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”
Tag Archives: nature
Enjoying a final flourish
It’s here, and it feels wonderful to embrace autumn, particularly this year after the long dry spring and summer, that turned everything to dust. Living and working on a boat brings nature and the changes of seasons to you in a way that living in bricks and mortar cannot. We are in and out intoContinue reading “Enjoying a final flourish”
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”
New faces and new places
A lot can change in a week. People, scenery, nature, and weather can all be feelgood (or depressing) factors, but this week they’ve been positives. As the countryside unfurled from flat fields to rolling hills ahead of us, and white horses cut in chalk have appeared alongside the boat, we have continued to make ourContinue reading “New faces and new places”
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)”
Reflections on many, many things!
Happy Easter everyone! I was delighted to be near this boat this week in a bit of serendipitous mooring! Hire boats packed with multigenerational holiday makers are evident on the waterways this week, which is great to see. As Boatdog and I passed a moored one we heard a small girl being reassured by herContinue reading “Reflections on many, many things!”
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”
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!”
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”
Fear, fright, lessons and brutality
How’s your week been? Mine’s been a week of uplifting new experiences, valuable lessons, fear and sheer brutality. I’m one of many people who suffer from acrophobia – a fear of heights. My knees wobble, I feel faint and sick at heights, my heart races, and I get short of breath. School friends still rememberContinue reading “Fear, fright, lessons and brutality”
Pickingupducks 