Bartimaeus

When I used to go on canal boating holidays years ago, I used to think that my mother would really enjoy them. I could be wrong, but I thought sitting watching flowers and ducks go by would appeal. I am sure she would have enjoyed watching the world go slowly by and probably time with her grandchildren, in the later holidays that had a family focus. If enough others were there she wouldn’t have needed to worry about getting to grips with a different cooker or work out where to get rid of rubbish or where the shops were and what to cook. She never did get to know whether she would enjoy it or not. 

She didn’t expect much on Mother’s day, nor for her birthday which was enveloped by Christmas and her sister’s birthday the day before. Low expectations mean fewer disappointments. She had enough children that some of them would send a greeting or gift. I have made myself inaccessible to cards and presents but I received a social media greeting and a lengthy phonecall and I have the pleasure of fresh flowers round each corner on any day of the year.

Mother’s Day fell on the same day the clocks going forward and officially British Summer Time and it has been largely sunny since, though not as much as the forecast said it would, on Monday. It has been easy to be fooled and step out without a long sleeved top, only to find the sunshine accompanied by a surprisingly cold breeze.

One thing my mum didn’t know was how to drive a car. As far as I know it was not sexism on my father’s part, though he would have been be an impatient passenger. He happily put his sons and daughters through driving lessons as soon as they were 17. I was relieved to finally pass my test on the third attempt – poor show as everyone else had passed first time. Fortunately I haven’t had to go through the trial of a boat driving test. One can get lessons and tests but they are not required for canal boat driving. Being able to drive a car doesn’t help much since the driving position and methods of steering and speed control are all different. You don’t even pass oncoming traffic on the same side.

I have driven through many locks now but was mightily relieved to pass through the set of locks, where we had encountered a boat that got flooded in a lock and had to be rescued. I had never seen the incident but knew the story from repeated telling. We met a boat at each lock which made Shane’s job easier as he had hopped off and left me to helm. I had been surprised by their sudden arrival and the realisation they were narrow locks. All went well, plus I had my summer hat on so it all felt much more relaxing than expected.

We started summertime with a beer outside, we didn’t have the wherewithal for the classic summer drink. In Wrenbury we picked up Pimm’s and lemonade, so we are equipped for the new season, though I was amused that the Pimm’s was still a 2023 coronation special edition, but the Pimm’s doesn’t have a ‘use by’ or ‘best before’ date anyway. My mother didn’t have any use for those. She just needed to know whether it looked or smelled safe or not. We didn’t seem to get much tummy trouble so she must have known alright, that and leftovers didn’t last long before being used up.

On the way back from the shop Shane found a partially hidden path. There was a stile and a right of way sign but it has a bush growing across it and you might never know that you could go that way. I was glad we did though as we ended up in a field with lambs. A mother was watching us and her twins. As we got nearer she turned from the path and her lambs ran after her. She kept moving until a few were together and on the far side of the field.

We moved on today having found ourselves in a pleasant enough spot but with no internet connection, a modern essential my mother never needed to know. From a walk yesterday we knew the day would begin with two lift bridges of different kinds. Shane went ahead with a windlass telling me electric would be fine, as I was about to do the diesel cold start. When I tried, the electric didn’t start and properly. I didn’t know how to sort it so started the diesel in stead. Of course I should have known, as Shane later said, I just needed to switch the hybrid marine control panel off and on again. The first bridge was already open before Shane got there, so I had the on coming boat and a tree and a moored boat to work around before reaching the bridge. The bridge had been labelled as low and a sign recommended staying to one side. I was remembering this but due to the bridge being already raised by the other boater Shane was on the wrong side of it. Shane used Bartimaeus as a bridge to get to the  right side of the bridge to let it down behind me – so much for staying away from that side – we have no chimney or roof plants so it was fine. He then found, as he tried to drop it, that the windlass he had picked up was the wrong size so I had to reverse and go close enough to swap for another one, which he had fortunately left out ready for use at locks later.

The next bridge was push button controlled but the main issue for me was the large collection of hired boats moored nearby and the angle of entry to go through was such that it was a tight space to line up the front and avoid those of the Anglo Welsh fleet moored end on with the back. Hire boats are likely to get quite a bashing but they are looking pretty pristine at the start of the season.

Later, in the afternoon we caught up with a lone boater who was lamenting feeling forgetful and finding things hard to manage since having a recent issue with a blood clot on his brain and had found the series of bridges and locks harder to manage. I was agreeing that lone boating takes a lot of organisation and planning. I mentioned the bridge approach next to all the hire boats was awkward and he shook his head and agreed. He said he had bumped into them. I wasn’t sure if it helped his mood that I had raised it as a hazard to handle, or was unhappy to have been reminded of the bump. Clearly things that had been a pleasure or just easy before, were now a struggle and he was really feeling the loss.  He was happy for the help over the three locks and liked the sunshine. He was hoping for a pub dinner. I almost felt like mothering him myself and if the pub hadn’t been open, I was ready to offer him dinner. Luckily it was open and with another friendly couple of boaters there too so he had some cheerful company. I didn’t feel guilty at heading on further in search of internet and a sunny mooring for the panels.

As we were looking for such a spot. Shane asked if I had taken any photos today. I hadn’t, but told him that I might have a mothering theme but for the lack of internet, I would have done it yesterday. At that point he saw a boat and said it was appropriate. Not that most folk would recognise, but I knew what he meant. At his 3 (and a quarter) year check, one of the questions asked of Bryn was “do you know your mother’s name?’. He had replied, “Yes her name is Clare, but sometimes I call her Dennis!” She looked at me quizzically. I had to tell the health visitor that for some reason he had called me Dennis, just for a couple of days, but I didn’t know why. At least his language skills were good enough for him to explain a little, so he didn’t just answer “Dennis”. Being a mother brought me surprises round many a corner and I never did know what might be next.