems from David's stroke.

Thursday 18th December 2008

Travelled back to Leicestershire to check the boat.  Everything OK.  Into the Soar Bridge Inn for a few early doors and an early night.

Friday 19th December 2008

Travelled back to Sunderland

Saturday 20th December 2008 to Wednesday 31st December 2008 - SUNDERLAND

Back into the usual routine i.e. 2 mile walks morning and afternoon along the beeches and a few beers with the lads in the Marine.  Will be here now until the 2nd or 3rd of January.

Christmas was great with a few beers in the Marine then a wonderful rib roast of beef in the pm.  Ali and Paul came round and I even got to speak to Jon and Nicky.

Tuesday 21st October 2008

Staying on the Albion mooring again today.  Walked Bill back down to Bishop's Meadow Lock.  Dyson'd the floor and Mr Sheen'd the rest of the boat.  Looks half decent for a change.  Had a couple in the Albion at lunchtime and off into town for a few bits and pieces.  Bill welcome in the Swan in the Rushes.  Early doors in the Albion.

Wednesday 22nd October 2008

Jon, Louise, Nicky and one of her friends came aboard to cruise down to Barrow Upon Soar.  Lovely cruise though very windy.  Good to have Jon and the family together again on the boat.  Jon even steered the boat for a while. Took the boat up through Barrow Deep Lock and turned above the water point.  Watered up and got rid of the rubbish and tied up above the lock by 3pm.  Jon, Lou and the kids got a taxi back to his car at the Albion and I waited for Paul Harris, the boat electrician, who is coming to check out the electrics for the fridge.  Finally found the 15 amp fuses hidden behind the 6 switch isolation bank in my wardrobe, where else????  Power on again. Paul only wanted £10 but I gave him £20 cos well worth it to simply find the fuses.  Sadly the fridge keeps bleeping.  Early doors in the Soar Bridge Inn.  John and Di remembered me though John thought it was only 6 months since I left - actually it's 20 MONTHS!!!!

Thursday 23rd October 2008

Took Bill down to Pilling's Lock and Pilling's Marina to see John Lillie (the guy who built my boat) sadly John's not in today.  Nice long walk though.  Messed about on the boat and early doors in the Bridge Inn.  Met up with Bob and Annie, friends from my old village of Hoton and caught up with all the gossip and goings on since I  left.  Lovely to see them again.  Stayed on for the quiz and came 4th.  Great fun.

Friday 24th October 2008

Walked down to Pilling's Lock and up into town to stock up the bleeping fridge.  Few beers early doors and an early night.

Saturday 25th October 2008

Usual routine with a long walk down to Pilling's Lock and up into town for the papers and a few beers early doors etc.

Sunday 26th October 2008

Off to Pilling's again though on the way back met Bob one of the fishermen who used to drink in Cotes Mill after the matches every Sunday during the season.  His son Darren (Daz) worked in the bar in Cotes and is a smashing lad.  Apparently he now works in the newly refurbished and renamed pub in Barrow called the Boat House ( formerly the Riverside Pub) sadly they don't let dogs in so it's no go for us.  Got everything ready for tomorrows trip to Sunderland when David (big bruv) starts his course of chemotherapy.

Monday 27th October 2008

Collected by Enterprise Car Hire at 10am and taken into Loughborough to complete the paperwork.  Back to the boat and loaded up and off by 11.30am.  Arrived at Dave's by 3pm.  Into the Royal Marine with all the usual suspects for early doors and a good laugh.

Tuesday 28th October 2008 to Thursday 6th November 2008 - SUNDERLAND

Back into the Sunderland routine of going along the beach every morning and afternoon, about 2 miles each walk then early doors with the lads in the Marine.

Thursday 6th November 2008

Left Sunderland by 11am and got back to Beau by 2.30pm and returned the car by 4pm.  All's well on Beau.  Jon's been coming in every other day to make sure the batteries are topped up etc.  Thanks son.

The Changing Views of the Sea and Beach in Sunderland.

To find out more about Sanderlings click on this link

To find out more about Redshanks click on this link