Mainly Landlubbers

The EGR valve was replaced

We have been home since 1^st June and looking back at the calendar there were only six days in June that were free of medical appointments, health walks, summer fairs, babysitting and line dancing.

Then Jeremy replaced the front discs and brake pads

The first thing to sort out was our 11 year old Ford Focus, which still had an engine management light glowing on the dashboard. A diagnosis at a Ford garage revealed a blocked EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve. Jeremy saved us several hundred pounds by buying the part on ebay and fitting it himself.

Ben and Sophie on Searose

 Jeremy was the first to start physiotherapy sessions and learned that he had snapped a tendon attached to the rotator cuff in his shoulder. He has been doing exercises ever since the diagnosis and is waiting for a referral for steroid injections.

Ellie and Emily on Searose

I began doing exercises on my knees, which are stronger now and much improved, although setbacks occur from time to time.

Sara, Abigail, Isaac, Pat and Mum at Silverdale, Isle of Man

We started to collect our granddaughter, Ellie, from school once a week and take her to our house for tea. We also collect our other granddaughter, Sophie, from Nursery and return both children to their parents once they have finished work.

Mum on Port Erin railway station, Isle of Man

July was equally busy. I went to the Isle of Man for a week to visit my Mum (now 93 years old) and my sisters and the rest of my family.

Painted and edged. Fully restored shed in Tobermory, Mull

Jeremy went to the Isle of Mull in Scotland to paint the roof of the shed we restored last October. On the way there he spent two nights with his brother, Gavin, and his wife, Eileen. They watched the start of the Tall Ships Rally as they left the River Wear at Sunderland and made their way to the North Sea.

Knitted yachts at Sunderland

On our way back from the Isles of Man and Mull, we stayed for two nights with my college friend, Stella and her husband, Geoff. It was lovely to catch up on three years of news and see a bit of Leicestershire. They took us to Foxton Locks on the nearby canal.

Stella, Geoff and Kathy

We learned more about Searose, a 34ft Southerly yacht with a lifting keel, recently bought by our daughter, Emily, and son-in-law, Ben. We were able to take her out a couple of times on the River Deben and make use of our old Avon dinghy and Mercury outboard.

Languard Fort, Felixstow

Towards the end of July we took part in a Westerly Owners Association Suffolk Rivers Rally. As our Westerly, Sal Darago, is in Mexico, we were boatless, but still enjoyed all the social events, which usually took place in pubs, and a visit to the stunning Languard Fort at Felixstowe.

Kathy, Sam, Michelle, Sylvie and Patrick after the BBQ

During August, we had a day visit to see our nephew, Patrick and his wife, Michelle, and their children, Sam and Sylvie. The weather, which had been tropical since mid-June, continued warm and dry for a delicious BBQ in their garden.

Oyster BBQ at our bridge in Mull

Our family holiday in Mull had been planned for several weeks and the ferries had been booked, when Jeremy had a second event with his bowel, which led our GP to refer him for an appointment at Ipswich Hospital within two weeks. He had a sigmoidoscopy, which revealed a medium sized polyp and he was referred for a colonoscopy. After a few unsettled days, Jeremy learned that his appointment would not take place for at least two weeks, so we were able to go on holiday. We spent a lovely evening and comfortable night in Durham, on our way to Mull, with long time friends, Andy and Moira.

Kathy, Sophie, Emily, Ellie, Ben and Tess near Croggan, Mull

The first week was spent with Emily, Ben, Ellie, Sophie and Tess the dog. We went out every day come rain or shine, which we had in equal measures.

Jeremy, Pat and Graham at Calgary, Mull

My sister, Pat joined us for 10 days at the start of our second week and Graham, a sailing friend of ours, spent three days with us.

Novel use of an expired liferaft

Thanks to Emily checking our mail and from phone calls, Jeremy learned that his appointment would be on 21^st September. We could enjoy the last four days of our holiday with just the two of us.

Another house job - professionally rebuilt chimney

Unfortunately, we both went down with colds and spent the last week coughing and sneezing!

We are home once again. Autumn is on the doorstep and already two named equinoctial storms have battered much of the UK. Suffolk has escaped the worst but it’s certainly not a good time to go sailing.

Today, Jeremy had his colonoscopy and the polyp was removed successfully. He is a little uncomfortable and has to remain on a fluid only diet for another 48 hours. The polyp will be tested and I’ll let you know the result in our next blog, which I hope to post before Christmas.