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…”
Tag Archives: boatlife
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”
Bag bottoms and historic Arms
Blindgötu, cul-de-sac, sackgasse, the bottom of a bag – dead end doesn’t sound an attractive proposition whatever the language (Icelandic, French and German as well as English here). To reach a dead end means you’re not making any progress, you’re unlikely to succeed, but this week, dead ends have literally been our focus. Heading somewhereContinue reading “Bag bottoms and historic Arms”
Want a win win win win situation? (and probably more wins too)
“volunteer (vɒləntɪəʳ) (countable noun) A volunteer is someone who does work without being paid for it, because they want to do it.” We’ve had 3 win win days this week – wins for us, wins for the environment and wins (we hope) for Canal and River Trust, the charity that looks after most of the inland waterways we travelContinue reading “Want a win win win win situation? (and probably more wins too)”
Fragile but vital reminders
It’s been a week of remembering, celebrating and feeling immense gratitude. Victory in Europe 80 years ago spoke of peace, an end to fear and suffering, of hope for all. It has added poignancy today as it appears some individuals and some nations have moved away from recognising the courage and strength required to beContinue reading “Fragile but vital reminders”
Swanning about at work, and life
Monday mornings when you live on a canal are rarely heart-sinking events as they can be in conventional life, but this Monday brought a real heart-stopping, breath-holding moment. From our dining table, desk, and workspace this week we’ve been able to see a swan nest, piled high with broken reeds by the pair of muteContinue reading “Swanning about at work, and life”
Travelling in the footsteps and hoofprints of history
1805. Admiral Lord Nelson told his men that England expected them to do their duty as they approached the combined French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar, knowing many would lose their lives. As the smoke of cannons cleared, it was apparent the smaller fighting fleet of the British had triumphed, although 5,000Continue reading “Travelling in the footsteps and hoofprints of history”
Pickingupducks 