Daniel Oakley

Wonderful day yesterday as I spent the day on my own moored up on Hazleford Island. I was the only boat till later on in the day, so early morning it was just PIp, Jet, me and hundreds of rabbits.

The mooring was against a set of steep steps, which the dogs just about managed.

Paul arrived back from Bristol on the local stopping train from Nottingham to Bleasby. I cycled the two miles or so from the island to the little station, so that he could put his heavy bag in the front panier. It was a bit of a struggle to get the bike up the steps and then over the lock gate - but we did it.

Back to today and just doing funding bids and phone conferences first thing. Then Paul and I are setting off at about 11.30 am (if he ever gets off the phone) for Cromwell Lock - the last lock before the tidal Trent.

This is Ray here. Up early, away by 10 past 7. Everything quiet, no wind and everyone else walking along to work along the footpath. Just Karen and me Paul is away to Oxford. All quiet now, a change from Nottingham on a Saturday night, (we saw some sights walking back from seeing Jacki Chan in his new Kung Fu film the other night)

It was a stiff paddle to turn. I thought I was losing my strength at first - I nearly had to shout for Karen.

Having a look at the Trent and finding out there is plenty of room for manouvering, a big change from the canal.

We made good time to Stoke Lock and I was ready for me egg sarnie. We stopped here because it was a nice place to stop. Had a walk by the lock, Jet tried to walk on the cattle grid into a field - lost his tennis ball but found a fisherman’s bag.

Lots to see, lots of herons, horse with its foal on the side of the Trent, and a Kingfisher - for Joan.

Moored up at the bottom of Hazleford Lock on an island. Sat watching the activity and a good view of the large lock. The lock keeper said he could get up to 12 boats in there.

Karen speaking now - and just to say I’ve had a great day with Ray. Great company, fabulous weather and now, moored up on the Island with not another boat in sight. Fab!

Saturday moring and we were up bright and early. Paul making pancakes and coffee, me walking the dogs along the tow path to meet David and Ray who were joining us for a spot of breakfast. They admired the mooring location

After a very heavy shower of rain, David went off to work and we set off for Nottingham. The first lock was a hundred yards or so down from the mooring. Ray was back in the driving seat with no worries at all….

We are planning to stay in Nottingham for the weekend to stock up on food and to do the washing. Paul is going to Oxford and Bristol on Monday, back Tuesday evening. Ray and I will move the boat out of Nottingham on MOnday, and down on the Trent to Stoke Bardolf. More later.

Well maybe thats a mistake - calling it the summer newsletter? Don’t know about you, but we haven’t seen much sun yet. Hopefully August will be lovely..

Since Joan’s death I’ve found it really difficult to sit down and do anything creative. Paul and I were talking about this only the other day. Like me he has been able to do the “firefighting stuff” - like answering email etc. but the deep, critical thinking bit has been a real struggle. Part of it is to do with ability to concentrate. I have found that after a while my mind drifts off to think about stuff to do with Joan, like the wierd presents she used to give me (10 boxes of panti-liners), or as Im looking despondantly at my now wild hair in the mirror, remembering how she said my hair resembled Camilla PB, and seeing my reaction (I really didn’t think I looked that old) continued to tease me by calling me Camilla from then on! Isn’t it strange, the kinds of things you remember and miss…

Oh well Ive got the dogs to distract me….until Paul gets back anyway.

We stayed at Hawkesbury Junction a day or so over our allowed 7 days, because it was too wet to move the boat. However Thursday 10 July (Happy Birthday Dan) dawned bright and sunny so we filled up with water, emptied the loo and set off for Burton on Trent. Paul worked while we cruised so I did a lot of steering that first day, to the top of the Atherstone flight of locks.

The next day we made it to Fradley Junction, and the dogs had lots of walks in between the heavy showers. Just as we approached Fradley, Jet - with tennis ball in mouth - suddenly dived through a tiny hole in a hedge and reappeared a couple of minutes later with an ornamental garden squirrel and no sign of the ball. I wrested the ornament from him and stuffed it under the garden gate, hoping no one had seen us!

A drink in the Swan that night was a little disappointing. Beer not so good, but lots of canal gossip to earwig!

Next morning we awoke to bright sunshine and set off on the final leg to Burton, not sure of where to moor. WE had a look at the water park on the run into Burton, but Jet found a pile of rubbish and there was a loud pop concert booming away in a neighbouring field so we carried on through Burton to the lovely little village of Willington about 5 miles or so Nottingham side of Burton-on-Trent. We found the same place to moor as we had last year….

There is a nice wide towpath, where we sat with David and Mandy for a picnic lunch when they visited yesterday. Jet has lots of room to lie down and watch the action.

I am on my own with the dogs until Wednesday. Paul has gone to a meeting in Bolton, then going on up to Penrith to stay with his Dad for a couple of days.

We are moored up on the 7 day moorings by the stop lock at the junction. Been exploring and found a railway station at Bedworth, a massive shopping centre on the way to Coventry and walks for the dogs on a reclaimed pit area done out as a park.

Best of all the “Greyhound” pub is only 2 minutes away along the towpath with great views of all the action as boaters make the 360 degree turn from the Noth Oxford onto the Coventry canal going north.

Back to boating and the four letter word - work.

Whilst we were away in Penrith the boat was in Rugby having its bottom blacked. David at Hillmorton Boatyard did a good job at £6.50 a foot (inclusive of vat) in a dry dock - which is very reasonable.

Now we are back on the boat we have decided to make our way up towards Nottingham, to meet up wiith Paul’s Dad at the end of the month. Paul and I are rather behind in our work, and Paul has to travel for a couple of meetings so needs access to trains. So we are now moored at Hawksbury Junction near Coventry. Fortunately the 80’s temperatures have faded and it is much cooler and overcast, so we can sit and work at our laptops ( don’t feel too sorry for us).

Before we left Rugby we met up with Pete and Di (owners of our Banbury mooring) who were on their way back from the Historic Boat gathering at Braunston. Here is a photo of their tug/ice breaker (Oxford No 1) in what is thought to be original livery. Pete has been restoring the boat, a six year project so far (I think).

Oh and Jet is a bight of a nightmare round here with all the rubbish - he loves beer cans and rips them up. Not too good an idea as he cuts his gums, stupid boy!

Sorry that the blog has been very quiet but we have had a very difficult few weeks. Paul’s Mum Joan was taken ill very suddenly on 12 June and rushed into hospital. Seriosly ill she was then transferred to the Intensive care unit at the Freeman hospital in Newcastle, but she never regained conciousness. Sadly in the early evening of Wednesday 18 June, Joan passed away. The funeral was last Friday and I found it a sad, but unlifting experience as we celebrated her life.

We met at Lowther Church for the service (click on this link to read the poem Paul read out at the service, that he and Helen Beetham wrote specially)

Paul, Ray and I went back on Sunday for a walk and to take some photos.

This is a beautiful little church in the middle of the Lowther estate (where the carriage driving competition is held the first week of August).

Here are some thumbnail pictures; one of the river Lowther that runs below the Church, where Joan saw her first Kingfisher, and the other shows a view of the walk beside the river.

Joan was laid to rest in the woodland and meadow area at Penrith Cemetery. She wanted a “green funeral” so her casket was made of wicker and garlanded with english garden and woodland flowers. The views from the meadow look across Saddleback and other Lakeland mountains that Joan knew and loved so well.

Yes I’ve been left alone for the week but Karen left me with Jet to keep me out of trouble! I am finding out that Jet like to ferret around in hedges, so far this week we’ve had several plastic bottles and beer cans (empty), a birds head (dead of course), an audio cable, a can of deodrant (was he saying something?) and the plastic squeeky pig (rear end only). On one occaison he chased teh ball into a bush, cam back out with the ball, but hangon the one I threw was yellow  - the one he came back with red!

So while Karen  enjoys he trip up North, I’m off on another excitingw alk around the parks of Banbury.

I’m skiving off yet again - my sister Ju and I have driven up to Yorkshire for a girlie week away from the chores, seeing relations and then going onto Appleby Horse Fair. Thanks to Paul and Kaz for holding the forts while we are away.

Lunch with cousin Nicky at Bingley on the way up. Then onto Brimham for cousin Amy’s 18th party. Best pressie was a set of Nancy Lopez golf clubs (taller than Amy!)

Spent the following morning with Amy doing family tree stuff with Amy, who is a member of Genes Reunited. Amy had loads to share with me, thanks Amy!
I did a bit of walking and noseying around the farm, while Ju and Marge prepared lunch. Look what I found - a fantastic shed with absolutely everything. What a treasure trove……