Here we are moored outside of Tesco at Warwick again ready to restock with fresh supplies. We have had a very full and exciting week achieving a few things and getting good news.
Most importantly our health. Bob’s visit to Moorfield’s Eye Hospital service yesterday (Thursday 6th November) was successful. The eye is still a bit rough due to the cocktail of drops he has been having to use. However they appear to be doing their job because for the first time the pressure was down to 20 – on the edge of within limits – and the inflammation was stable! Also no sign of permanent damage to the optic nerve and a modest improvement to vision. We were both much relieved and understand that the return visit in 3 weeks is a good thing to monitor the continued improvement and efficacy of medications. We keep our fingers tentatively crossed that this may mean good long term outcomes in terms of both health and our freedom to keep on the move!!!
Bron’s cold has also gone so we are both enjoying a period of reasonable health – Yippee!!!!
Our cratch and pram covers have also been completed and finally fitted. We got back to the boat from our trip to London yesterday and could hardly recognise how beautiful Celtic Maid looks with her new additions. Not to mention how much more comfortable it is with a reduction in draughts coming in and the ability to take off shoes and jackets before coming inside, without getting rain and leaves and mud inside!!! A very welcome addition to our living and cruising pleasure.
We are yet to get familiar with the pram cover – dropping it to travel and getting it up quickly once moored – but we will get there. And we have to get both areas organised to take advantage of the new weatherproof storage areas without them becoming full of junk!! There may need to be lots of effective discussion to achieve this!
We also spent a lovely day on Tuesday 4th November at Warwick Castle. We had been fortunate in getting a two-for-one voucher from a retailer and took advantage of this despite the rather damp weather. Having lived in Australia where our architectural constructs are somewhat new, going through the grounds and castle itself was quite an experience. Now we know that it is a tourist attraction and so much of what is on show is to appeal to that market. However the castle building itself as well as the presentations by the History Team on areas like Armour were fascinating and we both thoroughly enjoyed the short birds of prey show, where Frank the Egyptian vulture and Ernie the owl went through their paces seemingly enjoying swooping within a feather of our heads!!!
Whilst in Warwick we also took the opportunity to purchase a couple of hot water bottles to aid in coping with both the colder weather and the various aches and pains we experience. Getting older really sucks doesn’t it !?
As we were moving from here last Saturday a number of volunteers from Inland Waterways Association were conducting a clean up of the canal. Using grappling hooks they were able to manually retrieve many items from the canal bed including shopping trolleys, motor bikes and scooters, bicycles, carpets, mattresses, pipe, hose and other unidentifiable objects. It was truly amazing how much was collected and the photos in the gallery show how full the barge was that then picked up all of the retrieved items.
So we have had an eventful week and are really happy with our progress. There are lots of photos in the gallery so please enjoy them and let us know what you think!!!
Lovely to read your news and see you are still enjoying yourselves and that you are both healthier. Excellent news about the eye! I am sure the cratch and pram covers will be a great addition – when we were hiring all those years, we thought they were wussy. Now, having both on Waka Huia, we are converts! They are also excellent for hanging the washing to dry, by the way. Re vacuum cleaners – have you looked at the little ‘dust buster’ ones with long handles that you can get (we got ours at Tescos but I think there are other more effective ones around)? They aren’t power hungry as they are rechargeable as opposed to using 230v to suck. We have found it pretty good.
We are busy packing the house and looking for somewhere to live – not sure if you have caught up with our blog posts. Weather here is changeable too – some lovely warm days and others very cool and windy – equinoctial gales of course …
Big hugs to you both, Marilyn and David
Hi there! Sounds like you are busy!!!! Good luck with the house hunting and hope the move went well. Our friends have given us a vacuum to use when we have enough power so we will see how we go!! Covers have made an incredible difference and although its not really cold yet we have been very snug – almost too warm – since having them fitted. I haven’t worked out how to use the new maps yet but maybe soon!!!! Stay great xxxx
Incredible amount of rubbish. I wonder if Jim’s bike that was stolen might be there. The covers on Celtic Maid look really good. Like the colour. Hope they work well and keep the draughts at bay this winter! Glad you’ve got the hot water bottles at the ready. X
Looking forward to seeing you both very soon and you can see the covers up close!! xxxx!
hi there folks! So glad that the ‘eye’ is now really on the mend. You must be ecstatic and let’s hope the frequent trips to hospital are going to become infrequent! Love the covers. They look so posh and I am sure will be worth their weight in gold over winter! Good news about the hotties!! Just make sure the tops are screwed in tightly!! I was rather envious of all those bikes pulled from the canal as we are after bikes to decorate Paracombe for the finish of the Tour Down Under on Jan 22! We are both well and going to Sydney in December to celebrate Myles ‘s first birthday. Where has the last year gone!! I think by the time you finish your canaling you will have visited enough pubs to write a really good critique of English pubs!! Both drink and food! Keep on having fun. X x x x
Hi there great to hear from you. We really don’t visit that many pubs!!!!! Yes an amazing amount of refuse is in the canals unfortunately – so pleased they have pulled much of it out of that section. Give your grandchild lots of hugs – we miss ours and awaiting the arrival of the next one – Bob’s daughter Claire is due in mid December!!!! Love from us both to you both xxxx