Endoscopy and fellow bloggers.

Hi friends.

Well what can I say about having an Endoscopy?
Last Friday I went for my Endoscopy.
I can say ecky thump, because it was not as easy as I thought. I was going to be brave and try and have the procedure with just the throat spray. So there I was sitting in the waiting room to be called. Once called I was lead into the treatment room and asked to sit on the bed. The Doctor then sprayed the back of my throat with something which tasted like Fish and Banana's mixed together. Within seconds the back of my throat was feeling numb, which was going to prove a blessing. I was asked to lay on my left side and a guard was placed in my mouth. The guard had a hole in the middle, which the camera would be passed through. They put a guard in so you do not bite on the camera, which is a very expensive piece of equipment. At this point I caught a glimpse at the actually camera and I could not help but think "How the hell is that thing going down my throat, it looked huge. Having been given some reassuring words from the Nurse and Doctor, it was on with the procedure. Immediately I started retching, which was not at all pleasant. I was so close to giving up and going for the sedation, but the Doctor asked me to give it one more go and hey presto it worked, finally the camera was having a nose down in my stomach. I could not see anything, which was a bit of a shame. In no time at all it was all over the I was sitting up being told that he had found nothing. So no Hiatus Hernia, Cancer or Ulcer, which of course is fantastic news.
Keith and Jacky came and collected me and I was home on the boat with a throat which felt like it had been battered. This feeling lasted a couple of days and then I was fine.
I have been back to see the GP and he is now looking into a bacterial infection in my stomach lining, which can cause similar symptoms, so we will see what happens. If this comes up negative, then I will be sent for a scan. The mystery goes on. The one thing I am doing at the moment is cutting out Coffee, Tea, Spices and cutting down on Dairy products, these things and refined Sugar can apparently aggravate the stomach if it is a bacterial infection. I am willing to give it a go and see what happens.

Over the past few days I have not done much, just the usual washing, cooking, cleaning and watching the Rugby. Today Wednesday 30th, I spent much of the day digging the Arms gardens to keep the weeds down to a minimum. Jobs completed it was back to the boat for a cup of boiled water and a sit down. It was then our bell rang and standing there was a lovely gentleman. Chris had come looking for his wife Jennie who reads our blogs. Jennie had not made it to us and I was looking very puzzled, because I had never had the pleasure of meeting them before. After a quick chat Chris left to find Jennie and within minutes they came back together with their absolutely adorable Collie Monty. Jennie and Chris own Narrowboat Tentatrice and are good friends with other bloggers we know, Jacqueline and Les on Narrowboat Valerie and Jan, Tom on Narrowboat Waiourou and Sue and Vic on Narrowboat No Problem. It was lovely to meet them both and Monty. Sadly because I had a meeting to go to we could not have a proper get together, but hopefully that can happen again another time, when we can have a proper natter over a cuppa or something stronger.

If any of you boaters out there are still looking for winter moorings, we have a few NON-residential spaces left in the Saltisford Arm, Warwick. Its a brilliant place to leave your boat for the winter - we have a full CCTV system here, and the site is fully locked up at night surely making it the safest place to leave your boat. Its also five minutes walk from the station and on a main bus route, plus we have shops a five minutes walk away in the beautiful town. Please email Jacky at saltisfordarm@btconnect.com for details.

Cracking day for a walk.

With October fast approaching and Autumn with us, it is wonderful that we are having a glorious spell of weather and so Keith and I decided to head out for a walk this morning. We wanted to make the most of the wonderful light and with it being a Sunday it was quiet first thing.

Firstly we walked down to Warwick Castle and took some photographs with not a cloud in the sky.

Warwick Castle looking stunning in the early morning sunshine.

We crossed over the road to look across St. Nicholas Park

St Nicholas Meadow was acquired by Warwick Borough Council and the formal gardens and the Children’s Corner were opened in the 1930s.

The boats were not open as it was so early, but the reflections were lovely.

The park was bathed in sunshine and with Autumn now upon us the trees are showing their colours.

The Fun Park was not open, it does not open until 10 am so we were a bit early.

The River Avon looked inviting. There were fishermen out and the ducks were definitely hoping we were going to feed them.

There were a couple of groups of people working out with a personal trainer. It was way to much like hard work just watching them.

A glimpse of one of the towers at Warwick Castle peeking through the trees in the park.

Keith busy with his camera.

It was so nice to be out walking. Both Keith and I have not done much walking of late and this morning it was just perfect.

The gardens in the park are still looking beautiful.

After our fabulous stroll, we headed back towards the town.

Warwick welcomes the Japanese Rugby Team who are training at Warwick School.

We stopped off at The Tuckery for a cup of tea and sat out in the sunshine.

Whilst we enjoyed our cuppa and a sit down, a local riding school rode their horses through the town. Apparently they do it every Sunday.

We had enjoyed a lovely morning out and about. The rest of the day was spent watching the World Cup Rugby.

Hair dressers.

Beautiful day for a walk.

Keith​ and I walked around Warwick, partly for the walk and partly because I was on a mission to find a hairdresser who would not rip me off.
I only ever have a dry trim to the ends of my long hair and I was interested to see what each hairdresser charges. It ranges from £12 to £27.
At one hairdressers I could have my fringe trimmed for £3, but to have the back trimmed that would coat a further £15.
Another said I would need to negotiate with the stylist about having a dry trim. Odd I am going for a hair trim not to negotiate what should be done.
The strangest one was it was it was either £25 or £30 depending on stylist for a wet cut, with a 25% discount for a dry trim.
The reason I have a dry trim is because I am allergic to many shampoo's.
The further out of town I got the more expensive they got, which again is a little odd. I would have thought it would have been the other way around, because center of town rentals are higher. Anyway I enjoyed the walk and my bit of research and I will leave you to decide who I will be going to for a trim :-)

On our return to the boat, we let Marmite out on her lead and Paddy out to run on the pontoon.

Marmite found her spot for the day and that was on our new bench. Just to make sure she was comfortable, I put an old crochet blanket down for her.

With the Rugby World Cup being on, I know what I am doing for the rest of the day. 

Endoscopy and more boating friends.

Over the past couple of days we have seen yet more boating friends and fellow bloggers. James and Doug came into the Arm on Chance, having come down the Hatton Flight. It was lovely to see them both and although we did not get to see much of them as they were busy with friends and family, I did get to chat with James last night as he worked on the boat and I was locking up the gates on site. Maybe next time we will get to see them longer and I can put the kettle on.

Today I went for my Endoscopy and it was quite an experience. Ecky Thump it was something I hope I will not have to do again and if I do I will go for the sedation. I decided to be brave and just have the throat spray which numbs the throat. The spray worked well, but my gag reflex was fierce and therefore the doctor had problems getting the camera down. I was already to give in and have the sedation, but then it went down and within minutes it was over and I was on my way home. I am actually rather proud of myself at going with the spray. The Endoscopy did not find anything going on and definitely no Hiatus Hernia, so it is back to the drawing board. I will now have to wait to see what the GP wants to do next, which is a bit of a pain, because we want to go out on the boat into Birmingham. They say patience is a virtue and I guess I must be patient. 

With a sad heart.

This morning we had some very sad news from Nessa on Narrowboat Balmaha, that Mo had lost his battle with Cancer and had passed away peacefully yesterday (19th September) at home.

Keith and I spent many a happy hour with Mo and Nessa and we also enjoyed a meal or two.

Mo was a lovely person, always full of fun and chatter and a really wonderful boater. The cut and the boating community will miss him.

We had not seen Mo and Nessa for a while, but with the joys of Facebook, I kept in touch with Nessa.

Keith and I will miss Mo and we send our love and hugs to Nessa and the family at this sad time.

Leaving on a Steam Boat.

This morning it was time for Adamant to leave the Arm after being with us last weekend.

There is something sublimely beautiful about anything in steam.

See you all again next year.

Heritage Weekend at the Saltisford Arm.

Over the past couple of weeks we have had some wonderful boating friends come into the Arm. Jacqueline and Les left us and Tom and Jan on Narrowboat  Waiouru joined us just in time for the Saltisford Arm Heritage Fun Weekend. It was wonderful to see Jan and Tom again. We spent the afternoon chatting to Jan whilst Tom was out helping Jacqueline and Les up the Hatton 21. We did however see Tom whilst they were with us in the Arm.

Friday we spent the day setting up for the weekend. Pop-up tents went up on the site. Keith and I put all the bunting up and helped with other jobs. It never cesses to amaze me how much work goes into organising events and Jacky our administrator did an incredible job organising traders for the new pod building and other traders and exhibits who were on site.

I even got to enjoy half a pint with my dear friend Jacky, who is the Administrator for the Arms Trust. She had worked her magic once again.

On Saturday morning I set up my stall outside the pod building and kept my fingers crossed the weather was kind. I did have a back-up tarpaulin for when the showers did arrive, which was a few times throughout the morning. By the afternoon the sun was out on and off thankfully.

The weather certainly did not put people off from coming out to join us.

The crafters in the pod building were kept busy.

Warwickshire IWA were setting up awaiting the public.

The model boat club, set up a wonderful show.

They gave a wonderful display on the water with their boats.

Canal and River Trusts Tony Hales, joined Chris White Warwicks Conservative MP and Warwicks Mayor Mandy Ferrand on boat Saltie II for a VIP trip.

The music is always a big draw along with food and of course much needed beer.

It was wonderful to have steam boat Adamant back again.

The whole weekend was brilliant as always and we are definitely looking forward to next years event, when we hope to have trade boats and more historic boats.

Time with special friends.

The past couple of days have been really wonderful for us. We have Jacqueline and Les in the Arm on Narrow Boat Valerie. We have had a lovely time catching up with them both. Lots of tea and coffee drunk, plenty of chatter and laughter.

Last night we were invited to join them for dinner on their boat.

After a scrummy meal, it was time to get the games out and of course our competitive natures took over. Les was the eventual winner of the railway game.

We have not seen Jacqueline and Les for at least a couple of years and yet it was as if we had never been apart, which is the amazing thing about good friendships.

Today saw  Jaqueline and Les come and say “Goodbye” as they were leaving the arm for their trip up the Hatton flight in a few days times.

So if you see them on your journey please give them a wave and say “Hello”.

On TV.

Tonight 3rd September this photograph appeared on Midlands Today Weather.

I took it a while ago, but thought it was so nice I would send it to the BBC and hey presto, it made it on to the news.

Twice as nice.

Last year our Yucca plant produced one flower. It had apparently never flowered before, so we were very happy.

This year the Yucca produced this beautiful flower a few weeks ago and now we can see another flower coming, so we will get double joy.