Friday, May 15, 2009

Inactivity...........................???

“You still doing all the work?”
“Yes,” she says, raising eyes to heaven.
“You need to trade him in for a newer model.” Such is the advice of chattering classes on the towpath.
“I’m in me prime,” he wails “It’s only a temporary dysfunction. I’m not ready for the knacker’s yard yet!”
“I’m fed up with you being useless.”
“Shut up; or I’ll poke you with me stick!”

Such outbursts would never, of course, ever be heard in tranquil environs of the Avon Rose. Herself stoically soldiers on. Blue Jobs, Pink jobs, she takes them all in her stride; calling on the nursing skills of the past (himself rather enjoyed the bed bath). She’s the heroine of the cut.

[A note to the uninitiated: In certain households jobs are defined as blue, pink or purple on the lines of gender. On the cut dealing with sanitary arrangements, fetching and carrying (donkey work) things mechanical, tricky navigational manoeuvres and suchlike are definitely blue!]

As you can gather from the above, the problem with his back has been a bit more severe than he has had for many a year. Sitting is OK, the problem has been in standing, walking and laying flat. But slowly, slowly he continues to improve and has at last had a full night’s sleep. He’s at that dangerous point again, when you start to think you are nearly OK and one careless move can lead to a serious setback.

So in the four weeks since we arrived at the head of the Ashby, there may not have been much boating but it has not been without activity (herself says, ”What do you mean? It’s been all go for goodness sake.”) He was able to sit and drive, so a hire car and a visit to family was still possible. Enterprise Car Hire is brilliant for boaters as they will come and pick you up and take you to their depot to get your car. The deck furniture (boat hook, poles, gang plank and cradle) were all looking sad and weathered so another sitting down job and he has refurbished them in the house colours. We indulge in Sunday Lunch at the Globe, the lovely landlady (“How’s his back”) reserves us a table in the lounge so himself doesn’t have to negotiate the stairs down into the dining room. We’ve had a flying visit from intrepid biker friends, as they pass by on their way to a rally in Wales.

All being well, we should be on the move again sometime after the weekend for a very leisurely cruise back to Braunston for our scheduled bottom blacking!