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”
Tag Archives: swans
Swanning about at work, and life
Monday mornings when you live on a canal are rarely heart-sinking events as they can be in conventional life, but this Monday brought a real heart-stopping, breath-holding moment. From our dining table, desk, and workspace this week we’ve been able to see a swan nest, piled high with broken reeds by the pair of muteContinue reading “Swanning about at work, and life”
Hopeful migration or staying put
Migration is in the news, it’s high on the political agenda. It fuels fierce and often aggressive debate, but it is taxing my mind this week in what I think of as original, basic ways. The swallows, swifts, and house martins who were still evident swooping low above the water in front of the boatContinue reading “Hopeful migration or staying put”
The end of a year afloat and hardest blog to write
Exactly one year ago we sold most of our possessions, let our house and the two of us (plus the dog of course) moved to live full time on a 50ft long, 7ft wide narrowboat continuously cruising the waterways. Our adventure began at Sileby Mill in Leicestershire on the canalised section of the River Soar,Continue reading “The end of a year afloat and hardest blog to write”
Come spend a week afloat
“So what do you do all day?” people often ask when they hear we live on a narrowboat? Working and living afloat as continuous cruisers is different from having a holiday so here’s how the last week has looked to us. It is an unusual week in that we had the car for part ofContinue reading “Come spend a week afloat”
Slow way, small person way
Cruising with an energetic 3 year old is something we’ve avoided doing by ourselves – until now. Up to this point we have always had a seriously big family crew on board with the small person so there is a tillerman/woman, crew for locks and a child crew allocated at all times. Now he’s 3Continue reading “Slow way, small person way”
Future proofing for life
I don’t know who I’m working for. I only know the effort I am now putting into living differently is hard work, but I can see some instant benefits, and that is encouraging, reaping rewards encourages increased action. I recognise it isn’t enough to work towards my own future, or that of my children orContinue reading “Future proofing for life”
Pickingupducks 