When is the time right?

Hello friends and followers.

How amazing it is, that we are into November and the weather is still incredibly mild. I do however wonder, if we will pay for this at some stage. My thought is, bring it on, because I am ready for whatever is thrown at me. Coal is bought, gas is full, plugged into the electric, water on tap and nice and snug onboard. I have never been one to worry about what the weather does. I will just take whatever comes and deal with it.

The title of my post 'When is the right time' is concerning Paddy our handsome Border Collie Paddy.

We have had Paddy since he was 11 months old. He came to us through The Border Collie Trust from a working farm and he has been an Angel on four legs. The people who had to let him go due to ill-health, sent a letter with him and at the bottom it said "Paddy does not have an evil bone in his body". That was true then and has always been true. He has never shown aggression towards anyone or anything. He has been the perfect boat dog.

His favourite position has always been horizontal. He even loved it when Marmite our tabby cat curled up in his coat.

Sadly with age, his health has been going down hill. He is coming up to his 15th year and we are getting to the point when we must make a difficult decision. Over the past year his back legs have been failing. He has been having some weird turns and getting him to eat has been a major issue of late. Over the past few weeks, we have been getting wet beds, which is either due to his back legs going or the funny turns he has. Next week we are taking him to the vets for his annual vaccination and a health check. We both feel that if Paddy is suffering, then we will make the decision, but we will of course speak to the vet and see what she suggests. My question was 'When is the time right'?
I have been through this difficult time once before when my Golden Retriever had Liver Cancer at four and half years of age. The vets were all for keeping him going on tablets, but he had no quality of life and for me that is what it is all about. If the animal has no quality of life then they should be allowed to go. I cannot see a pet in pain or miserable and of late Paddy has not looked happy. I fear that a decision is coming, but we will see what happens this week.
What would you do?
Have you ever had to make the decision?

Pop back soon xxx

There am I.

Hi friends and family.

It was a while ago when I was moaning about the fact that for some shops Christmas arrives in August/September and there am I ordering a new Christmas tree and Baubles in November. I personally think nothing about Christmas should start until December 1st. But as we always put our decorations up on December 1st, I had to order a new tree, because our old one has had its day. This morning our new 3ft tree arrived. There is a slight issue, that it will not stand up on its base, but I will find a solution to the problem nearer the time. We only paid £11 for the tree, so I was not expecting to much. I will not spend a fortune on something that only gets used for a few days at the end of a year. The tree is actually lovely. It will look fabulous with the decorations on it. I have ordered new Baubles from Wilko, because I know darn well if I leave it till the last minute, I will not get the ones I want.

The Baubles we have are elderly and some are even broken, so I think it is time we updated them and added something new to the tree. Next I need to buy some new lights. It sounds like I am already in the Christmas spirit, I'm not I just like to be organised.
The past couple of days, I have spent time in the garden, pruning and cutting back ready for the Winter. I still need to cut the hedge, but I need to be in the right frame of mind to be attacked by brambles and I am not there yet.

I have been busy also with making myself a nice cosy scarf with a woggle. I was taught the block crochet pattern by my good friend Sue and decided to make something for the Winter. I used sock wool, which is 4 ply and I love it. The colours are very Autumnal don't you think?

I completed blanket number Nine for The Border Collie Trust GB. All the blankets I make are made from donated wool. I will be starting blanket number Ten shortly. I am not one for sitting around doing nothing, so making blankets keeps me nice and busy, when I cannot do anything outside. As the nights draw in, the time spent in the garden is becoming less and less.
Paddy news. He has an appointment at the vets next week for his vaccinations and a health check. We are still having problems with him and so we need to discuss with the vet where we go next with him. He is still leaving puddles and not eating properly. I am trying not to think of the worst case ending, but with him being almost Fifteen years old, we know that day is drawing closer. Anyway we will see what the vet thinks.

Pop back soon xx

The Poppies at St. Mary's, Warwick.

Hello friends and followers.

There are times in our life, when something amazing just makes us go wow. That day came for me yesterday (Saturday).
We had gone into town to visit the market and I wanted to go to St. Mary's Church to see the Poppy display, which so many people have been making Poppies for.

We walked into the church and were greeted by a soldier made of Poppies and a guide to show us around if we wanted. We were happy to wander around in awe at the stunning display put on. 

It made you stand and reflect on those who gave their lives, so that we could be free.

It is so hard to describe my feelings at seeing so many wonderful Poppies. But it did bring a tear to my eyes, to think that in family there were losses in WW1 and WWII and none of us should ever forget what was sacrificed.

When I was at school, we never really did anything on the 1st and 2nd World Wars, which really saddens me, because this is our history. This is what needs to be remembered, so that we do not make the same mistakes again and then lose so many people.

OWEN C.  Rifleman, Kings Royal Rifle Corps.
He volunteered in August 1914, and was later drafted to
France, where he served in the Battle of Ypres, Loos and
Vimy Ridge, and also took part in the engagement at Hooge.
He was twice wounded in action, and as a result of his wounds
And shell-shock, discharged 1 Feb 1917. SWB Number 23028., holding the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals.

Albert Cosser enlisted in the Army in Winchester and when killed was a Private in the 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment. Service No: 25849
His record states:04/08/1914 Colchester: 11th Bde. 4th Div. 18/08/1914 Harrow. 23/08/1914 landed at Havre. 11/11/1918 11th Bde. 4th Div. France: Haspres, N.W. of Solmes.
He was killed in action on 21st December 1916.
Albert is remembered with honour at the Sailly-Saillisel British Cemetary, France.
Sailly-Saillisel, standing at the north end of a ridge, was the objective of French attacks in September and October 1916, and was captured on 18 October. The village remained in Allied hands until 24 March 1918 when it was lost during the German advance, but was recaptured by the 18th and 38th (Welsh) Division on 1 September 1918. The cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in isolated positions chiefly south and east of the village and from small burial grounds.

Frederick Charles Cosser.
Frederick fought in WW1. He was attested into the Army on 23rd February 1916, joined the Army Reserve on 24th February 1916 and was Mobilized on 17th May 1916.  His regiment was the 2nd L.Gds, Machine Gun Regiment. He was a Machine Gunner and fought in France from 31st March 1918 to 14th February 1919. He was transferred to the Army Reserve on 15th March 1919.

We will remember them.

Pop back soon xx

Brand new month.

Hello friends and followers.

Here we are, November is upon us. I always class this as the downward spiral to Christmas and a brand new year. I do however ask myself, where 2018 has gone. This year has absolutely flown by and I guess that is because we had so much fun.
Since being home, we have been sorting things out on the boat. Today I took down the curtains in the back cabin, because they need washing and putting away for the winter. I will turn my attention to the blankets as well. We have begun to sort out appointments. Coming up for me is the GP and dentist. I need to get my  Costochondritis medication sorted out, as I have a medication review, which should have been done last year. I also need my hernia medication sorting out as well. It feels like I am falling apart, but I am not, I am just getting older and with it comes ailments, which to be honest I can do without. I do however count myself lucky, as I know there are others out there who are far worse off than myself.
Today I spent the morning, cleaning and tidying the boat, whilst Keith went shopping. The stove flues got a clean, which will be done at the beginning of each month, whilst the stoves are lit. After Keith had come home with the food shop, I put that away, then made us some lunch, which was homemade Lamb and Veggie soup. Most of the afternoon was spent at the bank trying to sort out why I cannot do an online savings account. I was however pleased that it was not just my inability to do things online which had caused so much trouble, because the gentleman at the bank could not set it up for me either. There seems to be an issue with their side, so he set something else up for me instead and fingers are crossed that it should all work. This had been doing on for a couple of months, starting with me proving who I am. Living on a boat, means we do not have household bills. I do not have a passport and gave up my provisional driving licence sometime ago, which means it is hard to prove I am who I am. I decided that I would go for my provisional driving licence again, which took weeks to arrive and I used a letter from HMRC and hoped they would accept this as proof of who I am and where I live. Thankfully it did the trick, but blimey I had to jump through so many damn hoops. This was despite the fact that I have been with the same bank for 17 years. I know you could not write about it, could you. I am just pleased it is now all sorted out. Having spent my afternoon in the bank, I did very little for the rest of the day, because the light is fading fast now.
Tomorrow I am hoping to get out in the garden.

Pop back soon xx

Sunday Shenanigans.

Hello friends and followers.

What did you do with your Sunday?
I ask this question, because normally if we are out cruising we do not move, it is just our policy. Now we are at home on our mooring, that policy does not apply, so yesterday, I went out cruising.

The Saltisford Canal Trust has it's very own day boat named Saltie II. The trust have decided that she needs a complete refurbishment and so yesterday three others and myself, took Saltie II to the boat yard where she is going to undergo her transformation. We left the Saltisford Arm at 8.30 am and set off down Cape Locks.

We made our way through Leamington-Spa and onto Radford Semele Lock. After that we found ourselves in a queue, with a boat in front and boats behind.

We could not have ordered the weather to be any better, because even though it was chilly, the sun shone, which was warming when we were not in the shade of the trees. The four of us worked well as a team. I was on the lock wheeling team.

Before we knew it we were up through Bascote Locks, destination The Cuttle pub at Long Itchington for a pub lunch and a pint. We have never been in The Cuttle before, we usually go into the Two Boats opposite, but we will definitely go to The Cuttle again. The food was superb as was the Timothy Taylor pint. I can totally recommend the Roast Chicken Sunday roast, it was scrummy. After just over an hour for lunch, we were underway again.

The light as beginning to fade as we worked out way up the Stockton flight, which we managed to complete in Forty Two minutes, which was amazing. Once we were moored in the marina at Kate Boats, Stockton, we made a brew and enjoyed it with a slice of Victoria Sandwich, which I had made on the Saturday evening.
All in all we had a brilliant day. We arrived home at 5.35 pm and I spent the rest of the evening with my feet up and a coffee in my hand.

Pop back soon xxxx

Bagpuss wash day.

Hi friends and followers.

Brrrrr I do not know about you, but I certainly felt the nip in the air today. It was reported that some place actually had snow. Sadly it did not reach us. We began the day with a frost and ended it with rain.
I have spent the past couple of days doing laundry. Finally today I did the last of the laundry. I had put it out on the washing line, but after a couple of hours rain was in the air, so I hung it in the engine room and back cabin to finish drying.

Yesterday was laundry day for Bagpuss. You may remember I rescued him at Sutton Stop Lock. Although I hand washed him, he was still very grubby and looking all forlorn, so I gave him a reassuring pat and told him he would be fine before putting him into the washing machine.

Round and round he goes and nobody knows where he will stop.

Peekaboo I see you.

After he had been spun around and around, Bagpuss came out looking much cleaner.

Now this bit was a tad distressing, but it had to be done. I pegged Bagpuss on the washing line to dry.
After a few hours out on the line he was still not dry, which meant he had to go from the cold of the washing line to the warmth of the tumble drier.

Ta da, a very happy smiley cat, with his va va voom back. He forgave me for putting him through such a traumatic day, after I gave him a lovely cuddle. He is now happily looking after my PJ's for me and sits on the side bed in the back cabin.

Well here we are almost at the end of October. The clocks go back tonight remember. November is almost here and that means Firework night. Paddy will not be bothered by the fireworks because he is deaf now and cannot hear them. Remember to keep your pets in on Bonfire night and if you have a bonfire, check it for Hedgehogs before lighting it. I guess we are on the countdown to the festive season and everything that goes with it.
Where did this year go?

Pop back soon xx

Home for the Winter.

Hello friends and followers.

Back on our home mooring and the jobs to be done, were started on today. We woke at 7 am and had a cuppa in bed whilst watching the morning news. It saddens me that these days there is hardly any good news to be had.
Once up, I took Paddy for his first walk of the day. My list for the day was to go into town to get coinage for the laundry, see the pharmacist about flu jab, solicitor and the bank and then do a large laundry wash.
9 am I set off to the solicitors with forms in hand to be looked at and submitted. I then went to the pharmacist to see about having my flu jab. I was in luck because Andrew had some in and could do me today. I did not even feel the needle go in, but I came out £11 lighter, because it has gone up again this year. Still I would rather pay £11 and be covered, than have the flu. Remember if you are at risk, you should have the flu jab. Either go to your GP or go to your pharmacist.
After getting my flu jab, I went to the bank to see about opening an e-savings account. I had tried to do it online, but was told I needed to show them some identification. I took my drivers licence, but have to go back with a second form of identification. I have been with this bank for Seventeen years and still they do not know who I am. Anyway I will get it all sorted eventually.
Back home, it was time to hit the laundry with a huge bag of washing and coinage in my pocket. I set the two of the machines going, put the washing line out and waited for my quick washes to finish. The washing was then hung out in a breeze, so I was hopeful that the washing would dry or almost dry. By the end of the day the washing was almost dry. I hung it in the back cabin and engine room for it to finish off. I still have more washing to do.
With the list of jobs done for the day. I cooked us lunch and then sat and watched a bit of Bargain Hunt, before doing some tidying jobs on the boat. The rest of my day was spent crocheting and watching films on Film4.

Pop back soon xx

Homeward Bound Day 9. Home.

Hello friends and followers.

Yesterday we arrived home to our lovely mooring just after lunchtime. We left our overnight mooring at Radford Semele at 9.10am and headed into Leamington-Spa, where stopped so Keith could go to the railway shop to see if they had any track. When I saw him walking back up the towpath with no track in hand, so it meant a no. We then moved a couple of hundred yards up the canal to moor opposite Morrison's. We then had a coffee, before walking to Aldi to do the food shopping.
On returning from our food shop, I put the shopping away whilst we were underway and heading for home. I put some pasties in the back cabin stove to warm through, so we could have them on the way. Both Cape Locks were in our favour, which was a bonus.
Back home, our attention was turned to plugging ourselves into the electric, sorting the TV and phone out. After that, we caught up with everyone in the Arm, before cooking dinner.

Our welcome home present was this stunning sunset.
Now we are home, there is plenty to do on the boat and on the mooring, so watch this space.

Pop back soon xxx