Next Monday is Candlemas Day, a day traditionally of long range weather prediction, pancakes and of course, candles. Weather lore is more than folklore, but based on sensory observations over many years, changes in temperature, smell, sounds and sights. If Candlemas Day be fair and bright Winter will have another fight.(In other words there isContinue reading “Signs, symbols and significance”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Inspiring new beginnings amid the winds of change
How rapidly things change for us, and not just river levels! Last week we were awaiting the arrival of a grandchild. He finally arrived in the early hours of a Tuesday morning, a big lad whose arrival proved very uncomfortable for himself and his poor mum. Both are, we believe, recovering. He looks gorgeous andContinue reading “Inspiring new beginnings amid the winds of change”
Out of control
This has been a week of waiting. Waiting with anticipation and a little anxiety for a baby to arrive; waiting for the threatened rain and more flooding after things had begun to subside; waiting for news of the Skipper’s mum who was taken by ambulance to hospital; waiting for a damp proof course to cureContinue reading “Out of control”
Displacement activity including another named storm
This Storm Goretti, aka Storm Spaghetti as a certain 8-year old dubbed it this week has kept us guessing. We had a warning of “significant snowfall” so someone was expecting a snow day of making snowmen and sledging (as were his teachers). They weren’t the only ones severely disappointed when the snow failed to materialiseContinue reading “Displacement activity including another named storm”
Live your dream
Many of us start a new year with a reflective look back at the old, but for us circumstances have resulted in a rather further look back than usual. With a new grandchild very imminent we are back in the area where we started our narrowboat living journey over 5 years ago, and that hasContinue reading “Live your dream”
What to do when the only certainty is uncertainty
2025 has been been a dramatic year living afloat on the inland waterways. It started on New Year’s Day with a large breach of the Bridgewater canal at Little Bollington in Cheshire, a breach which is still being repaired. It ends with a dramatic breach on the Llangollen Canal near Whitchurch. Luckily neither of theseContinue reading “What to do when the only certainty is uncertainty”
Wishing you a very Happy Christmas from all of us aboard nb Preaux
Coming, going and an invitation for you
It’s been looking a lot like Christmas this week. The on/off flood situation continues and water remains an issue both around and in the boat. And Christmas is edging nearer. Last weekend saw our annual four generational family meal, which the boating community made easier. The river was rising as Boatdog (in a coat toContinue reading “Coming, going and an invitation for you”
Panto not pants living and working afloat in winter (Oh yes it is!)
Oh yes it has, oh no it hasn’t, been one of those weeks! Seems appropriate as Christmas and panto season is arriving with alarming alacrity. Having cancelled our floating trading licence after the weather conspired against me continuously in 2023-4, this year I have focused on land-based markets, and this week was the first. LikeContinue reading “Panto not pants living and working afloat in winter (Oh yes it is!)”
Soar-ing deep, high and demanding
In one of his 43 poems – yes, 43 – about the life of a river, Ted Hughes observes: The winter floods have ruined her. She squats between draggled banks, fingering her rags and rubbish.” And so it is as the flood waters drop on a river leaving debris hanging from overhanging branches andContinue reading “Soar-ing deep, high and demanding”
Pickingupducks 