It’s been a dramatic week. From wet and muddy to a pollution incident. emergency evacuation, danger to life levels, and ice. Monday began with grandson’s school being closed on the first day back from the Christmas holidays because not enough staff could get in through flooded or snowy roads. This is a benefit of beingContinue reading “Flood, evacuation & freeze”
Tag Archives: boatsthattweet
Positives and planning- 2025 in a nutshell
The highlight of a wonderful week away surrounded by our amazing family was being able to cook for a crowd (I forgot how much I loved doing that, what a gesture of love it is to be the cook for lots of people special to you.) I’ve not had the chance on the boat toContinue reading “Positives and planning- 2025 in a nutshell”
Goodbye and farewell
Looking back it’s been a year of significant difference for us and also one of new opportunities. We started 2024 on the Ashby Canal, headed onto the Coventry, Trent and Mersey, Bridgewater and Leeds and Liverpool. Through the late Spring and early summer, we had 3 months stationary in one place (thanks CRT for yourContinue reading “Goodbye and farewell”
Diverse perspectives are invaluable to keep us all afloat
We have been on our first winter mooring for near a fortnight now, and strangely, it doesn’t seem anywhere near that long. There has been much to do for work and family as well as the many additional tasks that Storms Bert and Conall have created for boat dwellers and many others. How time fliesContinue reading “Diverse perspectives are invaluable to keep us all afloat”
Tenterhooks, astonishment and unbelievable fortune
Setting a goal and being thwarted can be a challenge. We’ve been thwarted many times in our aim to reach our first ever winter mooring, but last Saturday was the first chance for us to try and make the trip across and up a river to reach our spot – and we went for it.Continue reading “Tenterhooks, astonishment and unbelievable fortune”
Going for a festive make or break?
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?”
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”
Poo from Peru and centuries of waste recycling
Industrial discoveries are remarkable. Recycling and world trade are nothing new. We were reminded of these this week. Poo from Peru was just one of a Staffordshire mill’s stock in trade until the 1970s. The gloriously named Shirley’s Etruscan Bone and Flint Mill has been in operation since 1857, and remains the last steam poweredContinue reading “Poo from Peru and centuries of waste recycling”
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”
Pickingupducks 