Tag Archives: journey

Coming, going and an invitation for you

It’s been looking a lot like Christmas this week. The on/off flood situation continues and water remains an issue both around and in the boat.  And Christmas is edging nearer. Last weekend saw our annual four generational family meal, which the boating community made easier. The river was rising as Boatdog (in a coat toContinue reading “Coming, going and an invitation for you”

Soar-ing deep, high and demanding

In one of his 43 poems – yes, 43 – about the life of a river, Ted Hughes observes: The winter floods have ruined her. She squats between draggled banks, fingering her rags     and rubbish.” And so it is as the flood waters drop on a river leaving debris hanging from overhanging branches andContinue reading “Soar-ing deep, high and demanding”

Unexpected celebrity status plus unscheduled drama

For the first time the passage of our 50ft floating home (plus office,studio, and workshop) along inland waterways in sub zero temperatures made a man dash out onto his balcony in just his dressing gown to see us. Despite his fetching black and white striped gown with bare legs and just slippers he must haveContinue reading “Unexpected celebrity status plus unscheduled drama”

Feather-brained queuing

Farewell October 2025, month of queues! The drought and hot weather of the past two years has led to an historic shortage of water in Britain’s canals and the reservoirs that feed them. It was the driest spring since 1893 according to the Met Office, and much of the country was steadily declared in droughtContinue reading “Feather-brained queuing”

Au revoir

Finally we bid farewell to the Grand Union main line and turn back on the Leicester Line. How far we shall get with water shortages remains to be seen, but we are about 14th in the queue for Watford Locks. They are due to reopen at 10am on Monday for just a week, all beingContinue reading “Au revoir”

Belonging as boat people and walking with royalty

How long does it take to put down roots, to feel a sense of belonging, to feel part of a community? Being a nomad, I reckon a couple of days often does it for me, but I am aware it’s different for each individual. For the first time for a very long time, we haveContinue reading “Belonging as boat people and walking with royalty”

Small matters

Living and working afloat is rich in small moments. Small things that make days special. Small moments of pause. Small moments of reflection. Small moments of calm or small moments of excitement and drama. I believe we have more of these revitalising moments every day than we did when we lived in bricks and mortar.Continue reading “Small matters”

Steeling ourselves for the future

Trust is vital when you let someone cut out a chunk of your floating home with an angle grinder while you’re on the water… Trust we had but I still feel glad the dramatic work is over, and we are still afloat! It was something that had to happen. So why did we need toContinue reading “Steeling ourselves for the future”

By narrowboat to America for world guidance

Travelling to the United States of America by narrowboat is not something I ever thought we would be able to do, but this summer, we did just that. We travelled down the River Thames to the Berkshire/Surrey border, moored our boat home with the help of a handy English oak, and set off on footContinue reading “By narrowboat to America for world guidance”