SOMEONE HAS HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON

Now I say pause for reasons that will become clear to those who don't already know.

At appox. 4.30pm on Saturday 21st May it was the end of the world as we knew it for all those closest to Alan, my father and author of this blog.

 

 

He has fallen into the dry dock and has suffered a life threatening head injury, his skull is fractured, he has multiple broken ribs and other minor injuries. he has a bleed onto his brain and is in the critical care unit, he is in a coma but stable all that can done is being done.

I'm Matt, Alan's son I wanted to take this chance to inform you all and also to ask you to use the comments option at the end of each post to show your support for this amazing man, he can read them later (your stories or just well wishes) thank you.

My dad has taught me most of what I know however I am, was, four years into a very important subject to me and him ,he has been teaching how to be a father, dad, role model and best mate to my son Thomas and to those of you who have met Thomas will know that Grandad and I are doing a good job, so dad fight hard lets get back to school and teach me to be the the man, the dad, the role model and best mate that you are. xx

Finally my thanks to the all the people out there in the boating community, and you know who you are, fantastic above and beyond, thank you so much, the emergency services , hospital staff thank you.

So as I said in the opening line someone has hit the PAUSE button not stop or eject just PAUSE

Matt

Stourport

We have now had two days without moving and it feels very odd, The locals are very nice, we have adjusted to the language barrier and it has not caused us any difficulty YET, Yesterday we had a small walk around the town, Stourport is not much of a place, its nice with few shops though the shops that are here are very nice and well presented, there is everything you would want even a fishing tackle shop. The town consists of three roads forming a triangle and the high street sits in the middle, the canal basins which there are three
The Basins are where the Staffs and Worcester canal join the river Seven. In its prime this place must have been a very busy junction with the wide beam barges coming up the River Seven with Cargo’s taken from ships in Bristol, they would then transfer it to Narrow Boats that would transport it all over the country on the system of canals. In return of course wool and other goods would go the other way Coal, Iron, wool, cotton, lime, pottery all these goods would have been transported though this tiny little town. The Basin was so important to the town that unlike most towns that had a town clock on the town hall Stourport has its Clock on what is now the sailing club but originally it was a large warehouse overlooking the whole Basin

Another tragedy today the fridge has gone, I have tried everything , it looks like we have to get a new one all I have to do now is find somewhere to have it delivered.
We found a church only a few hundred yards away, Mass this morning was a bit drawn out one of those who liked the sound of his own voice, they did however have a good guitarist and the music was really good . Since then we have just lounged about I tried a bit of painting but it became very cold so I just read, (we have no TV reception) though I am told we are missing anything.
The fishing  has been great I have caught some very fine bags of fish consisting of Bream, Perch, Roach, Rudd and Eels oh yes one Chub all of a very reasonable size that is of course before I was told that fishing was Banned in the Marina no signs were posted so I claimed ignorance (as I always do)
Noreen leaves for Belthorn tomorrow she is away for three days I am meeting Ian and the painter at 8.30am in the morning then taking the boat to the dry dock. This is going to be a new experience as I have never done it before keep your fingers crossed .
Big Al

Nice Bream

The Basin

Brummy Duck with atitude

              

                                                       Down to the River Seven

Some Days do not Improve

Monday morning saw us leaving Norbury junction at sparrow fart, as we had a long way to go an early start was essential. The canal for the main part was very quiet the weather was fair but a strong wind meant extra caution was required on this very narrow and bendy canal . We progressed through the day and only got hit by one very heavy show and of course that was when Noreen was preparing a lock. Battling though heavy wind seems to have become the norm on this trip every time I came to a bridge or a lock you could guarantee the wind was either starboard or port side on never to the stern or forward I suppose thats the way it goes. Monday afternoon we arrived at Aurtherly junction thats were the Shropshire canal meets the Trent and Mersey , we did not want to proceed any further though I was not keen on the security of the mooring however Noreen had a word with two passing community police ladies who said we would be safe and we were. Tues we set off again at sparrow fart heading now south on the Staffs and Worcester Canal from here its all new territory as we have never been down here before, to our surprise its a very nice canal granted the first part is through the outskirts of Wolverhampton but it soon leaves the industry behind and chugs along very calmly and sedately through some very interesting countryside the route now is down hill so all the locks are down which makes it easier for me. The locks are spaced out meaning you are doing one every 20 min or so we prefer the locks in flights were you do 20 in one go then its over with, anyway we trudged on through to a place called Greenforge were we found a very nice mooring alongside a retirement village , this morning Weds again we were on the move by 7.30 and intending to make Kidderminster but we only got as far as a place called Kinver. Were again we found a nice mooring one reason for the enforced stop was I am knackered and this morning I went to jump from the back and missed the bank which meant the level of the canal rose a few feet with the introduction of Big Al. On entering the canal I managed a beautiful back flip co-ordinated with a swallow dive which in a world Olympics would have gained at least a seven. Whilst performing these new feats of diving prowess I lost the stern line which was the only way of retrieving the boat, So like a little dog chasing a stick I had to swim and retrieve the line. Not wanting to make a fuss I started to call Noreen (the way little boys do who know they have done wrong, )who by this time was 100 yards away attending to the lock when she eventually turned around she said she couldn’t see me only two men looking into the canal at the back of our boat. Anyway a kind gentleman oiked me out and somehow after swimming to retrieve the boat going under a few times, when I eventually appeared on the bank I was still wearing my flat cap which Noreen considered very funny. So a quick shower change of clothes and off again by lunch I thought I had had enough for one day . I had read that the village of Kinver was a very nice medieval village so we decided to take the afternoon off and do some exploring, in the guild book it says that there are some Rock Houses (houses built into the rock so suitably attired we set off to find them, we were given some instructions on how to find them by two ladies in a 4x4, I should have realised when they drove off laughing that we were in for it. We duly followed the rout that we had been given and true there were signs for the Rock Houses, We had been instructed that at the junction we were turn left and head up Camber Road (remember that name ) But after two hours walking up hills of 1 in 6 crossing a heath where we saw wild deer, 5 cwt of Rabbit droppings and a fantastic few of the Worcester country side, we had had enough . We followed the noise of screaming kids and found a party of school kids their teacher or leader whatever, said we were on the right track and in fact they were just below us Off we set again this time down hill it wasn’t long before we found the eighth wonder of the world guess what its Wednesday and SHUT. Two other disappointed people were there too who had taken the easy way and less environmentally friendly way and come by car I enquired the quickest way back to town he said “oh thats easy he said that road 100 yards below us is Camber Road just turn left its five minutes from there“, OH no shit I said . Anyway on passing through the village again we spied a Indian Restaurant that was advertising a Wednesday special Buffet dinner, we have just returned from there and a lovely meal it was too, I am now retiring to my bed.

Good night God Bless

I’m Knackered

Some Days do not Improve

Monday morning saw us leaving Norbury junction at sparrow fart, as we had a long way to go an early start was essential. The canal for the main part was very quiet the weather was fair but a strong wind meant extra caution was required on this very narrow and bendy canal . We progressed through the day and only got hit by one very heavy show and of course that was when Noreen was preparing a lock. Battling though heavy wind seems to have become the norm on this trip every time I came to a bridge or a lock you could guarantee the wind was either starboard or port side on never to the stern or forward I suppose thats the way it goes. Monday afternoon we arrived at Aurtherly junction thats were the Shropshire canal meets the Trent and Mersey , we did not want to proceed any further though I was not keen on the security of the mooring however Noreen had a word with two passing community police ladies who said we would be safe and we were. Tues we set off again at sparrow fart heading now south on the Staffs and Worcester Canal from here its all new territory as we have never been down here before, to our surprise its a very nice canal granted the first part is through the outskirts of Wolverhampton but it soon leaves the industry behind and chugs along very calmly and sedately through some very interesting countryside the route now is down hill so all the locks are down which makes it easier for me. The locks are spaced out meaning you are doing one every 20 min or so we prefer the locks in flights were you do 20 in one go then its over with, anyway we trudged on through to a place called Greenforge were we found a very nice mooring alongside a retirement village , this morning Weds again we were on the move by 7.30 and intending to make Kidderminster but we only got as far as a place called Kinver. Were again we found a nice mooring one reason for the enforced stop was I am knackered and this morning I went to jump from the back and missed the bank which meant the level of the canal rose a few feet with the introduction of Big Al. On entering the canal I managed a beautiful back flip co-ordinated with a swallow dive which in a world Olympics would have gained at least a seven. Whilst performing these new feats of diving prowess I lost the stern line which was the only way of retrieving the boat, So like a little dog chasing a stick I had to swim and retrieve the line. Not wanting to make a fuss I started to call Noreen (the way little boys do who know they have done wrong, )who by this time was 100 yards away attending to the lock when she eventually turned around she said she couldn’t see me only two men looking into the canal at the back of our boat. Anyway a kind gentleman oiked me out and somehow after swimming to retrieve the boat going under a few times, when I eventually appeared on the bank I was still wearing my flat cap which Noreen considered very funny. So a quick shower change of clothes and off again by lunch I thought I had had enough for one day . I had read that the village of Kinver was a very nice medieval village so we decided to take the afternoon off and do some exploring, in the guild book it says that there are some Rock Houses (houses built into the rock so suitably attired we set off to find them, we were given some instructions on how to find them by two ladies in a 4x4, I should have realised when they drove off laughing that we were in for it. We duly followed the rout that we had been given and true there were signs for the Rock Houses, We had been instructed that at the junction we were turn left and head up Camber Road (remember that name ) But after two hours walking up hills of 1 in 6 crossing a heath where we saw wild deer, 5 cwt of Rabbit droppings and a fantastic few of the Worcester country side, we had had enough . We followed the noise of screaming kids and found a party of school kids their teacher or leader whatever, said we were on the right track and in fact they were just below us Off we set again this time down hill it wasn’t long before we found the eighth wonder of the world guess what its Wednesday and SHUT. Two other disappointed people were there too who had taken the easy way and less environmentally friendly way and come by car I enquired the quickest way back to town he said “oh thats easy he said that road 100 yards below us is Camber Road just turn left its five minutes from there“, OH no shit I said . Anyway on passing through the village again we spied a Indian Restaurant that was advertising a Wednesday special Buffet dinner, we have just returned from there and a lovely meal it was too, I am now retiring to my bed.




Good night God Bless



I’m Knackered

The Rock Houses

Sunday 8th

The much wanted and needed rain has arrived, not a lot but enough to clean the air and water the plants. Though the rain did not dampen the spirits of a great weekend.


As I said it was Carole and Keith’s weekend we all met at the tavern wharf in Goldstone not far from Market Drayton . As always a weekend with these two is a good laugh, its funny how a mundane thing as putting a cover and a 6 inch x 6 inch x 6 ft peice of mattress sponge can cause such hilarity, to watch Carole and Keith try to get the section of mattress in the cover was better than any Monty Python sketch, the pushing, shoving, bending, climbing and jiggling was extraordinary the people in the pub opposite must have thought we were having and orgy the amount of whooping, screaming and frolicking going on.

The weekend continued in that vein with lots of fun. Having no TV reception we were resigned to playing cards what ever you do if playing cards with Carole count the cards?? The fishing was really good and as usual with our Keith the completion was fierce. I may have come out slightly on top even by weight, Keith was hampered by me taking the best peg and using all his bait, but hey we never did fight fair. They had to go early today Man U were playing and Racheal had a curry ready for them I can’t complete with that. It gave us the opportunity to get half a days start so we headed off to Norbury junction were we took on Diesel, Water, and gas here there is a lovely wash room with washing machine and dryer so Noreen has caught up with all her washing even though we have a machine on board it better to use the big machines especially the dryer any way we are now set for the week and are now going full out to Stour port with no distractions.

So I will speak soon maybe from Stour Port



Bi Al

Sorry Our Kid I had to publish this one

Cruising

Wednesday 4 May




Yesterday we left Barbridge with the sun shining and the wind still blowing, our intention was to make it just a short cruise of about three hours and moor just before the Audlem flight of locks a flight consisting of 21 locks. All was going well; the canal, after the bank holiday weekend was very quiet with just the odd boat passing who like us were in no hurry to do anything. We found a lovely mooring just 20 mins away from Audlem As it was only lunch time and we could get a good signal on the telly we decided to have a early end to the days travelling. So we set out our stall we even got the washing out to dry in the fresh air. However we were only moor 20mins when half way though another wash cycle we ran out of water, this was the first time ever we have actually ran out. This then required a new strategy in our half day the nearest water point was up the first three locks of the Audlem flight. Having filled up, and found a enough room to moor we decided now to spend the night there and continue the rest of the locks the following day.

Wednesday morning we started early to avoid the “rush” we only got as far as the first lock when all the alarms on the engine started to sound I discovered that yet again we were short on water, this time in the engine as no other boats were about I decided to do the maintenance in the lock 20 mins later we were on our way again this thim only for Noreen to fall A over T and bruising her knee. Now leading a a flotilla of boats we ascended the locks after 2 hours of opening, closing filling and emptying locks we passed the last through the last one about 11.00am another hour later saw us arriving in Market Drayton were we topped up the water (we both had a shower last night and Noreen did some more washing) I also did a pump out Mooring in Market Drayton can be difficult as the banking can be very shallow but we were very lucky and found one just near the bridge. We had a quick walk into the town and found Netto did a little shopping but we will have to visit Morrison’s tomorrow to complete the rationing of the boat.

But the most spectacular part of the day would be the past two hours fishing which had me catching a good number of Roach one of at least 1½lb

Thursday

Two and a half mile round trip to Morrisons and Lidl (enough provisions now to survive a siege) Noreen is quite right in her provisioning, there are very few places to shop between here and Wolverhampton and Noreen likes to be prepared for any visitors. Back to the boat 12 miles and four locks. we had to negotiate the narrowest part of the canal were the BW lads were dredging, to get the boat past I had about 2” each side, even the BW crew said I did well to get past?? we have moored up, washed the whole boat, had lunch and had half an hours fishing and it is still only 14.15.

We now await the arrival of Carol and Keith. Due to having pushed on Tuesday and get water we have arrived here a day early but at this pace of travel a day either way is nothing.

I am having trouble with internet signal again so this may be a bit late



Big Al

May Bank Holiday

Hi everyone
Well that’s the May Bank holiday over and what a weekend its been, We first had Sylvia, Marjorie, Alan and Geoff over for the curry night we were all on edge waiting for a phone call from Marjorie’s daughter who had gone into labour, I suggested to take her some of the Curry as that would shift anything. We now know that her daughter had a little girl weighing in at 9lb So welcome Constance. Mat Lorraine Thomas joined us on Friday they had decided to sail with us so Mat had to take his car to Barbridge which is about two days sail from Anderton his intention was that he would leave it in Barbridge the return to Anderton on the bus However like all good plans they fall down in the working As it was a public holiday they had changed the bus times to a Sunday service and even then that would mean him going all the way into Chester to back out again so £30.00 later and 20mins in a taxi he arrived back at the boat rather annoyed. However We managed to watch the wedding which I thought was very nice We are definitely the best in the world at Ceremonial occasions I had the boat all decked out in red white and blue To befit such an occasion.
I had all the crew up early on sat morning as we had to pump out and fill up with water, the wind soon got up and made travelling just a little difficult the canal was very busy and the going was very slow but we were in no hurry and just enjoyed the day.The new Dinette is working a treat Mat and Lorraine say its very comfortable as a bed it is making live so much easier with numbers on board.

Sunday we got up rather late as we only had a few miles to go and again even with a strong wind we just ambled along that was until my hat blew off my best hat in the panic of trying to retrieve it I managed to block the canal and get Buggerlugs grounded However Mat did manage to hook the hat out of the cut. Thomas was a little star at one stage he was relaying messages from Bridge to Galley I could imagine him in his tricorn hat white breaches and the Boatswain shouting “Master Thomas! up in the rigging with you if you please “ he would have made an excellent midshipman as he knows every inch of this boat. I have some good pics of him assisting with the locks which are priceless

Today Monday Julie John Rach and Bethany joined us so we had 9 for lunch after lunch we held a fishing competition after much deliberation I have decided that it was a draw between Rach and John at 9 each I believe that would be fair. Today has also been a rather clumsy day my chair blew in the canal, Matthew broke a rod in half, Noreen lost a packet of cigarettes to the wind and canal, Having said all that it has been a fantastic weekend and having Mat Lorraine and Thomas with us really made it a weekend to remember.

Everyone has now gone home now and all is far too quiet, the canal traffic has slowed down, even the wind has slackend off but the sun is still very hot far too hot for the end of April. Noreen and I are just relaxing here feeling very contented having conducted a very very nice weekend.
I have a new smell, aroma or fragrance for you, that is the combination of Blue bells and Wild Garlic; as we came through the woods the other side of Anderton on Sat morning the wood floor was carpeted with them the Blue Bells deep in the wood and the Wild Garlic clinging to the dampness of the canal side the smell was wonderful that has to be the smell of spring.

Under instruction from Nunu

Thomas Going Solo

After a hard day as a Midshipman

Fishing Competition