Thursday 26th August and we’re still at Pillings Lock Marina due to bad weather. The problem is that, with my swollen feet, no doubt due to the painkillers I’m taking, I am unable to wear my outdoor shoes. Instead I am limited to my house slippers and my, rather soft and certainly not waterproof, indoor/outdoor shoes.
We took the car over to Mercia this morning and enjoyed a cup of coffee with Marian and Brian, after which Brian brought us back to this place. The intention was that we would first have a spot of lunch and then make our way to Zouch or Kegworth Deep Lock. But, what with the wind springing up and the rain continuing to rain, we have now put the start of this trip off until tomorrow morning. We certainly don’t want a repeat of our enforced stay of 2007.
Tomorrow morning though, even if it is raining, we will leave here early so as to ensure meeting up with Marian and Brian in time for Marian’s birthday. We have even bought her a cake and Happy Birthday candles. Along with a couple of presents, of course, well, it would be rude not to.
Hopefully it won’t take more than two or three days to get to our moorings at Mercia Marina, which should see us there for Bank Holiday Monday. We’re really looking forward to our new, temporary home and therefore away from the bad feeling that seems to abound here at Pillings Lock Marina.
Incidentally, just in case anybody reading this, or my previous postings, thinks I have been spouting off sour grapes, we are not the only boaters that the MD has taken a disliking to. No doubt, after his accusations about an ex staff member, the word has flashed through the grapevine, because we have become aware of at least two more people making visits to Mercia and know of one other couple who were so incensed by his attitude, that they moved on to Yelvertoft a few weeks ago..
O.K. Enough said about the past let’s concentrate on the future and a winter at Mercia Marina. As I mentioned in an earlier posting, there are many advantages at Mercia over Pillings, not least the 10% discount berth-holders enjoy in some of the local shops and a pub. The pub in question, I do believe, is the Green Dragon and is the one we have used when we’ve moored up there on our travels. The 10% discount is only on food, but that’s OK by us because, as you all know, we do enjoy our pub-grub.
Willington, as you would expect from any reasonably sized village, also boasts a Social Club/Village Hall and, from what Marian tells us, they hold regular auctions there. Nothing of high end value you understand, more like a bring-and-buy is how she described it. So, we’re quite looking forward to paying that a visit.
As you can imagine, after 11 months moored up in one place, simply whilst I waited for my knees to be operated on, we’ve been going a little stir crazy and are getting quite excited about moving on. We’ll soon be sitting at the dinette and going through our Nicholson Guides, working out what we’re going do with ourselves next summer. It’s a toss-up between covering stretches of water that I was unable to explore last year and planning something new that we can both explore and enjoy. The Kennett and Avon would be a good bet, but we’ll have to wait and see.
As for my knees, they are getting stronger in leaps and bounds, if you’ll pardon the pun. I even managed a couple of short walks without the crutches, and that’s after only four weeks. I am hoping that, by the time I return to Glenfilds for my next physio session in two weeks time, I’ll be able to drive myself there. Sadly my long suffering wife is not happy having to drive, but she’s quite happy to do so if I’ve had a few Guinnesses. I think the 40 minutes or so that it took us to drive to Mercia this morning, was a bit of a strain for her. It is, after all, quite some time since she has driven regularly to and from work and such. Have no fear Wifey, I’ll be coming to the rescue soon!!
How about that then, we haven’t even left Pillings and I’ve already managed three pages of this first Willington blog.
Friday 27th August and, yet again, it’s been raining for most of the night. However, true to their word, the forecasters have given us a dry start to the day. It’s now 05.30 and Sheila and I are planning to leave here at 07.00 or thereabouts.
Brian telephoned at about 6.30 last night and told me they had reached Shardlow so, if we can make it to Kegworth Deep Lock – that’s the one before the lock that we spent 10 days inside in 2007 – then everything will have worked out just fine. After a little bit of a celebration for Marian and an overnight stay, we can make our way to Mercia Marina. Whoopee!!
All this is dependent upon the forecasters getting it right for today of course, but whatever happens we are not spending another night in this place. The feeling between us and Paul, or so we’ve heard through the grapevine, is that he can’t wait to see us go any more than we can wait to leave. T least we all agree on something.
Saturday 28th August and we have spent a very pleasant evening here at Sawley.
We left Pillings Lock Marina just after 7 am yesterday and arrived here just after 1 pm, which is a lot longer than we would normally spend cruising. But, since Brian and Marian made it from Willington to Shardlow on Thursday; we didn’t travel at all that day; we thought we give them a rest.
After quite a bit of rain Wednesday and Thursday, as expected, the river Soar was a little high, but not too high to present a problem. Well, not until we arrived at Kegworth Deep Lock where we discovered, after actually going through the lock, that the warning signs were in the Red.
We had been fortunate enough to meet up with another couple at Bishop’s Meadow lock, where the traffic light also showed red but, having checked the flow from the river below the lock, we decided it was safe to go on.
The next lock, Zouch, was showing in the amber, which means proceed with caution, which we were happy to do and carried on with no problems at all.
When we passed through Kegwort Deep we noticed, as we looked back towards the lock, that the warning sign was well into the red. We also spotted the BW van up to our right with two of their staff, probably checking the state of the river. We were a bit annoyed at this as we travelled towards Kegworth Flood Lock, because the going was a bit hairy to say the least. Luckily it is only a short run between these locks and we made it without incident.
On arriving at Kegworth Flood we saw that the gates were closed. This usually means the river is high, but this lock has no warning signs, so we telephoned BW to ask if it was safe to go on. We were advised to proceed with caution, meaning the water was high but not threatening.
Eventually, after another couple of locks, we arrived at Sawley and said goodbye to our travelling companions. They were a pretty friendly couple who had a rather longer boat than ours that they were working on. He was hoping to eventually live aboard the boat, but we’re not too sure she had the same idea.
They had two dogs, a Poodle and a Westie which she would take off the boat and tie to a post at ever lock we came to. Eventually even her partner was getting a bit fed up with this practice because, when we came to the final lock before the Trent, he had an awful job getting her and the dogs back on the boat.
When we came out of the lock at Sawley Sheila walked ahead to find a mooring spot close to Brian’s boat whilst I slowly cruised along behind. At one point I passed another whose lady occupant was leaning out of her side hatch. When I asked if she was ok she replied, “No, I’m not ok” and when I asked why she said, “Because we want to get on to the Soar but it’s closed due to flooding” Weren’t we the lucky ones?
Today we will leave a little later than yesterday because we all need a rest. After six hours on my feet and moving about yesterday, my knees were not happy with me and showed it last night. But, most surprisingly, after spending only a couple of hours in the armchair, the rest of the night I managed to stay in bed. Things are looking up methinks.
This morning we will probably wait until Sheila and Marian have popped across to the marina and bought the paper and whatever else we need then we’ll be on our way. I have no idea where we’ll stop, but Brian is in favour of somewhere with a pub. Sadly, apart from Shardlow, which is only a couple of miles away, I don’t think there is anywhere until we’re almost at Mercia, so I think we’ll probably moor up miles from nowhere and enjoy a few cans. Although I invited them to come into Willington with us on Sunday for a drink, it seems Brian will be working. So, whatever happens, we need to be at the marina on Sunday morning at the latest. No problem, the weather looks set fair and we only have about 12 miles to go, I think!
Wow, six pages already, I’ll have to post this on Monday, the first of many from Mercia.
My habit when cruising, as you all know, is to send you all a text message telling you where we are. Well, some time ago on one of my visits to Harlow, my dear brother persuaded me to upgrade my mobile. I was quite happy with the snap-shut thingy I had before, but I allowed him to talk me into this wretched Samsung thing, which has all the bells and whistles people have come to expect these days.
Those bells and whistles include the ability to scroll through your list of contacts by touch. I find this to be not so easy because, each time I attempt to do so, I always manage to touch a contact too hard, and end up looking at their info. This system is very much like the touch pad on the laptop, I can’t get on with that thing either and have to use a mouse. Yesterday therefore, after several attempts to send you all a text, I eventually gave up and have resorted to the blog.
Sunday 29th August
Yesterdays cruising started out real well, with sunny skies and a light breeze. This situation didn’t last long then along came the stronger wind and cloudy skies. We had hoped to get as far as the lock at Weston and intended to moor up just past it. We took the lead coming out of the lock and immediately started looking for somewhere to stay for the rest of the day and overnight.
This didn’t take long but, when we pulled in and started tying up the boat, along came Brian and Marian who found that it was too shallow for their ‘Brimar’ to moor up. Their boat has about an extra four inches of draft compared to ‘Shiralee’ and so we had to untie and carry on, while Marian walked on with their pole looking for somewhere to stop.
For a while we kept pace with her and, every so often she would dip the pole in, hopefully deep enough to reach the pre-se marker, but all to no avail. Eventually we upped the speed and carried on to Swarkestone Lock and stopped there. Just a few minutes later they joined us and, thankfully, found that the water was deep enough and here we stayed.
Once again then, through nobody’s fault really, I had to endure a longer day of being on my feet than I would have liked. For the rest of the day and right up to bedtime, I suffered agonies in my knees, which had become quite swollen by now, and my calf muscles.
Marian is a very generous lady, she’s forever baking cakes and bread and passing them around to fellow boaters. Although she did us a favour yesterday and bought us a loaf whilst we were still cruising towards Sawley, she has promised to bake us a loaf today sometime. So, around about teatime, just as Sheila was about half way into cooking our meal, along comes Brian asking if we would like to join them in a roast dinner. Daft bugger, I’d already told him we were going to enjoy one of our favourite snacks, sausages and cheesy chips. Ah well, another time perhaps.
When we moored up her, a place that is quite obviously a proper mooring spot, we found a couple of folks fishing. Well, there was plenty of room for us to moor up, so live and let live I say. Around the same time as Wifey was cooking, along came one of these fellows carrying a bag that turned out to be full of flat-cap mushrooms. The man meant well in offering us some, but they were certainly past their sell by date. Not to upset him I agreed to take some and thanked him, but there is no way we’ll use them. Nice gesture though!
Today has dawned with plenty of heavy cloud and just a light breeze. We don’t have very far to go, about five miles and just two locks so, assuming Lord and Lady Enticott get up early enough, we should be in Mercia Marina well before lunchtime and a pub drink to celebrate our escape from Pillings Lock Marina.
Now, as we already have eight pages, I’m going to make this a one off of our journey to Mercia and wish you all a most enjoyable Bank Holiday Weekend.
Cheers from Dave, Sheila and Rusty
Saturday, 28 August 2010
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Pillings Lock Marina 2010 #15
Hi, on a very bright Sunday morning of August 8th. This will, in all probability, be the final blog from Pillings as we’ll be moving on to Mercia next Thursday or Friday, depending on the weather.
My legs are feeling very much better and I even allowed my good wife to drive me into Quorn yesterday morning. What a treat to be home and to get about again. Mind you I’m not getting a lot of sleep at night, mainly because of the interminable ache in the legs; and neither is Sheila for that matter; and I’m suffering from swollen legs and feet. This latter malady I put down to the painkillers, a problem I had a while ago and managed to almost eliminate by stopping the use of one particular drug. On Wednesday I will be going into Quorn to have my staples removed and will ask Claire our Practice Nurse, if there’s anything that can be done to reduce the swelling. It really is becoming a nuisance and I am still spending more time sleeping in the armchair than in bed.
Tuesday 10th August and what a wet night we had here, cats and dogs does not do it justice, it really pelted down and not for a short shower either.
The week is almost half way through and Brian and Marian will be back on Monday, they are currently enjoying temperatures in the mid 80’s, so they will look more like Greeks than the Greeks when they get back. Following on from their return they will be doing a bit of cruising and then, around the 27th, which is Marian’s birthday, they’ll be stopping by to escort us to Mercia Marina. So it will be goodbye Pillings and hello Mercia.
We are quite looking forward to the move, where we will enjoy full security, a small store and café on site and a chandlery that is open 24/7. Mercia Marina is also somewhat cheaper to moor at, despite its greater size and obvious more expensive upkeep.
Electricity is charged at cost, plus an annual service charge and the mooring fees are considerably less. We will even enjoy a 10% discount at several of the commercial establishments in Willington, the nearby village, which is only a short walk from the marina. Our mail will also be delivered to the store by the local Post Office for about the same as Paul charges here for a Box Number, £5 per month. And they don’t charge more for parcels, whereas a charge of £1 per parcel is now having to be paid here at Pillings.
In addition there are several WiFi posts around the site and so, if reception is poor through the dongle, we can pay the subscription fee of £85 per annum and enjoy speedy Internet access.
We will be moored next door to Brian and Marian, with side hatches facing each other. I have severe reservations about this arrangement because I have visions of Sheila and Marian giggling at each other across the gap like a pair of fish wives. There is also the fact that Marian is well into 60’s music and likes the volume high rather than low. Should be fun!!
Wednesday 11th August and I have to say, what with the much cooler and wetter weather we’ve had of late, it doesn’t seem like high summer. However, even though the sun has yet to rise over the trees by the canal, it looks like a bright start to the day is in the offing.
So there we were yesterday evening, relaxing in front of the telly at about half past eight, when my phone rang. This is not so unusual when you consider Alan, Carole, Barbara and even Brian or Marian, all of whom are apt to call me or Sheila on occasion.
The very last person I would have expected to call was Brian, who is supposed to be enjoying a holiday in Corfu. But, sure enough, that’s who it was. After the usual banter where Brian pretends to be in a pub, knowing full well I was not, I asked what the hell he was doing phoning us from there. It seems that Corfu is about two hours ahead of UK, so they were just getting ready for bed and, since he had nothing better to do, he thought he’d give us a bit of a surprise.
There aren’t too many new and very good friends that would telephone from holiday abroad, most folks would have more sense than to waste their money on such long-distance calls. But that’s Brian and Marian for you, always expect the unexpected from them.
Happily, instead of going off cruising as soon as they get home, they’re going to drop in on us first. Now, that conversation, especially between Sheila and Marian, could take a while.
Sorry to say I had a very uncomfortable night last night, all aches and pains again and I finally went to bed with quite badly swollen calves and feet. This is probably because, having taken a walk out to the car and back, after our trip to Tesco yesterday morning, I didn’t spend any time in a horizontal position, which I should have done on a couple of occasions in order to encourage circulation.
Still, I’m off to have the staples removed this afternoon, so I will be able to ask Claire, the Practice Nurse, if there’s anything to be done about the swelling. It could be that the Co-codomol painkillers are having that effect, in which case I may have to see the doctor with a view to changing them. (Echo! Echo!).
I am really suffering the effects of old age and seem to be repeating myself but, having quickly scanned the earlier pages of this entry, I don’t think I mentioned that I’ll be going in to Glenfields Hospital on Friday for some more physio. Personally I think it’s a little too soon after the op, but they should know best. I also have an appointment with the Surgeon, Mr Power, for Tuesday 14th September to assess my progress.
Sunday 15th August and, although overcast, it has started out as a calm day.
With the lousy weather we’ve had of late, I’ve not been off the boat for two days. Hopefully, if the forecasters are right, it will brighten up later and I will get my Sunday lunchtime drink. Obviously, being somewhat limited in my ability to get about, I didn’t make it last week. And, since they don’t run any kind of pub run from the hospital; more’s the pity; I missed out on the Sunday before, so I have some catching up to do.
I should have paid a visit to Glenfields Hospital on Friday for a physio session. Unfortunately I spent a great deal of Thursday night sitting in the little room. The result of that, and I won’t go into the sordid details, was more problems with the loo.
So, on Friday morning I phoned Chris Williams – the boat safety man – and asked if he knew of anyone who could help, having first discovered that Ashley was away on holiday. He suggested the boatyard at Foxton and an engineer named Sam Matts.
Good old Sam turned up later and fixed the problem and, during our chat over a cuppa, we touched upon the boat safety certificate. According to Chris Williams it is essential to have a cut-off valve between the fuel tank and the heater system. But, on mentioning that Chris had failed our boat for that reason, Sam said he was sure this was not a requirement.
To cut a long story short, he phoned Webasto, the manufacturers of our system and asked them about it. They in turn assured him the valve was not necessary and sent him an email to confirm this, which Sam sent on to me. I am now waiting until tomorrow morning, to phone Chris and ask for our certificate, which he kept until we had rectified the problem.
It’s strange is this, because The New Boat Company, who supplied the boat from new, would surely have included such a valve when they fitted the boat out. Hopefully Chris will check what I tell him and issue us with our certificate, saving us a few quid in the process. We don’t want to upset the man, because he carried out a couple of small jobs for us, also to do with boat safety, without charging us extra.
Monday 16th August and, although it started out as a fine and sunny morning, it is now, at 07.00 and heavily overcast. Not to worry though because, apart from a visit to the local quack followed by a bit of shopping, we have no plans for anywhere exciting to visit.
To the doctors this morning because I really must try to find a way to reduce the swelling in my calves and feet, some evenings the situation is almost unbearable and I simply don’t know what to do to enjoy a bit of comfort. Aaah!!
I have no doubt that, if Brian has his mobile with him, he’ll give us a bell from the airport when they land. If not, then it won’t be long after they get back to Mercia.
Now, as we have less than a fortnight to go before we leave for Mercia Marina, I will keep this blog going for another week or so. Of course, this means it may be rather long and so it will give you all something to keep you busy for a while.
Tuesday 17th August and the sun is taking much longer to rise these days. Pretty soon I’ll be getting up in total darkness.
I phoned Chris Williams about the shut-off valve for the heater system and he promised to look into it. He phoned Webasto and received the same info as I did but, on checking with the boat safety people was informed that the valve is necessary. So, we’ll be trundling off to Sileby Marina to pick one up. Since I’ll find it rather difficult to climb down into the engine bay, our other neighbour Clive has offered to do the honours.
Brian eventually phoned yesterday evening to say they would be paying us a visit today at around lunchtime.
Thursday 19th August and yesterday marked the fourth week since the op. I though Tuesday night was bad in terms of aches and pains keeping me awake, but last night now has that honour. It seems that the discomfort pops up in different parts of my legs every night and last night was the turn of my right foot to show its displeasure. I think I managed about three hours in the armchair and have dozed in bed since then. It is now just gone 05.00 and I’m tapping away at this thing when I should still be asleep. I suppose I must have tossed and turned for about another three hours in bed, so Wifey didn’t get much sleep either. It was unlike her to doze off in the armchair yesterday evening whilst watching telly, but that’s what she did.
Anyway, Brian and Marian finally turned up yesterday afternoon, having first to get his new car checked over. Upon their arrival at the airport the car wouldn’t start due to a flat battery. They then discovered the exhaust was blowing and had to stop off to get that checked. Naturally our pair of reprobates arrived bearing gifts; a T-shirt for me and a mug for Sheila; as if we don’t already have enough mugs on the boat, and I don’t mean us two.
My T-shirt reads ‘Not a day goes by without me meeting someone to p… me off’. And the mug for Sheila? When she removed the tissue paper inside, she was faced with a rather beautifully crafted phallus. Hmmm! Typically Greek I suppose and an indication as to the state of mind of our new friends.
Friday 20th August and we’ve just suffered another night of rain. We are supposed to be moving the boat to Mercia Marina next Thursday/Friday but, if we get much more of this, the Soar will be in flood and we’ll be stuck somewhere along the canal. We will still have to go though, because we have now cancelled our Standing Order for this place. Hallelujah!!
Today, just for a change, we’re going to Morrison’s to shop. We haven’t been there for several weeks now, but we do need petrol and they are the cheapest around. I don’t know that I’ll be able to walk round the store with Wifey, so I’ll probably have to sit in the car. Still, with me out of the way she probably won’t spend as much.
Ivan came to the rescue yesterday and fitted our shut-off valve to the diesel line that feeds the heater. We timed him and it took him about seven minutes. He also gave us his opinion as to why Chris Williams has insisted on one being fitted.
Apparently the Webasto heating system was designed for trucks, where the fuel supply would be drawn from the top of the tank. Therefore, if a fracture occurred in the feed line the system would automatically shut itself off and any fuel in the pipe would siphon back into the tank.
This is not the case with the boat, because the fuel pipe comes horizontally from near the top of the tank and, should a fracture occur, all the fuel in the tank above the pipe would dribble out into the engine bay. So, why didn’t Chris tell us that?
Saturday 21st August and yet more rain is falling. Will it never end?
Eight pages later and I think it’s time I posted this blog. Ooops, and sorry, Internet access is a bit slow today, so this posting will have to wait.
Monday 23rd August and yet more rain, absolutely chucked it down last night and has been raining on and off for most of today.
I have now decided to wait until Wednesday or Thursday before posting this blog. Well, hell, that’s only a couple of days away, so there seems no point posting just yet and besides, I still have a bit to say about this place.
You will notice dear reader, that I have refrained from mentioning anything to do with this marina. There’s a very good reason for this, I simply can’t be bothered and the situation is becoming rather boring. So, instead of a 15 page blog, it will now boil down to 10 or 11 pages.
So, all we’re waiting for is to get my appointment with the Physiotherapists out of the way on Wednesday and, assuming it’s not pouring with rain again and the river is not in flood, we’ll be out of her in the afternoon. With luck and a following wind we’ll be miles away from here come tea time. The only time we’ll have to come back is for the car and any mail.
Tuesday 24th August and, with a little luck, our final full day here. Tomorrow, after seeing the physios and, if it is a fine enough day, we will, at long last, be making our way to Mercia Marina. I know I keep harping on about this and I’m sure you are all bored to bits, but the mere thought of getting away from here and the atmosphere is enough to put a big cheesy grin on my face.
Unfortunately I don’t think the physio is going to be too pleased with my progress. Sadly, because of the swollen calves and feet, I am unable to progress through the exercises they gave me and my movements are somewhat restricted. Perhaps they can come up with an answer to this problem, I don’t think that one water tablet a day is doing much to alleviate the problem.
Before going on holiday Marian gave me a small bowl to paint for her. Now, as much as I would like to have done this in time for her birthday, with all the painkillers I’m taking my hands are just not steady enough. There are other items I want to paint also, but they too will have to wait until I lose the dt’s.
Tomorrow, whatever happens, I will be posting this blog, the longest one yet.
3pm the same day.
Sheila and I have decided to move the car to Mercia tomorrow, immediately after my physio session, we just don’t feel safe leaving it here. To this end Brian will be fetching us back from Mercia and, assuming the weather is fine and not blowing a gale, we will be on our way and thank goodness for that.
Wednesday 25th August. This is it folks, the last day but one at Pillings Lock Marina.
My main objective today is to satisfy the Physiotherapist about my progress. The only problem with this objective is the fact that my legs are still swollen and are therefore impeding that progress. As a result of this swelling I am unable to carry out some of the exercises I have been told to do. No matter, all will be well eventually.
This morning before we go off to the hospital, we will need to turn the boat around so as to make easy our escape on Thursday morning. Yesterday was far too windy for us to carry out that manoeuvre but, as it is calm right now, I am hopeful it will stay that way until later this morning.
Tomorrow morning we will take the car to Mercia Marina, as early as possible so as to avoid heavy traffic. We had intended doing so later today, but the timing would have made it difficult for Brian to get to work on time. He will bring us back here and we will then be on our way, never to return. All that will be left to do then is pay for the last pump-out. However, rather than go through the niceties of a farewell chat with Paul and his staff, we have decided to put the cash and invoice in an envelope with a covering letter.
Thursday 26th August and despite the overnight rain, once we have taken the car to Mercia we will be on our way. If the river is in flood we’ll spend a few days moored up at whatever place we reach and we’ll decide with Brian and Marian, what to de next. It is still raining now and I rather think the river Soar at least will be a little high. We’ll either have to leave our departure until later today, or even tomorrow morning and, if we do that we’ll miss Marian’s birthday.
Not to worry, I will now try to post this and, if necessary, text everybody concerned as to what’s happening.
Cheers for now.
Dave, Sheila and Rusty
My legs are feeling very much better and I even allowed my good wife to drive me into Quorn yesterday morning. What a treat to be home and to get about again. Mind you I’m not getting a lot of sleep at night, mainly because of the interminable ache in the legs; and neither is Sheila for that matter; and I’m suffering from swollen legs and feet. This latter malady I put down to the painkillers, a problem I had a while ago and managed to almost eliminate by stopping the use of one particular drug. On Wednesday I will be going into Quorn to have my staples removed and will ask Claire our Practice Nurse, if there’s anything that can be done to reduce the swelling. It really is becoming a nuisance and I am still spending more time sleeping in the armchair than in bed.
Tuesday 10th August and what a wet night we had here, cats and dogs does not do it justice, it really pelted down and not for a short shower either.
The week is almost half way through and Brian and Marian will be back on Monday, they are currently enjoying temperatures in the mid 80’s, so they will look more like Greeks than the Greeks when they get back. Following on from their return they will be doing a bit of cruising and then, around the 27th, which is Marian’s birthday, they’ll be stopping by to escort us to Mercia Marina. So it will be goodbye Pillings and hello Mercia.
We are quite looking forward to the move, where we will enjoy full security, a small store and café on site and a chandlery that is open 24/7. Mercia Marina is also somewhat cheaper to moor at, despite its greater size and obvious more expensive upkeep.
Electricity is charged at cost, plus an annual service charge and the mooring fees are considerably less. We will even enjoy a 10% discount at several of the commercial establishments in Willington, the nearby village, which is only a short walk from the marina. Our mail will also be delivered to the store by the local Post Office for about the same as Paul charges here for a Box Number, £5 per month. And they don’t charge more for parcels, whereas a charge of £1 per parcel is now having to be paid here at Pillings.
In addition there are several WiFi posts around the site and so, if reception is poor through the dongle, we can pay the subscription fee of £85 per annum and enjoy speedy Internet access.
We will be moored next door to Brian and Marian, with side hatches facing each other. I have severe reservations about this arrangement because I have visions of Sheila and Marian giggling at each other across the gap like a pair of fish wives. There is also the fact that Marian is well into 60’s music and likes the volume high rather than low. Should be fun!!
Wednesday 11th August and I have to say, what with the much cooler and wetter weather we’ve had of late, it doesn’t seem like high summer. However, even though the sun has yet to rise over the trees by the canal, it looks like a bright start to the day is in the offing.
So there we were yesterday evening, relaxing in front of the telly at about half past eight, when my phone rang. This is not so unusual when you consider Alan, Carole, Barbara and even Brian or Marian, all of whom are apt to call me or Sheila on occasion.
The very last person I would have expected to call was Brian, who is supposed to be enjoying a holiday in Corfu. But, sure enough, that’s who it was. After the usual banter where Brian pretends to be in a pub, knowing full well I was not, I asked what the hell he was doing phoning us from there. It seems that Corfu is about two hours ahead of UK, so they were just getting ready for bed and, since he had nothing better to do, he thought he’d give us a bit of a surprise.
There aren’t too many new and very good friends that would telephone from holiday abroad, most folks would have more sense than to waste their money on such long-distance calls. But that’s Brian and Marian for you, always expect the unexpected from them.
Happily, instead of going off cruising as soon as they get home, they’re going to drop in on us first. Now, that conversation, especially between Sheila and Marian, could take a while.
Sorry to say I had a very uncomfortable night last night, all aches and pains again and I finally went to bed with quite badly swollen calves and feet. This is probably because, having taken a walk out to the car and back, after our trip to Tesco yesterday morning, I didn’t spend any time in a horizontal position, which I should have done on a couple of occasions in order to encourage circulation.
Still, I’m off to have the staples removed this afternoon, so I will be able to ask Claire, the Practice Nurse, if there’s anything to be done about the swelling. It could be that the Co-codomol painkillers are having that effect, in which case I may have to see the doctor with a view to changing them. (Echo! Echo!).
I am really suffering the effects of old age and seem to be repeating myself but, having quickly scanned the earlier pages of this entry, I don’t think I mentioned that I’ll be going in to Glenfields Hospital on Friday for some more physio. Personally I think it’s a little too soon after the op, but they should know best. I also have an appointment with the Surgeon, Mr Power, for Tuesday 14th September to assess my progress.
Sunday 15th August and, although overcast, it has started out as a calm day.
With the lousy weather we’ve had of late, I’ve not been off the boat for two days. Hopefully, if the forecasters are right, it will brighten up later and I will get my Sunday lunchtime drink. Obviously, being somewhat limited in my ability to get about, I didn’t make it last week. And, since they don’t run any kind of pub run from the hospital; more’s the pity; I missed out on the Sunday before, so I have some catching up to do.
I should have paid a visit to Glenfields Hospital on Friday for a physio session. Unfortunately I spent a great deal of Thursday night sitting in the little room. The result of that, and I won’t go into the sordid details, was more problems with the loo.
So, on Friday morning I phoned Chris Williams – the boat safety man – and asked if he knew of anyone who could help, having first discovered that Ashley was away on holiday. He suggested the boatyard at Foxton and an engineer named Sam Matts.
Good old Sam turned up later and fixed the problem and, during our chat over a cuppa, we touched upon the boat safety certificate. According to Chris Williams it is essential to have a cut-off valve between the fuel tank and the heater system. But, on mentioning that Chris had failed our boat for that reason, Sam said he was sure this was not a requirement.
To cut a long story short, he phoned Webasto, the manufacturers of our system and asked them about it. They in turn assured him the valve was not necessary and sent him an email to confirm this, which Sam sent on to me. I am now waiting until tomorrow morning, to phone Chris and ask for our certificate, which he kept until we had rectified the problem.
It’s strange is this, because The New Boat Company, who supplied the boat from new, would surely have included such a valve when they fitted the boat out. Hopefully Chris will check what I tell him and issue us with our certificate, saving us a few quid in the process. We don’t want to upset the man, because he carried out a couple of small jobs for us, also to do with boat safety, without charging us extra.
Monday 16th August and, although it started out as a fine and sunny morning, it is now, at 07.00 and heavily overcast. Not to worry though because, apart from a visit to the local quack followed by a bit of shopping, we have no plans for anywhere exciting to visit.
To the doctors this morning because I really must try to find a way to reduce the swelling in my calves and feet, some evenings the situation is almost unbearable and I simply don’t know what to do to enjoy a bit of comfort. Aaah!!
I have no doubt that, if Brian has his mobile with him, he’ll give us a bell from the airport when they land. If not, then it won’t be long after they get back to Mercia.
Now, as we have less than a fortnight to go before we leave for Mercia Marina, I will keep this blog going for another week or so. Of course, this means it may be rather long and so it will give you all something to keep you busy for a while.
Tuesday 17th August and the sun is taking much longer to rise these days. Pretty soon I’ll be getting up in total darkness.
I phoned Chris Williams about the shut-off valve for the heater system and he promised to look into it. He phoned Webasto and received the same info as I did but, on checking with the boat safety people was informed that the valve is necessary. So, we’ll be trundling off to Sileby Marina to pick one up. Since I’ll find it rather difficult to climb down into the engine bay, our other neighbour Clive has offered to do the honours.
Brian eventually phoned yesterday evening to say they would be paying us a visit today at around lunchtime.
Thursday 19th August and yesterday marked the fourth week since the op. I though Tuesday night was bad in terms of aches and pains keeping me awake, but last night now has that honour. It seems that the discomfort pops up in different parts of my legs every night and last night was the turn of my right foot to show its displeasure. I think I managed about three hours in the armchair and have dozed in bed since then. It is now just gone 05.00 and I’m tapping away at this thing when I should still be asleep. I suppose I must have tossed and turned for about another three hours in bed, so Wifey didn’t get much sleep either. It was unlike her to doze off in the armchair yesterday evening whilst watching telly, but that’s what she did.
Anyway, Brian and Marian finally turned up yesterday afternoon, having first to get his new car checked over. Upon their arrival at the airport the car wouldn’t start due to a flat battery. They then discovered the exhaust was blowing and had to stop off to get that checked. Naturally our pair of reprobates arrived bearing gifts; a T-shirt for me and a mug for Sheila; as if we don’t already have enough mugs on the boat, and I don’t mean us two.
My T-shirt reads ‘Not a day goes by without me meeting someone to p… me off’. And the mug for Sheila? When she removed the tissue paper inside, she was faced with a rather beautifully crafted phallus. Hmmm! Typically Greek I suppose and an indication as to the state of mind of our new friends.
Friday 20th August and we’ve just suffered another night of rain. We are supposed to be moving the boat to Mercia Marina next Thursday/Friday but, if we get much more of this, the Soar will be in flood and we’ll be stuck somewhere along the canal. We will still have to go though, because we have now cancelled our Standing Order for this place. Hallelujah!!
Today, just for a change, we’re going to Morrison’s to shop. We haven’t been there for several weeks now, but we do need petrol and they are the cheapest around. I don’t know that I’ll be able to walk round the store with Wifey, so I’ll probably have to sit in the car. Still, with me out of the way she probably won’t spend as much.
Ivan came to the rescue yesterday and fitted our shut-off valve to the diesel line that feeds the heater. We timed him and it took him about seven minutes. He also gave us his opinion as to why Chris Williams has insisted on one being fitted.
Apparently the Webasto heating system was designed for trucks, where the fuel supply would be drawn from the top of the tank. Therefore, if a fracture occurred in the feed line the system would automatically shut itself off and any fuel in the pipe would siphon back into the tank.
This is not the case with the boat, because the fuel pipe comes horizontally from near the top of the tank and, should a fracture occur, all the fuel in the tank above the pipe would dribble out into the engine bay. So, why didn’t Chris tell us that?
Saturday 21st August and yet more rain is falling. Will it never end?
Eight pages later and I think it’s time I posted this blog. Ooops, and sorry, Internet access is a bit slow today, so this posting will have to wait.
Monday 23rd August and yet more rain, absolutely chucked it down last night and has been raining on and off for most of today.
I have now decided to wait until Wednesday or Thursday before posting this blog. Well, hell, that’s only a couple of days away, so there seems no point posting just yet and besides, I still have a bit to say about this place.
You will notice dear reader, that I have refrained from mentioning anything to do with this marina. There’s a very good reason for this, I simply can’t be bothered and the situation is becoming rather boring. So, instead of a 15 page blog, it will now boil down to 10 or 11 pages.
So, all we’re waiting for is to get my appointment with the Physiotherapists out of the way on Wednesday and, assuming it’s not pouring with rain again and the river is not in flood, we’ll be out of her in the afternoon. With luck and a following wind we’ll be miles away from here come tea time. The only time we’ll have to come back is for the car and any mail.
Tuesday 24th August and, with a little luck, our final full day here. Tomorrow, after seeing the physios and, if it is a fine enough day, we will, at long last, be making our way to Mercia Marina. I know I keep harping on about this and I’m sure you are all bored to bits, but the mere thought of getting away from here and the atmosphere is enough to put a big cheesy grin on my face.
Unfortunately I don’t think the physio is going to be too pleased with my progress. Sadly, because of the swollen calves and feet, I am unable to progress through the exercises they gave me and my movements are somewhat restricted. Perhaps they can come up with an answer to this problem, I don’t think that one water tablet a day is doing much to alleviate the problem.
Before going on holiday Marian gave me a small bowl to paint for her. Now, as much as I would like to have done this in time for her birthday, with all the painkillers I’m taking my hands are just not steady enough. There are other items I want to paint also, but they too will have to wait until I lose the dt’s.
Tomorrow, whatever happens, I will be posting this blog, the longest one yet.
3pm the same day.
Sheila and I have decided to move the car to Mercia tomorrow, immediately after my physio session, we just don’t feel safe leaving it here. To this end Brian will be fetching us back from Mercia and, assuming the weather is fine and not blowing a gale, we will be on our way and thank goodness for that.
Wednesday 25th August. This is it folks, the last day but one at Pillings Lock Marina.
My main objective today is to satisfy the Physiotherapist about my progress. The only problem with this objective is the fact that my legs are still swollen and are therefore impeding that progress. As a result of this swelling I am unable to carry out some of the exercises I have been told to do. No matter, all will be well eventually.
This morning before we go off to the hospital, we will need to turn the boat around so as to make easy our escape on Thursday morning. Yesterday was far too windy for us to carry out that manoeuvre but, as it is calm right now, I am hopeful it will stay that way until later this morning.
Tomorrow morning we will take the car to Mercia Marina, as early as possible so as to avoid heavy traffic. We had intended doing so later today, but the timing would have made it difficult for Brian to get to work on time. He will bring us back here and we will then be on our way, never to return. All that will be left to do then is pay for the last pump-out. However, rather than go through the niceties of a farewell chat with Paul and his staff, we have decided to put the cash and invoice in an envelope with a covering letter.
Thursday 26th August and despite the overnight rain, once we have taken the car to Mercia we will be on our way. If the river is in flood we’ll spend a few days moored up at whatever place we reach and we’ll decide with Brian and Marian, what to de next. It is still raining now and I rather think the river Soar at least will be a little high. We’ll either have to leave our departure until later today, or even tomorrow morning and, if we do that we’ll miss Marian’s birthday.
Not to worry, I will now try to post this and, if necessary, text everybody concerned as to what’s happening.
Cheers for now.
Dave, Sheila and Rusty
Friday, 6 August 2010
Pillings Lock Marina 2010 #14
Tuesday 20th July and I now have just eight days to go before my knee operations.
Just recently, when people ask about the op, some seem to think I am being pretty brave in having both knees replaced at the same time. Nothing could be further from the truth because, being the coward that I am, I can see no advantage in suffering the after effects of the operation, on two separate occasions. Believe me, having had one knee sorted out, I would be pretty reluctant to go back for more.
Yesterday I took our friend Brian up to Huddersfield to collect a car that he had bought through eBay. Personally I would rather go through a dealer than travel over 100 miles at the behest of an eBay trader. In this instance though, Brian seems to have struck lucky. The car he bought was an ‘R’ registration Renault Scenic, although the back plate said Megane. Apart from a few light scratches to the bodywork, the £500 he paid looked to be money well spent.
I expected to travel about 90 miles each way, which is why I agreed to go. Unfortunately and unbeknown to me, the car was in Linthwaite and so the total round trip was just under 230 miles. What a day! The only saving grace was the climate control in the 147, otherwise I would probably have been even more cream-crackered than I was.
Wifey is out with Marian again today and they have gone to Derby. I don’t expect to see her now until about five or six o/clock.
Monday 26th July and just two days to go for the op. Wifey is out with Marian today instead of her normal Tuesday. This is because she feels she should be here with me on Tuesday to help prepare all the stuff I need to take to hospital with me on Wednesday morning.
Amongst other things; which do not include the laptop; I shall be taking a small notebook, into which I intend to enter all the nice and nasty happenings. As soon as I am able after arriving home; Saturday, I hope; I shall bring this offering up to date and post it, along with all the gory details.
I am assuming of course, that I actually live through the experience. Of course, if you are reading this scribe then I obviously satisfied the Powers that Be that I am worth keeping on this planet for a while longer. Do they not know what a pain in the ‘arris I can be?
On Tuesday evening, before retiring to bed and on the orders of the hospital hierarchy, I am to take a shower – a strip-wash will have to suffice here I’m afraid - using their special soapy liquid and I am to also wash my hair with said liquid. I can follow this with my own shampoo if I so wish but, since I would only normally was my hair once in any given day, I think I’ll skip the shampoo bit. And besides, I really don’t have much hair left to bother with. No self-respecting bug would even dream of taking up residence there.
On Wednesday morning, immediately upon climbing out of my pit, I am supposed to repeat the above procedure. I shall of course endeavour to do so but, at 05.30 I’m none too sure that I’ll be up to the job, I do have to be at the hospital by 07.30 you know. I understand perfectly the hospital’s need to ensure that the nasty bug they call MRSA does not find its way into the hospital, but they may as well pass all their in patients through a sheep dip immediately upon arrival, thus saving everybody a whole lot of time.
So, for now, I will draw this feeble attempt at levity to a close and look forward to completing and posting this latest blog.
Tuesday 3rd August and I am finally home from the meat-grinding factory, a not very comfortable experience. People have said to me, on a number of occasions, what a brave fellow I am to have a bi-lateral knee replacement. Such is not really the case. Even had I known that the anaesthetist was going to make a hash of fitting of the epidural, I would still have had both knees done at the same time. I really could see no good reason to endure this amount of pain a second time; once was enough for me, thank you very much.
The epidural is an injection that goes into the spinal column and deadens all of the body below the waist, that’s assuming it is placed in precisely the correct position. Any deviation, as I found to my cost, means that one side of the lower body comes awake much earlier than the other. In my case this was the left leg, which soon made me aware of its existence.
After much dithering and farting about, it was decided that perhaps the epidural should be re-positioned, which gave almost immediate relief from the pain. Sadly this did not last very long and the darn thing had to be removed, at which time they then tried regular injections through a vein in the arm, which only added to my distress because, each time an injection was made, back came the shrieking pain. Finally, at great cost my well-being, they decided to give me oral morphine, which seemed to – almost- do the trick. Whilst the right leg was still well and truly dead, I could still feel a nagging ache in the left, but life was a little better.
Glenfields Hospital in Leicester boasts a second-to-none reputation with regards to MRSA and other such bugs so, why did they single me out for a urine infection? They hadn’t done enough damage already? Yaveh! Sheila, poor lass, will attest to my rantings and ravings whilst this infection took hold, because she was sitting by my side at the time. It didn’t take them long to recognise the symptoms and take prompt action, but one’s body can only be subjected to so much bouncing around like a demented grasshopper, before it gives up and goes bye bye. So, more intra venal injections, this time with some serious antibiotics.
These ‘minor’ setbacks cost me an extra two days in hospital, but I have to praise the dedication of the doctors and nurses at Glenfields, without which I would not be hobbling around on crutches.
I kept a sort of diary whilst I was in there, which I will try to sort out at a later date. Meanwhile I really think I should tell you about the after effects of the op.
Initially getting out of bed is a triumph of ambition over reason, after all those nasty men with scalpels, hammers and chisels, had been mauling my legs about for about 3½ hours. The resultant damage to muscles and ligaments made everything associated with my knees somewhat fragile and unable to do what they were made for. However, with some assistance from the aforementioned nurses, I made it to the edge of the bed and the awaiting transport, which came in the shape of a wheeled zimmer frame, a wonderful contraption that eventually saw me shuffling along to the bathroom at breakneck speed.
After this came the crutches, a much preferred form of transport, albeit not much faster and the physiotherapists, in their infinite wisdom, eventually had me traipsing around corridors and giving me exercises designed to strengthen the muscles. I did so well, or so they tell me, at this particular routine, that I was allowed home yesterday afternoon. Having said that, I do believe there was a certain amount of reluctance to do so, because I heard murmurings to that effect, and they were not too far from my ears. But, I was having none of it and insisted that ‘today’s the day’, I’m going home and home is where I am at. I now have a regular exercise regime to follow, which should see me walking without crutches, within the next six to eight weeks.
Incidentally, I now have a very pretty row of staples running vertically up both knees, which are due to be removed on Wednesday 11th August, just two weeks after the op. By the looks of it I will be left with a rather jagged scar, but looks can be deceiving, can’t they? And anyway, who’s going to be looking at my ancient knees?
Looking on the bright side, we’re due to move to Mercia Marina at the end of the month, which we will do with the help of our very good friends, Brian and Marian and Clive. Even more so are we anticipating the pleasures of once again cruising the waterways next summer. Bring it on!
Wednesday 4th August and my legs are so painful that I am still unable to perform even the most gentle of exercises. This doesn’t mean I can’t get around the boat, it just means I am delaying the stretching of muscles until the pain has lessened somewhat.
Sleeping is problem right now. I am only allowed a certain amount of painkillers, and they don’t really alleviate the aches in my knees, especially on top where the scars are. I therefore find I am spending an hour or so in bed, followed by a similar period in the armchair. I toss and turn so much in bed, that I’m sure Sheila isn’t getting much sleep. But, she’s a game lass and will soldier on until I’m well enough to make the tea and do the breakfast and lunch. At which point she will probably collapse from exhaustion.
Our good friends Marian and Brian are off to Corfu for 10 days on Friday morning. When they return they then plan some cruising, part of which will bring them to this marina; somewhere around Marian’s birthday; when they will escort us to Mercia. Along the way we’ll celebrate the birthday girl with a bar-b-q along the towpath. I’m quite looking forward to that and am hoping I am able to move about more, without the aches and pains.
Friday 6th August and enough of the mundane details re my operation, after four days of being home and spending a few sleepless nights, I now feel almost human. Last night, for the first time since Monday, I actually spent more time in bed than in the armchair, so things must be improving. The discomfort in my left leg, which has been giving me trouble since day one, seems to be easing off now although, being woken up by our pooch just as I’m dozing off, can be something of a nuisance, as I’m sure you can imagine.
Before leaving the subject and before I forget, I would like to thank all of you who enquired after my state of health. Much appreciated.
Wifey has been across to pay for our pump-out of yesterday. Upon her return she informed me, that our MD, Paul Lilley, is, apparently, pretty upset at some of the comments I’ve made about him and the marina in this blog.
I have, as you all know, been writing this blog since way back in September ’09 and, although it is a public blog, it really is intended for just immediate friends and family, that’s you lot. What I hadn’t envisage was that Paul carries out the occasional search of the Internet looking for any other info – good or bad – which refers to Pillings Lock Marina and, because my blog is actually entitled Pillings Lock Marina 2010, he found it and took immediate offence.
Knowing me as you do, you will not be surprised to note, that further comments regarding this marina will be included in the next blog. Unfortunately, with Brian and Marian away in Corfu for 10 days, I have no immediate way of confirming a particular piece of information, and so it will have to wait until their return. However, being a fair minded individual, and having looked back through all 14 blogs, I will be itemising good and bad points about this place that have come to my attention over the past 11 months.
Mr Lilley will be surprised to note, that those comments even out pretty well into good and not so good. I am, as I said, a fair minded man.
All for now folks
Dave, Sheila and Rusty.
Just recently, when people ask about the op, some seem to think I am being pretty brave in having both knees replaced at the same time. Nothing could be further from the truth because, being the coward that I am, I can see no advantage in suffering the after effects of the operation, on two separate occasions. Believe me, having had one knee sorted out, I would be pretty reluctant to go back for more.
Yesterday I took our friend Brian up to Huddersfield to collect a car that he had bought through eBay. Personally I would rather go through a dealer than travel over 100 miles at the behest of an eBay trader. In this instance though, Brian seems to have struck lucky. The car he bought was an ‘R’ registration Renault Scenic, although the back plate said Megane. Apart from a few light scratches to the bodywork, the £500 he paid looked to be money well spent.
I expected to travel about 90 miles each way, which is why I agreed to go. Unfortunately and unbeknown to me, the car was in Linthwaite and so the total round trip was just under 230 miles. What a day! The only saving grace was the climate control in the 147, otherwise I would probably have been even more cream-crackered than I was.
Wifey is out with Marian again today and they have gone to Derby. I don’t expect to see her now until about five or six o/clock.
Monday 26th July and just two days to go for the op. Wifey is out with Marian today instead of her normal Tuesday. This is because she feels she should be here with me on Tuesday to help prepare all the stuff I need to take to hospital with me on Wednesday morning.
Amongst other things; which do not include the laptop; I shall be taking a small notebook, into which I intend to enter all the nice and nasty happenings. As soon as I am able after arriving home; Saturday, I hope; I shall bring this offering up to date and post it, along with all the gory details.
I am assuming of course, that I actually live through the experience. Of course, if you are reading this scribe then I obviously satisfied the Powers that Be that I am worth keeping on this planet for a while longer. Do they not know what a pain in the ‘arris I can be?
On Tuesday evening, before retiring to bed and on the orders of the hospital hierarchy, I am to take a shower – a strip-wash will have to suffice here I’m afraid - using their special soapy liquid and I am to also wash my hair with said liquid. I can follow this with my own shampoo if I so wish but, since I would only normally was my hair once in any given day, I think I’ll skip the shampoo bit. And besides, I really don’t have much hair left to bother with. No self-respecting bug would even dream of taking up residence there.
On Wednesday morning, immediately upon climbing out of my pit, I am supposed to repeat the above procedure. I shall of course endeavour to do so but, at 05.30 I’m none too sure that I’ll be up to the job, I do have to be at the hospital by 07.30 you know. I understand perfectly the hospital’s need to ensure that the nasty bug they call MRSA does not find its way into the hospital, but they may as well pass all their in patients through a sheep dip immediately upon arrival, thus saving everybody a whole lot of time.
So, for now, I will draw this feeble attempt at levity to a close and look forward to completing and posting this latest blog.
Tuesday 3rd August and I am finally home from the meat-grinding factory, a not very comfortable experience. People have said to me, on a number of occasions, what a brave fellow I am to have a bi-lateral knee replacement. Such is not really the case. Even had I known that the anaesthetist was going to make a hash of fitting of the epidural, I would still have had both knees done at the same time. I really could see no good reason to endure this amount of pain a second time; once was enough for me, thank you very much.
The epidural is an injection that goes into the spinal column and deadens all of the body below the waist, that’s assuming it is placed in precisely the correct position. Any deviation, as I found to my cost, means that one side of the lower body comes awake much earlier than the other. In my case this was the left leg, which soon made me aware of its existence.
After much dithering and farting about, it was decided that perhaps the epidural should be re-positioned, which gave almost immediate relief from the pain. Sadly this did not last very long and the darn thing had to be removed, at which time they then tried regular injections through a vein in the arm, which only added to my distress because, each time an injection was made, back came the shrieking pain. Finally, at great cost my well-being, they decided to give me oral morphine, which seemed to – almost- do the trick. Whilst the right leg was still well and truly dead, I could still feel a nagging ache in the left, but life was a little better.
Glenfields Hospital in Leicester boasts a second-to-none reputation with regards to MRSA and other such bugs so, why did they single me out for a urine infection? They hadn’t done enough damage already? Yaveh! Sheila, poor lass, will attest to my rantings and ravings whilst this infection took hold, because she was sitting by my side at the time. It didn’t take them long to recognise the symptoms and take prompt action, but one’s body can only be subjected to so much bouncing around like a demented grasshopper, before it gives up and goes bye bye. So, more intra venal injections, this time with some serious antibiotics.
These ‘minor’ setbacks cost me an extra two days in hospital, but I have to praise the dedication of the doctors and nurses at Glenfields, without which I would not be hobbling around on crutches.
I kept a sort of diary whilst I was in there, which I will try to sort out at a later date. Meanwhile I really think I should tell you about the after effects of the op.
Initially getting out of bed is a triumph of ambition over reason, after all those nasty men with scalpels, hammers and chisels, had been mauling my legs about for about 3½ hours. The resultant damage to muscles and ligaments made everything associated with my knees somewhat fragile and unable to do what they were made for. However, with some assistance from the aforementioned nurses, I made it to the edge of the bed and the awaiting transport, which came in the shape of a wheeled zimmer frame, a wonderful contraption that eventually saw me shuffling along to the bathroom at breakneck speed.
After this came the crutches, a much preferred form of transport, albeit not much faster and the physiotherapists, in their infinite wisdom, eventually had me traipsing around corridors and giving me exercises designed to strengthen the muscles. I did so well, or so they tell me, at this particular routine, that I was allowed home yesterday afternoon. Having said that, I do believe there was a certain amount of reluctance to do so, because I heard murmurings to that effect, and they were not too far from my ears. But, I was having none of it and insisted that ‘today’s the day’, I’m going home and home is where I am at. I now have a regular exercise regime to follow, which should see me walking without crutches, within the next six to eight weeks.
Incidentally, I now have a very pretty row of staples running vertically up both knees, which are due to be removed on Wednesday 11th August, just two weeks after the op. By the looks of it I will be left with a rather jagged scar, but looks can be deceiving, can’t they? And anyway, who’s going to be looking at my ancient knees?
Looking on the bright side, we’re due to move to Mercia Marina at the end of the month, which we will do with the help of our very good friends, Brian and Marian and Clive. Even more so are we anticipating the pleasures of once again cruising the waterways next summer. Bring it on!
Wednesday 4th August and my legs are so painful that I am still unable to perform even the most gentle of exercises. This doesn’t mean I can’t get around the boat, it just means I am delaying the stretching of muscles until the pain has lessened somewhat.
Sleeping is problem right now. I am only allowed a certain amount of painkillers, and they don’t really alleviate the aches in my knees, especially on top where the scars are. I therefore find I am spending an hour or so in bed, followed by a similar period in the armchair. I toss and turn so much in bed, that I’m sure Sheila isn’t getting much sleep. But, she’s a game lass and will soldier on until I’m well enough to make the tea and do the breakfast and lunch. At which point she will probably collapse from exhaustion.
Our good friends Marian and Brian are off to Corfu for 10 days on Friday morning. When they return they then plan some cruising, part of which will bring them to this marina; somewhere around Marian’s birthday; when they will escort us to Mercia. Along the way we’ll celebrate the birthday girl with a bar-b-q along the towpath. I’m quite looking forward to that and am hoping I am able to move about more, without the aches and pains.
Friday 6th August and enough of the mundane details re my operation, after four days of being home and spending a few sleepless nights, I now feel almost human. Last night, for the first time since Monday, I actually spent more time in bed than in the armchair, so things must be improving. The discomfort in my left leg, which has been giving me trouble since day one, seems to be easing off now although, being woken up by our pooch just as I’m dozing off, can be something of a nuisance, as I’m sure you can imagine.
Before leaving the subject and before I forget, I would like to thank all of you who enquired after my state of health. Much appreciated.
Wifey has been across to pay for our pump-out of yesterday. Upon her return she informed me, that our MD, Paul Lilley, is, apparently, pretty upset at some of the comments I’ve made about him and the marina in this blog.
I have, as you all know, been writing this blog since way back in September ’09 and, although it is a public blog, it really is intended for just immediate friends and family, that’s you lot. What I hadn’t envisage was that Paul carries out the occasional search of the Internet looking for any other info – good or bad – which refers to Pillings Lock Marina and, because my blog is actually entitled Pillings Lock Marina 2010, he found it and took immediate offence.
Knowing me as you do, you will not be surprised to note, that further comments regarding this marina will be included in the next blog. Unfortunately, with Brian and Marian away in Corfu for 10 days, I have no immediate way of confirming a particular piece of information, and so it will have to wait until their return. However, being a fair minded individual, and having looked back through all 14 blogs, I will be itemising good and bad points about this place that have come to my attention over the past 11 months.
Mr Lilley will be surprised to note, that those comments even out pretty well into good and not so good. I am, as I said, a fair minded man.
All for now folks
Dave, Sheila and Rusty.
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