When you live and work in a different way to the norm – when your commute is a stroll along a 50ft boat, when your office desk is your dining table set under the gunwales, when glancing up from your computer you see calming ripples on water, swans bringing their new family along for aContinue reading “Seeing our life through the eyes of a child”
Author Archives: pickingupducks
Living and working your dream? Why not?
I’ve lost count of the number of times this past week when I’ve heard “Oh you’re so lucky to live and work on a boat.” Invariably it’s followed by a wistful “I’d love to do that.” Why is it that we don’t follow our dreams, why don’t we cast off and make our lives workContinue reading “Living and working your dream? Why not?”
FUEL FOR FREE
Prices are rocketing, costs are escalating, and the impact is being felt among us all. Anything we can get for free is becoming not only a bonus but a necessity. This week anyone working with me has had a taste of my brand of free fuelling for a taste of feel-better times. We all needContinue reading “FUEL FOR FREE”
Long service rewards for all
We may be narrowboat nomads but that doesn’t mean we’ve missed the opportunity to join in Jubilee celebrations. It’s just means we’ve joined them in several places! Whatever your thoughts on monarchies, 70 years in the same job these days is nothing short of remarkable. It is something to be celebrated, something we know neitherContinue reading “Long service rewards for all”
Where creativity and individualism flourish
Individualism has a stronghold on the inland waterways today but I’d argue it always has had. Even in the days when homogonised corporate commercial barges plied their trade, the roses and castles adorning cabins and water cans made individual statements about the people on board and their desire to make their home/workplaces more attractive. Today’sContinue reading “Where creativity and individualism flourish”
The power of individual change agents
Seeing the changes being wrought on the landscape this week by HS2 prompted this week’s blog. We’ve been travelling the Grand Union to Napton Junction where we turned onto the Oxford Canal. Both evidence the changes of HS2. Travelling on from Leamington Spa we saw the impact on the landscape of the southern section ofContinue reading “The power of individual change agents”
Water water everywhere…can you help?
Water is a major global problem for us all, and it’s getting more acute. The United Nations General Assembly back in 2010 recognised access to safe, clean, and affordable drinking water and sanitation as a basic human right. Living and working afloat makes us hugely aware of water – we need it to stay aliveContinue reading “Water water everywhere…can you help?”
Reflections on what matters
In the past 10 days we’ve both been away from the boat which has given valuable time for reflection. Reflection about what really matters. Living and working afloat as we do provides two key essentials that are reaffirming and invaluable – choice and freedom. To be free to go and help instantly where and whenContinue reading “Reflections on what matters”
Teamwork triumphs
Solutions to what may seem insurmountable odds come in multiple guises and so often the answers lie in the shared endeavour of teamwork. It’s true in physical and academic endeavours; in engineering and business. Teams are valued in the real world but often not appreciated in Higher Education – at least by student team membersContinue reading “Teamwork triumphs”
Sestercentennial journey and multiple lessons
Six months ago we started travelling the 46 miles of the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal. This week, 250 years after it was first opened, we finally completed its 43rd lock and passed under its final bridge. It has been a fascinating lesson in history, geography and England. As slow travel goes this is probably aContinue reading “Sestercentennial journey and multiple lessons”
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