A new year, a new start and a new month – January named after Janus as my erudite cousin Liz reminded me. Janus was the Roman god of transitions, whose two faces were both reflecting and looking forward. It’s easy to reflect on the calm of the inland waterways (until you meet another boat atContinue reading “Slow is the only way to go”
Tag Archives: alternative living
Gratitude – the gift that gives
Io Saturnalia! Happy Solstice! and almost Merry Christmas! Are you ready – wi These significant festivals begin this week with the official start of winter. It marks a time of ending and beginning, launches a time of taking stock, counting our blessings if you will, and being grateful – all of which done positively isContinue reading “Gratitude – the gift that gives”
Our Plan B to party on
Christmas demands planning, and despite Omicron, Delta and other Covid-associated variants, it looks like bubbles this year will be mainly alcoholic! Living afloat Christmas demands decision making not just on what presents to make/buy, what shopping to do or who is cooking what. We’ve both had both our jabs and our boosters and our fluContinue reading “Our Plan B to party on”
Iced up and frozen solid
What a week – snow, ice, frozen ropes, rain, fieldfares, owls, kingfishers and fantastic community spirit. Living afloat on England’s inland waterways makes us much more aware of that archetypal English conversation staple – the weather. We live in it much more than we did amid bricks and mortar. Winds buffet the boat, sometimes gently,Continue reading “Iced up and frozen solid”
Taking nothing for granted; blood, sweat and an end to washing our dirty linen in public
This time last year we were in the midst of Lockdown 2, wondering whether Christmas would be a time we could share the presence of loved ones which was the greatest present we wished for. Since then the world has moved on, and in some ways we have learned to live with a pandemic. Vaccinations,Continue reading “Taking nothing for granted; blood, sweat and an end to washing our dirty linen in public”
Silver linings and a reminder of what really matters
I know that many people working from home have found themselves viewing their home differently – some despairingly but many positively, learning about their home and community in a different way. I’ve had a new experience of our home this week too. I don’t do ill very often – I think the last time wasContinue reading “Silver linings and a reminder of what really matters”
Winter’s coming so we’re planning and ham-ming it up!
The first frost arrived this week hard on the heels of the clock change, and a need to have the fire lit more often now to keep us cosy. The frost caught me by surprise meaning the early exit the dog and I make through the stern hatch turned into farce. The hatch was frozenContinue reading “Winter’s coming so we’re planning and ham-ming it up!”
Effective communication
Just as in business, education and let’s be honest any relationship – it’s not all plain sailing on the canals, and communication, or rather miscommunication, is at the heart of most issues. This working week has been a sorting week for us – getting on with jobs that have been outstanding, prepping the boat forContinue reading “Effective communication”
After a year of trying – we can’t go on
A year ago as the second lockdown loomed in England in the face of the Covid pandemic, we were on the idyllic 22 lock-free miles of the Ashby Canal for the first time. Our intention was to sit out the lockdown in a Marina, namely the Bosworth Marina, and then make our way to theContinue reading “After a year of trying – we can’t go on”
A memorable week – was yours?
Last week for us was yet another crammed with memorable moments. It makes me realise that it’s not possessions or work but people and events that make most of our important memories. What memories will you keep from last week? We came to London to run a marathon and that’s just what Steve did. WeContinue reading “A memorable week – was yours?”
Pickingupducks 