I went to the front door of the boat the other day and there sat on my ropes was a kingfisher. Panic! Grabbed camera from hook by the door where it is kept for just such an eventuality. Caught strap of camera on fire extinguisher which I managed to save from falling off the wall. Turned camera on and went for a shot through a rather steamy window. Nothing. Took lens cap off and tried again. Nothing. 
Flat battery! Got phone and took picture of myself by mistake. Sod it!!! Used sleeve of last clean shirt to wipe window and took pictures you see here. I tried to open door verrrry quietly to improve chances and he/she was off like a bullet from a gun. So beautiful with their magnificent iridescence.

 I wonder what they taste like....

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I am writing this in Whitstable. I arrived two days ago and am settled into the cottage I have rented for a week; a week of card writing, Christmas shopping, clean living and a fish diet.
I am on my own, Billy N M primarily because the real reason I am here is to get on with my book-"My Life and My Favourite Jokes"  (working title) which is only half done and I decided I needed a spell where I couldn't blame any other outside agencies for not making progress. If the damn thing isn't finished by the end of the Winter then it gets binned. Same applies to me.
As the more critical of you will have observed instead of writing the book or cards or shopping I'm writing my blog.

So what's been occurring?
A couple of reasonably successful hospital visits which showed I had an irregular heartbeat but my ticker is pumping ok and they don't want to see me again. My sleep apnoea is under control thanks to the CPAP machine -that means they only want annual telephone consultations-and the DVLA have finally written to say I can continue to drive with a medical review in three years which is great news. I am so pleased that I no longer feel worn out needing a nap all the time. I think I've had two mini kips in the last 3 months. I sleep through the night and feel refreshed in the morning. Other minor ailments are still under review but we are progressing. 

I brought my own tree to add the festive touch.

Pam wins on the tombola at the Litton School Christmas Fair

I've been up to Litton in the Peak District for a week and a bit then onto my sister's near Oldham for a pre-Christmas visit. The cottage in Litton was across the village green from a wonderful pub, the Red Lion. Roy and I went up together for the first weekend and Roy insisted that we pay the pub a visit. Many times. Good food, lovely fires, no music, proper beer, pleasant locals, excellent landlady. Roy and I kept saying we wished Jeanne would come and take over the Cow Roast Inn before it falls down. Roy went home on the Monday much improved by a weekend of vigorous exercise and a healthy diet. I was on my own for the week -bit of walking, bit of limping-and Pam joined me for the last weekend. We lunched with Pam's brother Mac and wife, Julia and a very pleasant lunch it was. In the Red Lion of course. It was that afternoon that they turned the lights on at the pub. And on the tree on the green, at the village hall and at the school! It was beautiful. I know I'm a Christmas lover but this was special.

The view from the front room of our cottage

Then off to Oldham for a couple of days with Moira and Tom in fine form; a tribute to the life of Teachers.
We had an excellent lunch at the nearby Bell Inn with Tom's daughter Valerie and her husband, Martin. They insisted on paying so it was a good day all round. They are most generous of spirit. Lovely people.

Back home in foul weather. So foul I didn't bother getting out of the car at Leicester Forest Services. I just ate the lovely lamb sandwich Moira had made me and carried on. Thank God and the NHS that I can now do this with comparative ease rather than a couple of nods in a 4 hour journey.....having stopped of course!

The fish pond at the Bell Inn-I felt mildly guilty having just lunched on smoked haddock and salmon

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Ady takes action to avoid a branch

Roy takes the lead to Marsworth

The Cow Roast Boaters' Christmas Gathering took place on 8th Dec at the Red Lion Marsworth. It was a good do but with numbers reduced by death and pestilence and once again only a couple of boats went. When we started these parties way back the majority boated to wherever was necessary exchanging mince pies, sausage rolls etc along with the odd tincture as we went along. That side of things seems to have finished now and the Red Lion changes hands next year so I fear that might knock the do on its head. Mike G who has done a splendid job organising has indicated he would wish to hand over to a new bod as yet unknown. Wait and see.
As I say it was a very pleasant evening with lots of good grub and conversation and £225 raised for Dacorum Age Concern with particular reference to Alzheimer's. We also collected £80 plus a great selection of goods for DENS which were delivered last week. 

Mid-lock refuelling

Roy does a wonderful job towing us backwards through Marsworth

I had my car at the Red Lion for reasons shown below and on leaving to return to the boat I was attempting to change into my walking boots for the towpath, This for some reason presented a major challenge as I balanced on one leg trying unsuccessfully to get the boot on the other foot. After 20 tries I worked out that the problem was that inside the boot was a head torch which I had put there earlier so as not to forget it,Doh!

Early morning at Marsworth just before leaving

My car was at the Red Lion so that on the Saturday afternoon I coud join Pam and Florence at the Court Theatre, Pendley to see The Importance of Being Ernest (Berkhamsted Youth Theatre)with Joseph as Doctor Chasuble. The performance was excellent as was Joseph. Adrian came as well and we all had a good afternoon before rejoining our shipmates in Marsworth

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Back to Cow Roast and two changes; one good, one bad.

The good one is some excellent hedging work done by volunteers on Wharf Lane leading up to the canal bridge. Very traditional and very in keeping with the area.

The second is this blue sign which has replaced the one in black to be in line with the CRT new logo. It looks awful. It is awful. It is unnecessary and a complete waste of money. The knobs (and I use the word advisedly) at CRT have no idea how this stupid rebranding has lost them in support from the boaters who just want the system maintained. I do hope it isn't intended to replace all these signs across the system. That would be insulting to everyone who has to raise the licence fee each year or volunteers for the Trust. Stop this madness NOW.

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After a couple of grim days in Whitstable the sun is out and it's off to meet Caz and Philip for Sunday lunch and possibly a pint beforehand. I walked down from the harbour along the sea wall and met the gang at The Neptune, a pub we all like. and very good it was too. Good food. Great fun.

 

Looking back at The Neptune from the Harbour-looks spooky with the sea behind

Harbour Road with the shops ready for Christmas

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I've avoided the B word as like you I am bored stiff with the whole mess.....but I saw this on a pub wall in Whitstable and thought I'd share it with you.It was dated 2016. Nothing has changed as far as I can see...but then I'm an idiot.

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I return to the boat on the 21st and then it's Christmas. If I don't see you before I hope you have a Merry one and that 2019 is kind to you. 

and to finish.......