Typical.....solve one problem and another shows itself! and a smashing trip to Cumbria.

Hmmmm.... so we are very pleased with the way our cowl is performing, no more smoke billowing from the stove into the boat but now we have another problem, lots of tar! Our wood is well seasoned, at least 2 years old so one would have thought it relatively tar free. Appears not as it is accumulating on the cowl and as the wind swings the sail bit around, it drips over the roof, sides and cratch cover, so Ian is racking his brains as to how he can overcome this. Maybe an idea from another boater perhaps??? Anyway at the moment we wash down on a daily basis but what a complete pain especially as it's blooming freezing outside!

Talking of freezing, we headed off to Cumbria over the weekend for a visit with Chris and Sue. Chris was Ian's best man back in 1973 and over the years had lost touch, only to meet up again a few years ago. So when the invite came for us all to meet up we jumped at the chance of spending some quality time with them. Not knowing what to expect, only being told to bring warm gear, we were amazed at how lovely their place was. An old Smithy and piggery that they had converted many years ago and now was a property to be proud of. With 3 acres set in a hamlet of about 7 property's, one pub about 5 minute walk away and a small stone road bridge with the river running underneath, the setting was idyllic. Sooooo quiet and hardly any light pollution. The cottage was lovely and warm but the outside temperatures..... brrrrr.. cold enough for it to snow and form ice especially on the hills.

Over the three day visit we were taken to the Wildlife Wetlands at Caerlaverock, the Roman Ruins at Vindolanda and lastly Hadrian's Wall, all of which photos will be posted at the bottom of this post. Be warned, there are quite a few!!!

Leaving yesterday afternoon, it took us nearly 4.5 hours to get home. Had a blizzard to go through which made the conditions a bit hairy (almost a white out) and we did have a 20 minute stop to admire the Angel of the North.

Getting back to FS we got the diesel heater going, then the stove was lit and finally the kettle put to boil. Took nearly an hour before I would take my coat off, such was the temperature inside FS and getting into a freezing bed last night....well say no more!

So now for the photos I warned you about. First the wetlands, (more will be posted on my wildlife blog)

Whooper, Bewick and Mute swans

Feeding time although the birds are completely wild and come and go as they please.

Wigeon

Young whooper in the wrong place for the adults liking.

Curlews

Barnacle Geese

Vindolanda Roman ruins

Ian, Chris and Sue

Ian and Sue

Then the snow arrived

Thar's snow on them Thar hills

                                                            And  Hadrian's Wall

The wall runs along the top and into the distance.

Chris posing on top.

Some of the Northumberland views

Walking to another section of the Wall

And there it is again

A shiny new toy.

We have a new addition to FS. A lovely shiny new chimney cowl. The decision was made to purchase it mainly because of the high winds. Seems like the last few months we've had nothing but one storm after the other and we were getting fed up with the smog that was accumulating in the cabin. We kept getting smoke blowing back through the stove air vent (which is suppose to keep the glass free from tar) and made worse when the gusts, coming from the West, was at its strongest. Seeing as the wind in the basin always seems to blow from a SW direction, we were constantly opening windows to clear the air. Even slept with the hopper windows open 'cause we didn't fancy getting asphyxiated in our sleep! Anyway the cowl arrived today so now we wait to see if it does the job. All we need now is another storm!!!!

I have seen the consultant about the Bursitis in my hip again. The steroid injection only lasted a month so I'm now back to square one with the pain. He refused to consider me for an op saying I would have to live with it. Not being one to except the first option, I am seeking a second opinion from a consultant that has operated on these Bursa's and had some success so I will see what he has to say to me in March.  What with the pins and needles also returning after that spinal injection, I'm a bit peed off to say the least. I'm on a the waiting list for the op to sort out my disc problem, which cant come soon enough. Hey ho....the joy of getting older!!!

Rattling with a belly full of pain killers, yesterdays lovely sunny weather saw me take to the towpath for a ramble. Armed with trusty camera  didn't expect to see much but was pleasantly surprised at the amount of raptors about. 

Kestrel being mobbed by a crow

He's still after the nuts!!! At least this feeder he cant destroy.

 

My laptop has come home.

Yea my laptop is back. Guy returned my computer this afternoon with everything working as before but with Windows 7 installed instead of 10. Turns out my hard drive was on it's way out and the Intel chip driver on my HP computer wasn't compatible on the installation of Windows 10 using the solid state drive, hence the start up problems. If I want to replace windows 7 with 10 in the future I will have to remove the solid state drive first. Anyway all programs are back on except some of my downloads such as Skype, Coral Paintshop, Greeting card factory, our printer, i player etc but what I'm most gutted about is no more virtual fishing program called Fish Sim. (not able to download from the web as only available as a bought DVD) Got rid of the disc thinking I wouldn't need it any more. What an idiot!!!! All the others will have to be downloaded once more. Me thinks a trip to our daughter and son in law and their unlimited broadband is the order of the day. Still some good has come of all this. Guy has now removed my old 250GB hard drive with a brand new 1 Terabyte drive. Oh goody.... More photos for me to upload and store on Picasa me thinks!

So one photo today. A moth on a log no doubt over wintering in the bark, got a rude awakening just as I was about to throw said log on the fire. In the nick of time it flew off and, after posing for me, made it's escape through the open window.

One sick PC

Such a nice chap. Guy Buxton of Giggles Computers. He Arrived mid morning and after going through the same procedures as Ian yesterday realised that some serious work was needed to get it right. After pursuing all options Guy came to the conclusion that the problem could lie within the 'Solid State Drive'. So only one thing for it but take it home to his "computer hospital". I did ask if I could go back to Windows 7 again and the good news was yes I could. Guys recommendation was for me to leave 10 well alone for now as there are too many problems still to be addressed. I know that in maybe 2 or 3 years Windows 7 will not be supported by Microsoft but hopefully by then all the bugs will have been removed. Having already installed Windows 10 on my machine, there should be no problem reinstalling it at later date.

Problem with Windows 10?

I'm beginning to think there is a problem with Windows 10. Beginning of April both of us decided to install it with some reservations. It had been highly praised by our son, a computer wiz, who urged us to go ahead. So being the dutiful parents we did as we were told! Then the problems started. So to cut a long story short, Ian had a problem getting his computer to boot. Spending many a long day and bending our son ear, he finally had to do Windows 7 recovery, over riding Windows 10. (Thankfully he was still in the 30 opt out option).

So now my tale starts. Having got my head round Windows 10 file structure and getting to grips with it all, yesterday I opened my computer to a message saying it hadn't started properly and an auto repair was needed. Three options available, but no matter what option I chose to restart, it kept coming back to the original screen in one continues loop. Unfortunately I don't have the same options as Ian had to reinstall Windows 7 as I am now commited to Windows 10 (30 day opt out has past) Only sulotion for me was to call out a computer expert at £45 (arriving Wednesday) and hope for the best. Looking on forums this is not an isolated case although if one has the know how one can rectify the problem. We are complete computer nerds so haven't a hope. Fingers crossed the expert can work his magic but I do so wish I had stayed with Windows 7 and not upgraded!

Icebergs on the Erewash????

It's all been worth it! That nerve block injection had worked wonders. No more pins and needles when standing or sitting and I even managed a 3 mile walk this morning. The first real walk in ages and what a great day to do it. Snow started last night (well more like a fine mist really) as we left to go out visiting in the evening. By the time we left our friends 3 hours later a good inch had fallen and the untreated side roads were treacherous. Ian had to call on all his driving expertise to keep the car in a straight line. Make it home we did though, and first thing was to grab the camera for a night photo..

 And a blanket of snow greeted me this morning and couldn't wait to get going down the towpath. Nearly went for a Burton at one point trying to get down the slippery steps by the lock but managed to stay upright. Made me a bit wary of where I placed my feet especially on areas that had already been well trodden down. Worse was on a section where a group of children had rolled a huge snowball and, it reaching a size that refused to be rolled anymore, the children launched it into the canal much to a pair of swans annoyance. Anyway managed to return to FS without mishap, back to a welcoming cup of tea and warm by the fire. Shame a thaw has already started. Much prefer these conditions to the wind and rain that  plagued us for so long.

Great Northern Basin showing the swing bridge. We are moored other side

Langley Bridge lock

Icebergs in the Erewash????

Dab chick

Tufted ducks

More icebergs???????

That was not pleasant!

Not a pleasant experience having a nerve root block. Having had spinal injections before and found them relatively painless I didn't anticipate this would be any different. So yesterdays appointment with the spinal surgeon held no fear. Ian drove me to the hospital and then went on his merry way back to FS. Knowing the whole procedure would only take about 30minutes but the recovery time may be anything up to two hours, it was silly for him to stay.

Having got fully undressed and gowned up, back to front so my backside was in full view of all and sundry if I wasn't careful,I was then escorted down numerous corridors (mental map needed for the way back) and led to a small room with xray equipment and trolley bed. Here I had to lay down on my stomach while the nurse did the biz of making my lower back as sterile as possible.
Feeling very relaxed I didn't even flinch when the local anesthetic went in. The xray equipment was brought over and a good 10 minutes or so was spent getting the right set up and a picture of the nerve to be injected.

black dot marks the area for the needle to enter.

Then all was ready and a small needle was inserted. The surgoen kept pushing the needle further in and each time a xray was recorded. Then suddenly....OMG ...the pain that shot down my right buttock, calf and foot made me nearly leap off the bed.. Even the surgeon appeared surprised and shot back. "I think we may have found the nerve" says he. Stepping forward he continued with pushing that needle further in until I felt I could stand it no more. "Right lets get this steroid in" says he. Within seconds of the injection it was all over leaving me a bit shell shocked but very relieved that it was all over.

The pain went instantly leaving a dull ache in my buttock and within minutes a stretcher was brought in, told to roll onto my back and wheeled out to a recovery room. A very welcome tea and biscuits was forth coming and after an hour alowed to go home.

Now I await the outcome. Yesterday my leg felt most peculiar, almost like it belonged to someones else but today it is nearly back to normal. Still have pins and needles down the leg but doesent seem half as bad as before. Time will tell but I'm keeping fingers crossed because the other alternative is to have the op.

Looks like winter has finally arrived. -3 and no wind to speak of meant we had a thin layer of ice on the canal to wake up to. Stove has been cranked right up and the wood pile is continually being replenished. Could be worse....the snow in certain parts of the country hasn't reached us, although I do love waking up to crisp white virgin snow. 

 And on the fat balls this morning.

Thumbs up for the NHS

Suddenly realised I'm a bit behind with the blog. Mind you, with nothing untoward happening at the Mill there has not been a lot to blog about. Having spent many a weekend since Christmas and New year visiting family and friends, it's good to be back on FS to get those little jobs done. Cleaning the chimney was a necessity as getting smoked out every time we opened the door was most unpleasant. The coal and wood needed restocking and Ian cleaned our diesel tank by siphoning the diesel into containers and then straining it back into the tank . No water was found thank goodness, just a bit of crud lying in the bottom.

We had a visit from Tom a C&RT bod with several men in tow. Ian wandered down to see what it was all about and was told that a contract was being organised for dealing with the the vegetation  (grass cutting, hedges, trees etc) to improve the look of the Erewash. They took great interest in the basin but it was made plain to the amenities contractor that the basin was not to be touched as  ECP&DA look after this area and make a very good job if it too. So, with the life jackets on and armed with clip board they headed off down the canal to make notes. What the out come will be no doubt we will find out in time.

Hospital appointment for me today to see the spinal consultant. These pins and needles I get down both legs are a right pain. Very glad  the appointment wasn't  for yesterday as no doubt this would have been cancelled due to the strike. I'm in total agreement with these doctors, the hours they work are a joke so good luck to them. Just a bit of a bummer if you had an out patient appointment or waiting for a procedure yesterday. Anyway, never have I been so impressed with a consultant (apart from Ian's) as Mr Sadar. He took time to explain what he had found, showed both of us the MRI scans and booked me straight in on Friday for a steroid injection in the 5th vertebra nerve. He also said I had a protruding disc and if the injection didn't work would operate.As he didn't want me to have to wait too long he has put me on the waiting list (should take no more then a couple of months wait)  just in case the injection doesn't work. Now that is the NHS at it's best.

The weather has been to bad for me to go walking (pain in the hip and leg doesn't help) so these photos are of my visit to brother and sister in law last weekend. More on my wildlife blog if you fancy a look.

 

Lets hope this is the best ever for everyone.

TO ALL OUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, BLOGGERS and READERS

 

Wishing you all a wonderful 2016

our two boats

We bought Merlin 62ft in 2004 as a sponsor boat to go into the hire fleet of Anglo Welsh waterways holidays. The boat was designed to our spec with only a few criteria from Anglo Welsh because it was going to be in the hire fleet for at least 5 years. After this time we could take her back or leave her in the fleet. We find she is very useful for letting our family take her out and giving them a cheap holiday. When Christine and Kev decided to take her out we arranged to meet them on Free Spirit and join them on their holiday.