Friday 14 June 2019

Ravensdale is stuck in the marina again – this time due to an inner ear problem


Photo of Ravensdale (just left of centre) at Maryport Marina this week

Ravensdale (the white cruiser just left of centre) at Maryport Marina this week


We’ve been unable to take Ravensdale out on the water this week because Phil developed a medical problem that made it very unwise.

He started having strange dizzy spells and keeled over when he bent forward so he made a doctor’s appointment and was told it was an inner ear condition.

This has been happening on and off for much of this week.

We also had some fairly windy weather for the first part of the week and the rocking of the boat has affected him a lot more than usual so taking her out onto the Solway Firth here in Cumbria, UK, would definitely not have been a good idea.

Meanwhile, Ruby is having to wear an inflatable collar for a few days until a wound on her ear heals.


Phil’s dizzy spells

Photo of Phil relaxing at sea on a recent fishing trip

Phil relaxing at sea on a recent fishing trip


Vertigo that can cause you to keel over when you bend forwards is not a great thing to suffer from when you live on a boat.

The rocking motion caused by wind and swell becomes exaggerated and disorientating - there were times when Phil thought the boat was rocking quite violently when it was hardly moving at all.

There’s always a chance that you could fall forward into the water or fall and hit your head on something that could knock you out.

And that’s when the boat is safely moored up in the marina so taking her out onto the water would not be a great idea.

Some time ago Phil had some strange vertigo-like incidents and went to the doctor about them.

At that time, he was on medication that the doctor thought may have been causing these symptoms, so he stopped taking it and the problem cleared.

He hasn’t taken it since but started having the strange dizzy spells again this week and, on one occasion, he bent over to stroke Ruby in Ravensdale’s saloon and ended up sprawled on the floor.

That was the point at which he called the doctor, who said that, when he’d seen Phil previously, he thought it could have been Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) – an inner ear problem where specific head movement cause vertigo.

He was told to see if it went away on its own again. If not, there’s a manoeuvre they can do that will hopefully cure it, at least for the time being.

Since then, he’s had a few less serious occurrences so we’re hoping it’s not going to be a recurring problem.

He's been trying not to bend forward as that is what causes him problems, but keeps forgetting and, on one occasion, he was about to lean forward over the water to adjust a mooring rope. I spotted him just in time and shouted at him to stop and I would adjust it.

As it happened, there was only one day this week that would’ve been almost calm enough for us to consider taking Ravensdale out on the water, but it was out of the question anyway while Phil was suffering from dizzy spells.

Once they settle down, we'll be able to go out fishing again.


Ruby of Ravensdale

Photo of Ruby happy to be back on the beach again

Ruby happy to be back on the beach again


Ruby has been enjoying being able to go out for proper walks again this week, now she is no longer in season and therefore able to be around other dogs again.

She has been to the beach most days and had the opportunity to meet and play with other dogs.

She still refuses to go in water and, when her ball ended up in a small pool on the beach, she ran around the pool until Phil went and got it for her.

Photo of Phil had to push Ruby's ball closer to her when she refused to get wet

Phil had to push Ruby's ball closer to her when she refused to get wet


She got very mucky on the beach on Monday. Usually, she comes home covered in sand, which drops off when we dry her.

However, on Monday, her legs and belly were covered in mud and she had to be hosed down on the pontoons before we dried her, which was pretty annoying given that she'd had a shower the previous day.

Photo of Ruby with very muddy legs

Ruby with very muddy legs


We bought her a new toothbrush toy that has a central reservoir for dog toothpaste and rubber bristles that are supposed to clean her teeth when she chews it.

Photo of Ruby's new toothbrush toy that she has already bitten chunks off the base

Ruby's new toothbrush toy that she has already bitten chunks off the base


However, it hasn’t proved to be much use as she started biting chunks off it within five minutes of being given it for the first time.

Photo of Ruby sitting on Ravensdale's aft deck

Ruby sitting on Ravensdale's aft deck


Photo of my latest attempt at a selfie with Ruby

My latest attempt at a selfie with Ruby 😊

Last week, we took her to the vet because she was chewing her paws and she was given antibiotics for a nail bed infection.

The infection cleared up, but she keeps scratching her left ear until it bleeds.

The vet checked her ears when we took her back after the course of antibiotics and said there was nothing wrong with them.

The vet suggested putting Ruby on Piriton (chlorphenamine maleate) in case it was an allergy but that didn’t seem to help either as she scratched her ear until it was bleeding again.

We’re now trying an inflatable collar to give the wound a chance to heal as it could be the soreness and healing process that’s causing it to itch and creating a vicious circle.

She's being so good about wearing it. She didn't object to having it fitted and has just carried on with her life as if it's not there.

The only things we've had to change is moving her food and water bowls away from the wall because she couldn't get to them and giving her a helping hand up steps on the boat as the edge of her collar catches on the treads.

Amusingly, some people have mistaken it for a swimming ring and asked if we're teaching her to swim 😊

Hopefully, she'll only need to wear it for a few days until her ear heals up, then we're hoping she won’t scratch it and make it sore again.


Photo of Ruby in her new inflatable collar

Ruby in her new inflatable collar


Photography

I haven’t been out taking photos very much this week as I haven’t wanted to leave Phil on his own while he was having regular dizzy spells.

But I did get around to processing some of the photos I took on Friday of last week that I hadn’t had a chance to look at it before last week’s blog.

Photo of Maryport lighthouse at low tide

Maryport lighthouse at low tide


Photo of Silver Fern in Maryport Harbour

Silver Fern in Maryport Harbour


Photo of colourful fishing boats in Maryport Harbour at high tide

Colourful fishing boats in Maryport Harbour at high tide


Photo of a fishing boat and rusty trawler winch at Maryport Harbour

A fishing boat and rusty trawler winch at Maryport Harbour


Photo of more fishing boats at high tide

More fishing boats at high tide


Photo of looking across Maryport Harbour at high tide

Looking across Maryport Harbour at high tide


Photo of the view from Shipping Brow, Maryport, looking out towards the Solway Firth

The view from Shipping Brow, Maryport, looking out towards the Solway Firth


Photo of looking across the River Ellen towards Shipping Brow

Looking across the River Ellen towards Shipping Brow at Maryport


Photo of a sculpture of fishermen on the River Ellen at Marport

A sculpture of fishermen on the River Ellen at Marport


I’ve also taken a few photos while out walking Ruby on the beach.

Photo of Maryport beach with Maryport pier and the Scottish hills in the distance

Maryport beach with Maryport pier and the Scottish hills in the distance


Photo of another view of Maryport beach

Another view of Maryport beach


Photo of clouds reflected in puddles on the shore in Maryport

Clouds reflected in puddles on the shore in Maryport


Photo of looking along Maryport shore towards Iggesund Paperboard mill

Looking along Maryport shore towards Iggesund Paperboard mill


Photo of fluffy clouds over Maryport beach

Fluffy clouds over Maryport beach


And I took photos of Maryport marina and across the basin on Sunday.

Photo of Christ Church at Maryport from across the basin

Christ Church at Maryport from across the basin


Photo of another view across the basin at Maryport

Another view across the basin at Maryport


Photo of Shipping Brow at Maryport from the other side of the basin

Shipping Brow at Maryport from the other side of the basin


Photo of a calm evening at Maryport Marina

A calm evening at Maryport Marina


Photo of a wider view of Maryport Marina in Cumbria, UK

A wider view of Maryport Marina in Cumbria, UK



Weather watch

It’s been a cool and fairly windy week with temperatures ranging from 11C-15C (52F-59F) and wind gusting up to 41mph.

Photo of calm conditions at Maryport Marina last Friday evening

Calm conditions at Maryport Marina last Friday evening


We had heavy rain overnight Friday into Saturday and it was fairly windy with average wind speeds up to 25mph, gusting 36mph.

There was light rain first thing on Saturday, which dried up fairly quickly. It was cloudy for the rest of the day becoming brighter during the afternoon.

The top temperature was 13C (55F) and the top average wind speed at St Bees Head – our nearest weather station - was 26mph, gusting 41mph, but it was definitely less than that here.

Sunday was dry, bright and breezy. It was cloudy in the morning with the sun coming out during the afternoon.

The temperature only reached 13C (55F) again and the top average wind speed was 16mph.

Photo of a sunny day on Maryport beach on Monday

A sunny day on Maryport beach on Monday


Monday was dry, sunny and warm. It was fairly calm in the morning with the wind getting up late afternoon.

The top temperature was 15C (59F) and the top average wind speed was 13mph. 

Tuesday started sunny then clouded over but it stayed dry and windy throughout the day, brightening up again during the evening.

Photo of golden light on Maryport Marina on Tuesday evening

Golden light on Maryport Marina on Tuesday evening


The top temperature was 13C (55F) and the top average wind speed was 24mph, gusting 40mph.

It was pretty windy overnight Tuesday into Wednesday with the average wind speed reaching 23mph, gusting 34mph and the high winds continued throughout the day.

Photo of grey cloud at Maryport Marina on Wednesday

Grey cloud at Maryport Marina on Wednesday


Dry and overcast conditions in the morning gave way to light rain in the afternoon. The temperature reached 12C (54F) and the top wind speed was 26mph, gusting, 41mph.

Heavy rain overnight Wednesday into yesterday (Thursday) continued into yesterday morning.

The rain became lighter during the morning and it dried up late morning with a little light rain during the afternoon. The temperature only reached 11C (52F) and the top average wind speed was 19mph, gusting 33mph.

Photo of Maryport Marina yesterday (Thursday) evening

Maryport Marina yesterday (Thursday) evening



And, today (Friday) started wet but dried up to give a bright and breezy day. The top temperature was 13C (55F) and the top average wind speed was 15mph.