This is the run-up to Christmas in our family – four birthdays in rapid succession, then barely a pause before the festive season presents take over our thoughts. It is a time that, for many, can literally make or break how they manage financially for the next 6 months, at least. Black Friday, that AmericanContinue reading “Going for a festive make or break?”
Tag Archives: boatlife
Go slow and say no for a better life
We move slowly through life living and working on a narrowboat, but we get as much if not more done than we used to, at a fraction of the stress. Our stresses are perhaps different, but the pace at which we approach and deal with them appears to make that difference. I am particularly awareContinue reading “Go slow and say no for a better life”
Fraud, dripping and fraught navigation
Ey up mi duck – we made it! If you read last week’s update we’ve completed the first part of Plan C. We’ve donned our life jackets (all 3 of us) and hurtled down the Trent before Storm Ashley sends it back into flood, and executed a sharp left turn from the river onto theContinue reading “Fraud, dripping and fraught navigation”
Building resistance while getting scuppered
Our coddiwompling is coming to an end for a while as winter draws near. It is possibly my favourite season living afloat and we’ve decided to try something new this year. For the first time, we’ve determined to try staying in one place for the winter months near our family. A couple of weeks agoContinue reading “Building resistance while getting scuppered”
If you think it’s worth it – give it a go!
Well we made it – we scraped the profile gauge that was supposed to be the indicator of whether we would get through the lowest openly navigable tunnel on the inland waterway network, but thought it was worth a try. If you think it’s worth it – give it a go – seems a worthyContinue reading “If you think it’s worth it – give it a go!”
New waters and nerve-wracking decisions
A change of scene does us all good, as boaters know only too well. This week we’ve begun exploring the Caldon, somewhere we’ve wanted to travel for the past five years. Problems with locks and water levels have stopped us until now, but now we are here. The Canal takes off from the Trent &Continue reading “New waters and nerve-wracking decisions”
Never take life for granted
Like the English weather, we were reminded this week that life can turn on its head in a split second or even be extinguished as fast. Four years ago this week, we sold up, moved life and work onto a 50ft narrowboat saying: “We’ll try this for two years and see how it goes.” We’reContinue reading “Never take life for granted”
Taking a break
These are the weeks of the year I find hardest. This year, they seem harder than ever after so many joyous moments that have been missed by those I’ve lost. Moments they would have loved to have been part of. We lost them all in different years but all in August. I find myself thinkingContinue reading “Taking a break”
What next? Where next? And How?
It’s been steaming this past week on the canal in more ways than one. Met up with steam-powered narrowboat Tixall on her way from Audlem to the River Weaver, and of course there’s been the heat from the weather, let alone a furnace producing steam! We’re starting August in a strange place in more waysContinue reading “What next? Where next? And How?”
A new POV on a floating life
What an amazing fortnight it’s been – a joyous wedding in glorious sunshine of our youngest daughter and the gaining for us of a wonderful son-in-law. The bringing together of so many friends and four generations of family from all over the globe, some we haven’t see for years, and many who haven’t seen eachContinue reading “A new POV on a floating life”
Pickingupducks 