Bank Vole Action.

Hello family, friends and followers.

A few days of walking, being in pain and getting results. I have been having tests for pain in the Liver area. I have had two sets of blood tests and an Ultra Sound scan and so far it has all been inclusive and I am still in pain. The first set of bloods showed my Liver was so angry and it was not due to alcohol, because I hardly drink anyway the scan showed a couple of cysts but nothing more sinister. I then had the second rounds of bloods, which showed the first round of test results had improved and were back to normal, but it showed that another test was abnormal, so now I have to wait for an appointment with a consultant, which may not be until April :-(. The problem with being in pain, is you can take very little that does not affect the Liver, so I am kind of putting up with the discomfort. The GP asked me again today, how much do I drink on a monthly basis and I had to say very little, because that is true. Even over the festive period we drank hardly anything. We had a bottle of wine and a glass of mulled wine Christmas Day and a tot of Whiskey on New years Eve to see in the New Year and that was it. We only really drink if we eat out and then it is only a pint of beer or a bottle of wine, so I know that alcohol is not causing my problem.

Anyway it will come out in the wash I hope. Until I get answers I am getting on with things when the pain is not to bad. Today I fed our Bank Voles. I say our Bank Voles because they live in our log pile.

I can watch them from our open galley doors, which I put perspex in when it is dry. This morning I put them some food out, when I fed the birds. I then stand and wait for the little darlings. They come out leisurely, so I wonder if they are still sleeping when I put their breakfast out. I like to think that the wafting of the foods smell wakes them up and there they are stretching and yawning at the thought of breakfast that they do not have to find. Anyway I love to stand and watch them running about in the wood pile. This morning I saw at least three Bank Voles, but I suspect there are more. When you consider they only really live for a year if they are lucky, because they get predated by birds, cats etc it is wonderful to have them in our garden.
The rest of my day was in limbo whilst I waited for the GP to ring me and that did not happen until 2.45 pm, which meant not much left of the day to do much and to be honest I did not feel up to much. Hoping tomorrow will be better.

Pop back soon xx

Up with the dawn chorus.

Hello family, friends and follower.

You will all be pleased to read, I did actually get out for my walk yesterday afternoon. There was a gap in the weather and so off I went. I never really decide where I am walking until I set off. I feel that I will be greeted by nice surprises if I do a different walk every day. The afternoons walk took me across the canal a couple of times, up Cape Road and back down Birmingham road. In all I did 1.266 miles, which whilst not that far, it was enough for the day. By the time I got back, it was time for a nice coffee and a sit down to watch an afternoon film, before sorting our dinner. Over the weekend, the hives made an very unwelcome return, so I have been keeping a food diary, in order to try and figure out what has been setting me off.
Today I was awake with the dawn chorus, with a purpose because I had to be at the GP surgery for 8 am to have blood tests done again. I gave my armful of blood to numerous blood tests. At one point the nurse and I had to give the vein a good talking to, because it was getting slower and slower at giving away my precious red gold. Eventually we persuaded it to let the last drop drip into the tube and I was on my way into town. I then hung around in town until 11 am because I had to see my GP. There was little point in me walking back to the boat, only to have to walk back for 11 am, so I went and had a coffee and a tea cake in the local cafe Tuckey's. At 9 am I strolled around the charity shops, buying another Annie Murray book 'The ladies of Lilac Street which has been added to to my collection and a pair of green trousers, which I had been looking for for a while. I met a few people I know and had a natter, which took up some of my time. Eventually the time came for me to walk to the surgery, where I was seen on time. My scan was inconclusive, so hoping the second lot of blood tests helps, but I am also being referred to the hospital. Oh the joys it is now my turn to be on the NHS treadmill. This could of course put pay to any early cruising this year, but health comes first every time. Hoping I will know more by the end of the week. Keith came and met me at the surgery and took me to lunch at our favourite Thai restaurant, which was fabulous as always. We then took a leisurely stroll back home and coffee was made.
I am hoping that tomorrow I maybe able to get out in the garden a bit, but we will see what the weather has to say and how I feel.

Pop back soon xx

It is blanket time.

Hello family, friends and followers.

Week two of 2020 and oh boy it is mild out. Yesterday I decided to kick start my walking and took myself off for a walk around the Warwick Racecourse. It is just over a mile to walk and takes about 30 minutes at a brisk pace. Yesterday there was a brisk wind blowing and not that many people out and about, although I did meet a couple of dog walkers, which was nice. I do miss walking our old boy. Anyway more walking is required over the Winter months on our mooring, if I am to keep fit for the new boating season. By the time I got back home, I felt revitalized and almost ready for anything. As it turned out it was a quiet day, with me doing very little. I did get some cupboard clearing out done though and threw out my old slippers, when my new ones arrived from Shoe Zone. I ordered them on Sunday and they arrived Monday lunchtime, that was brilliant service and Hermes managed to find me for a change. Today began dry with sunshine, but already it is raining and therefore I decided there would be no walk this morning. Instead I decided to get a laundry wash done and make a curry for lunch. I am always able to fill my time with something. I am not a person who likes to sit about and do nothing, even when I am not feeling 100% like at the moment. With the laundry wash done and hung up in the engine room, I got on and made us a minced beef curry for lunch, which has been cooking on top of the saloon stove, filling the boat with a sublime smell. I do love curry, although I limit myself to how many I can eat due to my Nickel allergy.

As many of you who follow my ramblings know, I crochet blankets for The Border Collie Trust GB. Last year due to lots of kind donations of wool, I managed to crochet Eighteen blankets for the lovely Collies. I am hoping to do just as well or even better this year, but I need to get a wriggle on. I am on blanket one for 2020 at the moment, having taken a break over the festive period. Border Collies are delightful dogs and make amazing pets, but remember a dog is for life.
Rain was still stopping play after our curry lunch. We also finished off the remainder of the Christmas Mince Pies with some Ice Cream. We hate throwing anything away, so the Mince Pies had to be finished. I warmed them up by standing them on top of the saloon stove, because I like my Mince Pies warmed through. That is it the festive food has now all gone and any sign of it. Back to normal eating and hopefully losing some extra weight I have gained over Christmas. With the rain putting pay to walking, there was nothing else for it, but to play games online with friends and do more crochet. I really know how to rock and roll :-).

Pop back soon xxx

New Year, new jobs.

Hello family, friends and followers.

Happy Anniversary to us today. Today 15 years ago we moved onto the cut and have not looked back since.

Here we are five days into 2020 and already we have begun to get on top of the jobs for the year.
Since we moved onto our new mooring in October, we knew both our bunkers needed new felt because they were both leaking. As a temporary measure we covered the bunkers with brown tarpaulin, which has worked well on one bunker, but the other one was still leaking. With the amount of rain we have had since coming home, we have hardly had any dry days to get the felting job done, but this morning was the morning to get the job done.

We had thought we may only get the one bunker completed, but as it turned out the job was much easier than first thought and so we did them both. This bunker is the older of the two and will need further work, when we have the money, but for now making it water tight was the most important thing.

Jobs a good-un. This should last a while.

Bunker two all done for a few more years.
Whilst we were sorting the bunkers out, I was nipping in and out of the boat cooking jacket potatoes for lunch. Inspired by having one last Monday whilst out lock wheeling, I felt compelled to have another, but this time done by me. So I baked two potatoes and a breast of chicken for lunch and made some homemade coleslaw. After finishing the two bunkers, it was time for lunch. We could not have timed that any better and lunch was really lovely. We had fruit and yogurt for pudding.
Sunday's for me has always been a day of doing very little, but when the weather is good and you need a job done, you just have to get on with it. The rest of my afternoon will be filled with filling the water tank, washing up and putting the laundry away. I will even find time to watch a Sunday film. Today's film of choice is Jumanji ( the Robin Williams version).
This Winter has been so mild so far, that we already have bulbs coming up. If we get a cold snap, they will all wish they were back underground. The garden is pretty much weed free at the moment, which is a bonus and we still have our Bank Voles. Mr Robin paid us a visit this morning, hoping to be fed and who was I to say "No". He followed us up and down the garden, picking off bugs he spotted along the way. I am hoping that I maybe able to hand feed him eventually.
As we head towards week two of 2020, I have health issues to take care of, so there will be visits to the GP this coming week. If things do not go my way, it looks like we may have to postpone leaving for our Summer cruising at the beginning of March, but we will see how things go. No point worrying until I have to.
May your week be filled with lots of wonderful things, but most of all good health and happiness.

Pop back soon xx

Happy New Year Folks.

Hello family, friends and followers.

Here we are in a brand new year and decade. I hope that it brings you much joy, happiness, good health and laughter. Remember we only have but one life (as far as we know) so make the most of each day. I am for some reason feeling that this is going to be another special year in so many ways. I have a spring in my step and a huge smile, just thinking of all the wonderful things that may come my way in 2020.
We saw this new day in, having watched a film, we went to our local put, who had advertised free food and drink between 7 pm and 8 pm, so we thought we would go and join in. But firstly the free drinks were taken off the poster, which should of let of the alarm bells. We thought well never mind we are happy to buy drinks, which we did on arrival. We sat there and watched 7 pm pass and 7.15 pm pass and no food. 7.30 pm passed and still no food and then by 7.45 pm we decided that we would head home and I would make us something to eat. I had thought that perhaps there were not enough people their for them to warrant doing food, but even so they should of told everyone. This did not get the evening off to a good start. We got home and I made us some toasties and we sat and watched a film before we turned over to BBC1 and saw the end of The Graham Norton Show, which amongst others Tom Hanks was on of his guests. I love him as an actor and his seems to be a genuinely wonderful man. After that we continued with the run into the New Year with music from Craig David from the bank of the Thames, with Roman Kemp presenting. We have for many years toasted in the New Year with a tot of Whiskey. This time I had to open a new bottle of Highland Park. This proved problematic, because the cork had become fragile and it broke off in the neck of the bottle. I tried to remove it with a corkscrew, but this made matters worse and the cork slid down the neck of the bottle and into the whiskey. Horror of horrors, what to do now? The only thing for it was to strain the bottle of whiskey into a decanter, phew whiskey saved. With tot glasses filled, we sat and waited for the bong of big Ben, who was given permission to bong, even though the tower is having a lot of restoration work done on it. The fire work display was as always outstanding, but it did make me wonder how much air pollution was taking place?
2020 was no official and so we drank the last of our tots and headed off to bed in the knowledge that we were now in a brand new decade as well. I was woken at 8 am by my phone turning itself on and lots of pings from folk wishing me a Happy New Year. I did not bother to do any of that on my phone. It was all done on my Facebook page early doors and that was that. I got up and made us a cuppa and then we sat in bed and watched the first BBC 1 breakfast news of the year. Sadly the heartbreaking scenes in Australia, make you realise how fragile life is and how mother mature kicks off big time sometimes. The bush fires are really scary and when there is loss of life it puts your own life into perspective. Many people have lost everything, their homes, cars and possessions, but they have their lives. Material things can always be replaced. Of course the keepsakes and family photographs are always heart wrenching to lose. We have friends out there, which I keep in touch with to make sure they are safe.
9 am time to get up and start the boat chores, which this morning included doing the fire and emptying a toilet cassette. yes I sure know how to live. The plan for the morning was to get the jobs done and then go for a nice walk. It was overcast, but mild out so at 10.30 am we closed the boat up and headed off down to St. Nicholas Park for a walk around the park and down alongside the River Avon.

We stopped and had a coffee and chocolate brownie at the parks cafe, which is now open all Winter. When we have previously walked down to the park, it has always been closed, so today it was a nice bonus. There were lots of people walking and cycling around the park with their dogs and children riding their brand new Christmas bikes. What was lovely though, were the amount of people who smiled, said "hello" and wished us a Happy New Year when I greeted them. That is one of my things. I always like to say "Hello" to folk. Of course some will always speak back, but many these days will either ignore you or mumble into their coat. Come on lets all make an effort to great folk with a smile and a "hello". After all a kind word or a smile cost nothing, but either could make someones day.

When we did this walk a couple of years ago, the sun was shining, but today it was overcast.

We walked out of the park and up past Warwick Castle and back into the town.

We had thought we would have lunch at our favourite Thai but it did not seem to be open, so Keith suggested we try the Giggling Squid Thai restaurant, which has been in Warwick a couple of years and yet we had not tried it.

Today was the day to give the Giggling Squid a go and we were so pleased we did, because the food was fantastic as was the service. We will definitely be going their again. Warwick has so many wonderful places to eat, so we are kind of spoiled for choice. After a lovely leisurely lunch and drink, we took a leisurely stroll home. I am going to be spending the afternoon watching films and feet up. Tomorrow will be just a normal day and I may even take the decorations down. Seldom do I leave them up for the 12 days of Christmas, because they collect dust from the fire and to be honest the only people looking at them is Keith and I. Not only that by taking them down I can get on and give the place a good clean.

If you are a first time reader to my ramblings or have been with me from the start. I wish you and yours a Very Happy New Year.

Pop back soon xxx

Hetty's Big Day Out.

Hello family, friends and followers.

By the time some of you drop in to read my ramblings it will already be 2020 and you will probably nursing a hangover, so I will not shout too loud. HAPPY NEW YEAR. Oppps sorry I could not resist.

It is 14.29pm on the 31st December and I am on our boat, waiting for the new decade and year to arrive. But before that, here is an update and the reason for the post title.
A friend of ours Kate, sent out a message on her Facebook page asking if anyone was heading up the Hatton 21 on the 30th December. I feeling at the time like we needed to get some fresh air and work off some of the festive excess, answered her call and said that we would be available to help her with the locks. Keith then suggested we use our bikes, which had not had an outing as such since getting them. We had committed ourselves to climbing the stairway to heaven and I had committed Hetty (my bike) to a cycle up the hill with my festive weight on her saddle. Now baring in mind I have not really ridden a bike for probably 12 years, this was going to be a baptism of fire for the both of us. On the 29th December Kate popped over on her bike to come and see us once she was all moored up outside of the arm. It was lovely to see her and to show her around Hadarford (the railway). We caught up over coffee and biscuits and discussed what time we should start the climb up the locks on the 30th.

Monday morning arrived and we were up early to get the bikes set up. Because we stow them away off the boat, we have to put their wheels on and pump Hetty's tyres up. At 9.30am we headed off to find Kate's boat, which was moored just outside of the Arm. Keith then went ahead to set the first lock.

Keith would set the locks and I would close up behind Kate, once she had exited the locks and was on her way to the next one.

Hetty and I were doing amazingly well, I think she realised I had not ridden a bike for sometime and so she was being gentle on me, although the saddle was not as soft as my behind would have liked and I was pretty sure that the next day I would be walking like John Wayne on a bad day. I had gotten used to the gearing and was actually managing to cycle up the side of the locks without getting off and walking. This old girl was fitter than she had thought.

We made it to the top two and half hours after setting off, with the promise of lunch and a cuppa in the Hatton Locks Cafe. Once Kate was moored up, we headed back to the cafe and enjoyed a lovely Baked Potato lunch, washed down by a cup of tea. The cafe was very busy, with walkers, cyclists and gongoozlers all out to try and work off some of the festive food no doubt. We had a fabulous day with Kate. The cycle home was somewhat quicker being all down hill, although we did have to stop half way down, when my saddle decided to move. Thankfully I had carried the bicycle tools with us, so Keith soon had us underway again. Back home Hetty and Keith's bike got a well earned wash down.

It was fabulous to be out on a bike again and I know that Hetty and I will be going out and about a lot more over this Winter.

New Years Eve, saw my replacement laptop arrive and the broken one sent back to the company, who have been brilliant. My new laptop is not new at all it is a refurbished one but it is a business laptop from Dell, so is a bit more high spec. The company he bought it from have been really good. I am looking forward to seeing how this laptop works out. One good thing is this SD card reader works.
As New Years Eve draws to a close. It is time to reflect on what 2019 has taught me and to wonder at what 2020 and the new decade will offer me. I hope that it brings you good health, happiness, love and laughter.
I will definitely see you in 2020. Have a wonderful day everyone.

Pop back soon xxxx

How was it for you?

Hello family, friends and followers.

Here we are heading towards a new year and a new decade. I wonder what it has in store for us all?
I know, I know I said I would see you in the New Year, but then I thought, heck I will be writing a novel to you all by then. So here I am earlier than thought.

How was it for you?
For us it was quiet for a nice change. On the run up to the big day, we had finished all our shopping on the Thursday before Christmas, which meant we had no rushing around at the last minute. It was all peace and harmony on board. Christmas Eve our neighbour bought a gift over, to say "Thank you" for looking after his lovely Spaniel. It was a nice bottle of Highland Park single malt whiskey, it just so happens to be one of our favourites. I am not one for accepting gifts for doing something which was an absolute pleasure, but it was such a lovely thing to do and we will celebrate the New Year with a tot or two. We did not do much Christmas Eve, we stayed in and watched TV and I prepared the veggies for Christmas lunch. I made a broccoli and cauliflower cheese, peeled the potatoes, carrots, parsnips and brussel sprouts. I even cooked the chicken, stripped the meat of the bones and then stewed the bones, so I could use the liquid for the gravy and for a chicken and leek soup.

Christmas Day dawned and we got up very leisurely, but with the thought that I had a list of things written down that needed to be done, in order that we would have a fabulous lunch at midday. We did not bother with breakfast, because we knew we would have a good size lunch and a pudding. Presents were opened and then I got on with boat chores, which always included doing the fire. I am the fire goddess it seems, because it is one of my many jobs. The fire get riddled, so that she (yes she) fires into life. The ash pan get emptied and then I refill the grate with fuel to make the little stove happy for a few more hours, after all she (yes she) gives us warmth, hot water and a top to cook on. Ten o'clock and I began to sort the food out to go in the oven, because we wanted to eat at noon (I know many eat later on Christmas Day). By the time we got to noon, everything was cooked to perfection, even if I do say so myself. Chicken cooked in gravy, roast spuds, roast parsnips and carrots, broccoli and cauliflower cheese, Yorkshire puds and stuffing balls. I was so chuffed with how it had all turned out. I opened a nice bottle of rose wine and we enjoyed our lunch in front of the TV, because we do not have a proper table to eat from on the saloon. Dessert was Lemon tart (no I did not make it) with Vanilla ice cream, sprinkled with chocolate.
As always once lunch was eaten, I then got on with the washing-up (I am the dishwasher). I then got a video call from my girls, who wanted me to share in something very special. Something I have not been able to do for many years and which really made my day. I got to see flowers put on my daughters grave. Having my darling girls back in my life along with their partners and our grandsons is so very special and was the best Christmas present anyone could have ever given us.The rest of Christmas day was spent vegging out in front of the TV with sweets and wine. After such a large lunch, we had Chinese nibbles for tea, I warmed up some mulled wine to finish of our wonderful day.

Boxing Day dawned, with me having had a dreadful nights sleep. I actually thought I was going to have to wake Keith up and get him to call an ambulance, because I was in so much pain. No it was not for my cooking or from eating to much, but from Liver Cysts, I am waiting for this to be confirmed by my GP in the New Year.  Not wanting to wake him, I got up had a wander around and went back to bed, where I sort of slept and tossed and turned. I will be glad when I get my scan results, so I know what is going on properly. Anyway once properly awake with a coffee in my hand, I watched the morning news before crawling out of bed to decide what to do with the day. It was a damp start, with more dampness forecast, so going for a walk was now not top of my to do list. The leftover chicken was put into a Chicken korma curry with nibbles on the side for lunch. Whilst that was cooking, we had a video call with the girls, their partners and the grandchildren. They had all spent Christmas day together, which was so wonderful. As they were off home on Boxing Day it was nice to chat to them all together and to hear all about their day. Our grandsons will be grown up all to soon and we will all treasure the little moments of when they were small and enjoyed Christmas as we had once done as children. I know for me now being a grown up Christmas does not have that sprinkle of magic. I always think these days it is for the children, who show the excitement in their eyes on Christmas morning.

December 27th and we are in that space between Christmas and New Year. So what do you do when you meet someone. Do you wish them a Merry Christmas or a Happy New Year?
Thankfully I had a better nights sleep. I think the Mulled Wine may have helped. Well it had to be finished and we were happy to oblige. It did say on the bottle that it had to be consumed within two days of being opened. Anyway after a much better nights kip, we did not wake until 8 am. I made us a morning cuppa and we sat in bed watching Match of the Day, which is a little odd, because we are not huge football fans. Cuppa enjoyed and football watched, I finally got up just before 9 am and got on with doing a laundry wash. Yes even though its the festive period, the laundry still has to be done. There is no laundry fairy who does it when we are sleeping.  We had thought of going out on the bikes, but my laptop decided that it had other plans, because the flash drive would not work, so Keith was onto the company's helpline, who were excellent at trying to help us online, but after a few hours of trying different things, including a complete reset we all admitted defeat and so the new/secondhand laptop has to go back and they will deliver a new one. Nothing ever quite goes to plan especially for us. Hey ho at least I have my old one, which yes I am writing this rambling on. Oh for Windows 7, when life was so much easier. Anyway I am supposed to get another laptop come Tuesday, so we will wait and see if that one works. To be fair the guys really did try and help us.

So followers from across the world, this is me up to date. You have probably fallen asleep over your coffee, but if you have enjoyed my rambling, please pop back again soon xx

Merry Christmas.

Hello family, friends and followers.

Not long to go now. I hope that you are all ready for the big day?

I would like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

We are all done. The final food shop has been done and we will not be seeing a supermarket until after the New Year. I am not one for barging my way through crowds or dealing with rude people, I did all that when I worked for M&S, so we have chosen to make sure we have enough food in for the whole festive period. We are spending Christmas on our own this year on our mooring, which is fine, having been out cruising for Christmas the past few years. There will be plenty of eating, drinking and TV watching. If the weather is kind we may even get our bikes out and go for a cycle. There does not seem to be any prospect of snow, which means no winter walking, but we may still go out for a nice long walk over the hollibobs, but of course that does depend on the weather. This year has been such a special year for us. It has given us something so precious and we will be forever thankful to have another chance. Cherish those you love and hold them tight, because they are the light in your day and the happiness which surrounds you.

At this time of year, I tend to think about all those who have to work over the festive season and we all know that hospitals are once such place that is open twenty four hours a day, 365 days a year. Some many people work to look after those in need of medical attention over the festive period. Please do not go to A&E unless it is an absolute emergency. Sadly A&E tends to these days be used by people who could just as easily gone to their pharmacy or GP for advice. It would be nice to think that A&E will be quiet over the festive period, but I am doubting it very much. My heart goes out to everyone who works over Christmas and the New Year. I thank you for all your hard work :-)

I will hopefully see you all in the New Year all being well.

Pop back in 2020 xxxxxx