Hot Saturday, not much done

We'd decided to take a day off today and in view of the weather clearly made the right choice. It's been very warm indeed by Brit standards, so we've largely been loafing on the bow. One great advantage of having the boat this way round is that the bow is out just beyond the end of the pontoon and catches any breeze that's going.

Just after breakfast, Sheila managed to sort out a problem with an out patient appointment which had demonstrated the idiocy of the "people must have choice" mantra. She'd got a referral to orthopaedics for her arthritic big toes and at first the Choose and Book offer seemed great; there was a clinic actually in Willington Surgery which had vacant slots this month.

The only thing was that when the confirmation letter arrived yesterday, it became apparent only then that the clinic was being operated by a private provider based in Nottingham, so that any treatment would be delivered there. Not having a car, this was completely impractical, of course, especially if she needs surgery and thus several after care visits.

However, a phone call to Choose and Book enabled her to cancel that appointment; there are none available in Derby this month and the October appointment slots are not yet open. She'll have to keep checking back to the website and grab one when they are.

People don't want choices, they just want a decent standard of service locally, whether that's in health or education.

Hey ho, we're still waiting for my eye clinic appointment which should be sometime this month; if I haven't heard by next Wednesday I'll need to ring and chase it, I guess.

Elanor and Sally came over later in the morning and joined us in the well deck. Sally behaved very well, though clearly feeling too hot. On a couple of occasions a dopey looking Canada Goose swam up and peered at us. Sally stood up and stared at it, but didn't bark madly as she would have done once upon a time.

After the goose swam away the first time, Elanor rewarded this restraint with a treat. Next time it happened, Sally stared again at the goose, drooling slightly, then, as soon as it was off, turned and looked expectantly at Elanor.

"Where's my treat, Mum?"

It's a while since I've put any Boardwalk photos up, so here are a few to finish off:

Part of the sensory garden at the end of the peninsula

They've got a bit to do to it...

The start of your actual boardwalk

There's quite a bit of this to do as well

Anybody got an earworm yet? "Under the boardwalk, down by the sea-ee-ee"

Sorry!

We're manning the Lodges to Let stand at the Classic Car Show here tomorrow, so the blog might be a bit late, if it appears at all.