Moving

Okay my darlings...l know that it's been a long time between posts but it's been a struggle this last 12 months...and adventures arrive in their own sweet time and not when I demand.

So...farewell to Reading and the South East and hello to the Midlands. YAY!!!
Now Reading had its good points...the Abbey, close to some gorgeous countryside and beautiful old villages, like Sonning and Henley...the marina had some wonderful birds and we saw, along the private road into the marina, bunnies, tiny munkjack deer, and foxes. However...we made no friends, had hardly any folk, were broke most of the time (Berkshire is expensive), and I am not saying that the entire county was filled with entitled twats but that's how it felt. Now Dave's work has an office in Rugby and we jumped at the chance to move.
We spent some time looking at places to moor and found a lovely marina called Wigrams Turn. Our closest village is Napton on the Hill. Rugby is about a 20 minute drive for Dave...so a pleasant commute.

Now after our cruise last year that was supposed to be 8 days long and ended up taking 26 days...remembering that if Dave isn't at work he earns nothing...we counted the pennies and decided to truck Augusta up to the Midlands instead of cruising. Guaranteed to be there on the same day. Woot

Very nervous watching her being lifted out of the Thames...but the lift operators were so calm and professional that Augusta just gently and regardless of the fuss alighted onto the truck with grace...well with as much grace as her tonnage allows. 😍

We took down everything from the walls and shelves...stacked boxes against cupboards and the fridge and hoped that nothing would smash or break in transit. So far so good. 😊 

Dave's and I got into the car and drove to our new mooring...and waited for her to arrive at the drop off point. 

So...welcome to Wigrams Turn...just to illustrate the difference...within half an hour I met three dogs and their owners, met the neighbours and had a coffee with a lovely gentleman who told me tales of community bbqs and craft mornings, music nights and local handymen. Friendly spot 😀

Coots

just a quick note today...we've been busy getting the boat back to house mode, and being as poor as church mice, staying in and being frugal. So no real site seeing or hanging out in the park at the beer and cider festival...just watching the birds and the snooker on the BBC, cleaning and cooking and laughing at each other. All very good things

We were so excited about having a nesting coot next door. We decided to turn the boat around so that instead of having to spy on the nest from our bedroom, we could watch them from our favourite spot, sitting in the well deck. Far enough away so as not to spook them and close enough to see all the action.

We'd seen Lady Cootly obsessively nest building and sitting on a clutch of about 6 eggs. Poor Mr Cootly spent his days bringing her ladyship nesting material and food...working his poor beak to the bone. She would call imperiously and he would come a swimming back with an offering. This went on for about a week. Then hurrah! Sounds of peeping and eggshell in the water! Dave and I were so pleased and watched the nest so carefully. But what's this? Only one hatchling to be seen...what had happened? Mother and father were so engrossed in the chick, feeding and preening, the little bald creature had only to open it's tiny beak to be fed and snuggled. We were sure that the other chicks would have been just as tenderly reared. Apparently not the case.

The RSPB has a marvelous website and is very informative when I want to identify a bird, or compare kinds of ducks and geese I see here at the marina. However when it comes to animal behaviour...not so much . So Google further afield...found two articles and a blog about coots.

Apparently when mother coot is egg heavy, if she is unhappy with her own nest, she will lay eggs in any other coot nest that she deems worthy. She will only lay in her nest when she thinks it's perfect. So...most coot nests contain between 6 and 9 eggs, of which only one or two might be hers. Now mother knows that she is harboring cuckoos but she'll sit on the eggs until they hatch, then one of two things will happen. Lady Cootly will either kill any chicks that she believes aren't hers, or she will starve the babies she believes are cuckoos. Lady and Mister killed their cuckoos rather than starving them...

Bastard baby killers I cry!!!
Nature heh!

The surviving chick is thriving and has a great deal of ugly charm. I am finding it difficult to be quite as enamored with the coot family as I had once been.

First Impressions and Yet More Expense

Well....here we are then. Mooring ropes tightened, the skies been mostly blue and the birds are singing and squawking. Nary a discouraging noise, just the occasional plane and a train in the distance. Sigh. So far so good. Oh and the view ain't bad either.

The promised excellent Wi-Fi however...is plops! They are mid upgrade...run through a web proxy...it hates our iPad's and our Apple T.V....no Netflix for us for a bit, unless we watch on the phone. At least the upgrade is happening...asap I hope. Davey is quite clever at these things and I have all the confidence in the world in my I.T. Guru husbands  ability to make something happen in the interim.

There's a book swap next to the laundry room!!! OMG! We have a lovely wee washing machine but no dryer...so we used the dryers there last night. What a joyous discovery to find books for the taking!  Today I read Room, by Emma Donoghue after swapping it for a copy of Narrowboat to Carcassonne (we somehow have three copies of that book), and can't wait to browse some more. Blessed are the reading boat folk.

The marina has it's own pub/cafe that at least three passersby have recommended. Apparently there's often music and it's a great way to meet our neighbours. So we are both looking forward to checking it out in the next few weeks.

All our neighbours have been friendly and helpful so far. The boat moored next to us with the coot nest in his prop has been quiet and just as anxious as we to not disturb lady cootly, as Dave calls her.
Neighbours on the other side are very pleasant and have two dogs...sort of beagle looking. Friendly as their owners. There's a black long haired cat that comes in to say hello, as well as the standard swans and ducks looking for a handout.

Okay....now for the expensive bit. Our poor car had been sitting in the car park here at the marina since we left Milton Keynes. So 23 days idle. I was certain that it would have a flat battery at the least. Dave was very grateful that it did start...and drove at least far enough to return the generator that we had hired. Threading his way through Reading...a quite old town....having had a settlement here since the 8th century, so narrow winding streets and a big town, so lots of traffic...guess who suddenly had no brakes! A shiny black Mercedes directly in front of him and only a handbrake to work with...Dave managed to get himself into a side street safely! Thank all the gods! After sitting in the car for a few minutes calming down, probably swearing, and pondering his next move...he got out of the car and was met by the people who live in the house he had pulled up in front of...l am very sorry to have parked here, but my car has broken down.." The woman was so kind and went back inside to get Dave a parking sticker so he wouldn't get a ticket and her husband was most sympathetic. Again the kindness of strangers!
The marina had recommended a mechanic to us already, the car being due for a MOT soon, and Dave had a card. They recommended a tow truck and in only a few hours, the car was delivered to the garage.
The money is still leaking away faster than Dave can earn.
Now....taxis are his option to get to the train station and home again...each way being around 10 pounds. He's been contemplating a hire bycyle. Brompton bike hire service is available, but the hiring machine doesn't seem to work and the help phone number just says that the inbox is full and to call again! So frustrating.

So today Dave walked into Reading to grocery shop and caught a taxi back. Again my "fine and sturdy fellow " of a husband is my everyday hero.

Now he is pricing folding bikes, hopefully for under a thousand pounds.

So not quite the idyllic beginning we were hoping for, but not entirely awful either.

My job tomorrow is cleaning our poor Augusta and hunting for a new GP

From Shillingford to Home...Augusta and Dave save the day

 Nice and early today after a solid quiet nights sleep, Augusta started first try, and we were off down the river hopefully getting to Reading today. More lovely lock keepers...through Benson lock and headed to Wallingford.
I've been looking forward to seeing Wallingford, medieval bridge, and the site of a ruined castle. I have always been fascinated by Empress Maude and her war with King Stephen in the 11 hundreds...Wallingford Castle was held for Maude first built in 1071, the town was chartered in 1155 ...dead impressive to a history geek like me. Impressive it was indeed. Then just past Wallingford is the home of Jethro Tull ( mechanised farming pioneer in the late 1600's, not the band...though Thick as a Brick and Songs from the wood featured in the playlist).

Down a wide stretch of the Thames now headed for Moulsford. Under a Brunel designed skewed railway bridge and past a stunning pub called The Beetle and Wedge Boathouse. An ex manor house turned pub famous for H.G. Wells staying there while writing "Mr Polly".

Goring next...again history for me...a Neolithic Ford across the Thames that linked the Icknield Way with the Ridgeway. Oooh. Then under another Brunel bridge, past some gorgeous countryside ducking rowers again. Past Pangbourne where Kenneth Grahame wrote " The Wind in the Willows "  headed to Mapledurham...Toad Hall. Mapledurham House is still occupied by the family that bought it in 1490 then restored in 1874. Most posh. More literary connections, besides being Toad Hall, Alexander Pope wrote there and it is mentioned in Galsworthy's "Forsythe Saga". More recently Inspector Morse.

Now for the excitement of the day.
Just past toad hall, a boat broadside across the river! Master and Commander Dave to the rescue. Poor people had a dead engine and were at the mercy of the current. They had been passed already by a couple of white boats (aka entitled wankers), who declined to help and abused them for being in the way!!!
Dave and Augusta offered to tow them to the next lock where they could tie up and wait for River Rescue. He caught the bow line and pulled them into the current, then rafted them alongside. Augusta was a trooper and never missed a beat. They were so grateful for the assistance that the woman cried and hugged Dave. Hero!!!

Before we knew it....there was Reading Bridge and the mouth of the Kennet...and the turn into our marina.

Home

So quiet and peaceful. Oh the birds! Chatty neighbours and Dave's been talking to every dog and cat.

So we're popping a cork as the sun sets and feeling quite pleased with ourselves. A bit sad that our 8 days cruise, which became 23 days of travel, is over. Still there are more adventures to be had...Windsor is just down the way, the Kennet and Avon within cooee...much to see and do.

Till then
Cheers

Kahloo kullay...after 11 days marooned in Oxford, running perilously close to running out of water and diesel, we are finally cruising again!
The current is still fairly strong...but no crazy stuff like the day we came down the Sheepwash Channel. So we're making fairly good time. Huzzah! (Dave had seen a duck paddling for all it was worth while staying in the same spot...so today the current is slower than a duck ).

Oxford is pretty as a picture from the water...Christchurch meadows and Folly Bridge...just lovely.
A glorious stretch of canal....urban and quite magnificent. Dave did well to avoid the rowers below the City. Gorgeous Iffley lock, balustrated bridge and white pub...like a postcard. After this the canal keeps its distance from the town and is gradually surrounded by field and farmland.

The only place where we could get water and diesel was Abingdon. Now Abingdon is gorgeous, postcard pretty. However I was more excited about getting water...3 days without a shower makes me very cranky. There's a wee shop at the services there...time for a very cold drink...Aussie mates will be astounded, 27 degrees and blue skies...just the ticket.

Down the Thames we go, passing mute swans, gray geese, and teal ducks, through culhams cut to the next lock. A word about Thames locks...wide and deep...equipped with lock keepers! No more windlass for me! Even when they are unattended these locks are push button operated. We stay onboard and gossip with the lock keepers...(yes we did sing "well met again lock keepers"), find out what the river is like further down, and talk about the weather...this is England chaps.

We cruised gently through the countryside and saw our first real manors on the water. Large homes with enormous backyards that gently slope down to the river. Boathouse and manicured lawn party for the course. My my my...how the wealthy people live. PFTT! Richer are we, each other and Augusta and the whole world is our oyster.

However speaking of wealth...our 8 days cruise is now into it's third week, and the money is leaking out of our pockets at an alarming rate. Between generator and petrol, a rental car for one day, paying for bike hire, and the only supermarket close enough to ride to, was a Waitrose...people go to Waitrose for the experience, darling...well most things are quite expensive, yummy, but expensive. Oxford is not cheap. Sigh. Budget wise, Dave was going to be a week without pay...now...he has worked 2 or 3 days each week that we have been stranded...but oh dear, "poverty knock ". Beans on toast for us for a week or so. Just lucky we have a well stocked pantry.

We had started early in the morning today, so a reasonably early stop. Very pretty spot at Shillingford, outside a pub. Happy we are, mooring on the Thames can be a tricky thing. Lots of private moorings, lots of nowhere to put a pin in the bank, and lots of...that'll be 10 pounds for the night. Shillingford pub makes us pay for the mooring, however if you spend 20 pounds in the pub the mooring is free....oh and it has mains electricity! Woohoo! So dinner and a drink for us tonight.

Names that make me giggle...Little Wittington...New Hinksey....imagine Rowan Atkinson saying that 😂

Boat name today was...Shippish...with a few bashful sheep illustrations.

Cheers lovely people.

Update

Just a quick note today to let you know how we are doing.
Still flooded and stuck in Oxford.
Lovely young man from River, Canal Rescue  came to see us yesterday. Apparently Augusta had an air bubble in her fuel injector. He bled the fuel line, cleaned the injectors, tightened some bits and pieces and she chugged happily. He was very happy to be working on such a grand old engine. We were very relieved that it was something small. Hooray for RCR!
We continue to be quiet and sleepy.
Dave works away from the back cabin. We use the wee generator to top up our batteries. I am reading my way through a stack of novels and learning lyrics to songs I keep meaning to learn. I watch the birds through the window. A chaffinch came to visit as did a flash of blue that might have been a kingfisher. I am amused by the squirrel and am keeping my eye on the building effort of the tiny wren.
Tomorrow is my birthday.
I am making a cake.
Might have lunch at the pub.
We shall see what happens.
More tales to come...

Flooded in Oxford

Well here we are again...moored in an odd spot...relying on the kindness of strangers. The man from the Environmental Agency drops past to check we're okay when he starts work in the morning and has been helpful in pointing out shops and the laundromat, suggestions for power and water and fuel. 

Dave has organised to hire a small generator so he will have enough electricity to work from the boat, and to power our devices...phew...I would miss my ipad...not only for the internet but also for the stack of novels I have saved to it's memory. My kindle is out of battery. The weather is very conducive to drinking tea and reading books. In other words the sky is leaden and leaking rain
There's a marina fairly close by...they will deliver some coal this afternoon...so we'll have heat and power. At least we are comfortable and are still laughing.

Outside the window is a bit of a hedge, so I've been watching a sweet blue tit hopping around, a tiny tinywren  building her nest, and watching a blackbird wash himself in the rain. Amazing the range of songs he is capable of singing and he makes a lovely counterpoint to the sound of the water rushing over the weir.

The Environmental Agency man thinks that we'll be here most of the week, so I'm not worried about taking today as a reading books and drinking tea day. Plenty of time to explore this bit of Oxford. Osney is apparently an island joined to Oxford by various footbridges. There's a very interesting pub, called the Punter, and we are on Botley road near the train...so plenty of options for roaming and exploration. I'm sure Dave will appreciate me out of the boat while he's working😘

Feeling quite grateful to Dave for being so organised and such a do-er. I am blessed to have him in my life.

Back to the novel.

Day 4 being stuck in Oxford. It's still raining cats and dogs. I haven't really been outside the boat. Too miserable for wandering around...even wandering around somewhere as glorious as Oxford. Beyond a coffee shop and the pub I have been nowhere and done almost nothing. Dave is working from the back cabin of the boat and wishing for the water levels to drop. We are so close to Reading, Google maps says he could cycle there in a bit over 2 hours. It will take Augusta about 2 days.

Meanwhile, Augusta is refusing to start. No matter how much we implore the goddess of the engine. So thank goodness for the generator that we hired...or there would be no power at all. We have membership in the River Canal Rescue...sort of like a breakdown service like you get with cars. I think we shall have to call them to come out and see what is wrong with our Russell Newbury DM2 engine. I would hate to have the go ahead to move forward with our journey only to have no engine with which to travel. Sigh...

Dave looks exhausted and quite grim. Doesn't help that his work space on the boat is not particularly comfortable and not very warm. He is enjoying biking to the shops with easy bike hiring schemes in Oxford. About 50p a day...you find a bike...leave it where you finish...they are GPS tagged and the app shows where the bikes are at any given time. Clever eh!.

Boat name for the day...Clary Grundy...fans of the Archers will understand.