Never-ending Xmas

Friday 25^th December to Thursday 31^st December 2015

Our plan was to spend Xmas Day in Apsley and, of course, along with that was Xmas evening and Xmas night – the weather reports indicating rain and not a day conducive to movement.

What I hadn’t planned on was also being awake quite so early on Xmas morning – the first cries of “Santa’s been, Santa’s been!!” came at a little after 3am – the second round was at 4:45am and finally the third and final lot at a little before 7am by which time I relented to stay awake and commence the day and excitement of a 50-something kid.

It was later that she told me that she had first woken at just on 1 am and thought better of waking me then – bloody good call dear!

Traditionally, I like to sleep in on Xmas morning – in the past it was to get the little kids going but now it is to get the big one going. Our son, Mitch, when we spoke to him later in the day, welcomed his mother to his world as an 8-year-old wanting to open presents early but with a father pretending to sleep-in.

Anyway, after I relented, Diane brought the Xmas stocking into bed – yes, there are still stockings done – so that she could find all of the goodies that she could taste before any hint of a proper breakfast – which, in the end, didn’t eventuate anyway.

After that it was getting up and into Xmas clothing to open presents and all of the phone calls – the beauty of Viber these days is that there is no need to worry about the time of the call – so one to Brisbane (Mooloolah); one to Melbourne; and one to Dallas.

After the excitement of the morning and controlling the big kid from playing with all of her “toys” we had a chance to relax a bit – nice and cosy in the boat but coldish and wet outside.

Lunch was an easy affair with not too much to worry about and not needing to eat too early – mid-afternoon was the time, to coincide with Lizzie’s TV appearance; and not a huge plate whereafter you would gladly snooze the rest of the day away – we managed to play a few games before settling down to watch Dr.Who and the Xmas Strictly Show –pretty much after that it was a bit more relaxing and unsurprisingly we were in bed at our normal early time – I say unsurprisingly, but it felt like I had woken up in the middle of the night before and not been allowed to get back to sleep.

 

As usual lunch was simply superb...

...including dessert

Our schedule dictated that we needed to move on Saturday – this time as far as Cassiobury Park, from where we thought we would venture up into Watford for a bit of a walk – did we miss something in our planning – something like Boxing Day Shopping madness – what were we thinking??

We still managed to buy a few things that we actually had needed to buy before high-tailing it back to the boat and safety.

The uncharacteristically mild weather for December was continuing in the London area, but elsewhere it seemed that the island was sinking, with the terrible flooding being experienced in so many areas north of where we were. We watched some you-tube stuff of different scenes and you can only feel so so sorry for the problems that so many are having at what should be a festive time for all.

Sunday and we were on the move again – not far – just a mile or so and a couple of locks.

The Watford family have a couple of days of Xmas gatherings – first at Nikki and Phil’s - an open day with them and Nikki’s family and then the following day with Maggie and Paddy and that side of the family.

We had a really great time on both days without eating or drinking too much at all.

After all of the festivities were finished we decided that we needed to start cruising again – going south yet again towards Uxbridge – the lure of cheap diesel is too much to resist and also we do enjoy that stretch of canal – between Watford and Uxbridge.

 

Xmas cruising - a bit warmer this year...

...but simply great of course

We were sort of under the impression that the marina only closed for a couple of days a year – that not being between Xmas and New Year – alas we were not correct, so it was a few days in Uxbridge which is not such a hard place to take and here it was that we spent a relatively quiet NYE – well… it was very quiet but not for us and as usual we did not make it to the witching hour – bed for us was about 10pm and thus another year has ended.

This will be our last blog for a while – I simply have found it difficult to keep it up to date over the last couple of months and have decided to have a break.

No doubt in the near future it will resume but for now I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to be bored silly with what we have been up to – we look forward to seeing many more places and many more people this coming year.

Our main cruising will be the Thames – this time with a Gold Licence – there will be a couple of breaks during the year as we take some time out to visit friends and family not in the UK.

So goodbye – just for now!!!

 

As a finale, we captured a shot of this fellow - a great way to end the year

3 Miles, 7 Locks

YTD: 890 Miles (1452 km) , 568 Locks, 14 Tunnels, 11 Lift Bridges, 16 Swing Bridges

Total: 3784 Miles (6090 km) , 2689 Locks, 112 Tunnels, 45 Lift Bridges, 167 Swing Bridges

Just slow moving and a bit winter cruising...

Tuesday 15^th December to Thursday 24^th December

We had spent enough time moored here in Croxley and thought it appropriate to move northwards for a bit – but not too far – just up to Cassiobury Park – Phil joined us for the first part of it before needing to return home – something about going to work.

Anyway we moored up just for Lock 76 where we had adequate TV reception and it was quiet and well away from other boats – we fancied a bit of peace and quiet.

The weather has continued to be very unseasonable – almost like an English summer – there being rain and the occasional glimpse of sun.

Our intention was to continue north heading towards Hemel with the objective to spend a few days there before winding and coming back south again.

Stoppages are starting to limit where we can head to – if we were really going to head a lot further north it would not help our plans for later in the month and for January.

So the slow and stopping a few days here and there approach is how we have been progressing.

Stopping at Kings Langley was a first for us, as usually it has been getting from Hemel through to Watford that was the priority, but for once we did stop and explored up the hill where there is a lovely range of shop – we found the country market and parted with some hard-earned; then a little further on was a nice little charity shop where we found some real bargains – a couple of Spode Blue Italianate pieces for a fiver (total) and a lovely set of old scales for a tenner.

Moorings at Hemel were fairly full in the popular places but we managed to find a spot between locks 65 and 66 – a short pound subject to random leakage overnight as we found out a couple of times but with no worries.

A lengthy journey up the hill to the cinemas was rewarded with Maccas (just for the ice-cream) and seeing the new Star Wars movie – enjoyed both very much.

The beauty of going uphill first is that the trip back is downhill – much easier on the body.

We both like Hemel and uncharacteristically, we found that over the days that we were around the area, there were not the huge crowds that would be expected at this time of the year – that is except for the supermarkets, where you would think that the apocalypse was approaching.

People were loading trolleys with anything that didn’t move – Diane was smart enough to make sure that she held tightly to my hand as we picked out the few items that we actually needed.

The highlight of our stay was the trip to the pub to watch Watford beat Liverpool 3-0 – a very nice pub, and whilst they didn’t serve food, they had no objections to you bringing in anything from the adjoinging takeaways.

One downside was some crazy character who wanted to chat whilst we were watching the match. Eventually we had to ask him to move somewhere else – he thought that I was telling him to f--- -ff, but I was quite polite and only thinking it, not saying it!

Eventually we winded and headed back south again and made it as far as Abbots Langley to more up for a few days – weather considerations played an important part in how much we would cruise; TV considerations made up the other part of the process – what with Doctor Who and Strictly airing on Xmas Day, the reception was important.

Lastly, and I know that this is after the fact, my very favourite Mother-In-Law (Millie aka Dot) celebrated her birthday on the 23^rd – not getting it out of me how many years around the sun she has been – else she would be over here on her broomstick and after turning me into a newt or other such creature, she would be using my organs straight into her cauldron.

I do love her dearly and we were able to wish her a happy birthday over the phone (on viber) – she loves all of that stuff.

....and finally from our crazy kids who got together in LA - some of this years Santa photos - the ring-in is Joey Turner - practically a family member anyway

That little white sign in the background between Sam and M itch is
the HOLLYWOOD sign

12 Miles, 23 Locks

YTD: 887 Miles (1427 km) , 561 Locks, 14 Tunnels, 11 Lift Bridges, 16 Swing Bridges

Total: 3781 Miles (6085 km) , 2682 Locks, 112 Tunnels, 45 Lift Bridges, 167 Swing Bridges

Meine Frau sagt, mürrischen alten Mann

Sunday 20^th September to Wednesday 30^th September 2015

There hasn’t been a great deal of travel happening right at the moment, despite the weather being really very good; it has just been so easy to sit where I am and do not much at all – that is if you call working and crossing items off a list not doing anything.

So, what have been the highlights over this last week or so –

No one would really believe me at all if I was to say shopping for shoes – not that is if you knew me at all – I absolutely hate any form of shopping involving any type of apparel, and in this case the shoes were not even for me.

Diane thought that it might be a great idea to surprise Sam, our daughter, by getting her a pair of brogues here in London and post them back – Sam had seen Diane’s and was a bit envious – not of the black and white colouring but just the style.

So armed with the size and style I headed over to the Clark’s outlet at London Design Outlet beside the Wembley stadium.

Of course, the information that I had was incomplete to get anything.

Even after Diane now discussed it with Sam the original criteria had changed, so a second trip was required and this time – still no luck – not the style, not the size – just not the shoes in stock.

The second event of any note was almost being punched by a pregnant woman – well girl at least.

Diane will tell you, if you ask her, that I do not tolerate people walking along playing with their mobile phones – its OK if they are actually talking on them using them as a phone – but these days it is the texting whilst walking that leads to problems.

Anyway where there are lots of pedestrians and little room to move, I value the space of walking in a straight line and others move to the other side.

Anyone coming the other way that is not concentrating on where they are going suddenly is confronted by yours truly who simply stops and waits for them to react.

On this occasion it happened to be a pregnant girl – probably no more than 18 – but these days to me they are all young.

So she is walking along, texting, plenty of other people around so am I going to inconvenience them by having to dodge this girl so I plant the feet and stop – she keeps walking straight into me and seems to expect an apology.

Words along the lines of “you should get out of the way of a pregnant person” “why are you such an ars___le?” “you old fart”

Were replied with “you look more like you have eaten a few packets of chocolate biscuits than pregnant” “you should be watching where you are walking instead of playing games on your phone” and “If you are pregnant then I pity the baby – IQ is inherited – yours is starting from a low point”

With that I walked on, smiling all the way – she was left with a couple of people having a bit of a giggle at her expense.

I did however bring the boat down from Cassiobury Park to Croxley and have enjoyed three days here without having to run the engine at all.

The sun and solar panels were cooperating and the thinking is that one more day here will do just fine before the exhausting trip down to Rickmansworth and after that it will be further south.

I was up early the other morning – Tuesday, I think – to see the “super moon” but the pictures didn’t turn out that great.

The countdown has now reached 30 – just a month to go.

I think that she is having a bit of fun there -

That's right dear - make the old girl stand

yet another selfie

with the pool in the background

Did someone say cake?

...what and cider as well - she may not want to come back

My wife says Grumpy Old Man

3 Miles, 6 Locks

YTD: 812 Miles (1307 km) , 514 Locks, 14 Tunnels, 11 Lift Bridges, 16 Swing Bridges

Total: 3706 Miles (5964 km) , 2635 Locks, 112 Tunnels, 45 Lift Bridges, 167 Swing Bridges

41

Saturday 12^th September to Saturday 19^th September 2015

I know that it has been a week since my last informative blog but at the moment there just isn’t a lot of variety or interesting things actually happening.

It doesn’t make a lot of sense to tell you about going to the supermarket or that I have done the washing – the usual and normal domestic stuff that still happens, even on a boat.

What did happen that was interesting – nothing at all.

Sometimes it can be just uninteresting.

Sure I have done a bit of travelling – firstly from Cassiobury Park down to Croxley Green where Phil and Nikki now live with the two girls – Mia and Jessica.

I was very kindly invited to dinner on two consecutive nights – nothing flash, just good wholesome home cooked food and a chance for some conversation.

Croxley Green was interesting in a not-seen-it-before sense – worth a walk up the hill to see a varied group of shops offering quite a lot really and the Croxley underground station is right there as well.

A couple of days there and then it was down to Rickmansworth – nothing against it but I did need to empty the cassette and that was the nearest elsan point – I did however stay a couple of days – it was Champions League time and the White Bear shows all of the matches.

After that, I wanted to go down to Uxbridge – for fuel and I needed some packing rope for the stern gland. The fuel was only 59 ppl (self-declare) and I filled right up to the brim – it had been over 5 weeks since the last fill and I was happy with the 140 litres.

There was another boat waiting there at the same time and I was talking to the woman on the boat when she asked me a question that I had not been asked for a long time by a newly acquainted woman……

…..if I could guess where she came from, she had reached the conclusion that I was Australian. It is an indication of my improvement in picking some of the variety of accents of the UK that I almost immediately picked it as of a Mancunian origin.

If you were thinking that she might have been about to ask me some other type of question then ….. you were wrong!

We compared notes on a few things but predominantly pump-out tanks – she was about to have hers removed and I informed her that we had done so last year – and could not be happier with the result – there, the conversation always comes around to toilets – the batteries being quite OK.

After that – it was back on the “road” – the water road (to use the title of Paul Gogarty’s book) and up to Harefield – why there? – well I was a bit tired, it was starting to rain (for the 5^th or 6^th time that morning and fairly heavy this time) and it was nice and open for a TV signal to see the Rugby World Cup.

And today, Saturday, it was such an incredibly brilliant day – the sun was out from the very start and stayed out until disappearing behind the tress – a lovely warm day – and being the weekend there were so many people out and about; the sun giving them a new energy to engage with others.

This shot above Common Moor Lock was so peaceful and showed how lovely not
only the scenery was but also the day

 

I don't recall seeing a dutch barge going through a lock but that is exactly what
was happening at Lock 77 today

I finally moored up back at Cassiobury Park from whence I had left just 4 days previously but I think I will be here until next weekend when I will wind and head back south again but perhaps carry on past Uxbridge.

There, not much of an interesting week at all; I have hardly done anything at all.

Somewhere in there I have resealed the bath, cleaned the Reflecs stove; done a check on the stoppages over winter to see where we can cruise to; and of course a few loads of washing (had to get that in for Paul and Bruce).

Someone is bound to ask about the heading for this blog – why 41?

If I had written this yesterday then it would have been 42 and I could have given erroneous answers about the answer to the ultimate question of life and the universe, but quite simply it is a countdown.

There are now 41 days left until Diane returns.

 

Whatever caption I may wish to add may not be a wise move on my part, just
to say though, she is the best...

19 Miles, 24  Locks

YTD: 809 Miles (1302 km) , 508 Locks, 14 Tunnels, 11 Lift Bridges, 16 Swing Bridges

Total: 3703 Miles (5959 km) , 2629 Locks, 112 Tunnels, 45 Lift Bridges, 167 Swing Bridges

One was exhausted, but I'm alright Jack!

Thursday 16th April 2015

One to mark down in the diary - a day when we did not move and Diane was out of bed before 7am without having had a coffee yet.

Why so early? Very simple, she had a doctor's appointment at 8:50 and a 3 mile walk to get there.
Made it she did, and in plenty of time; setting off with a mug full of the first coffee, this vanished along the way - her early pace meant that she was "running" early and managed a 2nd one before reaching the surgery.

All was well by the time she walked out - been seen by a doctor who she thought was quite good and fully understanding.

Now she was off to Maggie's place where she knew that some typeof fast-breaking delight would be assembled - this time it was a bacon roll - and without me being there it was a case of doing as she liked - as she liked.

Meanwhile, I was carrying on back on the boat with work.

A visit to the hospital for Diane followed - she managed to get a lift to there and virtually had no waiting time at all. A little before 1 pm she arrived back on the boat.

A little exploring had been done on the way back and she had located Watford railway station (not Watford Junction or Watford High Street) which isgoing to be great positioning for my day out tomorrow.

A bit of a stroll through Cassiobury Park back to the boat and we rested for the remainder of the day.

Fair to say that whilst it has been a strenuous day for Diane - it has also been a day for not doing a lot.

We did receive our official confirmation of the mooring inLittleVenice starting on the 8th May - so we are very much looking forward to a week in London free of charge -better than the best tourist package - better not tell Boris Johnson, or he will find a way to impose some type of cost for it.

Tomorrow will be a busy and eventful day.



No travel today

Cruising with the kin folk

Tuesday 14th April to Wednesday 15th April 2015

The weather has continued to be brilliant; must be something about being down here in the south - we should have come down here a year or so ago, but then we would not have wanted to miss what we have done and everyone we have been with.

It is now time for us to spend plenty of time with all of the relatives and we have had two great days of cruising with everyone.
 

She did find time to relax and enjoy the sunshine

Tuesday was a bit of a late start - about 4pm - Maggie and Paddy along with Paddy's nephew Thomas (Tom) and Sandra - all the way from Perth - as Tom said, he has been in Australia much longer than he was in England so he is an Australian - besides he supports Australia in the Ashes Tests - good enough for me.

We cruised down through 3 locks and a couple of miles and returned, but with the speed we were going it was a 2 and 1/2 hour trip and everyone had a wonderful time.
 

from left - Sandra, Paddy, Tom (at the helm), Maggie and yours truly

After that it was time for a family dinner - fortunately a table had been booked at the nearby Harvester and we were joined by Phil, Nikki, Mia and Jess, as well as a late appearance by Paddy's brother (Tom's uncle) John.
 

Phil doing his "I'm a little teapot" routine

Tom, Johnny and Sandra

Paddy with the usual prop in hand

Tom and Sandra were off in the morning on further travels of their 4-5 week trip away - I am sure that we will catch up with them back in Australia.

Wednesday was another warm day - reaching about 20C. We weren't due for cruising until somewhere after 2pm so it was work in the morning - Diane spent it polishing the port side of the boat and chatting away to the multitude of towpath users.
We then winded the boat - the canal here was wide enough that we couldjust swing it around.
Diane pushed it out and then grabbed the stern rope and simply pulled it around - even though the engine was not engaged there was sufficient "horse"power to get the job done.

Saving on diesel - chaff bag and sugar cubes at the ready

We went down to the waterpoint to fill the tank - there was a bit of a wait as a hire-boat were doing the same as we intended.
I went down to have a chat with the crew of the boat - a family of five - turned out that the older male was a chap called Tom Hodgkinson, who introduced himself as a journalist with The Times doing a story on how to spend a week on a narrowboat, also met partner Victoria and the kids - Lyla, Arthur and Henry.

Tom Hodgkinson not being too idle with the boat

Just Googled Tom and found a lot of background information about him.
So looking forward to how he saw the week - article to appear in The Times travel supplement in a Saturday edition to come.

We stopped below the lock to await today's crew - Nikki, Mia, Jess and Phil.

At a little after 3pm we headed off and made it down through Batchworth lock, winded and then started back from whence we came. We did however make use of the facilities at the lock - rubbish bins (200 metres down the way and an Elsan point).
Our path crossed again with the Hodgkinson clan as we were heading back slowly.

The girls and indeed Phil and Nikki were really enjoying the slow pace of the cuising and even the work at the locks.
 

Oi! You're supposed to be helping - not having a chat

Looks a bit like Lock Zen

We continue to see unusual styles

Our only down side for the day was a dutch barge (older style and in need of some TLC) seemed to be having some propulsion problems, but rather than move over to offer us the option to pass them, they instead steered a course directly down the middle at such a slow speed.
It reached a farcical stage that their passage through the hole for Bridge 169 was stopped - right in the middle of the bridge hole - all three crew hopped off to try and pull the boat (25 tonne plus) through - they weren't going anywhere at all.

Nowhere for us to go - don't want to see such selfishness again

Waiting and waiting for them to move was not such a painful experience for us as it was for them - they were the ones straining, but their lack of any consideration for fellow travellers was undeniably rude, by anyone's standards.

Anyway they eventually got it to move and started to pull/propel the boat into a mooring spot immediately after the bridge; we motored past them, close enough to just miss but also hear a clanky sounding engine - their problem - no acknowledgement/apology from them; no care for their predicament from us and certainly no acknowledgement of their presence either - their's was a position that, given their actions, I would have no sympathy for.

One more lock was negotiated and we moored up - Phil and Nikki, had taken off to pick up something to eat from a nearby chippy.
We all enjoyed the sustenance and a last chance to chat for the day - they did have a great day and eager for a return trip - the invitation is open.

Two thoroughly enjoyable days of cruises with the people that we wanted to be with; two glorious days to bask in; the same stretch for most of the time but different company means different appreciation.

8 Miles, 13 Locks
YTD: 273 Miles, 168 Locks, 6 Tunnels, 2 Lift Bridges, 11 Swing Bridges
Totals: 3167 Miles, 2289 Locks, 104 Tunnels, 36 Lift Bridges, 162 Swing Bridges

As they say, she was known to Police...

Thursday 9th April to Friday 10th April 2015

The last part of our plan lay before us and an easy couple of miles interspersed with a few locks and we accomplished all of that pretty early, mooring up in a very sunny spot.

The panels were tilted and the power raced into the batteries.

One note of importance - Diane had control of Ferndale as we were rounding a few bends just after The Grove when we came upon a moored up widebeam and a fibreglass "widebeam" approaching - without any panic she calmly eased Ferndale between both and carried on - right shoes yet again!
 

We love the setting for this development

Widebeam meeting

This fellow was having plenty to say

The final two locks down to Cassiobury Park

We have come a fair way in the last 12 days - and this doesn't include the locks

Meanwhile, after a bit of work, we headed up to the town through the glorious Cassiobury Park. It was turning out to be a truly lovely sunny day and with it still being school holidays for many the park was serving its purpose.

We wanted to sort a couple of things with unlocking one of the phones and Diane had prescriptions to put in.

Costa beckoned with coffee and comfy chairs and after the long walk up the muscles were relishing the chance for a bit of relaxation - it had been a long week (or more) of locks and walking.

The pills were duly picked up and during the walk down the High Street I had noticed a couple of employment agencies which deserved further investigation, so on our return trip I ducked in to see each in turn whilst the GLW relaxed a bit more.

Arrangements were made to come back with full documentation - so then we headed back to the boat.

The first appearance of the large fold-up chair onto the towpath was made - probably just in the nick of time to stop it being traded at a refuse centre for a bag of beans.

Whilst Diane further relaxed and was supplied with coffee - not much changes from early morning to late afternoon - I had a chance to finish off the day's work.

Just a bit of television and we were both pretty exhausted and ready for bed.

Without any sounding of bells through the night we slept very soundly indeed, but still I was up early - a bit of a busy day today.

Straight into work to clear away emails and such like, before I packed my bag and was off up through the park to see both agencies.

Zipped through both places and although they can never promise anything the signs are encouraging.
So after all that it was a long walk back to the boat - it must be about a mile and a half from boat to town centre, so the legs were getting a good workout.

A little more work and then went back into town - this time there was a train to catch up to Hemel.

On the walk up through the park, yet again packed with kids and parents - just amazing what a little bit of sunshine does to bring people out - the kids were even paddling in the stream flowing alongside the canal - we saw an approaching police van.
My earnest attempts to point out to them were met with unsympathetic words "Why should I want to take on your troubles, then she would be my problem and I have enough of those" - seems that he knew Diane well - as they say, she was known to Police.

Oh well, guess I will just have to keep her for now.

After a coffee, I left for the station to catch the train to Hemel - why you ask?
Really quite simple, Enterprise have a weekend deal on cars from Friday to Monday but they have limited the number available from each site and by the time we booked the nearest one was Hemel.

We are off to Manchester for the derby match between United and those noisy neighbours. To go up by train and return on Sunday would have cost close to ₤160 for the two of us; going Saturday and coming back Sunday evening (or Sunday/Monday) would have been ₤80 (plus accomodation and meals); hiring the car is ₤53 (including insurance) plus petrol.

The car also allows us to do a big shop and possibly see a National Trust property if we have time; it also meant that we could empty the full cassette down at the services block at Rickmansworth services (which we did on Friday evening).

So I picked up the car and we will be off on Saturday morning - Diane and Elaine were talking as we would be seeing them over the weekend and now we will spend Saturday night with them and then take Paul off to the match on Sunday. 

Now all I will have to make sure about is to keep Diane out of trouble - I am sure that the police in Watford would have circulated the mugshots!!

2 Miles, 5 Locks
YTD: 265 Miles, 155 Locks, 6 Tunnels, 2 Lift Bridges, 11 Swing Bridges

Totals: 3159 Miles, 2276 Locks, 104 Tunnels, 36 Lift Bridges, 162 Swing Bridges