With my sore throat and hacking cough turning into a proper cold yesterday I just couldn’t be bothered to get the computer out last night, preferring to slob about watching the tennis and feeling sorry for myself, so here is a double whammy.
Friday 28th June
I really didn’t want to get up this morning at all but having booked my hair cut for 9 am I had to get up earlier than usual! I walked in to town, arrived at Sue Allen’s just before 9, had a really good cut and blow dry and was back at the boat before 10. The lady who did my hair was a lovely person, very efficient and a real laugh. Unfortunately for me, as she was the owner of the salon, instead of £20 she charged me £34! But she has done a good job and I have had it cut fairly short so it should last for a while.
I returned to the boat to find Ken cooking a beef casserole for dinner, bless! We got the bus in to Leamington and went in search of a fishing tackle shop. I had previously looked on the internet and we had an idea of where it was. However it didn’t seem to be where we thought. As a last resort we crossed the road and Ken spotted a Shimano (they make fishing reels) sign in a shop with a double frontage. We couldn’t get in the door where we were so went in the other door and found ourselves in a bike shop.
We asked the chap there how we could get in the fishing tackle department next door. He said there wasn’t a fishing tackle department next door. He said there used to be a fishing tackle shop over the road but had closed down some time ago. Then the penny dropped – not only do Shimano make fishing reels, they also make bikes and gears so that was why there was a Shimano sign in there, derrr! We scuttled off quickly.
After that debacle we did a bit of shopping then went to the pub, The Benjamin Satchwell this time instead of The Jug and Jester. Not much excitement in there today, no shoplifters. The only vaguely amusing thing was when this man, who had had a few, asked the business type on the table in front of us to look after his drinks while he and his lady friend went outside for a smoke. That was ok but when he came back in to collect his drinks he got his foot caught in the strap of the business type’s computer bag, which was on the floor by the table. He dragged it halfway across the pub and nearly fell over! He spent about 5 minutes apologising, shaking the blokes hand and trying to put the bag back where it had been. The business type said it was ok, no problems but the pissed one kept on apologising and shaking his hand. In the end his lady friend had to tell him to sit down.
Apart from that it was a fairly hum drum visit. We returned to the boat where I slobbed about for the rest of the day moaning about my cold! Ken did a bit of fishing in the evening (to escape from me and the infernal tennis I expect) but there wasn’t much doing and when it turned chilly later he came in having caught nothing.
Saturday 29th June
I awoke this morning feeling even worse than I did yesterday (did I tell you I was ill?) I have a real stinker of a cold now! I could hardly speak (some would say this was a bonus) sounding like a cross between Bonnie Tyler and an un-oiled gate! Coughing hurt, sneezing hurt, blowing my nose hurt, laughing also hurt, my ears ached and so did my head – whinge, whinge, whinge!
After a cup of tea and a couple of paracetamols I got going. It was a lovely day, although the wind still had a chilly feel to it and I did a load of washing. I discovered there are whirly lines here for guests to use so instead of using the drier (which isn’t very efficient) I hung my washing out which was nice (I’m easily pleased). Then I had to empty the loo and get rid of the rubbish, Ken felt sorry for me so he came with me for moral support!
We decided to walk in to town via the racecourse today, which we did. It takes a bit longer than going down the road and brings you out a bit further from the town centre. Being Saturday the market was on and we had a look round, including an in depth look at the bacon roll stall, (feed a cold …. ), yum!
We followed this with our usual lunchtime pursuit, this time outside the Thomas Lloyd. By this time I was getting a bit short of breath to be honest so I was glad of the sit down, it’s a good job I have given up smoking. Mind you I did quite a bit of passive smoking as the lady on the table next to ours was chain smoking cigars and we were down wind!
This afternoon I watched the tennis between little naps, now I am starting to feel a bit better (you and Ken will be pleased to hear) my throat is not sore any more and I don’t feel like I’ve got a 10 ton weight on my chest. Hope for further improvements tomorrow.
