This is one of those contentious posts that I may

never publish. There have been many of these posts deleted over the last four and a half years- Bones was a lot braver than me about publishing stuff when her Mum died. NB Ellen have just lost their lovely dog Maggie. Their hearts are broken.
 We do, however, adjust eventually although it's difficult to believe that that can ever be at the time. So now I'm going to say this and press the publish button (I think).
When you lose a pet you lose every part of your daily routine - you lose the "morning boys" here are the biscuits and the afternoon cuddles and the visits to neighbours, and the sheer enchantment and pride that you enjoy when other people engage with them. They are part of every minute of your every waking day-it hurts when you lose them - it really hurts. You keep putting out one too many dinners and wondering why you fill the water bowl only half as often.
When you lose your mum it's very different although my Mum was not part of my daily routine and engagement and, sometimes, I didn't want to go back and visit because something exciting was happening elsewhere on the river; so that loss is only slowly coming on board. I keep wanting to ring her and she's not there. I wanted to tell her what happened at the hospital today and she's not there.
If you've never loved a dog or cat and lost it you won't understand where I and NB Ellen are coming from.
 Anyone that engages your love leaves you devastated when they go

The tusk remains in situ!!

So Thursday saw us having a farewell drink on Avalon - they were heading back to Ely on Friday and I was heading off for a dental appointment before we headed off down The Old West River towards St Ives. We were joined by James from NB Lucky Duck who pointed out that Amy was on the bow seat of a passing eight - this led G and Kevin to start a, "Go Amy" chant which embarrassed the hell out of her, pissed off her Cox and dropped James in the mire as he was meant to be getting stuff from B & Q (would that be something to do with a job list?) - boys will be boys some blokes just don't grow up!

 So, in the front then, my Debbie and Kevin's beautiful Airedale Ted (I would soooo love to steal him but you can't stuff a giant dog up your jumper - well not without someone noticing) . Half of Debbie to the left, G next to her, Kevin to the right and poor James (who probably slept on the floor) facing.

 This rowing stuff goes on all the time and does quite a lot of banging into you

So Friday - tusk removal day - dawned bright and clear and G and I set off for an hour plus walk to Brookfields - 20 mins early and they were 40 minutes late, but we'd hung around for 6 weeks for the appointment so it didn't much matter. I have to admit to being very concerned about this appointment - I know where the end of the tooth is so I had a good idea where the root might be!!!!

Unfortunately, the dentist hadn't made the situation very clear in his referral  to Brookfields - just sending a very bleary x-ray through. The surgeon did her own 180 degree x-ray and said that there was no way she was going to remove it as it was on my cheek bone and sinuses so it was an Addenbrooks job under general anesthetic - which was what I'd kind of thought, but then I thought perhaps I was being a wimp.

Hmmmm...perhaps I'll just try and ignore it for a while.

So, returning to MR about 5 ish, we thought we'd just leave Cambridge and pulled pins. Then we remembered that we needed to get water and pump out. This Gronigen something came past us (one of you will know?)

 minus a roof - I thought it might make a good project for Kevin now Avalon is finished (yeah, I know no boat is ever 'finished')

 So we then remembered that we needed to pull up against the high wall for Tescos and B&Q - it was nearly dark when we moored up at Clayhithe at 9 ish behind.....yeah Avalon. I'm just a glutton for those farewell kisses and cuddles. So we trundled off this morning and then called it a day on the GOBA moorings just outside Earith due to a lot of this...

 ....and this

 accompanied by a lot of furniture re-arranging going on upstairs

 Very little of this GOBA mooring is available to anyone other than the young and the brave as cattle have decimated the down river end and jumping off your boat is very likely to lead to a broken ankle

When we arrived they were here

but now we're surrounded!!

No room at the Inn

Leaving the EA moorings at Pope's corner we had to continue in the wrong direction to the Lazy Otter before we could wind and head off down the River Cam. We thought we might stop at The Five Miles From Anywhere Pub at lunchtime but, due to the nicely spaced cruisers, there was no room at the Inn - perhaps every other one had left.

We spent the night at Waterbeach and, walking the dogs towards Clayhithe past the Cambridge Motor Boat Club, I was pleased to see this trailer tent had emerged from it's watery flooded surrounds of a month ago. I was surprised that it hadn't been moved though

A very pleasant walk around Cow Hollow Wood although am I the only one thinking that this is looking a bit autumnal?

It was lovely to be off of the rather bleak and overgrown flood banks onto grassy tracks and woodlands

The boys appreciated it too

Baxter in particular absolutely loathes long grass, thistles and stinging nettles

So onwards into Cambridge

although not all is picturesque - some of these punts in the main tourist areas are being used as rubbish tips

with no attempt to clean them up - I don't understand why not

Tomorrow sees me having a minor op to remove a tooth that has finally decided to appear some 50 years later than it should have - growing through the front of my gum instead of the tooth line. Certain friends have offered me teething rings and to exhibit me along with woolly mammoths when the tusk grows through fully!!! I bet you can't guess who that was. Nah - I think I'll just have it cut out. I suspect I won't be chomping on steak tomorrow night (or very much else for that matter) so a hearty breakfast is planned.