11 July 2008

That sinking feeling

Granny’s report on the sinking of NB Abigail made me go all queasy as it brought my near Northgate staircase disaster ‘flooding’ back to me. Abigail’s owner and I were both ‘in the same boat’ in that we faced a situation where time was against us and everything was happening in the blink of an eye. Thankfully, we both escaped unscathed (bodily wise), me drier than him, but I still get sick thinking about what would have happened if....What would the dogs have done if we’d sunk in the bottom lock? I have visions of me performing a gallant rescue of all five but I know deep down that if things really had gone tits up, I probably wouldn’t have had the time or the mental capacity to do anything but sauve qui peut. What the whole experience has done though is make me extra vigilant. I have always been pretty careful but perhaps over the years, over the course of many locks successfully navigated, one can drop one’s guard a bit and get a huge left uppercut for one’s pains. So if you meet me in a lock and I’m not talking to you, apologies – I’m concentrating. I know, I know, I’m a woman, I should be able to multi-task. But there are only so many brain cells to go round, you know...

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I so agree - since your experience we've reviewed our broad lock technique and after Abigail we're reviewing our narrow lock procedures! Blue and Lou have fetching orange lifejackets and I keep threatening to make them wear them in locks (don't know exactly how that would help but maybe I'd just feel better!). They just keep giving me a 'look' - I think they're saying "push off, you're a big fairy and and a worry wart". Humm, not sure who'll win this argument!!!!
Sue, Indigo Dream

Dogsontour by Greygal said...

Hi Sue

I have to say that roping up - poofy as it may seem to some - was so much easier and less worrisome. In narrow locks, I am paranoid about getting hooked up at the side (I sit on back gate and nothing much happens there) so am often to be found squinting and mentally saying 'Are we going up evenly?' But as Abigail demonstrated, by the time you realise you're not, it's game over.
Only Susie has trad stern privileges and if she falls in we hoik her out by whatever's above water - pah, lifejackets are for wimps!

Anonymous said...

Debate forestalled - decided not to cruise this weekend after all (hence no blog!). Blue and Lou very glad to be at home - fast asleep on duvets with paws twitching as they chase their dream rabbits!
Sue, Indigo Dream

Dogsontour by Greygal said...

All dogs fed and in baskets and enjoying a weekend without risk to life and paw...