Tuesday, 22 March 2011

Single-handed

Today my best beloved exchanged her defunct right knee joint for another, crafted of wondrous modern materials which have no need of synovial fluid for lubrication. We were surprised when the consultant said new for old was the only option, but delighted that the NHS came up trumps so quickly.

So our helmsman’s course and my learning how to manage Erin Mae single-handed will come in the wrong order. At this point, expressions such as “thrown in at the deep end” and “sink or swim” aren’t helpful. But my beloved is very resourceful, and could probably manage two crutches, a tiller, a lifebelt and a boathook in an emergency.

Some, of course, do the single-handed bit all the time, and not just at the helm. Respect! And doubtless double respect in two and a half weeks, when our anniversary break comes around and we find out what it means in practice. Anyone with snippets of advice (apart from “Don’t!”), is welcome to leave a comment.
Posted by Martin at 23:45

11 comments:

  1. Alf23 March 2011 at 09:49

    Go for it ! BUT take things easy, do not be tempted to rush things, if someone is getting impatient behind you let them go first. Mainly think before you do anything. you will soon get into the swing of your way of doing things like locks ! Do have a decent length of center line so that you can control the boat.
    Alf

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  2. KevinTOO23 March 2011 at 11:39

    Hi Margaret,
    My aunty has had both her knees done, she says take it easy after the op, no heroics! She's been very happy with the results of both!!
    Please take it easy and do what the doc tells you... (nag, nah, nag) LOL
    Kevin

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  3. Martin23 March 2011 at 23:30

    @Alf

    Thanks for the encouragement and advice, Alf. The centre line is a good length, but I assume it will have to be long enough for me to hold the boat near to the bottom lock gates when I'm up above, the boat is down below, and water is pouring in to the lock near the bows. I'll get my slide rule out and see if it will do!

    Martin

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  4. Martin23 March 2011 at 23:32

    @Kevin

    Thanks for this, Kevin. Margaret will see it when she gets out, hopefully on Saturday.

    Martin

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  5. Mo and Mike Wood29 March 2011 at 15:03

    hi Kevin and Margaret,
    hope the op went well and you make a good recovery. I'm having the same op on April 18th and wondering how soon they will let me go boating again...don't want to miss the best months of the year! Take it easy Margaret and don't overdo it! I'm sure we'll cross crutches at Great haywood soon!

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  6. Mo Wood29 March 2011 at 15:07

    Oops that should have read Martin and Margaret not Kevin...sorry! Mo wood

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  7. Margaret29 March 2011 at 15:32

    @Mo and Mike Wood

    Hi Mo,

    A couple of weekends ago we found you were on A jetty, but we didn't get as far as seeing whether you were in. We looked for you as we wended our way to the entrance.

    I'm trying to be good and do all the exercises, which are really important. We'd planned to come to Great Haywood for a week starting around 10th April, to explore up the Caldon canal. We're going to see how the knee is. If the pain is under control it ought to be possible, with me relaxing in state while Martin does all the work (poor man!). Perhaps we'll see you then, if you're getting in some last-minute boating before the op. Hope it all goes well for you. Keep in touch.

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  8. Anonymous29 March 2011 at 20:47

    On the subject of centerline if you feel the need of a rope that will, if allowed, get entangled in your propeller then Blue polypropylene is the best option, it floats. Ergo difficult to get wrapped around the prop.

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  9. Martin29 March 2011 at 21:56

    @Maffi

    Ah! NB Goosander mentioned the danger of a long line fouling the propeller, but not the floating alternative. Thanks, Maffi.

    Martin

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  10. Mo Wood30 March 2011 at 14:10

    We're heading up this weekend and plan to do a couple of weeks before TKR day! I was almost tempted to ask them to put me to the end of the waiting list for about October, so I could recuperate over the quiet season! But I suppose the sooner I get it done, the sooner it will be healed. Then need to plan better when to get the other one done! It's a pain getting older! May see you at Haywood soon we hope. Mike plays guitar so he and Martin should get together for a jam!Take care and let him do all the graft!

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  11. Margaret30 March 2011 at 22:40

    @Mo Wood

    Definitatley get on and get the first one over as soon as possible - don't be tempted to put it off especially if there's a second lurking!!
    Hope we have the opportunity to catch up in the near future if not trust the 18th goes well.
    Margaret

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