Packet Boat Marina

Grand Union Canal – Monday 14 October 2013

An interesting weekend – Saturday a trip to Shrewsbury by train for a party that I was invited to last Christmas.  ‘Mary’s Big Bash’ was to celebrate her retirement and various family birthdays, Paul 50, Mary 60, Tom 70, aunt Margaret 80 and mum 90.  This was obviously planned years ago with ten year gaps between births!!  The party was in Mary’s home village and attended by family and friends from all over the country (Margaret had come over from USA) and there was lots of time to chat before sitting down to dinner.  Afterwards there was a firework display followed by Scottish country dancing.  Transport had been arranged for those staying in Shrewsbury – out at 19:00 and return at ‘Glass Slipper’ time.

Sunday was a slow start then a return to London on the train.  It was fun retracing steps back up the Grand Union and remembering that what had taken days was being done in minutes!

Today had a trip to the Hospital for blood to be taken for the various tests asked for by the Nurse, hope the results are OK but I know that I’ve been indulging in wrong things – too much bread and cakes.

The weather has been normal for Autumn – cloudy and rain with a few sunny patches, I may even start the fire up.

Packet Boat marina

Grand Union Canal – Friday 11 October 2013

Thursday I had an appointment with the Practice Nurse for my annual Diabetes check – oh dear!  My weight has crept up and I have lost some sensation in my large toes (apparently the first bit to be lost).  However my blood pressure is normal.  I have to provide a urine sample and go for blood tests.  I also got a flu jab.  When back in the marina Doug and James from ‘nb Chance’ visited, they are going to be mooring here for the winter.

Today was a trip to Uxbridge for retinopathy, first prove who you are (Date of Birth and address) then a quick eye check, then eyes dilated with ‘Tropicamide’ and wait for twenty minutes, then each eye has two photos taken (hope they were smiling) to show the retina (at the back of the eye where light is received).  Results should come back in a couple of weeks.

Autumn weather has definitely arrived – rain and wind over both days.

Packet Boat Marina

Grand Union Canal – Wednesday 09 October 2013

Tuesday I went in to Hammersmith to get my eyes checked and to meet up with some ex-colleagues at the Bus Station.  Public transport takes a long time, and I wasn’t in a rush as the weather was warm and sunny all day.

Today was an early start in order to be at the hospital by 08:00.  The scan was painless but a bit weird – why strip down to underpants when the scan is of the inner ears??  As the staff set everything up with you lying down and your feet raised on a pillow they put a frame over your head with a mirror so you can see the operator safe behind their glass protection.  (it brought back memories of nursing patients in ‘iron lungs’).  You also get the opportunity to listen to music, I’d taken a Kristofferson CD but the machine makes so much noise I should’ve taken Meat Loaf!!

However, back on the boat the weather has been cloudy and windy all day so I have been doing ‘inside’ chores.

Packet Boat Marina

Grand Union Canal – Monday 07 October 2013

Don’t know if I will keep this going while residential in the marina as life can become routine and boring to read about but I will try.  Today was a hectic day with running about letting people know I’m back in Uxbridge.  First to Hillingdon Hospital to book an MRI scan, I’d told them I’d be back by 1 November at the latest, and they can fit me in at 08:00 on Wednesday.  Next off to Uxbridge to check with banks etc, then to the clinic to book appointments with the Diabetes Nurse (Thursday) and GP (22^nd October).  There were calls from the optician to say I have an appointment tomorrow and from Jules to say I have a Retina Scan on Friday.  That looks like this week is fairly full.

The weather was decidedly chilly first thing but warmed up about 10:00 and has been sunny for the rest of the day.

Packet Boat Marina

Grand Union Canal – Sunday 06 October 2013

Day Twelve!  Left at 08:00 and this morning was the first really chilly start - the sun was out but being shielded by trees didn’t help.  At the first lock the boat I’d been sharing with yesterday turned up so we had a good run down through Batchworth to Black Jack’s lock where they were stopping.  At the next lock there was a boat waiting for me to join them but they were stopping just after it.  The next lock is Denham Deep and there were two boats coming up.  Having cleared the Uxbridge Lock there was a boat about 50ft turning across the canal with great difficulty using poles and pins and ropes, eventually they turned and the steerer then went on and every so often went into neutral, finally I got them to let me past and at the Cowley Lock we had a chat – new owner and friends on their first day out!  They were turning again to go back to the pub and I had a short run into the marina.

After the cold start the weather warmed up about 10:00 and it has been a glorious warm day.

Watford

Grand Union Canal – Saturday 05 October 2013

Left at 08:00 having a heron waiting patiently while I photographed him/her and only went as far as the off-side water point at a garage to pick up the weekly paper (for the TV listings).  Just as I was ready to go the pair of traditional working boats from yesterday came along so again I let them through.  They are ‘France’ in Leonard Leigh grey colours and ‘Holland’ in Fellows, Morton & Clayton red and green colours.  Between the two boats they have a crew of six so will be much quicker than me.  After the next lock there was another boat coming up so a wait for a joinery trading boat whose crew recognised me as we seem to pass twice a year when I’m going north!

The next couple of locks were set for me and then I joined with a river GRP boat down to Boxmoor.  Then a steady chug through locks nearly all set by boats coming up.  I’ve managed only 9 miles but 24 locks so a good run in fine sunny weather.