Friday 7th
February to Sunday 23rd February
Friday 7th
February
On Wednesday morning we drove
over to Coventry University Hospital for me to have some tests carried out.
This was to discover why my legs and feet ache. After resting for 15 minutes the
tests; which included pulse checks on both arms and feet and a 10 minute
session on a treadmill; we had a chat with the nurse. I must now take more
exercise; walking in particular; but without support stockings. Apparently the
tests show that I have a narrowing of the arteries, especially on my left side
and that, if I walk until I am in some pain and discomfort then walk some more
with more pain and discomfort, then, eventually my leg will grow another artery
in order to facilitate better blood flow to my foot.
How odd that is! I know
sharks can grow more teeth and a lizard can grow another tail if you yank it
off, but humans growing arteries? Hmmm, I have my doubts. Still, who am I to
argue? She’s the nurse and supposed to be the expert.
Now, I’m approaching my 72nd
birthday and, as we all know, the older we get the longer our bodies take to
heal. By my reckoning I’ll probably be in my 80s before my leg has grown
another artery. Meanwhile nurse has recommended Statins and a blood thinning
agent. She too must know that, the chances of me growing another artery, at
least in this lifetime, are pretty remote. So, keep taking the pills!!
Yesterday we took the bus
into Rugby and found the Morrison’s Store which, from our experience with this
company, must be the smallest they have. We were hoping to find some Hammond’s
Chop Sauce, but that wasn’t to be. We’re running a bit low of that particular
commodity and will probably have to wait until we leave here and pass through
Rugeley.
Today I must pay a visit to
the surgery and book an appointment with the nurse and present her with the
form with the new medication, so that she can enter them into my records for
future use.
Meanwhile the rain has been
sheeting down all night long, and it’s still doing so. So much for the walkies
then!!
Saturday 8th
February
This morning dawned bright
and sunny and, because of that we decided to drive over to the chandlery at
Braunston. We bought some more rope for the fire door, some lubricant for the
cassette, another seven LED lights and some water purification tablets at a
combined cost of £80. The seven lights were to replace some more Halogen bulbs,
thus saving power for when we’re cruising.
Sunday 9th
February
Yesterday was a gloriously
sunny day, which is more than can be said for last night, when it sheeted down
with rain and we were buffeted by strong winds.
During all the rain we had
earlier in the week, Shiralee rose about 4 inches in the water. By yesterday
morning she had settled back down. After speaking with our neighbour John, who
had been to Braunston earlier in the week, the locks there were overflowing,
which would account for the fast drop in water levels here. Like I’ve said
before, there’s a lot to recommend about living on a boat.
It’s still windy and rainy
this morning, but I dare say we’ll still make it to the club later. Meanwhile,
I’m still plodding on with my recipes books and have just started on Book 3:
The South East and London.
Thursday 13th
February
Well, we’ve had some really
disturbing weather over the past few days, with lots of rain and high winds.
But I suppose we can count ourselves very lucky indeed, because we’ve only had
to cope with a water level rise of about 3 inches here in the marina. Our
hearts go out to those folks in Somerset and the Thames Valley.
What saddens me though is the
downright ignorance of the Environment Agency who, over the past 18 years has
been following a policy of taking care of wildlife and ignoring people and
property. Someone has been quoted as saying, “Oh, we can’t dredge the rivers
now because voles live there and have to be protected.” Dummies, all of them
and then they squeak on about how hard their troops have been working. But, had
the EA done their job; as was laid down when the Somerset Levels were first
cleared; they wouldn’t have had to work so hard. Perhaps now, after all the
political posturing, the EA and others will ensure that dredging is carried out
on a regular basis. But I hope the inhabitants of all those flooded areas are
good at holding their breath because, as soon as the flood waters go down and
everything is dry again, those responsible will simply take up where they left
off.
We took the bus into Rugby
yesterday, just for something to do but, when it came to catching the returning
bus, it didn’t show. So, we walked back to the shopping centre and bought a few
other odds and sods, before finally catching the next bus home. By the time we
got back to the marina however, the winds had picked up and the heavens opened
up.
Today, simply because we’re
expecting a lull in the rain and wind, we’ll be doing our weekly shop at
Sainsbury’s.
Tomorrow is supposed to bring
us more high winds and heavy rain.
Saturday 15th
February
We took a right battering
last night, so much so that I found it difficult to sleep, unlike Wifey who, as
usual, slept like a baby.
Today it’s been raining on
and off for most of the day, although we did manage to get to the shops and
also get a couple of bags of coal and a bag of logs, without getting wet.
We heard from our friend
Sandy from Mercia. She and her hubby Andy are living with her father
temporarily. Andy is currently fitting out another boat and they will stay with
Sandy’s dad until such time as she’s not needed any more. I’m hoping we can
meet up soon for a meal, at which time I will try asking them if they’ll look
after the Alfa while we’re away. This will do us both a favour because, not
only will they take good care of the car, but Sandy will have her own
transport, instead of having to borrow Andy’s van when she needs to go
shopping.
We’ve also heard that the
permanent moorers at Mercia are now being stung for Council Tax, at about
£1,000 per annum. They are not pleased and, I suspect, some of them will leave
there as a result. It’s been on the cards for some time now and has now come to
fruition. On top of that, the powers that be have deemed it necessary to limit
non-permanent moorers to six months stay.
Tuesday 18th
February
Yesterday morning we hemmed
and hawed as to what to do with ourselves. Should be take the bus into
Northampton or Rugby? Should we just take a walk up to the Co-op for the paper?
It took a while, but we finally decided to be lazy and walked up for the paper.
Lazy!
Our car is insured with
Bradford and Bingley and, since it’s now getting close to the day when it needs
renewing, I thought I would get on to them and change our address, from Mercia
to Crick Marina. Would you believe it, there are only two ways to do this; if
you discount calling them on a premium rate phone number; and they are 1/ log
in to their site and change it there – should be simple – or 2/ write to them.
Doing so online is definitely
not simple because, for some reason best known to themselves, their form does
not accept the address unless it includes a house number. Pretty difficult in
our case. I tried putting a number in, followed by the name of the boat, which
is essential if we want to receive any mail, but that didn’t work either. So, I
have now written to them but, as yet I haven’t received a reply, not even an
email.
What I’m getting at here is
the fact that I am unable to even email them with my change of address, which I
find pretty ludicrous.
Wednesday 19th
February
Today should see the arrival
of my ukulele course, for which I paid an extra £20 Import Duty. Hopefully it
will be worth the money I laid out. I am going to concentrate on this, to the
exclusion of the guitar, which will be stored under the bed, albeit
temporarily. No doubt I’ll dig it out again while we’re cruising.
Saturday 22nd
February
As you may or may not know,
when you reach the age of 70 you have to apply to renew your driver’s licence.
I’ve already done so once when I was put onto Insulin for my diabetes, but it’s
now due again. So, being the honest citizen that I am, I duly obtained a copy
of the necessary forms from our local post office, filled them in and sent them
off.
Now, when I do this I have to
make sure I fill in Alan’s address, because that’s where the licence is
registered. So, after three weeks of waiting, an envelope turned up at Alan’s
house, which contained said forms, with the request that I supply a recent
photograph. I now have to wait for it to arrive here and then add a photo.
It’s just as well that the
licence renewal isn’t due until April, otherwise I would be panicking.
Sunday 23rd February
I had something of a health scare
in the early hours of this morning, my tongue swelled up. Now, I’ve had this
before, but it was quite some time ago, probably a couple of years, so it came
as something of a surprise. Alan recently had this problem too, so I’m
wondering if it’s a genetic problem. Could we both be allergic to something, I
wonder? It’s subsided now, but still a bit sore. I suppose I could have
scratched my tongue during the night, say with a sharp tooth edge! Ah well, age
may have its compensations, but it also has its downsides.
Well, as usual, we’ll pop
along to the club at lunchtime and sup a couple of beers. Meanwhile, let’s get
this thing posted.
Cheers folks and take care.
Dave and Sheila
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