It was't quite what we expected. Four weeks in Penkridge and missed the village at war in Stoke Bruerne.
In the dry dock while having the blacking done, Darley was not happy and not eating! We put this down to walking the plank every time we went in or out. We left on the Wednesday 20th August. She did not get any better, so on the Friday we decided to find a vet. This was five boating hours away.
We arrived in plenty of time for her 4pm appointment. Craig was marvellous. Listened to us, took one look inside her mouth and knew straight away what was wrong. IMHA. A form of anaemia. Very serious. The white blood cells destroy the red. They admitted her for the weekend and she had a blood transfusion that night, plus steroids.
We were both in bits. I sat up almost all night waiting for the phone to ring. Sam, the nurse rang in the morning to say she was ok. We were able to visit her and walk her round a paddock.
Monday afternoon she was discharged but had to go back in the week to check her blood count. They should normally have a 35/40%, 15 is critical, hers was 16 when we took her in. 24 when she came out Monday. Then she had an infection due to her immune system being down. Her count went down too, 19%. More steroids for two weeks and re check. Last Thursday Craig said we could leave with two more weeks of the same strength steroids, her count was 29%. But book an appointment with our own vet to re check at the end of that two weeks. Hopefully then the dose can start to be reduced, although Craig recommends she stays on a low dose for the rest of her life. I dread to think what these drugs are doing as a side affect. We will see what happens when we visit our vet on Thursday. Darleys Godmother is taking us as we don't have wheels anymore!
During our stay in Penkridge we got to know the area quite well! The first weekend after visiting Darley we saw a friends boat 'Louisa'. Janet and Peter that live in France most of the year, on their way back to Audlem Marina. Great to catch up!
Another surprise an old client and friend dropped in for a hair cut! Driving down the M6 and thought she would stop off!
One evening Geoff suddenly realised another Beacon Boat had moored behind us! Serenity! Great to share a bottle or two with Karen and Ian! Must do that again sometime!!
We met some wonderful people on the towpath. Most asking after Darley. John and Jossie were especially helpful, they filled our water tank a few times to save us doing 5 miles and 8 locks round trip to get to a water point. We had moored at the bottom of their garden, what a spot of luck! Thank you! Hope you find a new dance group! And it's a 10 from us! Not 7!!
A brilliant butcher in the town and veg stall at the market, we will miss them!
Karen and Corinne came to visit us as well so we didn't get too bored! Geoff spent time catching up on those little jobs. Cleaning the chimney and repairing some paint work etc...
Our biggest disappointment was that we missed the village at war weekend in Stoke Bruerne. I haven't heard how it went so if any of you know, perhaps you would let me know?
So we left Penkridge last Friday and arrived here at Gayton Junction yesterday ( Saturday ). A good trip down, fairly good weather. Collected our new stainless steel chimney from The Little Chimney Company on the way. Caught up with a friend last night. Tomorrow the Joules Fuel boat is passing so getting our first coal of the Autumn! Then Tuesday will go through Blisworth tunnel and Stoke Bruerne locks. Thursday the vet and then Geoff has a little job to do near Gifford Park.
Our loose plan for the winter is to go down to Slapton, the Wendover Arm, visit Corinne at Grove Lock Marina, our Dentist appointments in Bletchley, then slow return back up to Cosgrove. Some of all this weather dependant of course.
