Christmas and Keith update.

Hi dear blog readers and friends.

As you know Keith came home from the hospital on the 23rd December in time for Christmas and what we hoped would be a fun time. Forget the fun time and Christmas, there was no Christmas dinner and festivities, because poor Keith was poorly. An hour after returning from the hospital he began being sick and then the Diarrhea kicked in. Oh deep joy he had picked up a bug from his time in the hospital. I rang the ward to let them know he had gotten a bug, so they could get their infection people involved in finding out where it had come from. I suspect it was the moved on the Sunday (22nd) from Hatton Ward to Dugdale Ward in the middle of the night. Dugdale ward was an overflow ward which had been closed down. They had to re-open it because A&E was full, as were the other wards. Because Keith was not a serious case, he and others due to go home were moved. So I think the bug came from Dugdale Ward. Christmas Day came and he got up for a while, but was soon back in bed where he began having the shakes and so was confined to bed. He did manage to eat something Boxing Day, but then he seemed to go down hill. Friday night (27th) he had the shakes four times and was seeing things, which meant he had a high temperature. I tried sponging him down and doing all the usual things to get his temperature down. On the Saturday (28th) December I rang 111 again and a doctor rang me back. He asked me to take Keith to the Out of Hours GP Surgery at the hospital. Now I was not happy at having to move him because of his back and the fact that he was as week as a kitten, but I got him dressed and up and Jacky our neighbour very kindly drove us to the hospital, where I had to wheel him in a chair to see the doctor. Keith was diagnosed with a water infection to add to his back pain. So he now has Antibiotics to take on top of the other tablet he is taking for his back, he has however been told to stop the Diclofenic, which may have been something to do with the water infection.
Today Sunday (29th).
Both Keith and I slept better, we were only up twice, and he has eaten some scrambled egg for breakfast. He still has a temperature, but hopefully the antibiotics will kick in today.

Jack Frost visited us this morning with ice on the canal.

I do hope that you all had a fabulous Christmas?
We are looking forward to a good New Year. So may I wish you all a Happy 2014.

Back Pain

In the very early hours of Friday morning, I was rushed into hospital with acute back pain, the worst I have ever had. It was beyond control, so Jo called for an ambulance and I was rushed into hospital. It took the paramedics a while to get me sedated enough to get me out of the boat and into the ambulance. However once there the hospital staff were excellent, and I was admitted to allow the concoction of drugs to take effect. By Saturday I was up and walking, but had to wait until today, Monday, to be released this evening. It is great to be back home.

I need to have an MRI scan early in the new year, but we also hope to have a chat with my local GP to discuss keeping a stock of suitable medicines on-board so that we can treat it when the problem occurs and hopefully save having to be admitted into hospital again.

 

Keith.

Rug No.7

Another Rag-Rug completed today, that now gives me a stock of 7 for sale this coming summer.

Keith.

Dongle Upgrade

Jo and I upgraded our T-Mobile dongles today, long overdue. We have managed to double our monthly data allowance to 2Gb and our download speeds have also increased quite dramatically, but unfortunately it now costs us more, 1p a month more!

 

Keith.

Christmas Decorations

On Sunday Jo and I put our Christmas decorations up inside Hadar.

 

Keith.

Another Rag-Rug Completed

 

I finished another rag-rug today, which now gives me a stock of 6 to sell, http://hadarragrugs.blogspot.co.uk/

Keith.

Yet Another Rag-Rug Completed

I finished another rag-rug last night, I now have 4 ready to sell next year. All 4 can be viewed at  http://hadarragrugs.blogspot.co.uk/.

 

Keith.

Jo.s Crochet-work

Jo has been busy crocheting, and now has a webpage of her handiwork which is for sale.

www.jocrochetwork.blogspot.co.uk

 

Keith.

Another Rag-Rug Completed

Keith.

Happy Birthday Ian

Jo and I have a lovely Thai meal last night with our friends Ian and Irene to celebrate Ian’s birthday.

New Rag-Rug

 

I have finished my latest rag-rug which is now for sale. Having sold 3 rag-rugs this summer I have a lot of work to do this winter to restock for next summer. I have decided to undo the small rugs I had made as they have not sold, and covert them into large ones, this latest one is one of those.

Keith.

Recycle Unwanted Wool, T-Shirts and Polo Shirts at Hadar.

 

 

Keith.

Springwood Haven to Cathiron.

A cooler start this morning, definitely heading towards Autumn now.

Best fish & chip shop in Nuneaton, or so they say!

Marston junction and the Ashby canal, but not today.

More new mannequins.

The navigation inn that was is definitely being converted into what looks like a pair of semis.

However, the Elephant & Castle still looks like it might be a pub/restaurant, which is also coming along nicely.

Ansty embankment.

The Boat Inn Cottage.

Keith.

Alvecote to Springwood Haven

9.6 miles, 11 locks, 6hrs 30mins.

Having had a great time at the Alvecote boat gathering over the Bank Holiday weekend, we set off this morning.

Pooley Hall.

Python and Stour in Grendon Dock.

Atherstone top lock cottage.

Passing the Cheese boat.

Keith.

Hopwas to Alvecote

6 miles, 2 locks, 3hrs 55mins.

A cool day today. We pulled in at Peels Wharf for water and to empty cassettes.

Fazeley junction.

Canal blockage, 2 C&RT work boats had drifted across the canal, fortunately some C&RT volunteers were walking along the towpath and they very kindly sorted the boats out so we could get by.

River Tame with Tamworth in the distance.

Tamworth Cruising Club.

Glascote locks.

Approaching Alvecote Marina and Samuel Barlow.

Having moored up we went and had a cup of tea and a chat with John and Caroline on Vanyar, and later in the evening we all went to the Samuel Barlow for an excellent meal.

Keith.

Tamworth

Today we visited Tamworth, we caught the bus from Hopwas.

This is the bus we caught after it dropped us off in Tamworth.

The Silk Kite, where we were to have lunch later.

St. Edithas church.

Tamworth street market.

Alms-houses.

Tamworth castle.

Riverside band stand.

Band stand and castle.

River Anker.

Castle and gardens.

Castle wall.

The castle again.

Tamworth Snow Dome.

Castle gate.

Somebody famous.

Castle Hotel.

Part of the floral display for Tamworth in Bloom as part of the Heart of England in Bloom competition.

The castle gatehouse again.

The River Tame flood relief channel.

Where the River Anker joins the River Tame.

The castle from the gatehouse.

Some anchors.

War memorial outside St. Edithas church.

Inside St. Edithas church.

We enjoyed our visit to Tamworth, and look forward to visiting it again sometime.

Keith.