Sunday, July 31, 2011

A Day at Brands

Thanks again everyone for your support. As you can imagine Derwent6 has taken a back seat and it's a reminder that it is only a material thing and can be replaced, so sorry to all you narrowboat lovers, but we will be back, as we miss Derwent6 already...
As for our time with Len we are doing all the things he wants to do and that is mainly being with family and friends. We have taken loads of photos, with everyone creating loads of memories.
Yesterday we went to see Lloyd (another close friend of Len's) who was racing his bike at Brands Hatch. He managed to get us all free tickets to see him, and raced his heart out to get a second in the race, which put a smile on Len's face. We all had such a laugh!
We are taking each day as it comes and making the most of every minute.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Thank You!

Hi All


Thank You all so much for all your lovely comments.. We are all keeping strong but believe me it's so difficult... We have been doing the things Len wants to do, but most of all we have been spending time with friends and family, and having real quality time with him. He has wanted a curry at his favourite Indian restaurant, and we have been to see his grandson (our nephew) racing at Moto X. We have been on a reminiscing trip to where we have lived and where he was born, and met family we haven't seen for ages. He loves going along the beach and taking in the sea air. Derwent6 is save and sound and we thank all that are keeping a watchful eye on her. We will update you all when (and if) we can...

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Bearer of Bad News

Well yep you're right we haven't blogged for a few days and yep you're also right there is something wrong!

We were out at the pictures watching the Harry Potter film when we got a text saying Del's dad (Len) had been omitted into hospital again after a CT scan. They had found some shadowing on the brain and it needed to be investigated. After a full body MIR scan they found he has cancer of the lung and it had spread to his brain. To cut a long story short we were told there was no light at the end of the tunnel, and we were told he doesn't have very long. There are four categories of cancer, one to four, Len is at four. We are livid that he has only recently had a kidney transplant and this was not checked before hand, but he did smoke in his early days and that is that.

So Len is now back home and we have been spending quality time with the family and friends and we are grateful we have the time to do this.

Today we moved Derwent6 and managed to find a marina which will be able to accommodate us. This blog will be updated, but not everyday, as minutes are now hours to us and the camera is pointing at one person only.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

A Doing Nothing Day

The sun was out and we were up early and sitting in the cratch with breakfast. We had planned to move but it was just so nice sitting in the sunshine. We have been watching boats go backwards and forwards and could not be bothered to be queuing at locks and we just love this spot.
Del then did some work on the engine, adjusting the alternator belts, and he also changed the water filter. Al on the other hand, read her book.... We then noticed a plum tree nearby and managed to get a bag full of juicy plums.Al washed them and got them ready for cooking, maybe jam or a crumble yum!


In the evening we walked into town and found an open mic night at The Old Ticket Hall, they have music on all weekend till 2.00am and it's free. It's also only about a five minute walk back to Derwent6.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

A Tour of the Park

Al's mum had an appointment at the hospital today so Al went down to Kent to help her dad get her there. She caught the 8.00am train from Windsor which got her into Kent for 9.40am. Del went out on his bike to explore Windsor Great Park and started by doing the Long Walk.. This goes from the castle's George IV gates to the back of the park and is 2.65 miles long. All had gone well at the hospital and Al got back to her mum's at 2.00pm. Pam was wearing her lovely new ring which Alf had brought for her as an early 60th wedding anniversary present. Al got back to Derwent6 at around 7.00pm with Fish and Chips in hand.

Oh and a quick congratulations to Nathan and Sev with the birth of our great niece, Scarlet Dolores. S

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Changing guard with worn out legs

We were up this morning and set off for Windsor at 10.30am. We managed to get there just in time for the changing of the guard at Windsor Castle. We were lucky enough to see the Coldstream Guards with their bearskins on their heads, a spectacular sight. We followed them back to Victoria Barracks which took us on a walk around Windsor. Well a mile and a half later we found our way back to the shops. We had saved up enough stickers for a free coffee in Mac'y Dees so we were glad to rest our feet for a bit. The trouble is with the smell of the chips, you just can't resist having some, so it ended up costing us lunch anyway. We then walked down to the waterfront and watched the people faffing around waiting for boat trips on the Thames. We then went to Eton village and walked the half a mile or so to the famous school and college which has produced so many prime ministers. We were only able to go into the courtyard and around the chapel. There were steps to climb the wall to the grounds behind which Al climbed. Does anyone know what these were for? We then walked back with aching feet and decided to get another free coffee back on Derwent6. It was a cloudy day but still warm. While we were out we brought a couple of DVD's (two for ten pounds), so with dinner we sat a watched one of them.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Top spot at Windsor

We set off at 8.30am and got to Bray lock just as the lock keeper was turning up. "Jump on your vessel" he said to Al and we sailed through. We then saw Bray film studios again, but this time from the river. At Boveney lock we could see Windsor race course and we stopped to get rid of our rubbish we had amassed over the weekend. We continued around the parameter for the course and it wasn't long before Windsor castle was in view, just a fabulous sight travelling downstream. There had been a few good moorings we could have got onto on the way, but we had a mooring in mind where we could stay for a few days, we hoped...... We looked at the all the moorings nearest to the town, but they were 24 hours and charging four pound a night. Hmm the fair was in town so we also wanted to avoid the crowds if possible. So we took the plunge and we went through the massive Romney lock. We turned the corner and managed to see our old mooring we used last year. Derwent6 fits in like a glove and we can get right into the bank. We have been on Derwent6 two and a half years now and have still never used a plank yet. We still had our spectacular view of the castle and could watch the planes landing at Heathrow. We then had a ten minute walk into town and Al did her shopping therapy bit, and brought some new tops for the summer months ahead. We had a drink in Weatherspoons in the sunshine overlooking the Thames and afterwards went to Nando's for something to eat. We walked back across the park to Derwent6 and just relaxed with some magazines we had brought at the shops.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Grand Prix Weekend

Staying put, we watched the British Grand Prix this weekend, and the sunshine brought out the weekenders as well on the Thames, so we had fun watching them as well! It has been really busy here at Bray with loads of people out walking biking and boating. We even had people swimming. We will be on the move on Monday...

Friday, July 08, 2011

A Nosey Circular Walk

There were more heavy showers today with us shutting and opening the side doors every ten minutes or so. The sun came out in between so it gave us the chance to get some fresh air. We watched the Grand Prix practice at Siverstone then decided to go for a walk. We did a long circular walk with Bray in the middle for refreshments. It started along the towpath and through some lovely footpaths till we got to Bray. We felt a bit under dressed with most people in dresses and suits going out for their posh meals but it didn't stop us going into The Crown pub for some pork crackers and a pint. We were lucky enough to be able to go into the church as it was choir practice and they were happy for us to look around. We then walked along Fishery Road which is the front of millionaires row, the houses you see the backs of along the Thames. It was tricky getting the camera out as you were constantly being watched on CCTV! You also come to Bray studios where all the Hammer Horror films were made and lots of recordings have been made by artists such as Sweet, Led Zeppelin, Status Quo, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and more recently Amy Winehouse and Kings of Leon. After having a good old nose into celeb houses we walked back along the other side of the Thames and back to Derwent6. We just put our feet up for the rest of the day, they were aching a bit..........