The Morgan quietly sleeps.....

.....awaiting a return to action, following my unexpected period of confinement in the Manchester Royal Infirmary.
Seven weeks I have spent there, seven b....y weeks!

It started with a visit to Blackpool Victoria Hospital after I had complained to my congenital heart disease nurse about increasing breathlessness. I didn't come out, but was transferred to Manchester at dead of night following an echo cardiogram that showed a large blood clot attached to the leads from my pacemaker to my transposed heart.

They did not have the equipment at Blackpool to complete what was going to be a rather dodgy operation due to the fact that my old upside down ticker has been beavering away for 72 years and is getting a little tired, in fact at one stage Newcastle upon Tyne was a possibility.

Anyway I survived the operation and the tender mercies of the NHS, operated largely by goodwill from a wonderful, but overstretched workforce where the nurses don't even get paid overtime. They are short of nurses and ancilliary staff on every shift.

The food in Manchester is absolutely appalling, although I did during my final days there find that the Kosher menu for some reason was very pleasant indeed by comparison, doubly wrapped, hot and with vegetables that I could recognise.

Another major complaint was the lack of discipline on the wards. I think that I am correct in saying that peace and quiet are essential for those recovering from serious operations, not the level of noise I had to endure from nursing staff and other patients late at night and then being wakened at 5 or 6 am to have your blood pressure taken.It should be a case of lights out at 10.30 and then a period of calm until, say 7.30am.

Towards the end of my period of confinement I was getting extremely depressed and somewhat emotional and I think that this was due in no small way to the fact that I was absolutely worn out through disturbed sleep and the operation of course.

Just dreaming !!!!!!!!

As is my wont, I have written to the Chief Executive, Jeremy Hunt MP, my own MP and others to pass on my observations that revealed an NHS teetering on the brink of collapse.

No driving for a minimum of 6 weeks and then on the 26th May I'm back in again for a defibrillator to be fitted that will mean a further spell of being banned from driving. It's a terrible prospect as I love my driving. I have completed the necessary forms for the DVLA and just hope that their decision about my future driving will be favourable, it should be but you never know.

Three holidays have had to be cancelled, two of which I am in the process of trying to recover costs from our Insurance Company....so quick to sell you the policy but somewhat reluctant to pay out it seems to me!

So that is my sorry story. While you lot have been out and about in your Morgans I have been banned from driving but, believe me, I've got plenty of plans in my mind to make up for this temporary misery.

At last....the sun!!

What a delight to be out in the Morgan with barely a cloud in sight, life confirming to say the least, after the miseries of the past few weeks due to illness and the appalling weather.

Some days ago I repainted the exhaust manifold with very high temperature paint. It didn't look too bad, the original coat of paint having lasted probably four years, but it was beginning to look rather scruffy...........

The finished job...half an hour well spent I think!

Anyway, today we set off to visit Helen's sister in that grand little Victorian resort of Knott End on Sea, only about 10 miles away, but the 20 mile round trip ideal for getting the 4/4 thoroughly warmed.

At the top of the slipway with Fleetwood lighthouse and the North Euston Hotel clearly visible.

There was a distinct chill in the air, so the heater was on full blast ensuring that we had a lovely drive and whetting our appetites for many more longer drives in 2016.

Across Morecambe Bay with the snow covered Lakeland mountains and the Heysham to Larne ferry outward bound.

The slipway

In my first job, with what was then District Bank, I used to catch the ferry from Fleetwood to Knott End, in all weathers, in order to work in either Knott End or Stalmine sub-branches. At the end of business, the process was reversed, requiring firstly a 15 minute walk followed by a long trek down that slipway, especially grim at low tide, when there was a strong north westerly carrying with it, rain, hail or snow!!!!

HM Schooner 'Pickle' is completed!

Firstly, belated New Year greetings to all my readers and fellow Morgan owners.

Appalling weather in the north of England, coupled with the fact that I have been smitten by a ghastly viral infection that will not go away, has meant that Morgan motoring has been limited to a couple of trips up the coast to Fleetwood.

It is most frustrating because we now seem to be entering a period of cold, sunny weather, ideal for a pootle in the Mog and I am still not well. However, enough of this.

For the past three months I have been building a model of one of Nelson's ships, in fact the one that brought the news of victory at Trafalgar and the loss of Nelson to England. An earlier post by me gives more detail.

The pictures tell the story of the build.

Coppering the hull. A system that prevented weed growth and made our ships faster than our enemies.

The decking completed

Carronades positioned.

The windlass, pawl bitts, hatches, companionway, tiller and bowsprit fitted.

Completing the Ratlines, a long process!!

My Nelson fleet!!

Finished!.....

......and now perhaps I can concentrate on Morgan matters!

Two days in West Cumbria.

My eldest daughter, who drove the Morgan for the first time just a couple of days ago said that she would like to revisit The Ravenglass and Eskdale narrow gauge railway.

Not a man to poo-poo such an idea, accommodation was arranged for one night at The Pennington in Ravenglass, an ancient Roman port on the Cumbrian coast, my intention being to drive up to Wastwater on the first day and spend the second on the railway.

Under blue skies and in brilliant sunshine we set off on the 2 hour drive from home, finally taking a right turn after Broughton in Furness to take us over Ulpha Fell, into Eskdale and thence into Wasdale and England's deepest lake.

The views when driving across Ulpha Fell are spectacular and I remember a Summers day a couple of years ago, when I parked the Morgan and Helen and myself listened to the skylarks flying above us, a sound that I hadn't heard since childhood, when I used to play in the meadows surrounding our village until farming methods changed and the developers moved in.

But I digress. As we drove through Wasdale the excitement was palpable as we waited for the first view of Wastwater, a wild, mysterious lake with water that appears black due to it's depth with the dramatic Screes plunging down into it from the Scafell Pike massif on the south side.

 And then it was there, in all its majesty, and we stopped to appreciate Britains 'Favourite View'.

There was a strong wind from the east, with squalls that were lifting the water from the surface of the lake, all adding to the effect. In fact while we were looking across to Great Gable at the eastern end of the lake we were hit and almost drenched by a direct hit from one of these squalls that almost took us off our feet!

Herdwick Sheep being driven over the ancient bridge at Wasdale Head.

The River Irt flowing under it.

Time for a beer and chips at the 'Wasdale Head Inn', a renowned mountaineering venue and then on to Ravenglass to check in at our hotel, that proved to be first class in every respect.

The main street in Ravenglass with our hotel in the middle distance on the right.

During the rest of the day we walked around this very special little place, both on the main street and on the beach, something we also did the following day, before our train was due.

Tide out at Ravenglass

Looking south with Black Combe in the hazy distance

Fings ain't what they used to be! Black and white shot taken in the main street at Ravenglass

We had been so lucky with the weather and the sun still shone as we climbed into our carriage for the 40 minute trip from Ravenglass to Dalegarth.

Our engine 'Northern Rock' reversing up to the train.

Wonderful as ever, it being our third or fourth time over the years, and certainly appreciated by the rest of the party especially perhaps our two grandsons.

Raring to go!

The pictures tell the story of a fantastic two days.

Two little boys approve!

Approaching Irton Station

Glorious scenery en route

Turning her around at Dalegarth

'Double Header'

What a great trip!

Sophie drives the Morgan

Some weeks ago my eldest daughter said that she would love to drive the Morgan, so when I heard that they were visiting for the Half Term break I got in touch with Gott and Wynne, my Insurers, and arranged for short term additional driver cover.

At the wheel and raring to go!

Thankfully the weather was good and my driver was clearly very excited at the prospect of her first drive.

Fleetwood, with the North Euston Hotel and leading lighthouse in the background.

We drove to Fleetwood keeping well within all speed limits, I think 55mph was the maximum we achieved and no matter how hard I tried I could not encourage her to take it to 60!!!!

Could this be the 'Morgan Grin'?

When we arrived home, after a drive that she clearly enjoyed immensely, Max her eldest son said that he would like a drive so in went the child seat and off they went for a quick spin.
Sophie's final words when they got back were....I WANT ONE!!!!!!

Arriving home with Max on board.

...and I think that he enjoyed the drive as well!

So.........

...........there are times when I get very annoyed indeed and this is one of those occasions.

Have my illustrious and devoted readers in the UK noticed the number of occasions on which many people, including those in the media, are beginning almost every response to a question with the word 'So'?

Most annoying and just as annoying as those people who now appear to have forgotten how to sound the 'x' in sixth.

Here is an example of the new 'sicth' times table.

                                        1 sicth is sic
                                        2 sicths are twelve
                                        3 sicths are eighteen  etc.,etc!

Where do these abominations in pronunciation originate?

What is more sad, is the fact that so many individuals suddenly jump on the bandwagon and start following the herd.

Anyway, now I've got that off my chest I'll get back to model boatbuilding!

What a Pickle!!

To keep myself occupied during the approaching winter, with weather that might preclude much Morgan activity, I decided to build myself another ship of 'Nelson's' navy.

The model of 'HM Schooner Pickle' is starting to take shape and will ultimately have a place on the top of our bookcase alongside 'HM Yacht Chatham', the vessel that carried Nelson's body up the River Thames on its final journey to the city of London.

The history of the Pickle is interesting.

Forever associated with Admiral Nelson's final and most historic victory, the Battle of Trafalgar 1805, Pickle was chosen to carry the news of Nelson's victory and death back to England.

Commanded by Lieutenant John Richards Lapenotiere, Pickle was not directly involved in the battle but was kept busy rescuing both friend and foe from a watery death. By 6pm the muster list showed a total of 160 prisoners taken on board, the majority of these coming from the burning French Achille. Given the size of Pickle and the fact that she only had a crew of just 40 it is remarkable that they were not only able to rescue so many but that they then prevented prisoners from escaping.

After the battle, with Collingwood now in command, every ship including Pickle, was required to maintain the blockade of Cadiz.

However, on the morning of the 26th October 1805, Lapenotiere was signalled to come aboard Euryalus where he received written orders from Collingwood to sail for Plymouth with his despatches.

Pickle was probably the only ship that Collingwood could spare given his current circumstances. This is also backed up by his letter to the First Lord of the Admiralty which states:-

'dispatches containing the account of the Action of the 21st Inst, and detailing the proceedings of the fleet to the 24th will be delivered to you by Lieut. Lapenotiere, commanding the schooner Pickle......having no means of speedier, or safer Conveyance with me at present'

At noon the same day, Pickle departed for England battling for the next 7 days through stormy seas. On October 31st four of their 12 pounder carronades were thrown overboard and then on November 2nd the weather changed to the other extreme and with no wind, the sweeps were employed just to keep the ship heading towards England.

On the 4th November they finally reached Falmouth where Lapenotiere was landed in Pickle's boat. From this point he set off on his now famous post chaise using at least 21 changes of horses to travel more than 270 miles in 37 hours. It cost £46.19s.1d, more than six months wages for a Lieutenant.

Lapenotiere finally reached the Admiralty at around 1am on the 6th November and announced to William Marsden, First Secretary of the Admiralty,

"Sir, we have gained a great victory, but we have lost Lord Nelson"

On the 28th July 1808, Pickle was finally lost, while again carrying dispatches, under the command of Lieutenant Moses Cannadey. During her approach to Cadiz she was grounded off Cape Santa Maria on the Chipiona Shoal. She sank quickly but all her crew were saved.