A Galimaufry of Musings

There is little of canal life this time as, unfortunately, the bad back remains a bad back despite the ministrations of fizzio and medico and I am, as the Bard would have said, totally buggered. Pam has been saintly and I am blessed in that I can sit, sleep and drive without pain, though obviously not at the same time. Standing, walking and climbing stairs are hell so the boat is not a lot of good albeit sans stairs. It was bearable up till last Sunday but has got much worse since then. Oh sod it -who wants to read about my boring back.

I'm fine but not been to the boat this week preferring reading a lot and doing crosswords

A Bit of History
I was interested to read the following from the Berkhamsted Local History & Museum Society:

Water water everywhere...

"Since last week the water in the reservoirs near Tring rose 4.5 feet. The water in Grand Junction Canal also rose considerably and the pumping at the Cow Roast was discontinued, being unnecessary. At Northchurch, where a number of the wells had been sunk lower, the springs rose, and they had well water, waterworks water, and plenty of raw water. At Berkhampstead, St. John's well spring has recommenced to run; the watercress beds are covered where they had been quite dry before. During last week some 200 yards of road from Tring to the station were under several feet of water through a drain being stopped." (Bucks Herald, Oct 1891).

Last Winter was pretty wet as we all recall but this was in October,1891 and wont have aided the harvest gathering. It still remains very mild and we have had a fair bit of rain. Are we in for another wet one I wonder?  Being purely selfish I'd rather have a wet mild Winter but feel for people whose homes are at risk.

Some more history:
Friend Geoffrey lent me a book of photos (Bygone Berkhamsted by Percy Birtchnell) and it included the following picture. Eddy Street runs alongside the row of cottages in Gossoms End including Pam's house.(third in from the horses) East were a big business in Berko once upon a time building all sorts of stuff including lock gates , lance poles, rammers for the artillery and tent pegs all for the Crimean War! Well, not the lock gates obviously.
The horses look very much like my selections at Huntingdon this week although these appear to be going faster.

And yet more history....

This picture, also from the above mentioned Percy Birtchnell shows a cycle and motor shop on the corner of Holliday Street and High St Berko. I posed the question as to whether the street was named after the Hollidays who owned the shop and it looks like that family had a wheelwrights there; going back into the mid 1800s and that an early member of the family had been a bailiff at Ashlyns Hall so I reckon I'm probably right.

However for me the more interesting fact was detailed by Percy B under the following photo.

Thomas Stevens

I was so impressed by this fellow Thomas Stevens that I've ordered Vol 1 of his account of his trip and am saving for Vol 2. After all the above he then went on to manage the Garrick Theatre so nuff respec as we say in downtown Berkhamsted. I am sure this would make a great film; a man born in Berko, educated at a charity school, emigrates to America, farms in Wisconsi, rides a pennyfaerthing round the world, returns to Berko, gets married and manages the Garrick. Job done.

To more important matters. Pam has been suffering an influx of half dead wasps and it was suspected that one point of entry (amongst a few others) was the skylight in the living room. In order to eliminate this as an option Pam and Joseph are seen here clingfilming the skylight

None so far but they are coming from somewhere

So Pam amused herself by chopping down some ivy-doesn't she look happy.

Saturday night and it's curry at Berkhamsted Boys School in aid of Save the Children. A splendid evening with a murder mystery enacted on stage during dinner which I was completely incapable of understanding.(The play, not the dinner) The back was bearable for the outing but Sunday took it's revenge

They Sikh him here.......






                                 in the Lamb

With Maharishi Andrew and Jane who seemed to be the main motivation behind the evening

The ladies parade theirIndian costumes

They Sikh him there......

Anyway the evening raised at least 400 quid with a raffle and I expect a few bob more. Good effort all round.
We returned to Maharishi Andrew's after the event and enjoyed coffee and brandy before retiring hurt.

Talking of social gatherings the Cowroast Lock Moorers Christmas Gathering will be on Dec 6th so if you normally attend make a note..

The week ahead depends very much on the state of my back but a trip to Kent to see Caz, Phillip and Florence is planned So it's back to my cheese and cocodomol sandwich. Yummy.....................and Fulham are winning 2-0. Rejoice.