We’re back on the move, with this week encapsulating the variety of life afloat on the inland waterways of Great Britain. In five days we’ve travelled 28 miles up 42 locks. We’ve moored in a city (surprisingly quiet considering we were alongside university student accommodation), outside a village (peaceful) and in the middle of fieldsContinue reading “Sometimes you just have to move on…”
Tag Archives: boatsthattweet
Biophilia indoors is bringing evident benefits
One of the most popular and most watched episodes of Grand Designs was that of woodsman Ben Law, handbuilding his cruck-framed home in the Sussex woodland he manages. The thought he put into making the wood the centrepiece of his incredible home and the care with which he handcrafted every element appealed not just toContinue reading “Biophilia indoors is bringing evident benefits”
A week of Ws
Work. Wood. Wall cupboards. Work. Weirs. Waiting. Wallpaper and a bit more Work. That’s our week – how’s your week been? This weekend, we will be getting the wall cupboards and the final work done on the kitchen – thanks, Ben. It’s been a week of sanding, oiling, seriously admiring and stroking the tactile curvesContinue reading “A week of Ws”
Handcrafted beauty and making a stand against the U.S.A.
Glorious weekend weather, a talented and hard-working carpenter (with serious muscles), and an accessible hard-standing towpath have made a massive difference to our life afloat this past week. We now have the bulk of a beautiful, bespoke kitchen plus dining area, crafted from oak, maple, black walnut, and beech. The sun (and there has been someContinue reading “Handcrafted beauty and making a stand against the U.S.A.”
Living Jenga = excitement & chaos
Older boats are like older houses. You start one job and another 6 make an appearance. They also demand because of their dimensions that doing work anywhere affects another area because everything has to move to produce working space. This week is a major milestone aboard Preaux, a week when we are making another massiveContinue reading “Living Jenga = excitement & chaos”
It’s time for clearing the decks – are you?
Spring’s sorting out is going on all around us. Many birds are busy nesting, female ducks are once more putting their lives at risk as the mating season begins (males can and often do drown the females if they mate in the water), buds are busily forming on shrubs and trees, and early bulbs areContinue reading “It’s time for clearing the decks – are you?”
A Lover-ly time to be afloat
This week has seen a flurry of red roses, cards with hearts, and lots of soppy messages on social media. For many, it brightened the gloom of this often dreary time of the year. For others, I recognise it’s depressing or underlines loneliness, and for some it’s all hype and unnecessary. It made me thinkContinue reading “A Lover-ly time to be afloat”
Our new super power!
This week has seen the single biggest revolution in our off grid life. Our 50ft floating home/office/workshop, since we bought her 7 years ago, has been powered by 3 lead acid Albion leisure batteries. Initially, they were charged by running the engine, and they in turn powered the items we need – lights, laptop, mobileContinue reading “Our new super power!”
Eowyn and epitaphs this week
Another storm…another natural disaster for much of the UK. As Storm Eowyn raged we have been away worrying about our boat remotely from down on the South West coast, and once more we are so grateful for the support of the boating community. This time, as winds howled and waters rose, we were on theContinue reading “Eowyn and epitaphs this week”
Everything you ever wanted to know…and some you didn’t!
We seem to be a novelty after the floods have abated here in this part of Leicestershire. It is one of the lovely things we find about narrowboat living – people are curious about how we live because it’s a bit different. Additionally, we can often be found outside alongside or easily available sitting outContinue reading “Everything you ever wanted to know…and some you didn’t!”
Pickingupducks 