Shotley marina to Walton Backwater again.

19-50 hrs: At anchor since 12-30 in the backwaters.

Awsome sail from Shotley - starting on a beat and then round onto a beam reach. Gusts to 25 knots - speeds to 4.8 k against a small amount of tide. 

Needless to say - pretty hard work to keep the boat going well, especially as I thought the wind was quite light so put the full main sail up. Spray over the boat but not into the cockpit. The rest of the day spent dozing in the cockpit - in the sun. A few birds and seals showed themselves and lots of other boats. I even felt a bit hungry - - .

Shotley Marina and Harwich by ferry

19-40 hrs: A 'lay day' hanging out in the marina, the chandler's and Harwich Halfpenny Pier.

All this sailing around does sound very energetic and hardly in keeping with my claims to feel off colour on occasions. Why don't I just stay at home, where I am certainly less challenged in managing breathlessness and indigestion? (Because that is not how I want to live, incase you don't know this).

It seems that I can do things for several hours and keep going to take down sails and the like. Yet afterwards I feel a kind of exhaustion that is hard to describe - not tired exactly - perhaps shaky and I don't feel like eating and feel some queasiness. Nor can I hit the coffee as I seem to have gone off coffee. I am also liable to get extremely breathless - even just moving around the boat. The inhalers  etc relieve it to a small extent - maybe 10%. A rest on the deck aids recovery - preferably in the sun! 

Thus the 'lay day' in Shotley - lunch in the bar - ferry to Harwich to drink tea. A small amount of clearing up - and a visit to the chandlers.

Walton Backwaters to Shotley via some open sea

19-30 hrs: The sea earlier - now snug in Shotley marina - with loos and a shower.

Upped anchor OK at slack water - one reef and full genoa out to sea and up the channel past Harwich. An awsome sail in southerly winds gusting to 23 knots and more - white tops to the waves - but the waves quite small by North East standards. Mostly a broad reach - surfing a little on the waves and then some hard sailing trying to goosewing in shifty winds. A small amount of spray onto the boat - very little into the cockpit. I only really appreciated the wind strength when I turned up into it to take the sails down.  Few hassles getting into the marina lock and the berth - this being a much easier boat to handle than LA Girl. Just as well as I have been exhaused since I got here. Boat speed at best - 5 to 6 knots - which seems very fast for such a small boat.

Walton backwaters: Wednesday 21st July

18-30 hrs: A view from the anchorage - it is not free of boating - -

I am resting up on the anchorage all day - feeling inactive. Sunny this morning - but wind gusting to 20 knots. Cloud and rain this afternoon. I cannot say I have done anything much, apart from clearing up the on-going mess - and browsed in the pilots for the local area and looked at the charts. Some very nice wooden boats have sailed by; a few seals have come over for a look - this is not the centre of activity. It is, however, a very beautiful place and it is no stress to sit it out here.

Felixstowe Ferry to Walton Backwaters - via the Deben estuary entrance. Monday July 20th

18-25 hrs: Leaving the Deben - the swirling water and the gravel banks.

I left at 8-00 - too early for my recent lazy life-style and barely had time for breakfast and coffee.

I see why the Deben entrance is treated with respect. Not that it was nasty - but the tide runs fast and if you get it wrong - - - . Not much wind and no surf so I escaped the river unscathed. No wind at all out at sea - and the tide was against me - so had the sails up and used the engine for most of the way, apart from about half an hour at the end. Anchored by 13-00 in the main anchorage along the river. The wind then came up and has not gone down since - typical. I was very tired after this -  and slept well and the anchor dragged about 10 meters.

Woodbridge to Felixstowe Ferry: Monday July 19th

18-20 hrs: Moorings at Felixstowe Ferry

The tides control sailing here in a way I am still getting used to. High water at 19-00 means that the best time to leave is at 18-30 - or at 9-00 in the morning. The idea is to catch the ebbing tide down river to the mouth of the Deben - about 9 N miles.

I leave at 18-00 - getting bored waiting. I put the sails up on a mooring and chug downstream against the wind and, for an hour, the tide; variable speed depending on the direction of the channel and the tide.

I pick up a mooring at Felixstowe Ferry - with some difficulty because the tide was strong and I tried to do it without taking the sails down. Too much for my strength, even when I did get a rope round the loop. Dropped sail and did it under engine - - . It felt a bit of an adventure rather than a misjudgement.

Woodbridge at play - regatta day

19-00 hrs: The quayside with lots of people and stalls - and some boats dressed in flags. And mud - the sailing had to wait for the tide to come in - meantime a lot of eating and drinking and making merry. I wandered around - ate too much and finished up watching boats at the sailing club in the sun.

I am planning to leave tomorrow and go down river in LookFar. Then, on Tuesday, to leave the river and go out to sea for a few miles and end up in the Walton Backwaters. I will take the laptop but suspect the connection is too slow for writing blogs - but will try.

Update -

20-50: No picture - sorry - compensates for two last time. Still a lot of wind and rain forecast tomorrow.

I am feeling a lot better. Ups and downs are par for the course. But also I was not taking the medicine in the inhaler - and felt better after taking it again - as advised by the very helpful practice nurse. I am still breathless when I do things like carrying shopping up the stairs, but it seems more bearable now. I have mostly been at home doing work on the U3A website, but have written lists for taking LookFar away for a few days to the Walton Backwaters if the weather improves - and done the food shopping for the Great Expedition. It will probably seem every bit as scary as going to the Shetlands - part of me hopes so.

umbrellas in rain and sun

In Lerwick - Shetland - in 2007 - with Iris May - in rain. The green umbrella blew away in Wick on the way home - sadly.

In Woodbridge - 2010 - LookFar - in sunshine.

14-20 hrs: Don't think it is sunny in Woodbridge just now! but I thought this summed up the differences rather nicely. We needed two umbrellas to keep the rain off for days in Lerwick - but notice that the town is very attractive in the background and a good time was had inspite of the rain. In Woodbridge last week, by contrast, the small umbrella is an essential sunshade - surrounded by dust and brown grass.

How am I feeling - - -

20-40 hrs:

I have not reported on how my health feels since June 2nd. I had then been feeling very breathless - but had improved a lot after getting  treatment from the GP. I have since then written about all the nice things in life - even work on the U3A website. I have - somewhat typically of my behaviour of late - chosen to ignore the innards when writing here. I did promise myself not to do this - but really old gaffers are nicer and easier to photograph.

I did actually feel quite well for a  while and the  breathlessness reduced after I used a Salbutimol inhaler and took antihistamine. I had a spirometry lung function test in late June - which suggested that I might be reacting to pollen etc and I started on another inhaler. I then rushed around on the river (as reported in earlier blogs), went out again all day Thursday (LookFar does sail well)  and did a lot of web site work - - but got to feel gradually worse - even more breathless, with annoying indigestion. 

And now - - just as bad as the end of last week - - . Have I 'overdone' it in some ghastly way -? And also - I wonder whether, maybe, the effect of the current treatment (vinorelbine) is beginning to wear off. This does not - as you might expect - send me screaming round the bend - who knows why? I have a short review at the hospital on Thursday - so maybe it will make more sense then - but probably not - - .

I don't feel very energetic and intend to keep off the river for afew days.

for Nick -

12-40 hrs: Probably too many sails - but it looks good. Troublesome Reach on the Deben.

lookFar is out over night - - downriver - - and sailed like a dinghy

21-00 hrs: This is as far as I went - you can just see the gravel bars at the mouth of the Deben. And notice the sunshine and the sparkling waves - caused by a lot of wind and a lot of tide (coming into the river at 4 to 5 knots. ) You will notice the usual junk on the side of my boat!

I took the ebb tide downstream (leaving at  the back of 7-00 in the morning to get out of the marina) - and finished running in the new engine. I then moored up for second breakfast - which took a long time as I managed to get the rudder caught on a mooring. Escape involved removing the rudder and steering with the outboard. (Rudder replaced after much thought and effort, and after the tide had stopped running.)

I went out to the mouth of the river to inspect the moorings, the tides and the waves - I then retreated to another mooring upriver for an overnight stay. Today - I sailed off the mooring and sailed most of the way back (one reef to keep her uprightish) - until the wind was on the nose whichever direction the river headed. I also got the keel in the mud when I was tacking a bit too close in. She points rather well and will sail even better when I fix one or two annoyances - but the dinghy-inspired set-ups worked well.

It is much harder to sail here than anything I have done before - and good fun too.

dinghy fittings and a new engine - -

18-40 hrs: A laser tiller extension and cleats for the genoa on the deck - inspired by dinghies.

New engine - aquired this morning - inspired by liking new engines!

The plan - to run it in on Saturday and Sunday. Then to sail the boat as if it were a dinghy.

This entry is dedicated to Poppy -

 - - who died of anaphylactic shock on Sunday 20th June - aged 19 - and a truly lovely person.

And to Steve, Marcia, Sunshine and Dave - cry them a river and remember.
I have not known you for long - but grieve none-the-less.

lookfar's third cruise - -

17-10 hrs: still too busy to take pictures - but Aidan may have one.

This time we went out and came back on one tide. What I really want to say is that we sailed downstream and back -  and just got in on the falling tide - hit the rudder on the sill but not the keel. I am probably going to get a new engine - the old one does not work to my satisfaction - cuts out at low revs.

Today - AGM of U3A - and I am now on the committee to represent the web team - sigh -  I think is the right response.

lookfar's first solo sail

20-25 hrs: No pictures because I was too busy to take any.

I went for the first solo sail yesterday - over the tide - in sushine and a decent wind. I had more adventures going downriver for 5 miles than I got on day trips in the north East - I think because it is just harder to sail in a river. On the sea - you point the boat and go in straight lines - but the channel twists and turns so there is not just one point of sailing - and the wind quite shifty.  Only felt the mud bottom (not aground exactly)  three times! 

The tides are stronger than I expected - but I was sailing with the tide and made impressive progress. Until - - a rope round propeller getting off a mooring - so I had to do a lot of manoevering under sail - even anchoring and resetting the anchor. (I got the rope off OK).

When I got towards Woodbridge - I foolishly decided to contine up river under sail, rather than moor and take the sails down.  It was too shallow - so the keel caught in the mud - the boat swung round and I very slowly drifted on the tide onto a moored boat (having avoided about three others!). I picked up its mooring and pretended that I was intending to do this - so it may not have provided spectator entertainment.

I now need to improve the control lines and be off again.

Geology trip to Walton on the Naze

18-20 hrs: The geology group of the U3A in East Suffolk took itself off to Walton on the Naze to inspect cliff erosion, a wave-cut platform and lots of fossils.

This was hugely enjoyable - and I had no idea that Walton beach was such a rich source of geological examples of various kinds. 

There is London clay at the foot of the cliff - which yields fossil wood and teeth - and much else if you know what to look for. Above the clay - there are levels of sand with a lot of coral and shells. The upper layers slump down onto the beach, as the picture shows. There are no signs of attempts to protect the cliffs here - which seems strange but at least leaves good features for us to ponder.

Tomatoes

19-50 hrs: This window sill is supposed to get hot and sunny - thus the tomatoes. The plants are bred for captivity in pots and hanging baskets - and the fruit are the baby variety. I do wonder if the flowers (of which there are a lot) will ever set.

The weather has been cold and windy, so have taken the opportunity to do useful things around the house, to do useful things around the boat, to learn useful things about the U3A web site and wait until the sun shines, in anticipation of which I have bought a very large sun hat.

more on the U3Aes web site

13-30 hrs: No picture - this topic does not lend itself to illustrations.

I have spent much of yesterday and today working on understanding the U3A web site. I have even written a planning document and lots of emails to various interested people. Be impressed - but the sun is now out and I am off to see that lookfar is happy.

University of the Third Age

16-50 hrs: I have spent most of today involved with the U3A - and quite a lot of time lately reading up on the technology of their new web site at  http://www.u3aeastsuffolk.org.uk/ It will not surprise you to know that I volunteered to be their systems admin person - taking over from a member who is moving. The job appears to involve a combination of content management, user support and technical work - just like the University Computing Service (recently ISS) in Newcastle University. It uses Joomla (interesting) and will include a committee meeting once a month (stressful).

In the morning - went to the geology group and looked at the shapes of crystals and some specimins of minerals - as well as planning a morning (next Monday) on the beach under Walton-on-the-Naze looking at mud, fossils and rocks - mostly mud I fear. Afternoon - my first U3A committee meeting - - - .

lookfar in home port

20-20 hrs: this is lookfar on the mooring with the sail up with one reef.

Yesterday we took her out into the river and motored downstream a couple of miles for lunch. It was quite windy and the reefing system was a bit obscure, so we sailed some of the way back with just the genoa - and then motored through the moorings in Woodbridge.

Today I spent happy hours trying to get the reefing system to work smoothly and getting the sails to set nicely. It was quite windy - and I felt quite tired so did not emerge from the marina - and the wind was on the nose - so I could play around pulling the sails up without stressing the moorings. I am not quite used to the limitations of the tides and also the strength of the ebb - which behaves as if a plug has been taken out.

Jaguar 21, sail number 23, is launched - and re-named

21-00 hrs: The Jaguar being launched by the crane on Friday June 11th. Note the rural background to the Tidemill Haven - and  the way out as the tide falls. Also - note the smart grey anti-fouling underneath - very hard work to get it all on and done (yes - I wore overalls and a mask).

One reason I have not written in the last ten days or so is that I felt I did not have much of interest to say until the boat is floating at its berth, apart from the point that there is a lot of pollen around here but I am less breathless as a result of using the inhaler.

I did a de-naming ceremony on Friday after launch. I renamed her today out in the river. 

The name is lookfar -  fair winds and good fortune to all who sail in her.

summer has come - with side-effects

21-00 hrs: Lots of sunshine. Finished putting anti-fouling on the Jaguar and now await, with some patience, the final bits of work before the launch, denaming and renaming of Jaguar 21 sail number 23. The furler was fitted on Saturday and I have just to attach the sheets.

I felt surprisingly ill for much of last week - did I go to the doctor - no! But they caught up with me eventually because the practice nurse noticed that I was stupidly breathless when I was there for a blood test. Eventually - we identified that I was suffering from hay fever which irritated bronchial tubes and bits of lung; so I got an inhaler. Instant improvement  - helped a bit by cooler, wetter weather. So today - back out in the heat and pollen and dust without ill effects. Tomorrow - the beach with sun hats and sun blocker.

Before and after

 Note the lifeboat house at Wells Next The Sea - taken last year - 2009 - at the end of May

 This one is from the Wells web site and shows the development of a pontoon area for windfarm service vessels where I anchored last year.
http://www.wellsharbour.co.uk/index.htm


18-28 hrs: There are other changes at Wells - pictures on their web site - all seem good - I hope the people who live there think so too. I enjoyed Wells last year and would ever-so like to get back there. Going from the Deben to Wells for me is like other people crossing an ocean - but you never know - - - I could do it in lots of wind and the right tide. Probably.

17-20 hrs: Just to show you a beautiful boat (Sheila) - without the mizzen mast and bow sprit. She was lifted out last week for repairs to the deck and is now ensconced in a boat shed at Everson's . Built 1905 in the Isle of Man - she has a varied history - appears in Yachting Monthly before the first world war, but still has many original features . Note the canoe stern and that she does not have an engine - - be impressed.

older boats

10-40 hrs: Small wooden cruisers off Everson's boatyard in Woodbridge.

I used to think that 'old gaffers' or 'classic boats'  were very impractical, needing a lot of work to keep them sailing. This is probably still true - - but - - - I am gradually coming to see their beauty and to understand why people own them. I even like the mud.

I have spent a lot of time looking at their shapes and watching them sail - and am now a fan. But it is OK - I am not going to get one as a 'project' and exhaust myself even further - tempting tho' it may seem on a sunny day.

Progress with getting Jaguar ready to go

10-00 hrs: The boat is still out of the water and this is the view from the cockpit. It needs a new rubbing strake and some other minor work. You may be surprised to know that I am being remarkably patient about it. I visit it most days and potter on doing minor things - and putting off the evil hour of doing the anti-fouling. And I have done a lot of wandering around in the sun and grossing out in the cockpit in the sun.


It is quite hard to put words to how I feel - one way to put it is that I feel pretty well - considering. But I am not as full of energy as I make it sound through recording my boating activities. I do find that I need to pace myself so as not to get too exhausted to enjoy myself. I suspect this is why I am being patient about the boat progress - rather than a change of character. The resistance training in the gym is excellent and I try to go three times a week - but I am tired afterwards and do not then dash around as much as it may sound. I think I get a tiny bit fitter each week and dodder around a bit less but also I have slowed down a lot and only notice this when I try to keep up with other people - or keep up with my domestic life and correspondence.


Enjoy the sunshine

LA Girl leaves Tidemill - - - cry me a river - - -

19-45 hrs: Southerly 95 - LA Girl - under new (and enthusiastic) ownership sails down the Deben this afternoon, heading north to the Firth of Forth, the canal westwards and thus to Anglesea. I waved goodbye and wish her good winds and happy sailing. Thanks to Howard Ford for his good offices in selling the boat. - http://www.yachtworld.com/howardfordmarinesales/

Yea - I cried - obviously. But I am cheered by having a new boat and the sun shone all day.

I never expected to sail a laser again - but - - - -

18-25 hrs: - - - here it is - new Radial sail and decent wind - a bit gusty so some nice reaches on the plane - I even missed the moored boats and the yachts under power. I was out for about an hour and managed fine on the water. The hard part was getting the boat back ashore (on a narrow slipway), putting the gear away and getting my boots on and off. I was very careful not to rush it, so got only mildly out of breath. I even found it easier than usual to lift the mast into the hole - the result of strength training I suppose. I am now aware of some muscles that have not been used since I last sailed a laser - September 2008.

another quiet week - apart from TV news

18-10- hrs: A whole week since I wrote an entry - not that I did anything of moment last week - new reading glasses - boat sale progressing slowly - interesting geology session at U3A geology group about volcanoes - the usual stuff. But I did stare at the tele for three days and pondered the hung parliament and the likely outcome of con-dem coalition. Also read a few newspapers. I don't know if this was genuine fascination with the process or a reaction to very cold weather (for the time of year) from which I lurked indoors.

The chemo capsules appear to be doing their job - and the side effects, whilst noticable (especially tiredness and slightly upset digestion), are relatively mild and OK if I am careful not to overeat or overdo the activities.

on the river Deben

20-30 hrs: yesterday - one of the coldest days I have ever spent on safety cover (even on the open sea off the Tyne) and two people were cold enough to be wrapped in blankets. I had lots of spare pullovers and an off-shore jacket - and wore the whole lot.

The picture is of Ramsholt beach from the club's very nice river boat - with the trainees and various dinghies - about half way down-river to the mouth. I found some fossils along the cliff, but mostly lurked out of the wind and rain. At least it stopped me watching the excitement of the news on the tv. But today I gave in - and after going to the gym, I stayed in, switched on the tele and watched the hung parliament programmes on the 24 hour news channels - sadly fascinating. (I did some sewing and other domestic stuff whilst the tele was on - - .)

Lorna's plants

16-40 hrs: This is a patch of beach at Prior's Haven, Tynemouth. I used to keep my boat there and planted my household bulbs each year after they flowered. Many are still flowering outside the boat house years later - this is a small patch bravely coming through the sand. Nice to think the beach does not forget. Thanks to Jacks for the picture and to her boat for protecting them.

A review with the consultant this morning - the chemo-therapy seems to be halting the development of the cancer and the xrays are unchanged since last time. Encouraging.

a quiet week

11-20: Life has gone on here with the usual domestic round, combined with watching rather too much election stuff on the tele.

I have been to the gym and am now doing more work with dumbells - which is improving muscles and breathing. I have done a few minor things on the Jaguar and am now waiting for some work to be done on the rubbing strakes before it will be launched. The Southerly is awaiting a survey, so no activity there. And lunch with my children in London on Tuesday. All strangely tiring.

a rant about voting - remember 1928

10-50 hrs: I have voted - I think I prefer to do my civic duty by going to the polling station - but have opted for a postal vote for some reason.

Why vote - even in a safe seat?

Because your vote does get counted in the overall total. And - more important - because people fought for the right to vote for a long time; the date for universal male suffrage in the UK was 1918. When my mother was born in 1916, most men - but no women - could vote. Some women could vote after 1918 but it was not until 1928 that all women could vote. 1928 - I still find this astonishingly recent. See my entry for March 10th.

Jaguar boat work in hand - -

17-40 hrs: The cockpit of the Jaguar. I am now busy with the new boat - mostly scrubbing and polishing but the cockpit is also good for resting in the sun. I am also watching the election and volcano news - the election having become mildly more interesting.

Yesterday - the fifth lot of vinorelbine capsules from Ipswich hospital: this is a much nicer way to take chemotherapy, with fewer side-effects: I also get the chance to talk to a MacMillan nurse, which keeps me in contact with how I am doing. This, and the healthy life-style, seems to be working.

things much as usual

21-10 hrs: There is a super all-day-breakfast-type cafe in a caravan on the quayside - between the houseboats and the railway, where we have eaten a lot of chips and all day breakfasts. They are closed this week for renovation. Part of the project appears to be to remove the old (1960s style) model and replace it with a newer one - closest to us in the picture. I just hope the food stays the same - - - . The caravan will be sited back from the quayside - roughly where the yellow skip is; they appear to be parked at the edge whilst they make the foundation larger - - - .

Otherwise all much as usual in Woodbridge - apart from sunshine and a couple of days cleaning off the old rubbing strake on the Jaguar. I continue to feel quite well although I do get tired. There are even the usual domestic annoyances - like the battery on my car being on the edge of wearing out. I spend a lot of time looking at pictures of the volcano in Iceland - and none looking at pictures of our great leaders.

continue to take mind off election

17-10 hrs: proof that the Jaguar has a keel - I had the boat lifted for inspection - interesting - exhausting. But the Jaguar's keel is fine and I am putting the purchase in hand.

So far this week - I have worried on about the boats and done a lot of domestic things (hoovering, shopping and so on). But I have also had some pleasant walks along the river and lunch outside. So not much to say really - except that it is oddly tiring and pleasant.

taking my mind off the election

15-50 hrs: A Jaguar 21 - I have contracted to buy this and paid the deposit this morning. More detail about this kind of boat at http://www.jaguaryachts.co.uk/jag21.html.

I thought I would not get another one until LA Girl is sold - BUT plans are made to be updated. I was thinking of buying something a bit larger and more expensive but common sense prevails and I have spent much of this week looking at smaller boats and decided to get one that has a bit of performance rather than live-aboard functionality.

I was so traumatised by this that I had to have a wee sleep in the sun this afternoon, but have bounced back enough to fess-up to the blog - and now head out for a coffee.

the river Deben and the spring holidays

10-20 hrs: Happy spring holiday to all my followers, friends and relatives.

I am being mildly active with two more rescue duties for Deben Sailing club (which has involved messing about in boats and driving a RIB up and down the river). I wear as many clothes as it is possible to squeeze into - it has been quite cold and windy, with the threat of rain. The dinghy sailors seem quite good at staying upright - so have not had to rescue anyone yet. I have also pottered around the marina, looked at any boat that comes near enough to be looked at and generally hung out in the milli-seconds of sun before the clouds and rain. Add to this a few visits to the gym and you can see that I am trying to build a bit of physical stamina ready for sailing a dinghy. LA Girl still unsold - so nothing yet on getting a new boat.

And I watched the end of the old Doctor Who on TV - and the start of the new series - hooray for tele (if I can keep away from it most of the time).

a chart over two chemo cycles - since mid Feb:

17-50 hrs: Cool or what?? The blue line is the wellness score with a dotted line for the trend line. The arrows are chemotherapy days with the new capsules. The red line is the number of 'social contacts' in that day - includes electronic methods. The black line - a five day moving average of the 'contacts' line. The dip in the blue line - a day when I felt ill.

OK people - make what you can of this! I quite like it because it has fewer ups and downs than previously.

rescue duty

12-00 hrs: Yesterday - I did a rescue duty for the Deben Yacht Club - very enjoyable but cold. A spring tide, so the river looked like a lake. I drove a mega-rib, so fun all round. I was a bit tired after - but not surprising. Main problem - getting up at 7-30 BST (6-30 GMT!).

the other end of the line

9-45 hrs: The other end of the line - Liverpool Street station in London. I had lunch here yesterday with Rhoda - and went to a couple of shops.

On Tuesday - after playing with a bonfire at the sailing club - I had another review at Ipswich hospital - no sign of nasties on the Xray and a helpful conversation with the consultant left me more cheerful than I expected. I continue to take the capsules - which seem to have fewer side-effects. I was worrying that this meant they were not working - it is amazing what one can find to worry about!

I was so pleased by this, and by having lunch out yesterday, that I have bought a new radial sail and lower mast section for the laser - so I will be sailing it! I also discover that the club seems short of rescue crew - so have already been allocated a duty (on Sunday)!

more boats emerge

16-30 hrs: Boating activity is increasing on the Deben - several yachts and motor boats went up and down the river. Here the dinghies of Deben Yacht Club jill about before a race - in light wind and bright sunshine.

I jilled about in the boat yard getting a laser ready to sail. I fear I may get too out of breath - but the only way to find out is to try. I also ate traditional sailing club food - bacon butties - yum. It was so warm for a short time that I wore only a tee shirt (and trousers!) - but had to put on all the thermals again when the wind got up after lunch.

More days like this please.

Woodbridge end of the line + an update

20-00 hrs: A train from London coming into Woodbridge station. This picture has no particular relevance to the post! I just took it yesterday.

If you have not heard from me lately - this is because I have a new bad habit. Time was when I wrote blogs, letters and emails at various times in the day and especially in the evening. Now I watch TV and DVDs (at least in the evening) - I am hoping the novelty will wear off without a big effort.

I am feeling a lot better than I did a couple of weeks ago. I hope this lasts! I am pottering around doing the usual things - domestic stuff, going to University of the Third age groups and messing about a little bit with boats. I am hoping the boating bits will increase as the weather improves. I continue to go to the fitness centre and am still improving my muscle tone. The big problem is still breathlessness if I do not pace my walking speed.

I started on a different mode of taking the chemotherapy a couple of weeks ago. I get capsules from the oncology unit in the hospital but take them at home. This is much less hassle and seems to produce fewer side effects - which I also hope will last. Obviously.

signs of spring - again

20-35 hrs: This is of the start of boating-life awakening along the river - heralding the spring. The crane is lowering new pontoons into the river - to be followed in due course by boats currently standing in boat yards and hard standings. The moorings are empty, but for a few overwintering boats. There are still very few spring bulbs in evidence but the weather is getting better.

The spring seems to have a particular importance this year because I really want to get on with my outdoors life and (like everyone else) I am truly fed up with winter weather. I have a Laser to sail in a couple of weeks. It would be lovely to sell LA Girl so that I can also have a small cruiser to explore the rivers. And I have my eye on a few nice bits of beach for lounging around on.

I find it strange that there are very few boats on moorings and those in the marinas do not seem to go out for a sail, even when there is a good wind and some sunshine. I am wondering what they know that I do not know.

I have felt a lot better for the last couple of weeks, although I have not blogged much. And why is this? Because I have been gawping at the tele and DVDs far too much. I hope I shall get over it soon and go back to normal amounts of writing and gawping! There seems always to be some bad habit to deal with - - .

Camden Lock

20-42 hrs: Camden Lock, London.

A very enjoyable time walking round the market here today. Good to see Camden market so popular - even if it means pushing our way through crowds of people. I am now back home in the quiet of Woodbridge - but glad to have felt the vibes of the big city.

Monday's child - -

9.30 hrs: I expect there is a more idealogically sound ending - this is the original - thought to have originated to teach the days of the week. I was born on a Monday apparently. Cool.
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Mondays child is fair of face,
Tuesdays child is full of grace,
Wednesdays child is full of woe,
Thursdays child has far to go,
Fridays child is loving and giving,
Saturdays child works hard for his living,
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay

International Women's Day: Thursdays Child

14-15 hrs: anything to get away from housework - - took their pictures instead of hoovering.

These are my 1970s 'women's lib' earings - and I do try to live my life by feminist precepts. So remember folks - I do not burn bras (and you are allowed a brief laugh here) - but I do vote. Women did not get the vote when my mother was born in 1916 - the dates 1918 but really 1928 when all women could vote. Reliable contraceptives - 1961 when the pill became available.

So recent! Still far to go - thus Thursdays Child (has far to go).
Spend a day noting bad gender things in the media - you will be shocked.

signs of spring -

21.40 hrs: The bike and the boat represent the possibility of spring. I have painted the red anti-fouling on the boat - and mended the rope rubbing straik. And I am intending to ride the bike often - it has been shut up indoors due to rain and snow.

There are not many other signs of spring - a few snowdrops and crocuses - no daffodils yet - a few green shoots on shrubs - birds all doing winter things. I am still wearing thermals when I walk along the river. The sun has shone a few times lately - which may encourage buyers for my boat.

Some more figures -

20-20 hrs: As I have reported previously - I have found (for all that I have serious experience of finding information) it pretty difficult to find even outline figures that are reasonably up to date. I don't have access to University library resources. Are the figures deliberately not summarised on the web because they will upset people or does this illustrate that lung cancer is not as well-researched as it should be?

see http://www.touchoncology.com/categories/lung-cancers
specifically:-
http://www.touchoncology.com/articles/unmet-needs-treatment-metastatic-non-small-cell-lung-cancer

I have recently found the following:-
Survivial rates in randomised studies (of platinum-based drugs taken with another drug) over the last decade = median survival of 8 to 11 months in the studies. No figures about patients not in trials.

There are improvements in survival reported with second line therapy (ie after the cancer has become resistant to the first lot of chemo:) The mean of these is reported as less than a year, although they may also improve quality of life.

You will be glad to know that I am now going to give up trying to find figures. Back to pictures and the trivia of everyday life - and possibly my worries about disease progression (observed as happening with a median of three to six months of initiating chemotherapy- - ) - this really is the last figure!

Dear friends, followers and family - thank you for reading my blog - it is unspeakably helpful to me to know you are all out there - even (as Meemee did yesterday) if you argue!