More than 50 years ago Robert Aickman, co-founder of the Inland Waterways Association compiled the original list of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Waterways.’ With our descent of the Caen Hill a flight last Saturday we have now travelled through or along each of these, and we would take issue with Aickman on several ofContinue reading “National wonders or damp squibs?”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
New faces and new places
A lot can change in a week. People, scenery, nature, and weather can all be feelgood (or depressing) factors, but this week they’ve been positives. As the countryside unfurled from flat fields to rolling hills ahead of us, and white horses cut in chalk have appeared alongside the boat, we have continued to make ourContinue reading “New faces and new places”
Is this trip a stage too far?
Is this the journey that’s going to finish us? We turned onto the Kennet and Avon, aiming to head through Berkshire, Wiltshire, and then to Avon. We have now been on the canal for two weeks, and only now are we feeling we might survive it. Never have we shouted at each other so muchContinue reading “Is this trip a stage too far?”
Free-floating anxiety management
It doesn’t matter how many times you launch yourself into new ventures, there is always a frisson of fear, an nagging anxiety, concern over what might happen (even when you know you have prepared, even over-prepared for every eventuality). There are those nights of unsettled sleep, butterflies in the stomach, irritability, and edginess. It’s theContinue reading “Free-floating anxiety management”
Messing about on the River…
Let your boat of life be light, packed with only what you need – a homely home and simple pleasures, one or two friends, worth the name, someone to love and someone to love you, a cat, a dog, and a pipe or two, enough to eat and enough to wear, and a little moreContinue reading “Messing about on the River…”
Taking a break this week
We’ve both spent time with family this week. Being useful in different parts of the country at different times and also separately enjoyed time alone on the boat – a rare treat for the Skipper. Normal service will be resumed next week, and hopefully, by then, we shall be taking you with us on theContinue reading “Taking a break this week”
Surviving a heatwave in a tin can
We’re in a heatwave. A time when living and working in a metal box doesn’t always seem the best idea. It is also a time when social media and crowd intelligence/experience comes into its own. People are quick to share what’s worked for them, from draping cold wet towels over windows to setting up pumpsContinue reading “Surviving a heatwave in a tin can”
Don’t miss opportunities for success
You have to see it, to believe you can be it, they say, and in education and careers that is so true. It was brought home to me this week at one of the best inaugural professorial lectures I have attended (and I’ve been to a fair few). Probably one of the worst photos I’veContinue reading “Don’t miss opportunities for success”
Lemonading through
If life gives you lemons they say – don’t be sour – make lemonade! Or as Monty Python would have it ‘Always look on the bright side of life’. This week we had every opportunity to get miserable, fed up and utterly despondent. Our goals were being thwarted every turn it appeared. We left theContinue reading “Lemonading through”
We all need to put more effort in
Comedian Chris McCausland got us thinking this week that we all really could benefit from making more of an effort at living (that doesn’t mean doing something big like say ballroom dancing, although if that’s your thing – dance away – Voltaire would approve!). An antidote to pretension at the Hay Festival, where we sawContinue reading “We all need to put more effort in”
Pickingupducks 