Restrictions lifted and a mad scramble at the lock

 This was not our plan! Today we would make Fazeley Junction, moor and continue to Glascote locks tomorrow. It was the long-awaited 10 am opening of Glascote that initially made us decide to leave the madness of trying to make it through the lock to others. We anticipated a queue, a long, long queue and really didn't want to be part of the long line of boats all standing around with center ropes and moving a boat's length every 10 minutes or so. It's funny how things change in one's mind. Having left Huddelsford before 9 am, we made great progress, not another boat other than moored boats seen, so we had the canal to ourselves. The usual vegetation problems slowed us down, but these days we expect it. Clearing reeds is not important in CRT's thoughts! 

 It took roughly 2.5 hours to reach Fazeley. We turned left to continue onto the Coventry canal, fully expecting there to be loads of boats on the moorings, but there wasn't! Had all the boats made it through Glascote at the opening of 10 am? Maybe there were not the amount as first thought so we did, what turned out to be, a silly thing. We continued toward the lock. 

It was all going so well until we turned the corner by the road bridge. OMG, boat, after boat, after boat, all with folk on center ropes waiting to use the lock! Nothing for it but to tag onto the end, we were committed! 

 Ian decided to walk to the lock to find out what was going on, fully expecting CRT to be there. Not a hair on their heads were seen, they had unlocked at 10 am and left. The news when he returned was not good. We were 16th in the queue! Baring in mind the time was now 12.15pm, over two hours had already passed. Makes you wonder exactly how many boats had been waiting for the 10 am opening. Maybe 25-30? Anyway as usual I took photos, most of these are self-explanatory. 

Turned left. That's the junction looking back

This was the sight that greeted us

Having to leap frog that moored boat.

I walked up and this was the middle pound.

And these were all the boats still waiting. FS was still a few boats back through the bridge hole.

 

Ian went up to help

Time was getting on. The email from CRT had mentioned last boat into the lock by 2 pm. Five boats were still in front of us and expected CRT to turn up at any minute and close the flight. Luckily, they never did come! In fact, we got through the flight just before three and still no sign. Two more boats had arrived, and we felt sure they could make it through too. They did with Ian's help.

Finally, in the lock, time was about 2.45 pm. 

Might as well start them young 😉

Waiting in the middle pound

Three lovely lads helped us through, I even gave one of them a ride on FS out of the lock. Treat the youths right and they are as good as gold.

 With the next set of locks at Atherstone a couple of hours away, we went as far as we could before it got too dark. Several of the queuing boats have been passed, and we did actually make it to Atherstone bottom lock. Lots of boats moored, whether they are all for the lock we don't know, but we have been told that only lock 7 of the flight has been padlocked. Several boats have since gone, leaving us slightly nearer to the lock. We will decide whether to leave early and by pass the moored boats tomorrow morning.  

FS all good

 Thursday 9th

So much for them at Harrison's telling Ian that they would fix the alternator 'first thing'! Wednesday we waited for a call and after wondering when that phone call would come, decided we could no longer wait and phoned at 2pm. They hadn't done it, not even looked at it, even after the assurance he had when he dropped it off on Tuesday evening. But they did have a new alternator on the shelf...yeah right.... I expect that was their plan all along. Make us fork out more money! Their excuse? There was too much work on; they would have known that when Ian dropped it off, so who was telling a porky, eh? Anyway, all we could do was to agree to the new one. £135...ouch. We had to go with it because for two days we had no way of charging the batteries, apart from the solar panels putting a bit in, and sitting with only one light on at night and worrying about the food in the freezer defrosting, it was all we could do. With our daughter unable to help us out, Ian decided to take a taxi. Uba taxies quoted £15 one way to Burton, Ian wanted them to wait so he could make the return journey, that would be another £15! I suggested a local taxi, one in Branston itself, and guess what? They could do a there and back for the same money as a one way from Uba taxis. Moral of this tale, phone local companies first! 

 Before the removal of the alternator Tuesday afternoon.

The towel was there to stop Ian burning his arm. The engine was still hot when our daughter came on Tuesday to take Ian and the alternator to Burton.

Ian fitted the new one last night, and just before 8pm he started the engine and yes...it was doing the job.  Shame we couldn't leave it to run to charge batteries, but we had some sun during the day yesterday, so put in enough charge so I could watch Celebrity Traitors!

 

This morning was an early start. There was some catching up to do, although the amount of boats passing us yesterday must mean some are trying for Glascote. Barton Turns had a boat coming out of the marina. Good job I wasn't any closer because the two people at the bow never even motioned to the skipper that a boat was coming. I forgave them later when they pulled up further along to let us past. The two at the bow were visitors and had never been on a boat before, so had no idea they should have mentioned seeing us. At Fradley we caught up with a couple of those boats that passed us yesterday. They, too, were heading towards Milton Keynes, so I expect to see them on route, hopefully as we pass them whilst they are still  moored! 

Fradley was really busy, not a mooring to be had, so good job we wanted to carry on. CRT volunteers were on, great to get help but as we turned up at the lock, they left....it was their lunch break!

Turned onto the Coventry canal with no idea where we would stop. Huddersford seemed a good a place, yes, that would do for tonight. Tomorrow Fazeley and then Saturday we make our way to Glascote locks. It would be just our luck for the low water situation to come into being with the amount of boats locking up, as well as those waiting to come down, and for CRT to close the waterway again!

 And some pretty locks and cottages on route.

Alrewas

Branston

 

Unexpected hold up

Saturday 4th 

Storm Amy arrived with vengeance, buffeting the boat and producing proper waves. Very few boats passed us, but those that did, kept the power on to stop from crabbing down the canal and more importantly, hitting us! For me, it was a lazy day, Ian took the opportunity to do our tax returns, something he never looks forward to doing!

Sunday was a lot calmer, and we headed off to do the last of the 4 double locks of the T&M. No boat joined us, mores the pity, but we did get help at Weston lock by the owner of the lock cottage. An amusing sight greeted us when looking at his cottage. Three scarecrows, (builders) all in various poses were placed against the wall, with one sitting down on the job drinking coffee; he admitted the one sitting down was supposed to be him. 

 

At Stenson two volunteer lockkeepers helped us up. I was amazed to see them. They are always there on Sundays and Tuesdays, apparently, so must try and remember for next time.

 The plan for Monday was to get diesel at Shobnall, do a Morrison's shop and moor at Branston water park. Plans went out of the window when, at Dallow Lane lock, we were informed Shobnall marina was shut on Sunday and Monday. Oh well, with space found on Shobnall park, we stopped there for the night.

Dead on 9 am, I backed FS through the arch at Shobnall Marina for the stern to be in line with the pump. 89 litres to fill the tank, at 97p litre, gosh it's gone up from the last time we filled last year. 

 Onwards towards the Morrison moorings and stepping off FS, a CRT guy on his bike was checking licences. We asked if he knew when Glascote lock would reopen, but as this wasn't his regular patch, had no idea. Chirk was where he normally checked the boats but, phoning a mate of his, confirmed that Friday was the day from 10am to 3pm, yippee.

Back from shopping and ready to set off, the key turned to heat glow plugs ready to start the engine when a high-pitched squeal filled the air. Good grief, the noise, Ian hoped it would stop when the revs were engaged but no. It all got too much for us to bare, so stopped at Barton lock. Up came the engine covers, Ian hoped it may have been a loose fan belt. But the belt was fine, the alternator was not! The test meter  confirmed this.  Now we were in a pickle. The alternator is required to start the engine, the leisure battery has a different feed, so at least that is still working, but without the alternator to allow the coolant to go around the engine, it would probably cause the engine to seize! Ian phoned Midland Chandlers, found out they no longer deal with alternators, and Shobnall Chandlers could only give a phone number for someone who might be able to help in Burton. It was Harrison Auto Electrical Ltd, and they were more than helpful. They could repair it tomorrow, but we had to bring the alternator to them before 5pm. All I can say is thank goodness for Christine and Kev, who live in Swadlincote. Christine came over as soon as she finished work at 3 pm, but had to wait while Ian struggled to remove the thing. It had been in since the boat was built nearly 20 years ago. To say some of the nuts were rusted was an understatement, but long story short, Ian managed to get the thing out and to Harrison just before 5 pm. So now we await the result. If it can be fixed, all the better, but if not, a new alternator costing big money is what to expect. In the meantime, no charging of the leisure battery, so no TV, and might have to get the candles out tonight.

And Kingfishers a plenty on this part of the T&M

 

Very last knee update and we break free from the Mill

 October 3rd.

Two things happened yesterday, see the consultant for the first time since the knee op and finally get to leave Langley Mill to head for Milton Keynes.

So to the consultant visit. It was at a ridiculous time in the morning, 8.45am appointment and all that rush hour traffic to contend with. We left at 8 am, thought 3/4 hour would be long enough. Well, we only just made it, having been unexpectedly held up by the railway level crossing barriers going down in front of us as we neared the hospital. Groan...hoped it wasn't one of those long goods train, but a sigh of relief when  a small two carriage commute train whizzed past at some speed. The barriers were very quickly raised, but it was the wait for the train to arrive that took the time! Anyway, no sooner had we put bottoms on the seats when I was called in by Mr Matar himself. He took a long look at how I was walking and laughingly said, "Are you sure you've had a knee replacement". Long story short, the X-rays were displayed, a before and after picture and no wonder he got me in as soon as he did. He admitted it was one of the worst knees he had seen in ages.  No wonder I had been in pain for such a long time. Then he asked for certain exercises to be performed, all of which were passed with flying colours. His last parting comment as he signed me off was, "No one is to touch that knee but me. If there are any problems, you contact me immediately".  I must say the whole experience has been one of positivity, there is much to be said for being a NHS patient treated at a private hospital.

With the all clear from Mr Matar, we set off from Langley Mill around 10am. FS had been taken out of the basin on the 1st Oct in the hope we could get away. E-mails from CRT over a week ago confirmed that the locks would hopefully start opening.  

Update 25 September 2025, 4:22pm

While the prolonged period of dry weather has now ended and rainfall so far this month is above average, there has been little to no recovery in reservoir water levels since the closure. 

However, we are hopeful that based on the anticipated increase in rainfall over the coming weeks, that we may be able to lift the closure and offer limited passage to allow movement before the start of the winter stoppage programme.  

If no further issues arise then the proposed opening times will be as follows:

 Friday 10th October to Sunday 2nd November the following locks will be open from 10am to 3pm with last boat in at 2pm.

Grand Union Canal Calcutt Lock 1 (Top Lock) through to Lock 23 (Radford Bottom Lock) Calcutt Lock 1(Top Lock) Braunston Locks 1 to 6 Buckby Locks 7 to 13 Stoke Bruerne Locks 14 to 20   Oxford Canal Hillmorton Locks 2 to 7 Napton Lock 8 through to Marston Doles Lock 16 (Top Lock)   Coventry Canal Glascote Lock Lock 12 (Top Lock) to 13 - (Bottom Lock) Atherstone Lock 1 through to Lock 11

We hope that this window of opportunity to travel will support boaters and boating businesses but strongly advise that everyone continue to check these notices for any updates and plan their journeys to ensure they have enough time to navigate through the restricted areas of the network.

We will update this notice to confirm the proposed plans on 7th October or sooner if we have further information

 

We had planned to be down in Milton Keynes late October. Finally (and it's been years in the making) my brother Andre and partner Sally would be coming for a visit from Australia. Our son Colin and daughter-in-law Iwona had agreed that they could stay with them during the visit. We did so want to take them out on FS for a few days, and for a while now we thought those plans were scuppered because of the stoppages. But yeah, it looks as if it will all come good in the end.

It took roughly 5 hours to get to Sandiacre, our planned stop for the first night. There was a big news item on Midlands Today about sunken boats at Loughborough, well we could do with some news coverage here on TV as well. Derby radio has covered our concerns, but to date CRT haven't down much about it! I'm talking about the sunken boats on the Erewash. It's fast becoming a dumping ground for unloved and unwanted boats, which end up being vandalised and then sunk! To date, only the boat at Sandiacre lock has been removed. The one in the middle of navigation before Gallows lock is still there, as are a few others along the route.

j

At Sawley

Not had one of these on the Erewash before! Another abandoned boat?

Today (3rd)  

With the first named storm (Amy) this season heading our way, it was a very early start then. The plan was to get the upper River Trent section done and dusted before it went into flood. Well, we needn't have worried. I have never seen the river so low, flow was minimal, and I think it will take a vast amount of rain to bring the levels up. 

 

 Best laid plans etc, we had hoped to make Weston Lock on the T&M, but rain started just as we entered Trent Lock. It threw it down, we got well and truly soaked and stopping early wasn't that bad an idea, so Shardlow, above the lock, was where we got to. Here we may stay until Sunday. Tomorrow's weather looks to be worse than todays, and these days if we don't need to move, we don't. 

 

Quality of life restored.

September 17th 

Nearly seven weeks post op, and I'm doing brilliantly. Still some pain behind the knee, especially if my leg has been raised for any length of time. The exercises are going really well, and I have gone from doing the step-ups with a block of a 6-inch rise to our front step, which must be well over a foot. I can truly say this was the best decision of my life. No more arthritic pain, and Ian has noticed how much happier I am. I say to anyone considering having a knee replacement, go ahead...you won't regret it.

 

Block

Front step

 I'm walking now without a limp and can manage roughly a mile all by myself, no hanging on to Ian for support. Even the swelling is going down and last weekend I managed to be on my feet for 5 hours serving tea and coffees for the Heritage Open Day and not a twinge of pain felt!

So that Heritage Open Day (HOD's). It's organised every September to celebrate the history and culture across England and thousands of volunteers organise events for people to find hidden gems and experience new places, all for free. It was decided that our canal society should partake and the Erewash Canal be put on the map, so the Toll House, Pump House and taking groups to see the dry dock and finished extension of the Cromford Canal, were the highlights of our event.  Considering rain and high winds had been forecast, we got away lightly, a brief thunderstorm early afternoon, okay the rain was torrential and had us all scrambling to cover up the cakes as well as ourselves, but that was the only thing to mar a very good and well attended day. Ian was the volunteer at the Pump House, showing folk around and talking about its history, a task he relished.

 

Historic photos of the pump house (can be viewed via ECP&DA website gallery)

I manned the refreshment gazebo and somehow got myself volunteered on making the hot drinks. That's where I stayed until it closed at 3 pm! All those lovely cakes on show and I didn't even have one! The diet is still on the cards, I've not lost any more since the op, but at least I haven't put any on!  

 As usual, I took photos for your enjoyment. 

The gathered group, ready to be led by Micheal (the font of all knowledge about the Erewash), to the Cromford extension. (He knows most pubs around the system too! 😂)

Tombola

Jenn having a go.

A band to serenade us all

 

Shirley on ECP&DA stall hoping to recruit new members.

Yet another knee update

 11th September

The physio did phone back last Monday afternoon and seemed totally unconcerned about my fears. She ruled out nerve damage, that is very rare apparently, and said it was all to do with the muscles healing. She mentioned that knee replacement is brutal, the first thing the surgeon does is dislocate the knee cap and then pulls all the muscles, tendons etc out of the way before sawing away the knee joints. Holes are then drilled in the ends of the bone and the new joints hammered in place! No wonder healing takes time and because of my unfortunate mishap a few weeks ago, mine may take longer. So I have had a prescription for Co-codamal which I must take three times a day along with Ibuprofen. There are side effects..... constipation....oh joy of joys!

Getting on and off the boat has also been better than I expected. Lack of water meant FS was sitting on the bottom so no need to step up onto the back deck, just straight across. Getting down into the boat was slightly more challenging but going backwards and stepping down with the bad leg whilst hanging onto Ian, worked a treat. What didn't work so well, and something neither of us had even thought about, was how to get into bed? At our son's in Milton Keynes I had loads of space to swing the bad leg up onto the mattress, but in FS I have about a foot between the wall and the bed. The radiator hindered as well, and Ian even had thoughts of having to remove it, but after a bit of trial and error, getting my bottom as far up the bed as possible, almost on the pillows, gave me just enough room to swing the leg up.

We had hoped to take FS to Huddelsford the third weekend of September for the Heritage boat gathering, but lack of water has seriously effected the locks at Fradley and Glascote, and the Erewash is more like a shallow ditch as no water is coming from the feeder at Langley Mill. I did wonder if the event would be cancelled, but checking on Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust website, found it's still going ahead. Click HERE if you would like to attend, as there is more to see and do than I expected. We contacted Christine, the organiser and asked if we could take the motorhome instead. We got the thumbs up so that's something to look forward to. 

 I don't expect to blog again for a while unless there is anything more to report about the knee replacement, but I expect to continue with my ramblings once we are on the move again.

 

Knee update

 Oh dear, I have been very lax in keeping up to date with the blog. It was a harsh, gentle reminder from Marilyn asking what was happening that spurred me on to do one! 

So here goes.... this was my reply to Marilyn. 

All was going well, walking much improved, no more using the crutches or stick. Knee still felt tight at the back, but exercises helped. Nearly at the 90 degrees when I had a massive setback nearly two weeks ago. 
In bed, trying to turn on my side, when suddenly had shooting pains go from my outer knee right down to my foot. From that moment, all attempts of exercises went out of the window! I suffered for 5 days before deciding I had to speak to the physio. She immediately asked if I could see her that afternoon, so on Wednesday Ian drove me the 2 hours to the Park hospital in Nottingham. (We were still at our sons in Milton Keynes)
Long story short, I have damaged the soft tissue which is causing the cramping pain that I'm getting. Cold compression was advised and gently exercise, no going to run the marathon! Apart from that, she was really pleased. I have done better than most people, 5 weeks post op. She was amazed I walked in with barely a limp, and all the tests she gave I passed with flying colours. She even said my bend was already past the 90 degrees (not in my book, I thought, but the very large set square she used told a different story!) Anyway, I have been given more exercises to do when I'm able, and she has signed me off. One thing that has worried me slightly is how will I cope back on FS. For 5 weeks, I have had the space to move around and to exercise without any obstacles to hinder my progress. Quite how I will cope back on FS was something I didn't want to think about. I mentioned to Marilyn that we may have to reconsider our plans and sell FS to buy a Park Home.

Marilyn immediately came back with this reply.

Oh bugger! 

It’s those over confidence moves that catch people out. A lot of stretch in that turning movement that previously you’d never even think about. 

I’m pleased you’re on the mend again and excellent re the >90deg bend!!

It’ll be good to be back on the boat, Irene. And in a way I’m not surprised about you looking to move on land. Is a park home fully serviced? Is it a retirement community? Does it have nursing/care staff?

Tell me more!!

 

Instead of me trying to explain all about Park Homes, it's easier to click the link HERE

Then, about 3 days ago and doing a step-up exercise, another shooting pain but this time even worse! It didn't wear off when sitting or having the foot raised. In fact, leaving my leg in one position for any length of time and then trying to move, meant I had to keep changing leg positions before finding the least painful position to be able to stand up! Painkillers once again became the norm and because we were due to return to FS in a few days, decided not to phone the hospital again but wait until our return (which was yesterday 7th Sept) So that's where I'm at, at the moment. I have phoned the physio department and a return phone call will be sometime today. Hopefully it's not something bad like nerve damage. I also had a letter waiting from the consultant changing my September appointment to October 2nd. Blast.... I was hoping to see him earlier! I will update later.

 

Knee replacement update.

 Today is 16 days since the op, I'm walking better but still have some pain behind the knee, why I don't know! The swelling hasn't gone down much, and again I would have hoped by now there would have been some improvement. Maybe I'm too impatient. Also, the dressing came off on Friday, gosh what a neat job the surgeon did and the bruising very minimal. In fact, the nurse changing the dressing said she had seen some knee replacements with bruising covering the whole leg and I had got off lightly! Her only concern was a very small opening almost at the end of the incision which was weeping slightly, and therefore another dressing was put on. I will have it removed this coming Friday, and fingers crossed I will then be dressing free. Unfortunately, this dressing hasn't stuck so well, and consequently I am having to hold the edges down with micropore tape.

The micropore holding the edges down; the dot on the dressing is where it's weeping and very little bruising

 

On Saturday, I went for a gentle stroll around Furzon Lake. I felt good, took my stick 'just in case'  and walked for about 40 minutes. Saturday night and all of Sunday I suffered as my whole leg ached. Hmmm, me thinks I over did it, note to myself, stop trying to run when you can only just walk! 

The exercises are also going well, but still I haven't succeeded in getting the bend to 90 degrees. It's the pull at the back of my knee that's stopping that, also I think the amount of swelling is not helping. I am seeing the physio the second week of September, so hopefully he will be able to put me right then, but I will phone for advice if, by the end of this week, I still see no improvement.

 

9th day

 12th August

 I've been badgered by both Ian and Colin to stay off that leg! And I'm trying, but gosh, the boredom is setting in. I have another paint by numbers to do, but I can't get the stool and my leg under the table, so until I can keep the leg down, it won't get started. Instead, reading and playing a fishing game on my phone is all I have to keep me occupied. Even the TV is out because of our son not having a TV licence!

Another milestone achieved, I no longer reliant on the crutch. In fact, when walking, only a slight limp is obvious. The ice packs are used regularly, and I have come off the painkillers all together. I still haven't achieved the 90 degree bend yet, although not that far off, and what I do manage is held in that position for 20 seconds.

 I'm on my own today, well Toffee and the boys are around but Iwona and Colin are at work. Ian has had to go back to Langley Mill. We had a mattress delivered here at Milton Keynes last week, all wrapped and vacuumed packed for easy handling, but it must be allowed to expand within 2 weeks. I would like to have gone too but felt keeping my leg in one position for the 90-minute journey would be too much. So without my nurse Ian, I have had to remember timings for the ice pack and my Aspirin. This I take as a blood thinner and must do so until Friday. Of course, I forgot!!! Suddenly realised 40 minutes later it had been forgotten. Hopefully no damage done!

One week later

 Day 7

 I managed that walk to the pub, it is roughly 500yds from Colin's gate with only an extra painkiller 'just in case'. A grassy slope was the only obstacle, went up okay but dreaded the coming back down later. Anyway, one glass of alcohol-free 0 Heineken was drunk because no wine has touched my lips since the first night home. Two glasses were had then, the multitude of the painkiller leaflets were read first to make sure it was okay (only said if you felt drowsy then not to drink alcohol) and deemed it safe. But that night, OMG, 2 am and I woke with palpitations, hot sweats and really feeling not quite right. It soon cleared, but that was the moment I said no more alcohol until I finished the painkillers! Dinner was also ordered, lasagna and chips. Hmmm, I should have remembered that my appetite has been poor of late and that the stomach has shrunk on my lettuce and water diet, so unfortunately I left almost half the lasagna, ate three chips and Ian finished the rest for me! Then the walk back down that slope was taken VERY slowly and holding VERY tightly to Ian's arm. Didn't fancy another fall, even though Colin was around to help pick me up. 

The walk must have done me good because the next morning I managed the exercises before I had painkillers. Lifted the leg by the amount required on the exercise sheet. The only downside was the amount of swelling there was around the knee, which has now spread down to my ankle. 

 

Having our daughter Christine and family over on day 8 was a lovely distraction. Our son did a BBQ, but I prepared the salad stuff, felt fine whilst making it, but all that standing did me no favours. The knee felt tight and the exercise difficult to do. It's very swollen now and am slightly concerned about why it's not going down. Maybe it is to be expected, after all it was major surgery. I'm seeing the practice nurse here at Shenley Church End on the 14th, for a dressing change, so will ask her then. I will also see if she has anything to remove these marks. Made by those pads for monitoring your heart, no amount of scrubbing has removed them!

 

A good outcome.

 9th August

Oh dear, last night I had a fall! Well, it was more like a slide off the sofa with a derrière landing! You see the sofa is wide and to get comfortable you have to sit right back. My legs were unable to reach the ground, Ian would place a stool with a cushion on top for the bad leg to rest on. It got to 10 pm and, feeling tired, said I wanted to get to bed. So I slid myself forward, placed the good foot to the ground, Ian went to pull me up but because I was wearing slippers and the floor was of a slippery wood rather than carpet, the foot slid forward which unbalanced Ian, and he ended up falling toward me. Thankfully it was only the good leg that had bent beyond 90 degrees, I somehow managed to twist the bad leg forward and toward me. So there was I on the floor wondering how on earth I was to get up! Our son was out for the evening, so no help there, and although Ian is strong, I doubted if he would manage the lift. In the end, by placing the small occasional table by my side, and with me using my elbows on the table and edge of the sofa, managed to achieve sufficient height for Ian to then get me up the rest of the way. 

It all sounds quite horrific, and I suppose the outcome could have had some detrimental effects but in actual fact the opposite happened. As I started the walk to the bedroom, I became aware that no pain was felt. And trying to get onto the bed, I lifted the leg with ease! Also, that exercise of lifting the leg of the bed was performed without trouble. In fact, both of us were amazed! Did my twisting of the leg at the fall help the muscle to stretch in some way, or was the mental block I had of lifting the leg been what was troubling me all along? I don't suppose I will ever know.

I woke the next morning wondering if I would still be able to lift the leg and yeah.... I could. Not only that, I even managed to get out of bed and walk without a crutch to the bathroom. I have also tried taking Panadol instead of the Oramorph and so far what pain I have had is minimal. With today being just one week from the op, I'm feeling even more positive than before. I may even walk the 500yds to the pub tonight!

Knee op recovery going well

 So Marilyn (ex Waka Huia) has asked if I would continue to blog on my progress. Apparently helpful to those still awaiting a knee replacement and gives an idea what to expect. Of course, we are all different and my recovery may be either longer or shorter than someone else, but a rough idea of what one will go through could be beneficial. So here goes,

On the 8th August, I managed to lift my leg about half an inch off the bed. In my mind, this had become a task I had to achieve to progress further. I can also slide my leg, bending the knee, to about a 30-degree angle. This must be worked on, as a 90-degree angle is expected when I next see the consultant. So religiously, 4 times a day I do the exercises. The worst of the pain is around the kneecap, but I also have a sensitive spot at the back of my knee. To date, that hasn't got any better. It's also very important to do the exercise for Deep Vein Thrombosis. I can do this on the bed or sitting down and this is one of the most regular exercise I do.

 

THESE FOR PREVENTING DVT

IT WAS THE TOP EXERCISE I HAD TROUBLE WITH

 One thing I found right from the start was to forget about wearing trousers. The knee will be very swollen, so even loose fitting trousers will be tight. Also, trying to get an ice pack on under trousers every 2 hours for twenty minutes is a pain. With me only possessing one skirt and dress, today Ian drove me to Tesco and another skirt and dress were bought. Tesco clothes are usually on the first floor, which is accessed by escalator. OMG. I stood at the bottom watching the speed at which it was going up and thought, no way! There had to be a lift. Oh, there was alright, but right at the back of the store. I certainly got my steps in today, even though I had been told to walk short distances for the first two weeks only!

The only bit of excitement later was the interloper in the garden. Quite why a duck had decided to land in it was a mystery. It did make me smile, though, watching Ian and Colin trying to catch the thing. Toffee was frantically running from one window to the other, hoping to get out and help.  In the end, Colin managed to shoo it through the gate, up the road and back to where the pond was by the pub. 

 

Making progress

The physio phoned me for an update, I was very impressed.  The worry of not being able to lift the leg was mentioned, she told me not to try rushing it, all in good time. So long as I could complete the other exercises, lifting the leg would come, so she was not worried.

The bruising is coming out now, tightness around the site and back of the knee. First thing in the morning I struggle to walk, the leg has been kept in one place throughout the night and is really stiff. I'm totally reliant on Ian to lift the leg out of bed and to also place in a raised position on a stool when sitting down. Painkillers do help when it's time to exercise, no way can I even attempt them without! With this being day 5 I have noticed more movement, and I'm also getting around with just the one crutch. All very positive and heading in the right direction.

 Today I made it upstairs! Stood at the bottom looking up and thought, that's one hell of a mountain to climb! There was a possibility of having a shower in the garden, Colin put it in so it could be used before getting into the hot tub (how the other half live, eh), but I didn't fancy standing naked for all the world to see so gave it the thumbs down.

 

Hot and cold running water!

So the stairs it was, and Ian never strayed from being behind me, ready to catch if I fell. Hmmm, I wonder who would come off worse. Somehow I think I would have fared better, a soft landing on my part! But it was easier than I thought, in fact too easy. I mustn't get complacent and think I can do it by myself...not yet, anyway! So a shower was had, gosh it was nice to feel refreshed, and I even got to see the progress Colin had made with the family bathroom. Ongoing since March this year, apart from finishing the tiling, putting in the loo and hand basin, it's about done! This did mean I had to use our grandson Ollie's bathroom for a shower. OMG...typical teenager...nothing put away or cleaned! And as for the loo...don't even go there! Our son and daughter-in-law's opinion is if they want to live in a pigsty, so be it!

Coming back down was okay too, I felt real progress had been made, now if only the pain would subside..... 

The next week or so will be roughly the same as now. The only difference will be a trip to the Doctors here in Milton Keynes on 14th August for a dressing change, and unless anything untoward happens, this will be my last post for a while.

I have the bed and Ian the sofa where the orange sleeping bag is.