2014 at a glance

Happy New Year to Everyone

 Well here we are again,

 Another year gone and another waiting to surprise, astonish, overwhelm, amaze, excite and God will fill us with joy and happiness

2014 for all it through at us wasn’t all that bad, we are still here to try again. I know for some 2014 was one that would rather be left in the archives of history and those who suffered great losses then may 2015 bring you peace.

I have neglected my Blog which I am very repentant for, my neglect is due to a few reasons, one I spent most of it either in hospital or waiting to go in which nobody wants to hear about, secondly I have been doing a little writing for some magazines (boating) and last but not least its been rather a boring year. The few things worth causing interest or a giggle I wrote about. However since the summer disappeared and the medical scientists have found another body to practice and experiment on, things have started to become more Normal ( I am still awaiting confirmation on the word Normal)

2014 as most years do now took away a number of my friends Geof went well before his time David Blackmoor went after some serious illnesses and only last week we buried Beryl one of our dear boating friends all will be missed by many family and friends, I am one of those lucky people who can honestly praise the lord for letting me share my life with them and celebrate in a the wonderful things they did. We have to celebrate life, we don’t have it for long so let’s try to enjoy every minute.  It’s true that the only two things certain in life are taxes and death but when it comes it is still difficult to comprehend. I now tell everyone who I love, or care about “I love them” or care for them as often as I can, one thing I have learn in my life is that once, you have gone there is no second chance this is not a rehearsal

  

I cannot abide wasted time so through my enforced lay up awaiting appointments  I have managed to build myself a Shave Horse for preparing walking sticks, a smoker made from a 4 draw filling cabinet, quite a number of small wooden boxes and a number of painted items ready for our travelling shop on the summer cruise. And a small inlaid oak table top for general use in the boat. I have taken a volunteer possession as the Area Representative for the RBOA (resident boat owners association) my area is the L&L from bottom of the Wigan Flight to Liverpool the Leigh branch and of course the Rufford branch responsibilities are varied very varied but it is mostly looking after our members. It does mean I get to go to meetings listen to boating problems try to find solutions, I go around visiting lots of boats and getting to know many boaters and of course helping others; as you all know helping is a great part of my life?, No honest I know I go on a bit but its always to try and make things better, I will always fight for the underdog; does that make me truly British or painfully stupid?

I have become a granddad again in November Maryanne presented us with a beautiful baby girl 6lb 12oz named Pippa the name is so apt she is just so wonderful, only a few weeks before Pippa was due Maryanne decided it was time to move from her very modern Apartment into a bungalow with her partner Steve who is a really nice young man so it was all hands to the pumps on a virtual rebuild  And yes with Maryanne’s guidance and Steve’s patience  we had it ready and its such a lovely place a 1930 Bungalow just on the out skirts of Chester  with panoramic views it’s a very nice and cosy a place they should be very happy in. Matthew and Lorraine have had a good year, they like many others are surviving and bringing up a family despite the governments attempts to ruin family life Thomas is growing up to be a really intelligent and thoughtful young man who is a pleasure to be with, he is also becoming a very good shot with a rifle I am sure he is destined for big things.

I do not tend to shout my families praises which is quite correct however this piece of new requires acknowledgement in this years Honours list Maryanne was awarded the MBE for her work with the disabled though Maryanne has difficulty with that phrase her students she says have just other difficulties that others don’t. Anyway we are very proud of her achievement not bad for a girl who when at Rydings high in Oswaldtwistle, I was told at one parents evening “your daughters hormones have gone wild “   ?????????

We have now decided on how we intend to attack this years events, its not often that we have a plan because lets face we are not good at it something always crops up UNEXPECTEDLY

However in Jan Feb we are having a break and off to Istanbul/Constantinople where West meets East in political and religious grounds that burst of heat should set us up for the work ahead getting the boat ready to cruise. April will see us moving out onto the canal with Kath and John on their boat Orion, we are first going into Liverpool spend a few days there and then we do the full length of the Leeds and Liverpool the longest single canal in Britain visiting all the usual places and a few surprises among them, from Leeds we are off to York which on our boat being 62ft is the furthest north we can get. .As we are trying to visit every Cathedral in Britain we wanted to get to Ripon but again we cannot get there by boat as ours again is too long so it looks like another bus ride.  On our return in late  August  we will get ourselves ready to nip over to Australia for a couple of months I am longing to see Mary’s new house and boat the pictures look awesome.

That should be it but no doubt things will change ?????????????

Now I will promise to keep the blog going but you must promise to comment even in two words just to prove that I am not talking to myself.

My New years Resolution is : To be here for the next one

God Bless you all

Big Al

                                                                Maryanne Pippa & Steve

                                                             Gorgeous Pippa

                                                                  Sleepy Pippa

                          spring time Piggy back out of the water                                                                                                                            Scrubbed Painted and ready for                                                                                                                                      going back