butterfly feeding station

A pair of perch

The little greeneyed monster

Yep that's me! It's reared it's ugly head! Two of our friends from the ECP&DA are off on their boats for a three week cruise up the T&M and onto the Caldon canal. Normally we would have joined them but of course, at the moment, we are tied to the NHS.  To say I was envious was an understatement especially as it was 4 years ago that the BIF's ( Bracken, Icing & Freespirit ) set off as a convoy for our first epic cruise, crossing the tidal Ribble and onto the Lancaster canal. Last night we all went out for a farewell dinner at The Great Northern and then back on board the party boat, Nb Icing, ( so called because of her long fore deck ) for  a game of Mexican Train.  Today, as they entered Langley Bridge lock, I set off armed with windlass, handcuff key and Jade to walk ahead and get both Eastwood and Shipley locks ready for them. Then it was only a matter of waiting for them to arrive at Shipley before wishing them bon voyage as they cruised off into the distance.

Nb Icing with Dennis at Helm reversing out of the Great Northern Basin.

Dave and Heather on Nb Bracken getting ready to set off.

Nb Bracken first into Eastwood lock

Closely followed by Dennis and Margaret on Nb Icing

 On my way back to Langley, I decided to take an excursion along the disused Nottingham canal. Most of what is left in water is covered in weed and reeds, ideal habitat for water vole. Three years ago walking the same stretch I came across 8 voles within a half mile section. Unfortunately I saw no sign of any vole today but  mink has been frequently spotted around here so I am assuming that is  why the vole is no longer around. What I did come across, though, was a farrier on the lane leading to Gadsby bridge hot shoeing a horse.

Back at our boat Ian and I made a decision. As we also own another boat, Nb Merlin, kept in the  fleet at the Anglo Welsh hire base at Trevor on the Llangollen, we are going to see if she is available for us to take out for 5 days in November.  A phone call later today will give us our answer!

Drop of golden sun

Cor mum, will my feet be as big as yours?

Looking for a home

stowaway on the gunwale

Update on Ian

Common Ragwort. Flying hoverfly is an Episyrphus balteatus

I made a cake yesterday, vanilla sponge filled with coffee buttercream. I then went shopping for a card and Ian's favorite tipple, a bottle of Captain Morgan Spice. All this I did while Ian was out and why? Because yesterday Ian had his 60th birthday.  So now he can have his free eye test but, mores the pity, will still have to wait for the bus pass!
Surprisingly we had a phone call last night from Ian's Consultant apologising for not seeing us on our last appointment. He said it was due to unforeseen circumstances. Fair enough but there was still no excuse in not getting his registrar up to speed with the case. He then told Ian that he had full intentions of seeing him on the next appointment, until, that is, his secretary informed him of a prior engagement on the same afternoon. However, because of the fact  that the last blood test still showed the liver function to be above what was the norm, he said he would make every effort to be available for the allotted time. So with any luck we should be able to see the man himself. Watch this space!!

Misty & frosty view of Radcliffe cooling towers, River Trent.

coal tit

Little Owl

Carp

swan playing

Full moon

Comma

Coach line painted on back panel plus another quick update on Ian

It's typical! Masking done and dusted days ago and then down came the rain for the next two days!! Luckily, the low tack masking tape can withstand numerous wetting and drying out and so didn't cause any bleeding from the new paint when it was first brushed on. When the final 3rd coat was applied yesterday, the result was everything I had hoped. Now we only have the rest of this side to finish before we start all over again on the other side.

Before

and after.

We had a nice surprise today. Maureen and Terry on Nb Motex came up Langley Bridge lock just before noon. Back in July 2008 we met them at the end of the Ruford Arm as, like us, they too were also waiting to attempt the Ribble link and ultimately get onto the Lancaster canal. They told me they had been trying for weeks to reach us here at Langley, but what with the Erewash closure and then the river Trent being on red boards, they just had to stay put and wait it out. We reckon this weekend should be a hoot now that they have arrived. We're going to make the most of their visit with frequenting the local eateries and hostelry's.

Ian is doing okay. His chemo went ahead on Monday and for once we only had to wait 30 minutes before getting into 'the chair'. Unfortunately, the nurse who redressed the arm to secure his pic line, didn't quite get the adapter in the right place and consequently he suffered with some discomfort every time he rested his arm on the chair or tried to lay on his side to sleep. Next day he went back to the chemo ward to have it dressed again. The girl on the reception told him he would be seen very quickly. Well 3 hours of waiting later, he not only found a nurse and asked her how long it would be before he was seen, he also spoke to the receptionist again who repeated what she had told him 3 hours previously. By now, Ian had got himself into a right state. To change the dressing would have taken no more than 5 minutes, but it appeared that no one was going to be bothered about doing it. In the end, he told the staff exactly what he thought of their' it won't be long' speech and stormed out. By the time he returned to the boat steam was coming out of his ears, so I did no more than remove the dressing myself, adjust the pic line adapter (had some concerns that I might have dislodged something, and he would end up bleeding all over the boat) and with the lint we had in our first aid box as well as a bandage, managed to make the dressing much more comfortable. This is not quite the end of the tale, as this morning his arm under the pic line looked very red and swollen. I worried that I may have done some damage, but Ian assured me it was looking red even before I fiddled with it So Ian took himself off to the centre at Ilkeston. There they thought he may have an infection, and so they issued yet more antibiotics with strict instructions that he must inform the consultant if it doesn't get better. So now we wait for the drugs to do their job. Not sure if I'm going to enjoy going back to the chemo ward with Ian next Monday, especially after he let rip at the staff there. Still, the nurses are there to nurse and, although we are fully aware that they are rushed off their feet due to staff shortages, I'm sure one of them could have managed a 5-minute dressing change!

Cranefly in close-up

Tattenhill lock T & M

My new found friend

Branched Bur-reed

Sparganium erectum

n

Sparganium erectum