Mild CO poisoning?

I hesitate to report this but think it may help someone else if you read about  my recent mishap. 

After arriving at Ely for a couple of nights away, I decided to put my feet up for a few minutes while the Webasto heated up for the first time this year. As I dozed, it sounded OK as it went through its lighting up process and I thought no more about it as I slipped effortlessly into Dozyplonkland.

I was then suddenly woken from my peaceful slumber by the Smoke/Carbon Monocide alarm bleeping loudly above my head and calling out CARBON MONOCIDE! CARBON MONOCIDE!

I took one giant leap off the bed like a startled gazelle, switched off the Webasto and headed for the nearest door at a fast rate of knots just as the instructions state in no uncertain terms. CO is not to be taken lightly as it's very harmful to the health and comes without sight, smell  or taste. 

After a few minutes standing on the jetty, I went around to the front end of the boat (AKA the bow) and opened that door and went inside to open a few portholes to get more ventilation through. As the alarm was still going I went outside again asap. When the alarm finally stopped, I went back inside. Not being able to see or smell any problem, I wondered if the alarm was working properly so I took out the batteries and started it again. Nothing. Was it a false alarm or the real thing I wondered? Was I thinking straight? Come on, work it out! It can't be that difficult.

Anyway, I decided to opt for what I thought was the sensible route and not put the Webasto on again until it had been serviced and tested, but I would also work through the other possible causes in the morning like the gas stove and coal fire. I settled down again for a quiet evening in but gradually started to get an upset stomach. Was this the big meal I had indulged in or something else?

By 9.30pm I was feeling a bit grotty in the mid drift department so headed for bed. The belly got worse and worse and in about 45 minutes I was violently sick. This was repeated about 4 or 5 times until I finally got to sleep at about 2.00 am. When I got up about 9.00 am next morning, I looked at the alarm information again, and it looked like I had had a mild bout of CO poisoning; nausea and vomiting being the main symptoms. This was bad enough so I dread to think what the more serious bouts are like. The middle one apparently involves delirium and convulsions but, the worse one, I understand, involves some additional excruciating pain which is only relieved by the onset of your premature death. Quite serious really!

So, what have I learnt?

1. I have fitted a good quality Smoke and CO Alarm that works well. (That's a good thing).

2. I test it nearly every week as the manufacturer recommends. (That's another good thing).

2. I must remember to replace the batteries annually, even if I think they don't need it. (Mmmmm).

3. I've been on many training courses about what to do when I see or smell smoke, or a smoke/fire alarm goes off, but I don't remember them mentioning what to do when a CO alarm goes off (I'm not really blaming the instructors), but when there's no acrid smoke, no smell or taste and there are no crowds of people rushing to the rendezvous point in the car park, while my first reaction was to make a bolt for the door (that's a good thing), my second reaction was to question whether the alarm was faulty (that was wrong!).

4. So my CO alarm plan is to get out asap and open the doors and windows as I go (unlike a fire, when I would try to close as many as I can) and not go back in until it's safe, especially if the alarm is still blaring out its warnings. 

Dickie Boy, you have learnt an important lesson; now go and have your boiler serviced and check everywhere for embarrassing leaks.

Phantom fender fixer is found

When I returned to the marina last week, my neighbour, who just happened to be leaving at the time, told me he had bumped into Skylark a couple of weeks ago in a high wind, and knocked my fender off. He then kindly put it back in place with a new D shackle. So, mystery solved.

Thanks mate. You're a credit to the narrowboating fraternity.

It just gets better

After returning from a couple of nights away on Skylark (charging batteries, cleaning, polishing, chilling out, etc), I found yet another 'freebie' for the over 60's waiting for me on the doorstep - an invitation to take part in the latest NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.

I'm overwhelmed with excitement!

Over 60's discounts

Having achieved 60 years plus 1 day, I am starting to gather information about the discounts I'm now eligible for. 

You see, when family and friends realise I have reached that all important age ('...but you don't look a day over 59! ha ha ha!!'), they are more than happy to inform me about some of the benefits. I had already convinced myself there aren't any, but how wrong could I be? 

Apart from the free prescriptions I have known about and looked forward to for years, it appears I am now eligible for discounts of 10% on B&Q purchases every Wednesday, discounts at some theatres and Cineworld, older persons meal-deals, leisure centre savings, free eye tests and 25% off Specsaver's glasses, senior coach cards for £10, 30% train discounts, National Trust offers, old blokes haircut days and even special rates at adult education establishments. And if that lot was not enough to be getting on with, I now learn that I may be eligible for free gas checks. Mmmm... that should come in handy as my system starts to fail!

Now all I have to do is have a word with some of those people who I thought were my friends who seem to be getting rather too much pleasure reminding me about how old I am. 

I suppose I should just grin and bear it. You never know, one day we might all be sitting in the same nursing home waiting for our nappies to be changed and I'll be able to sit there with a warm feeling of deep satisfaction engulfing my very being... and have the last laugh!!!

Trip to London

The birthday celebrations in London went well. We both had a very enjoyable time, first watching Warhorse and then going to the Tower to see the WW1 poppies and the various exhibits inside.

Warhorse was everything people had said it was. We had already seen the film so were prepared for the story-line but were blown away by the fantastic production set on a simple stage. Talk about suspending disbelief! It was, at times, easy to believe the horses were real. As in the film, I found the cavalry charge the most moving but you need to see it for yourself to fully take it in.

We arrived at the Tower early next morning to try and avoid too many crowds and we were glad we did. By opening time at 9.00am people were already gathering around the public paths and others were waiting to go in. The poppies were quite a spectacle, almost touching the walls either side of the dry moat. 

Inside, the Tower presented a few surprises, showing various exhibits we had not seen last time we visited a few years ago.

The WW1 exhibit was new and included some old photos with troops training in the grounds of the tower with a modern soldier superimposed. Very moving stuff.

I liked the photo below showing troops being trained how to shoot. I'm sure the instructor should have been behind the troops but then I'm no expert.

Perhaps the group in the background are just getting rid of the previous instructor.

By 11.00am the crowds were building in  numbers including coachloads of children (bless 'em) and space began to get a bit short both inside and out. Our previous walk around the site became a shuffle at best and in some places a stand-still. Never mind, at least we had seen it.

We  went back to Liverpool Street station via a tasty street-meal in Brick Lane and fell asleep on the return train journey.

By the way, while we know the Tower is a fantastic place to visit, the skyline of the city is just as fantastic in the it's own right.

I wouldn't want to work there but we are so lucky to have all these places on our doorstep.