We seem to spend most of our time doing not a lot at all except just existing. That is to say there is not much of interest or anything exciting to talk about, just the humdrum of everyday life.
OK I said that nothing happens. Cricket on the green seems to be a big thing for Ellesmere residents as they spend a lot of time and effort maintaining the green and playing each weekend, but it is not my bag.
OK I said that nothing happens. They are still playing cricket on the green and I have had a visitor popping in and out during the course of the day. I know that robins are human friendly and not particularly scared of them but this is the first time that I have had one visit me on the boat while I have been going about my normal daily routine.
Due to catch the 501 bus from Ellesmere to Shrewsbury (Google Maps knows nothing about the Lakeland bus routes) at half twelve to get us to the Ophthalmology department at Shrewsbury Eye Hospital in plenty of time. Arrived there and went to reception to book in and was told that they have no appointment booked for me for today. After loads of toing and froing (the staff were very helpful) it turned out that one of the appointment letters I had received on the 10th June was actually a cancellation and re-appointment. It was this appointment that had been re-scheduled. Not necessarily a waste of time as both my No2 and I had proven that the No 501 bus works for the appointment.
Moved out of Ellesmere towards Ellesmere tunnel to get some shade from the trees there. I set off early to use the facilities and then on to the perfect spot under some trees but with enough of the solar panels in the sunshine to make them effective. I made sure that there was enough room for Dennis to moor up in front where there was a similar degree of shade. Shortly after I had moored up another boat turned up and moored in the spot I had earmarked for Dennis so when my No2 turned up she had to moor up a couple of hundred yards further on, under a tree with a bees nest in it.
During the course of the week I managed to get a mooring closer to Dennis so that we were not walking so far, backwards and forwards between the boats for meals and so on and there is a nice view. Life continued on with the normal daily chores and activities, with the occasional foray into Ellesmere for fresh vegetables and fruit.
Ophthalmology appointment. So today is the real deal. Confirmation reminders from the Eye Hospital about my appointment.
Experience has shown that obtaining refreshment after an appointment is harder than expected, all the cafe's and restaurants seem to close by about three and we don't get back to the centre of Shrewsbury till after then so I have started taking a picnic with me.
Arrived in plenty of time, booked in and did the preliminary scans and eye drops almost straight away. While the scans were going on I asked if there was a facility to check the prescription of my spectacles at the hospital as I thought that the spectacles supplied at my latest opticians appointment did not seem right. I was told that under no circumstances should the optician have prescribed spectacles for me as my eyes would be changing far too rapidly for them to be any good.
Another black mark for Specsavers Oswestry.
Went through to the 'operating theatre', well that's what I am calling it, after all it is a surgical procedure. The assisting nurse, a man, was very chatty and got me talking about my boat and life on the water which was really good as it took my mind off the proceedings. Lots of eye drops, lots of anaesthetic, a clamp sort of thing to hold my eyelids open, a quick jab with the syringe into the corner of my eyeball and a shot of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. I would like to say that it was fine but I have to admit that my stomach churned and I felt quite ill for a few seconds. It was not the pain, there wasn't any, it was the strange sensation of the additional pressure in my eyeball that was so uncomfortable, but it soon subsided and I recovered almost instantly.
The nurse took me to a side ward and started to tell me of the possible side effects that I might experience. I asked that I might include my No2 in this discussion as I knew that I would not remember any of the words spoken to me for the next fifteen minutes or so (from experience it is my reaction to stress). She came into the side ward and the nurse covered everything and replied to the questions that my No2 posed to her satisfaction.
Outside the sun was extremely bright. We are in the middle of a heatwave with cloudless skies and the drops in my eyes did no help. Fortunately I had taken the advice in the appointment letter and had a broad brimmed hat with me. Caught the but into town where we wandered around the Darwin centre for a while. Tried to find the Halifax bank but that had closed down so made use of a Lloyds instead. Retracing our steps we popped into the Home Bargains to look for some makeup wipes and while we were in there found some tinned mackerel at a decent price and some tinned kippers for even less. Made the whole journey well worthwhile. Partook of our picnic in the The Collective section that has nice armchairs to sit in with coffee tables beside with no food eating restrictions. They chucked us out (because they were closing that section) in time to catch the bus back to Ellesmere. All in all a very successful day.
On my daily trip into Ellesmere to do the fresh veg shopping I spotted a brightly coloured thing in the hedge that looked like an old sailing schooner with two masts. I had previously spotted it from the boat as we cruised past. Decided that I would have a closer look on my way back if it was still there.
It was, so I extricated it from the hedge and looking at it I thought that it would be incredibly unstable floating on the water and got to wondering how to get it to sail properly. Then the penny dropped. It is a kite! The penny dropped partly because the slight breeze while I was walking along the to path was catching it and trying to pull it out of my hands.
Once back at Iowner I had difficulty getting it inside as it is quite big. Juggled it in the front doors and sat it on my workbench that it almost filled and reached the ceiling. Never one to leave well enough alone I had to have a good investigate and found that it could be collapsed down to a manageable size for transporting and storing.
Up reasonably early this morning, got the apricots on to stew while I made the pastry. (I have discovered a new recipe for pastry with wholemeal flour and olive oil which seems to work rather well).
Next door, my No2 was up and walking along the offside gunnel cleaning all the bird shit off the roof that had accumulated while we were moored up under the trees during the hottest part of the most recent heatwave. I was just about to make a cup of coffee when I heard a scream calling me urgently. I rushed to the front of my boat to see what was going on. My No2 was being attacked by a family of swans seeing if they could grab a bit of foot. My No2 was trapped halfway along the gunnel with swans either side of her pecking at her feet. I promptly started making 'come here little swannies, I've got something for you' noises. Fortunately they did come and see what I was doing giving my No2 a chance to shimmy along the gunnel to safety.
The swans hung around for a good fifteen minutes before they decided to leave us in peace.
Just been listening to the story about the three Billy Goats Gruff and the troll. I have listened to this story on and off since I was about 6 and now, 70 years later, I have deciphered the message contained in the story. Who would have believed that we were being subliminally indoctrinated to sacrifice our siblings for a small benefit in the future. After all the first two goats (Little Billy Goat Gruff and Middle Billy Goat Gruff) both offered the troll their elder sibling as payment for crossing the bridge to greener grass on the other side.
Hermione and Edie arrived today just after 2pm. Unloaded all her holiday baggage and settled into Iowner. She had a Morrison's 'Click and Collect' organised for 4 pm so off they went leaving me to look after Mabel. They got back shortly after 5pm. Never one to miss an opportunity I got Hermione to get a 10 pack of Bier Continentale while she was getting her shopping as Morrison's is the only place I know of to get it and there isn't a Morrisons within a convenient bus ride from here.
I should explain, Mabel is Edie's dog who goes everywhere with them unless their destination is a dog free area. I will probably be on Mabel duties quite often over the next few days.
