There’s a fragile, colourful theme running throughout our lives. It’s a theme that the narrowboat part of our life, just one of the many beautiful homes we’ve lived in, now takes us from one to another discovery of new, exciting, palette reflecting something unique, often in unexpectrd places. Those colours are often not as fragileContinue reading “Paneful reflections”
Author Archives: pickingupducks
Shocked into sense this week
Sometimes we all need a stark reminder to stop and take stock. This week has brought us some truly awful reminders. Routine can act as a blinkers for us, so that we fail to see the big picture, as we become bound up in the minutiae of careers, and daily life. Small issues can appearContinue reading “Shocked into sense this week”
From drought to escaping the flood in one (sl…ow) move
Having waved a fond farewell to wonderful friends from France with whom we’ve had an awesome week, I was just debating what to have for lunch (and as is my wont when I’ve been talking French all the time, debating with myself en français) when the Skipper announced we were on the move – NOW.Continue reading “From drought to escaping the flood in one (sl…ow) move”
Le service normal reprendra la semaine prochaine.
Apologies – spending time with old friends from Preaux on Preaux and in the National Forest. Normal service will be resumed next week. Have a great week in the meantime and thank you for all those rain dances which appear to be taking effect!
Fear, fire and fortune
So many people are feeling vulnerable at the moment, there is a palpable sense of fear. Near us fields have been set alight alongside the river and although no animals were injured it could have been very different if the alarm hadn’t been raised so rapidly. Home owners, wondering if their home will be nextContinue reading “Fear, fire and fortune”
Water way to go…
We have made it onto the rivers and water is again moving below our hull. To be honest, it couldn’t have been shallower where we had been moored after lock and water control issues left boats and businesses high and dry. It isn’t just about the statistics of distances and locks but the richness ofContinue reading “Water way to go…”
Planning to manage BST – British Shallow Time
So two weeks ago, we left you at a point where we had a broken boat and immense frustration at the state of the canals. A family holiday with the invaluable perspective of an eight year-old has helped immensely, as have beautiful Welsh beaches, seaside pubs and glorious countryside. Tackling everything in turn, the brokenContinue reading “Planning to manage BST – British Shallow Time”
Life-changing decisions.
What a week. Broken boat. Clouds of black smoke. Repairs underway. Canals are being closed around us and a feeling of despair settling around. Canal and River Trust say reservoir levels are higher than when they closed routes last year with two weeks’ warning, but this year locks have shut around us with no warning.Continue reading “Life-changing decisions.”
White gold
I am born in water. I live in water and I die when water touches me. What am I? The answer to this old riddle has been adding flavour to our days and dishes, fascinating, exfoliating and also relaxing us these past weeks. It is the mineral once known as white gold and in CheshireContinue reading “White gold”
To the rescue…death averted
Sometimes one’s closest neighbours, even if you don’t know them personally, are in need of your help. Unexpected moments of crisis, or encounters when a helping hand is what is needed, provide a challenge for all of us – will we step up? Or do we consider ourselves too busy, too inexperienced, too anything thatContinue reading “To the rescue…death averted”
Pickingupducks 