tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41565123416585826102024-03-14T07:51:40.294+00:00The Real Life of a Narrowboat WifeParenting and freelance blogging on the UK canals.Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.comBlogger387125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-61587762505536706812018-04-06T15:57:00.001+01:002018-04-06T16:12:46.167+01:00[Video] Narrowboats: Is it Cold in Winter?<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 5pt 0cm;">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CWsUVAl9o0I/WseOXNRoRDI/AAAAAAAAPi8/FPAt7btdZrEy0faK6KEzN_1X4CSkhZCaACLcBGAs/s1600/Lina_FAQ.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="358" height="173" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CWsUVAl9o0I/WseOXNRoRDI/AAAAAAAAPi8/FPAt7btdZrEy0faK6KEzN_1X4CSkhZCaACLcBGAs/s200/Lina_FAQ.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">What's it like living on a boat? Is it cold in winter? How much does a narrowboat cost?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">These are common questions when living on a narrowboat. Sometimes there are silly questions too. At Easter I went to visit my friend Lina, and helped her to move her boat to a new mooring. I made a short film, just for fun, asking her some of the common questions we get asked about boats, and adding some of the sillier questions too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">I've blogged about Lina before; </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">"She was gentle and hippy, witty and funny, and her boats (there’ve been a few) are always full of candlelight and cats, the smell of wood-smoke and the sound of relaxing music. To be with her is like living in my favourite part of my brain. To share a bottle of wine in a country pub is to laugh relentlessly, listen intently and glow internally. I always come away feeling like a much bigger and better version of myself." </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/2012/11/jenny-from-lock.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Don’t be fooled by the boat that I got, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’m just Lina from the Lock.”</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/2012/11/jenny-from-lock.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></a>I hope you enjoy meeting Lina here, and seeing some of the countryside around Banbury.</div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "cambria";">(Music by UK rock band <a href="http://cleanerband.com/" target="_blank">Cleaner</a>.)</span></div>
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These are all actual questions Lina and I have been asked about living aboard.</h3>
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Do you live on a canal boat? What questions have you been asked about your lifestyle? Leave me a comment below!</h3>
Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-47825797434796533342018-02-02T10:30:00.003+00:002018-02-02T10:42:31.928+00:00"Beautifully written. Warm, funny and charming."<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"More! More!! Wonderful. Beautifully written. Warm, funny and charming. I do however have to put you on notice that I shall be pinching that Mark Twain quote!"</blockquote>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M7etvdyJYH8/TeyEtHAnCPI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/RQx4K7n-IA4kF-Nq2kK90AcBGOWIH2euQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Boat-Wife%2Bwriting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M7etvdyJYH8/TeyEtHAnCPI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/RQx4K7n-IA4kF-Nq2kK90AcBGOWIH2euQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Boat-Wife%2Bwriting.jpg" /></a></div>
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That was the <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/2010/07/angel-islington-to-uxbridge.html" href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/2010/07/angel-islington-to-uxbridge.html" target="_blank">first ever comment on my blog</a>, when I tentatively put my writing "out there" for the very first time.<br />
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The blog was originally my friend Star's idea. She sent me a text in the summer of 2010 saying 'I'm just reading 'Agent Pegworth - Licensed to Cruise'. Why don't you write poetry anymore?'</div>
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I replied,</div>
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'Because I'm writing my memoir The Real Life of a Narrowboat Wife!'</div>
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She wrote, </div>
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'That's brilliant! You should start a blog called that - you might get a book deal, like that chick <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.wifeinthenorth.com/" href="http://www.wifeinthenorth.com/">Wife in the North!'</a></div>
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I was about to retort with how unlikely it is that I could become one of these 'blogs to riches' stories whilst also being a hypnotic-motherin-multi-tasking maniac, but then I stopped myself. After all, you've got to be in it to win it. So I put My Real Life on the inter-web. For all to see. Since then my readers have described me as constant, addictive, intrinsic, perceptive, lyrical, tranquil and super! (comments on<a data-cke-saved-href="http://narrowboatwife.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-do-you-perceive-me-one-word-meme.html" href="http://narrowboatwife.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-do-you-perceive-me-one-word-meme.html"> this post</a>).<br />
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Through my blog I met dozens of other mummy bloggers and narrowboat bloggers, went to many blogging conferences, did online courses to make my blogging better, joined <a data-cke-saved-href="https://twitter.com/Boat_Wife" href="https://twitter.com/Boat_Wife" target="_blank">Twitter </a>and made a <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.facebook.com/NarrowboatWife/" href="https://www.facebook.com/NarrowboatWife/" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>! I also started a supportive online group for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/BoatFamilies/" target="_blank">Boat Families</a> which now has over 600 members. I ended up freelance blogging for a living, writing for several narrowboat businesses and charities, and began having articles published in the<a data-cke-saved-href="https://peggymelmoth.com/" href="https://peggymelmoth.com/" target="_blank"> waterways press</a>. I guess I actually was a "blogs to riches" story after all!<br />
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But I never wrote that book.<br />
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So this year I'm going to start sending you stories from my real life, stuff that I will turn into a book. Old blog posts that you can't remember, or maybe never read in the first place. If you like what I send you, you can share the article. Blog it, Facebook it, Tweet it and re-Tweet it. Start by sharing this article. And maybe, just maybe, your friends, sister's colleague's nephews wife works for the <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.penguin.co.uk/static/cs/uk/0/aboutus/aboutpenguin_publishingstructure.html" href="http://www.penguin.co.uk/static/cs/uk/0/aboutus/aboutpenguin_publishingstructure.html">people who published Wife in the North</a>, and they are looking for another quirky mother's memoir right now...</div>
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To receive an article once a month <a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/p/free-ebook-narrowboat-families.html" target="_blank">sign up here</a>, and I'll also send you the free e-book, <b>Narrowboat Families. </b><br />
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And if you have an idea, a creative idea, to write a blog, or a book, or create something new, and you're tempted to think that it could never be a success. Stop. Begin it. Do that thing. Because you never know where it could take you.</div>
Lotsa love from,<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ys6QpWmc05Q/Uoj8AYXP4lI/AAAAAAAABM4/iI9V24RIH0IY9QDba6DYKYjWXOVXcr0oACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Peggy%2Bsignature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="363" height="175" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ys6QpWmc05Q/Uoj8AYXP4lI/AAAAAAAABM4/iI9V24RIH0IY9QDba6DYKYjWXOVXcr0oACPcBGAYYCw/s200/Peggy%2Bsignature.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Peggy<br />Blogger, artist, narrowboater.</strong></span></span>Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-64554665009061002012017-06-06T10:56:00.001+01:002017-06-06T10:59:15.062+01:00This ONE Creative Trick Will Make Your Business Stand Out<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-InF85vXhb1o/WTZ55lbG9kI/AAAAAAAAKYs/9s-0iqG49H4d8DLCkyzAeH-D4R5a5vTowCLcB/s1600/Janes%2Blogo%2Bpink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="380" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-InF85vXhb1o/WTZ55lbG9kI/AAAAAAAAKYs/9s-0iqG49H4d8DLCkyzAeH-D4R5a5vTowCLcB/s200/Janes%2Blogo%2Bpink.jpg" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Logo: Bags by Jane</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px;">What does your Facebook cover image say about you? If you have a business page on Facebook you have only a few seconds to grab attention, stand out from the crowd and show potential customers a little taste of your unique personality. That's where a low-cost art commission can really make you stand out.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px;">I've recently added art commissions to my services for business owners. I have a degree in animation and have been creating Facebook logos and cover images for various narrowboat businesses, and roving traders such as Mark the Diesel Wizard, Ronni the Witchcrafter and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bagsbyjane/" target="_blank">Bags by Jane</a>.</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1496741190685_29968" style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1496741190685_29971" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 14px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1496741190685_29970" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">Look now: <a href="http://narrowboatwife.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=dd001a3641e49c46f347b0126&id=6cb47633b7&e=b2a79e2c8d" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1496741190685_29969" rel="noreferrer" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background: transparent; color: #2baadf; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Peggy Pegworth's amazing online art gallery</a>!</span></span></span><br />
<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px;">I also create bespoke logos and artwork, such as illustrations, website images, social media images, wedding invitations, birthday gifts, and cartoons of your friends and family. <a href="https://peggypegworth.com/contact/" target="_blank">Contact me now</a> if you want to discuss an art commission for your business. Prices start at only £30. I am, of course, still freelance blogging too; Check out my latest articles for <a href="http://www.foxboats.co.uk/blog/" target="_blank">Fox Narrowboats.</a></span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1496741190685_31683" style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1496741190685_31682" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 14px;">Peggy<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" />xx</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 14px;"><b>PS</b>. Did you 'like' <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NarrowboatWife/" target="_blank">Narrowboat Wife on Facebook</a> yet? ;-)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l80SEfH1Sdk/WTZ6LTKeiVI/AAAAAAAAKZA/-Y4M004JWbMIE1R-BoN1SWt6uocm4r54QCLcB/s1600/Bags%2Bby%2BJane%2BPINK%2Bpng.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="828" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l80SEfH1Sdk/WTZ6LTKeiVI/AAAAAAAAKZA/-Y4M004JWbMIE1R-BoN1SWt6uocm4r54QCLcB/s400/Bags%2Bby%2BJane%2BPINK%2Bpng.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facebook cover: Bags by Jane</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-68865158292903337032017-02-24T14:45:00.000+00:002017-02-24T14:49:42.234+00:00Free e-book: Narrowboat Families<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have you ever wondered what it is like to live on a narrowboat with children? Is it cold in winter? What if the children fall in the water? All of your questions answered!</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hXGQlX1z9x8/Tww9U-8rzuI/AAAAAAAAAY4/bxdNG6SPMhYc8gq-6cDSzLRxsXZPWmRUwCPcB/s1600/Peggy%2Bsteering%2Bsmall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hXGQlX1z9x8/Tww9U-8rzuI/AAAAAAAAAY4/bxdNG6SPMhYc8gq-6cDSzLRxsXZPWmRUwCPcB/s320/Peggy%2Bsteering%2Bsmall.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/p/free-ebook-narrowboat-families.html" target="_blank">Yes please! Give me my e-book!</a></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/p/narrowboat-wife-shop.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></a></span></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">About the Author</span></span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
Hi,</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">My name is Peggy. I am a freelance</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> blogger, narrowboater, mother, and online teacher (at <a href="http://www.monetiseyourmp3s.com/" target="_blank">Monetise Your MP3s</a>).</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">After 13 years of living on a narrowboat I am now living in a cottage in Devon. Read more about that decision: <a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/2013/08/a-new-direction.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A new direction</a>. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">This blog is a three year archive packed with real life stories about my time spent living on a narrowboat with my husband and two young daughters. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">You could either dive in and read a random article, or grab yourself one of these <a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/p/narrowboat-wife-shop.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">free e-books</a> to find out more about narrowboat life. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">For freelance blogging services you can contact me through my <a href="http://peggymelmoth.com/about/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">professional website</a> or find me on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/Boat_Wife" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">@Boat_Wife </a>and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NarrowboatWife" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Peggy</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">x</span></div>
Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-51691043946455040012016-05-26T12:53:00.001+01:002016-05-26T12:53:11.789+01:00It's a Dog's Life on the Cut<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pFXMhaqjHFk/V0bihjQ_-RI/AAAAAAAAEh4/sFdnFMBpDCUvAmPZBsI6wUti_zEIFuzUwCLcB/s1600/20850058855_d177b9c197_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pFXMhaqjHFk/V0bihjQ_-RI/AAAAAAAAEh4/sFdnFMBpDCUvAmPZBsI6wUti_zEIFuzUwCLcB/s320/20850058855_d177b9c197_z.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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After many years of living aboard I have persuaded Neil and
<a href="http://www.uk-va.com/" target="_blank">Corinne </a>that it’s time a dog’s point of view was heard on the blog. As I’m sure
you are aware the idea of a ship’s cat is very outdated and everyone who’s
anyone on the canals now has a resident dog. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I generally let Neil and Corinne choose our travelling routes
providing that my meals and accommodation remain satisfactory. Every now and
then we stop at a railway station and I allow a small select group of humans to
join me on my next journey. When my guests arrive at the boat they tend to be a
little overwhelmed at how charming my boats are; painted deep red and decorated
with roses. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I make sure Corinne, Neil and the crew give the boats a
jolly good cleaning and tidying whilst the new guests drop their bags in to
their cabins and perhaps explore locally a little. Later we all like to have
afternoon tea, although I myself tend to choose something a little more meaty
from the menu, than just tea and cake. Actually at meal times the humans are
really quite sociable and seem to rather enjoy themselves. My personal chef, Corinne, of course provides
food to a four star standard for everyone on board.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the guests first arrive I sometimes wonder how we will
all get on, but they do usually tend to be quite lovely people and I can always
disappear to my own cabin if I need a little “me” time. (I have a double cabin
at the back of the motor boat, which I have agreed to share with Neil and
Corinne.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Both boats are 70 foot long narrowboats. Snipe has a diesel
engine and tows the butty boat Taurus which does not have an engine. Cruising at less than 4mph I love to feel the
wind in my hair. I like to sit in either
of the fore-decks as we travel, but I also do get a marvellous view of the
passing countryside when I sit on the roof. I see plenty of other dogs on the
towpath as I cruise by, and they must regard me with the utmost respect when
they see a dog with his own pair of traditional narrowboats. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
When the mood takes me I take a stroll on the towpath and
this helps me to check that the crew are operating the locks correctly. I do
love towpath walks, there are lots of exciting things to see and sniff. I just
have to look out for the occasional bike coming past. We pass quaint villages,
old bridges, sheep and cows. Sometimes we like to visit a cosy pub for a drink
and some food. Now and then the guests get off and go for a look round a local
town or place of interest, and I get to have the boats to myself for a while. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course the real benefit for the guests though is getting
to spend some quality time with a canal dog like me; the likes of which they
have probably never met before. One of our recent guests (also called Corinne)
came aboard my boats for her honeymoon. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Corinne and Neil live on board all year with their lovely
dog Bertie, he really is a lovely dog and such a sweet character. I had plenty
of cuddles with him which helped on days when I missed the boys and Daisy Dog!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From Corinne’s blog <a href="http://motherhoodjourneys.com/canal-voyagers-holiday">Motherhood Journeys</a>.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’d like to join me on one of my canal voyages why not
help yourself to a <a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Late-Availability----50-Cruising-Voucher.html?soid=1103416365838&aid=FHsrrZZ4z5o">£50
discount</a>*<span class="MsoHyperlink"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t paws for thought –
just do it!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bertie<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
xx<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>This post first appeared on the Canal Voyagers Hotel Boats blog and is re-published here in loving memory of Bertie P D Thomsett who sadly passed away 25/05/16.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Discount & canal voyages no longer available. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-82328603975597232122016-04-26T20:16:00.000+01:002016-04-26T20:22:48.753+01:00The Top 16 Narrowboat Bloggers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tpR6TeLkN2k/Vx-tjf1C-eI/AAAAAAAAEJY/3TE4EYExt1oZCSXxIK70yWDWhCH_i7OBgCKgB/s1600/BAOB-Narrowboat-Badge.small.png" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">A recent article from Boats and Outboards discusses why more and more people are thinking about <a href="http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/news/life-on-a-narrowboat/454#gMJLXGUJ5EblhZTP.97" target="_blank">living on a boat.</a> For some it's rising house prices, for others retirement, and some are looking for adventure!</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Because of this they've come up with a list of some of their favourite living on a </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">boat</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> bloggers, to help to answer some common questions about living on a narrowboat. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I'm happy to be listed among their <a href="http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/news/life-on-a-narrowboat/454#hHILS3P2U5YX1IZj.97" target="_blank">top bloggers! </a>Check out the other bloggers featured, for lots of different perspectives on living afloat. They have each provided a summary of what their blog is about and a section on what they enjoy about living on a boat. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Read more: <a href="http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/news/life-on-a-narrowboat/454#dRiCQcYgGLUhDtHK.97">Boats and Outboards Top Narrowboaters</a></span></span></div>
Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-4658794589601096462014-12-22T13:00:00.000+00:002014-12-22T13:00:01.194+00:00The #Narrowboat Wife Guide to Reinventing Yourself After #Divorce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_BRNWaWBguI/VIXJoTRNbuI/AAAAAAAABX4/a2SxyzOJrDM/s1600/Happiness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_BRNWaWBguI/VIXJoTRNbuI/AAAAAAAABX4/a2SxyzOJrDM/s1600/Happiness.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
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When life hands you lemons you’re supposed to make lemonade
right? After thirteen years as a narrowboat girl I had no idea what I was going
to reinvent myself as. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘The Narrowboat Ex
Wife Who Lives in a Cottage in Devon But Still Writes Several Narrowboating
Blogs’</i> was just too long for a new blog title.</div>
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So I started a completely different blog about how to take
charge of your life and take care of your soul after a break-up. There’s no
such thing as five guaranteed shortcuts for moving on in record time, but if
there was then I might put these five beauties on the list: </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. Let it Go</span></div>
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For a while I was practicing <a href="http://seachange.zenhabits.net/" target="_blank" title="Letting go with Zen Habits">‘letting go’</a> and one of the most
important things I noticed was that I needed to let go of the idea of being my
‘best self’ all of the time. Holding on to that idea didn’t allow me to make
mistakes, or to learn from my mistakes.</div>
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Can you accept that you’re a person who makes mistakes? What
idea could you let go of, just for today? It may be <a href="http://reinventyourself101.com/2013/12/23/the-easiest-way-to-forgive-yourself/" target="_blank">the easiest way to forgive yourself.</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. Have a Perfect Day</span></div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Earlier this year I had a perfect
day. I didn’t know it was going to be perfect but I did hope that it would be
good. I started the day by sticking a post-it note on the bathroom mirror that
said, ‘I love you.’ The second one said, <b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">‘How can I make you happy today?</span></b>
It made me cringe to do it and it makes me cringe to write it, because I’m
embarrassed by the thought of such airy-fairy new age love-yourself stuff.
After all, most people think that kind of thing doesn’t work, right?</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But I think that little thing made a
difference that day. <a href="http://reinventyourself101.com/2014/01/13/do-you-deserve-a-perfect-day/" target="_blank">Do you deserve a perfect day?</a></span></b><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. Meditate</span></div>
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</div>
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Have you tried meditation but just feel that you don’t
really ‘get it’? Do you sit there searching for a Zen-like calm but within
seconds you’re planning your shopping list or analysing the plot of last
night’s telly programme?</div>
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You are not alone!</div>
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I too am challenged in the Zen department! So I had to do
some research in to <a href="http://reinventyourself101.com/2014/03/31/meditation-for-people-who-cant-stop-thinking/" target="_blank">meditation techniques for people who just can’t stop thinking.</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. Make a Break-Up Bucket List</span></div>
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Last summer I discovered a great blog called <a href="http://thingstodoin2013.blogspot.co.uk/">The Break Up List</a>. When Ali
Burns’ nine year relationship ended, she made a list of things she’d been
meaning to do over the past few years but never quite found the time.</div>
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It has inspired hundreds of people to do similar and I was
just about to make my own, when I realised I already had one.</div>
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On New Year’s Eve I made a list of things to do in 2014 –
some big like go on holiday, go in a hot air balloon, and some small like drink
champagne, draw cartoons, and go swimming. I can’t believe how many of them I’ve
done already, in less than a year. I also can't believe how long number 45 is taking me! Check out my <a href="http://reinventyourself101.com/2014/06/24/the-break-up-bucket-list/">Break-Up
Bucket List</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. Reinvent Yourself in 10 Days</span></div>
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Being a complete self-help book junkie, and personal-development-addict,
it wasn’t long before I decided I should bundle up all of my reinventing
research into an <a href="http://reinventyourself101.com/free-e-course-i-like-what-i-get/" target="_blank">e-course</a> and give it away!</div>
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If you’re going through or have been through a bad break-up,
sticky separation or depressing divorce you could begin to reinvent yourself in 10 days
with my little course.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In just 10 days from now you could be on your way to more
health, wealth and happiness with a clearer idea of how to improve your
relationships and career.</div>
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<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Is your life is too busy for a personal
development course? </span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This very simple, very quick, e-course is the solution you
are looking for.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Are you ready to get what you want, and want
what you get?</span><br />
<h1>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://forms.aweber.com/form/76/1455075276.htm">Yes please! </a>I like the sound of that. (Click to sign up - your email is safe with me!)</span></span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">What sort of things have you tried when getting over a break-up, separation or divorce? </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></h1>
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Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-51923044141767498672014-12-09T21:11:00.000+00:002014-12-09T21:11:29.629+00:00The Secret Waterways That Nobody Tells You About (Except Amy @nbwillow)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WsgWobjVHC8/VIdjB9nZRuI/AAAAAAAABYI/n0skJkrYoYc/s1600/pretty-river-cruise-cambs-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WsgWobjVHC8/VIdjB9nZRuI/AAAAAAAABYI/n0skJkrYoYc/s1600/pretty-river-cruise-cambs-1.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
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When I think about places to go and canals to see I think of
the obvious holiday destinations: The idyllic Llangollen canal, the Norfolk Broads,
or the popular Kennet and Avon. If I want to explore a city navigation I
consider doing the London ring, or visiting Birmingham, which has more miles of
canals than Venice. I had lived on a narrowboat for years before I realised
that Cambridge and Ely are connected to the navigable canal network, via the East
Anglian Fen waterways! Not far from London there’s a whole other water-world out
there that nobody tells you about (except Amy, who blogs about <a href="http://severnerwillow.wordpress.com/2014/12/09/our-top-5-places-to-moor-in-the-fens/">living
aboard in Cambridge</a>!) </div>
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For a long time all I knew of the world of canals was
contained in the Nicholon’s canal guides, which don’t cover the Great Ouse, Cam
or Middle Level waterways. (However, a range of canal books, canal maps, Imray’s
canal guides, and DVDs for rivers including Middle Level, Ouse, and Nene are available
in <a href="http://www.foxboats.co.uk/canalboatshop/index.php">the Fox
Narrowboats online shop.</a> )</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OzuWcUeZ1eI/VIdjt5ZnGGI/AAAAAAAABYQ/xxxoiQcC14k/s1600/adam-henson-fenland-quotes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OzuWcUeZ1eI/VIdjt5ZnGGI/AAAAAAAABYQ/xxxoiQcC14k/s1600/adam-henson-fenland-quotes.jpg" /></a></div>
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The East of England waterways have been described as “a
hidden gem” by BBC Countryfile’s Adam Henson (pictured), perhaps because they offer
peaceful and idyllic countryside cruises, shopping and eating in Ely and
Cambridge, pretty walks, villages, churches,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>cosy pubs, and the steam trains of the Nene Valley Railway. If you’re
looking for uncrowded waters, beautiful little rivers, tourist attractions and
historical places to visit then you may just have discovered the waterways’
best-kept secret. </div>
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Imagine visiting the world famous Cambridge University and
the grand Ely Cathedral, by canal boat! En route you’ll discover wildlife and
wild flowers, traditional pubs and historic monuments. You can also visit St
Ives; the birth place of Oliver Cromwell, on the banks of the river Great Ouse,
and Oundle and Northampton.</div>
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When I find out about a waterway I haven’t heard of I always
want to go exploring! It’s like that Star Trek thing of boldly going beyond the
final frontier, except at three miles an hour, with a mug of coffee on the
roof. Don’t you think that boating is just the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">best</i> way to see England?!</div>
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If you’re canal-curious like me, check out <a href="http://www.foxboats.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Fox Narrowboats</a>, a warm, friendly, family
business offering narrowboat holidays and day boat hire in March,
Cambridgeshire. As you know, I no longer blog about boats and living aboard
here on Narrowboat Wife but if you want to read more about everything to do
with boats and canal-life then you will now find me blogging regularly for the <a href="http://www.foxboats.co.uk/blog/" rel="nofollow">Fox Narrowboats blog.</a> I’ve already
written; Three Things You Must Do When Visiting Cambridge, and How Winter
Threatens to Damage Your Narrowboat – Three Ways to Protect Yourself. </div>
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Come and see, and let me know what you think of the <a href="http://www.foxboats.co.uk/blog/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">new blog</a>!</div>
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<b><i>Disclosure</i></b><i>: This is a sponsored post for <a href="http://www.foxboats.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Fox Narrowboats</a>: Narrowboat Holidays and
Day Boat Hire. Check out their new blog to find out more about the Fens and get
boating tips, advice, stories and news.<a href="http://www.foxboats.co.uk/blog/" rel="nofollow">http://www.foxboats.co.uk/blog/</a></i><br />
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<![endif]-->Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-37805776963213737082013-09-09T13:30:00.000+01:002014-01-03T20:15:54.870+00:00Is it time to reinvent yourself?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-alUqF_dh6fY/UQ1IR_t3knI/AAAAAAAAA-0/3AfDq-lli_g/s1600/Take+time+to+dream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-alUqF_dh6fY/UQ1IR_t3knI/AAAAAAAAA-0/3AfDq-lli_g/s200/Take+time+to+dream.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">If you've been following my blog lately you'll know I've made some big, scary life changes and I must admit I'm having a slight identity crisis about who I am. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">Anyway, because of that I decided to begin working on an idea that I had a year ago. Have you ever had an idea that you really wanted to do, but were scared to do it in case other people didn't like it? What if people thought it was rubbish or corny? What if nobody came and nobody cared? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Droid Sans, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">13 years ago I was scared of living on a narrowboat. What if I was lonely? What if I didn't like it? And what if I loved it? 'What if?' has got a lot to answer for. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Droid Sans, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Droid Sans, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">So here's my idea.</span></span></h3>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">Positive thinking must always be followed by positive action. I use visualisation, inspiring quotations, lyrics, music, poetry, written exercises and self-hypnosis to <a href="http://reinventyourself101.com/" target="_blank">reinvent myself</a> and make things happen.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">I've started a new blog about that sort of thing. I've tried not to impose rules on myself about how often I will publish a post. I will just write when I've got something to say, something to share. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><a href="http://reinventyourself101.com/" target="_blank">Come on over</a> and see what you think. If you like the idea there's an option to sign up and receive updates by email. I honestly don't know what's coming up next, but that's part of the fun. Isn't it?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">When was the last time you <a href="http://reinventyourself101.com/" target="_blank">reinvented yourself?</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">What happened to me living on a narrowboat? <a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/2013/08/a-new-direction.html" target="_blank">Find out here.</a> </span>Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-70992801543991851152013-08-28T13:05:00.000+01:002013-08-28T13:05:00.078+01:00Living in a house<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SPW3ZcHJPpM/UgNcGA-xC6I/AAAAAAAABJI/QBo2wN9n2Hk/s1600/Fore+Street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SPW3ZcHJPpM/UgNcGA-xC6I/AAAAAAAABJI/QBo2wN9n2Hk/s320/Fore+Street.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since we moved into a house I’ve been feeling uneasy about
the town that we moved to. Is it because it’s the town I grew up in: The place
I escaped from when I headed off as an adventurous 18 year old, into the world?
It’s partly because it is a town. I’ve come from an idyllic little village
where the school-run was a short walk up a country lane that had wild flowers
tumbling from the banks either side of us, as the girls raced past on their
scooters. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is it because there are no familiar faces? The school gate mums, the
kind headmistress, the school secretary who lives opposite the school and knows
all the parents by our first names? What about my friends? After school there
would be coffee at the kitchen table with Feisty German Mum, or gin and tonic
in the garden with Internet Tycoon Dad; while our daughters leapt about on the
trampoline. I miss the evenings soaked in red wine with <a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/2012/11/jenny-from-lock.html" target="_blank">Jenny From the Lock</a>;
relaxing on her candle-lit boat while her cats commandeered half the sofa and
eyed me suspiciously.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This morning I took the girls up the road to the childcare
centre. This little corner of this little town is not unlike a village. The
main street is lined with old cottages and glimpses of woodland and fields are
visible in the gaps between the houses. We’re on the very edge of town, the sun shines
onto an uneven cobbled pavement and the church bells are chiming nine o’clock. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After I had dropped the girls off I realised what I was
afraid of. The house doesn’t move. It seems obvious, but it has been a subconscious
fear. What if I don’t like it here? I cannot untie my ropes, I can’t just move
up the Cut. The view from the window will always be the same. What if I’ve made
the wrong decision and need to change or move? <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
But this decision is not a final choice. It’s an experiment.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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“A bigger-picture perspective helps here. Experiments might
take months, or a year. That’s a tiny amount of time in the space of a
lifetime, and those bigger experiments are worth learning about.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://zenhabits.net/test/">Leo Babauta, Zen
Habits.</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-4442219898214989362013-08-23T13:05:00.000+01:002013-08-24T14:23:32.764+01:00Canal boating can be used as therapy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6r3OhR6NQj8/T_IXrN67lYI/AAAAAAAAAqM/U1zfAykG0ZQ/s1600/Peggy+steering+small.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6r3OhR6NQj8/T_IXrN67lYI/AAAAAAAAAqM/U1zfAykG0ZQ/s320/Peggy+steering+small.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">It’s weird but I
lived on a boat for absolutely years without knowing anything about the National
Community Boats Association or what they do. I like to keep in touch with
boating news through the Canal and River Trust, Towpath Talk, Facebook groups
and </span><a href="https://twitter.com/CommunityBoats" style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Twitter</a><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">I now enjoy writing a <a href="http://national-cba.com/">blog for the NCBA</a> and am planning to get
their news out to a wider audience. Because they are nationwide their news is
happening all over the country, and so are their training courses. They <span style="background: white;">support and represent inland waterways community
boating organisations. As well as boating skills and safety knowledge their
courses also include leadership, and management skills that will benefit
individuals and their communities. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="background: white;">When is a boat not a boat?</span></span></h4>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">The boating organisations that make
up the membership are on canals all over the country. They often own more than
one boat which are used within their local communities in a wide variety of
ways. For example: A floating classroom, a floating children’s home, and a
wooden boat restoration project. Boats can also be used for rehabilitation,
therapy, day trips for youth groups and wheel chair accessible holidays among
other things! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<h4>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Sail4Cancer</span></h4>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Sail4Cancer raise money to provide
respite for children, young people and families living with cancer. They
approached the NCBA last year for help in finding community boats to <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">provide inland boating trips for
young people affected by cancer. In the past they have sent people sailing, but
the minimum age for sailing is 14. Using canal boats they were able to provide
a <a href="http://blog.national-cba.co.uk/2013/05/29/sail4cancer-not-just-for-sailors/">boating
experience</a> for the 11 to 14 year age range.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BebIQfB-ix0/UhS60efmr2I/AAAAAAAABKE/mdFz6txWmSo/s1600/Facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="NCBA are on Facebook" border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BebIQfB-ix0/UhS60efmr2I/AAAAAAAABKE/mdFz6txWmSo/s200/Facebook.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<h4>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Gutless Kayaker</span></h4>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">More recently the NCBA have arranged
to provide a support boat for Justin Hansen, “the gutless kayaker”. Justin has had his intestines removed due to
Crohn’s disease. In just a few weeks he will be kayaking 420 miles from Skipton
in North Yorkshire to Bristol in the south west to raise funds for bowel cancer
research. (He <a href="http://blog.national-cba.co.uk/2013/08/08/gutless-kayaker-needs-another-boat/">needs
another support boat</a> if you have one available?!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">So, now you know, there is a lot more
going on around the waterways than you might have imagined! I love the way that
the NCBA promote the idea of “access for all”. Canal boating should not be
restricted just to those who can afford to own their own boat. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<h4>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Sharing</span></h4>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">On the blog I share boating news,
charity news, community news and inspiring stories of what people are getting
up to around the canal network. But today I’m really going for increasing our
profile on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NationalCBA">Facebook</a>. Please
give us a </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/NationalCBA" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(51, 153, 255);" target="_blank"><b><span style="background: white; color: #3779a8; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">like</span></b></a>,
share our status updates with your friends<span style="background: white;"> and
show your support for community boating. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Thanks!</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Peggy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-34546565672398032232013-08-21T13:00:00.000+01:002013-08-21T13:00:05.461+01:00Narrowboat Wife arrives in the 21st Century<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-64r2XWTx3-g/UgwKA75jjzI/AAAAAAAABJo/BZc-tHEDbXc/s1600/19+Fore+Street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-64r2XWTx3-g/UgwKA75jjzI/AAAAAAAABJo/BZc-tHEDbXc/s320/19+Fore+Street.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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For the first few days in the house I walked from room to
room, appreciating the space. The girls ran from room to room – up and down the
stairs, in and out of the back door, shrieking and giggling. I opened all the
cupboard doors in the kitchen, amazed at the amount of storage space. For the
first time in my life I ordered groceries online to be delivered to our
address. When the van driver arrived with a week’s worth of shopping it felt
like Christmas had come all at once!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have unlimited electric and water. For a few days I was
unsettled, suspecting there was something I’d forgotten to do. Then I realised:
I’d not run the engine! This was a daily essential on the boat, to recharge the
domestic batteries. We’ve also enjoyed powerful showers, and hot baths. The girls particularly like their new bunk beds. They've
also said they like having a bubble bath and going to the beach.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve discovered microwave cooking and I really appreciate
how easy and convenient it is. We don’t even have a washing machine or freezer
yet so there are still many aspects of modern life we have yet to try out. As a
boater I was always proud of how little we needed to be comfortable, we don’t
need as much as we think we do in society today. But I am now beginning to
admit that mod cons do make life easier, especially when you’re a mum! In the
future, when I have begun to take all this for granted, I hope that I can look
back on this time and appreciate that we live in luxury!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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I feel a little bit embarrassed when I don’t exactly know
how things work. The central heating and the boiler are still a mystery to me.
The gas company wanted to explain energy efficiency to me on the phone. All of
the light bulbs in the house are low energy ones. When I last lived ashore (13
years ago) I think light bulbs were the old fashioned sort as far as I
remember. Houses are different now. Everyone has WiFi internet streaming movies
and music, a gazillion TV channels and a TV that can pause and rewind. (We
don't have all that yet!)</div>
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<br /></div>
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The girls have been watching the movie <i>Annie</i> on our new DVD player. Annie is
taken from her orphanage home to spend a week with a billionaire at his
mansion. Perhaps that's why I have this annoyingly quirky tune in my head, <i>"I think I'm gonna like it here." <o:p></o:p></i></div>
</div>
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<i><br /></i>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_nM_-CFRBS8" width="420"></iframe>Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-57086513288258887622013-08-15T13:00:00.000+01:002013-08-15T13:00:01.506+01:00A new direction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Bii0aDxtLM/UgwEn_v5RUI/AAAAAAAABJY/OX3QbTC1M38/s1600/Rock-c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Bii0aDxtLM/UgwEn_v5RUI/AAAAAAAABJY/OX3QbTC1M38/s1600/Rock-c.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve needed to write this post for a while but there’s been
a bit of an argument going on in my head, where a part of me argues that I have
no right to write it here. How can I have no right to write on my own blog? It’s
what I call a ‘Blog Crisis’. When you write a personal blog you occasionally
ask yourself, what is this blog all about anyway? Why am I writing it?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started this blog to write about the real life of a
narrowboat wife. Everybody was always asking me “What is it like, bringing up
children on a narrowboat?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the last three years I’ve really enjoyed blogging to
answer that question and a lot more besides; blogging about live-aboard life,
and following my dreams. But the short answer is that living on a narrowboat
with kids is sometimes breathtakingly beautiful, and sometimes soul-crushingly
difficult. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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A number of factors have now come together to take our
family in a completely different direction. After thirteen years of living
aboard, four boats, two <a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/2011/03/managing-expectations.html" target="_blank">boat-baby home births</a> and one launch of a <a href="http://peggymelmoth.com/" target="_blank">boat-basedbusiness</a> we have left the Cut. Our beautiful <a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/2013_06_01_archive.html">70ft narrowboat is
for sale</a> and we have moved to a cottage in Devon to be nearer family. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In January 2013 I blogged this:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“While my family slept I used a mallet to free the gas
spanner from the frozen front deck. I tried and failed to change the gas bottle
and crouched in the soft, silent snow on the front deck in the deep, icy,
darkness crying real hot tears. I just wanted my family to be warm when they
woke up, and for my husband to be able to easily make a cup of tea. I was not
sure that boat life is still for me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I moved onto a boat in my late twenties when life was an
adventure lived mostly in pubs, and no children depended on me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Blog Crisis is simply the point at which I ask myself,
what will I write now? I’ll write about how it feels to relocate and change
your lifestyle, about what I notice as I begin to venture into 21<sup>st</sup>
century living after such a simple way of life afloat. I still have so many
narrowboat memories to share and I am still very much involved with the waterways
through my writing work and my friends. I’m also working on a book about our
life afloat. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But this blog has also been about following dreams. Like
Cathy from Wuthering Heights, <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I've dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever
after, and changed my ideas; they've gone through and through me, like wine
through water, and altered the colour of my mind.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These English waterways, the chipped and painted roses and
castles, the treasured ancient locks and bridges, the cheeky swans, ducks and
geese, the chugging engines, the smell of diesel and burning coal, the ripples
of sunshine reflecting on the inside of a cabin, and most of all those crazy,
adventurous, kind and wonderful people that live on the boats; they have all
gone through me like wine through water and altered the colours of my mind, my
life and my soul. I may be living in a house for now, but somehow I suspect
that if you snapped me like a stick of seaside rock to read the words that run
through my boiled-sugar core, it would say <i>Narrowboat Wife</i> through and through. </div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s become a part of who I am.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>Image</b>: Slices of Rock by <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rock-c.jpg">Bolcheriet (R)</a>
made available under a Creative Commons licence. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-62584370138106736222013-07-31T13:30:00.000+01:002013-07-31T13:30:04.564+01:00Happy Blogiversary to me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3mN46n1IaRQ/TpQITeiBTRI/AAAAAAAAASA/h6NYCi8hZl0/s1600/Computers+on+board.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3mN46n1IaRQ/TpQITeiBTRI/AAAAAAAAASA/h6NYCi8hZl0/s320/Computers+on+board.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It's three years ago this week that I first gingerly dipped
my toe into the wonderful world of blogging. I didn't need a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NarrowboatWife">Facebook page</a> and hadn't
heard of <a href="https://twitter.com/Boat_Wife" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. I was a shy and nervous new-comer and I was definitely,
absolutely sure that nobody would particularly want to read a blog about me,
and my life!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But because my friend said, "Hey, you should start a
blog!" I started publishing excerpts from my travelling diary, while
myself, my husband and our young family explored the waterways of London,
Hertfordshire and Essex. As my confidence grew I made friends with other
bloggers, went to <a href="http://www.britmums.com/2012/06/britmums-live-guest-post-the-real-life-of-a-narrowboat-wife/">blogging
conferences for mummy bloggers</a>, started a <a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/2012/05/have-you-heard-of-boat-mumsnet.html">Facebook
group for boat families</a>, and also started my own business as <a href="http://peggymelmoth.com/">a professional blogger</a>! I even began to get
articles published in magazines... <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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So, if YOU are out there thinking maybe, just maybe, you
might start a blog one day.... just do it! Let me be that friend that says,
"Hey, you should start a blog!" Because that little suggestion
changed my life...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here's the very first blog post that I wrote: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
Angel, Islington to Uxbridge.</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Space: The final frontier. With the arrival of the new baby
we are testing the space limitations of a 57 foot narrowboat. These are the
voyages of the narrowboat Grassington, a blue box that tardily travels through
time and space, at a maximum speed of four miles per hour. Our mission; to
travel the waterways we’ve never seen, to live the dream, to be boaters,
travellers, writers and parents. For so long we’ve waited for the right time;
to have enough money, or to discover the elusive way of earning a living while
travelling. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the absolutely right time never comes, sometimes you
just have to do it anyway. We might not have the biggest, most comfortable boat
we had dreamed of, or the huge stash of savings to make the life easy, or the
dream job, that meets all our mental and spiritual needs. You know the one, the
job that we can work at from home while earning a decent income, and still
spend quality time together as a family. But with one of us on maternity leave
and one of us working in London we decided to cast off and let go. The handsome
doctor and his winsome assistant. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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To quote Mark Twain, “In twenty years from now, you’ll be
more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So
throw off the bowline. Sail away from the safe harbour. Explore. Dream.
Discover.” <a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/2010/07/angel-islington-to-uxbridge.html">Read
more.</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-13811654444718633412013-07-26T13:00:00.000+01:002013-07-26T13:00:00.730+01:00#Narrowboating: Not just for blokes!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MIdnA1jQ4zc/Ueqaywfr3SI/AAAAAAAABIo/uo8vDKQ1iyM/s1600/FindaSkipper.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="279" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MIdnA1jQ4zc/Ueqaywfr3SI/AAAAAAAABIo/uo8vDKQ1iyM/s320/FindaSkipper.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from www.findaskipper.co.uk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I recently wrote a couple of articles for <a href="http://national-cba.com/">my community boating blog</a> that focussed on
a female skipper; Lee Davies. I sometimes forget that narrowboating is still a
very male-dominated world because I’ve made so many amazing friends on the Cut:
many of them are women and many of them are mothers. (For example <a href="http://www.writingsfromthewherever.com/">Alice</a>, <a href="http://melinamerlin.blogspot.co.uk/">Melina</a> and <a href="http://evalunacy.com/">Claire</a> have all brought up kids on the Cut and
blogged about it! <a href="http://severnerwillow.wordpress.com/">Amy</a> blogs
about fitting out and living on the 1935 Severn and Canal Carrying Company
motor, Willow.)</div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Lee Davies</b> feels passionately that women are
under-represented on the canals. I hope that my interview with her might encourage
other female boaters to consider becoming involved with community boating: it’s
not just for blokes! <b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<b>Do we need more women
on the Cut?</b></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lee Davies is the only female Senior Trainer at NCBA. I got to chat to her about how her interest in
boats developed into a career as a skipper and NCBA trainer. She also runs <a href="http://findaskipper.co.uk/">FindaSkipper</a>, providing skippers for
all occasions, plus cooks, training courses and more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>You have a boat
relocating service?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, we also move boats for people. It might be someone who
just bought a boat or someone who has gone on holiday and needed to rush back
home: we can bring the boat home. We had a man recently, he had a stroke and
his wife couldn’t move the boat. We were asked to go out there and bring the
boat home for them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It might be a liveaboard or a really posh boat broken down
in a not very nice area. Perhaps the owners have had to go back to work, so
we’ll go and boat-sit or move it on for them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>How did Find a
Skipper start? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been involved with boats for many years and I was
skippering all over the place. I was driving along one day and the name just
popped into my head: <a href="http://findaskipper.co.uk/">Find a Skipper</a>! I
found out that the domain names were available and bought them straight away. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I suppose you could say we’re based in Wigan but we cover
the whole system; I’ve got skippers all around the country. I’ve got people
dotted around. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>How under-represented
are women among professional skippers in your opinion? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Women are very underrated on the canals. Men think we’re all
stupid because we’re female. They think women can’t handle a big boat, but
something needs to change. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Men will see you with your head in the engine and ask you
what you are doing. I’ll say, Well the stern gland is leaking, I’m just sorting
it out, and they’ll say Oh, I don’t think you should be doing that! But there’s
plenty of women that live alone on board, or live on boats with children. How
do they think we manage? When you go to
a boatyard the idea is that you stand and you watch and you learn. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<b>How often do women
apply for NCBA training? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There have been a few coming up lately, there’s one on the
Wirral and one up at Skipton. But only men have approached me for training at
Find a Skipper. I only know of three or four women that have qualified and are
working as skippers, they are few and far between. There are lots of female
volunteers though. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Get on board!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<br />
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The NCBA and their member projects welcome women interested
in boating. Why not get in touch with your local community boating project, or
consider improving your skills by training with the NCBA? Find out more by
following <a href="http://national-cba.com/">my other blog</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-7195503627676678452013-07-19T13:00:00.000+01:002013-07-19T13:00:01.108+01:00How do you do laundry on a narrowboat?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-li07b4qA5GM/UeftWEmMGnI/AAAAAAAABIU/BcOOt01D5B8/s1600/Narrowboat+Families+cover+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-li07b4qA5GM/UeftWEmMGnI/AAAAAAAABIU/BcOOt01D5B8/s320/Narrowboat+Families+cover+image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A while ago I asked my readers what they would like to read
about on the blog, and I got plenty of interesting answers. Curiously there
were several questions about doing the laundry!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jess said, “I'm going to have a washing machine on my new
boat (very exciting), but how on earth am I going to dry sheets in winter? Do
people just use laundrettes in winter for big things? Any ideas?!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have used the launderette for sheets. But often I will just
peg it folded over the tiller. Peg it tight - I lost a double sheet into the
Cut on a windy day! I didn't see it go... I assume it blew away and then sank
eventually. Indoors I hang sheets over long copper pipes that are part of the
heating system, or over the curtain rail across the front door, and sometimes over
the shower door - anywhere I can really. On a hot summer day I sometimes spread
them across the roof; steel gets very hot! Sheets or clothes will then dry on
the roof very quickly. It reminded me of when I was in India, watching the
ladies of Varanasi spread their laundry on the Ghats beside the Ganges.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also have a <a href="http://www.miracleleisureproducts.co.uk/brolly-mate/brolly-mate/prod_6.html" target="_blank">Brolley Mate</a> which can be used to hold a lightweight
rotary washing line onto the tiller. We have a trad stern on our boat but it
rises above the roof level and half of the washing line hangs over the canal. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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On our last boat we had a rotary washing line that was held in a specially made hole in the deckboards (pictured.) Also, when in remote countryside I have been known to peg up a line in the trees or a hedge!</div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
Ironing</h3>
<a href="http://124andy.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Andy and Sue</a> are planning to move aboard soon and asked me, “How
do you do the ironing when not connected to shore power?”<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Good question. On my first boat I had a little travel iron
that ran off a 12volt plug – the kind you can plug into a cigarette lighter
socket. It was rubbish!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Now I have a travel iron from Argos that requires an ordinary
240volt supply but I made sure that it was only 900 watts. <a href="http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Search/searchTerms/HINARI+TRAVEL+STEAM+IRON.htm">Hinari
Travel Steam Iron</a> It runs off our 1500 watt pure sine wave invertor. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
The Launderette Equation</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
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Before we had a washing machine I was very frustrated about
the amount of time I spent taking tiny children and lots of laundry, on foot,
to the launderette. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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I decided there must be a scientific equation for how posh
an area is versus how close is the nearest launderette. The nicer the area you
are visiting, the less likely there is to be a launderette. However, finding a
launderette is not a problem in inner city areas. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<u>The Launderette Equation for Boaters</u><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Local house price) / (commuter train fare to London) x (N)
= distance to launderette from mooring.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Further research is required to ascertain N and calculate
the distance of the boat from the launderette. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you travel a lot get yourself a copy of the <a href="http://www.aylesburycanal.org.uk/sitechapter.cfm?chapter=8" target="_blank">Aylesbury CanalSociety Launderette List.</a> “Many boaters won't boat without it.”</div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/search/label/launderettes" target="_blank">Read more </a>about launderettes and laundry in my boating life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
As with many parts of boating, there’s never just one
solution to a problem. It takes all different boats and different boaters to find
different ways of doing things. How do you do your laundry?<o:p></o:p></div>
Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-8198545636500956002013-06-19T13:00:00.000+01:002013-12-22T13:39:27.296+00:0070ft narrowboat for sale: liveaboard<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tjc06cAMxZw/UcGJi0aqpII/AAAAAAAABHo/vfVAUraNR4Q/s1600/Violet+Mae.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tjc06cAMxZw/UcGJi0aqpII/AAAAAAAABHo/vfVAUraNR4Q/s320/Violet+Mae.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="color: red;"><b>This boat has now been sold,</b></span> but here are some more <a href="http://grandunion.boatshed.com/" target="_blank">narrowboats for sale.</a> <br />
<br />
Our beautiful narrowboat<i> Violet Mae</i> is now for sale. Life has taken an unexpected turn and we are heading off on a different adventure.<br />
<br />
This boat is everything I had dreamed of in a boat: light and airy, wooden floors, side hatches to feed the swans, a big double bedroom, a washing machine, and at the stern a beautifully painted boatman's cabin. More photos to follow.<br />
<br />
If you are seriously considering living on a narrowboat this is a very comfortable live aboard. She is currently moored near Tring in Hertfordshire. She does not come with a mooring but if you act quickly there will be an opportunity to bid on her current residential mooring when it goes up for auction with the Canal and River Trust in August.<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">70ft
Colecraft trad narrowboat liveaboard £37,500</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Built:
1988<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Engine:
BMC 1800 (Rebuilt 2002)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Last
survey: 05/09/08<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">4 berths:
1 double, 2 single.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Beautiful
boatman’s cabin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://peggymelmoth.com/about/" target="_blank">Contact Peggy</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The full listing with LOTS of photos is on the Boatshed Grand Union website. <a href="http://grandunion.boatshed.com/colecraft_narrowboat_70ft-boat-161361.html" target="_blank">Colecraft Narrowboat for sale.</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>PS. </b>If you have any questions about living aboard download my free ebook: <a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/p/subscribe-to-boatshed-grand-union-blog.html" target="_blank">Living on a Boat.</a><br />
<br />
<b>What is the cost of living on a narrowboat?</b> Check out<a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/2013/02/what-is-cost-of-living-on-narrowboat.html" target="_blank"> my review of the Narrowbudget software.</a></div>
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Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-54799392986277259182013-05-25T13:56:00.001+01:002013-05-25T13:56:26.382+01:00To be friends with the swans...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t7SyNxm7rsg/UaCwNqkI7KI/AAAAAAAABG8/BvwWZIIHDdU/s1600/Daffodil+boat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t7SyNxm7rsg/UaCwNqkI7KI/AAAAAAAABG8/BvwWZIIHDdU/s1600/Daffodil+boat.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This winter seems never ending. We do have daffodils beside
the boat but I must admit I still feel cold. How I used to laugh when people
would ask “Is it cold in winter?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was before our dodgy diesel stove kept breaking. At the
moment we’re using the “back-up” heating which is a portable gas heater.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve known our local swans for nearly a year now, since we
took a permanent residential mooring. I call them Bonnie and Clyde: I don’t
know why. They visited us regularly for bread, throughout Autumn and Winter. My
little ones would sit on the front deck and call down the canal,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Swan ATTENTION!” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For some reason they feel this is the appropriate call that
should be used to summon the swans. And the swans come. Then the ducks come and
try to fight for a bit of bread too. If there’s any left over the big fat carp
jump up and have a bite as well. It is one of the loveliest luxuries of living
on a boat to be friends with the swans. Although it can be a demanding
friendship at times. Clyde has now become bold enough to knock on the kitchen
window with his beak if we are not on deck at a time when he wants feeding.
Recently when I sat chatting with friends on the front deck he actually pecked
me in the small of my back to let me know that he was there: ready and waiting
for his bread.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But where is Bonnie? She has not been seen for some time. We
discovered their nest beside the next canal bridge; safely on the offside,
undisturbed by towpath walkers. She sits and waits, guarding her eggs. Clyde
glides protectively before her, on the surface of the water, head held high and
aloof, surveying the area. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we return from the school-run the girls say,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Can we check the swans?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If it’s freezing and raining I grumpily say no, and drag the
girls back to the boat for mugs of cocoa. But mostly I smile and say yes, and
we sit on the bank opposite and watch, and talk about the swans. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This morning Clyde knocked on the bedroom window; wife in
tow, with three gorgeous grey fluffy cygnets too! I grabbed some bread and
headed for the front deck calling for the girls as I went.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Girls! The swans have had cygnets!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just yesterday she was still on her nest, so they must have
been born today and are straight in the water already! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It must be their first outing” said The Doctor.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Those proud parents,” I mused. “They must have said to
themselves this morning, <i>Let’s take the
little ones down to The Bread Boat.</i>”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Yes,” laughed my five year old, “To the café!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The girls threw bread, I took photos, The Doctor took a
video. And we gleefully announced the news of the birth to other boaters and
walkers on the towpath. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The swans have had cygnets!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is sunny and the Spring is finally here.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U0iRxLiP1bQ/UaCzPxnmcYI/AAAAAAAABHQ/7FTpxnjuJ5Q/s1600/Cygnets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U0iRxLiP1bQ/UaCzPxnmcYI/AAAAAAAABHQ/7FTpxnjuJ5Q/s1600/Cygnets.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not my best pic - but they were moving fast, trying to escape the cries of "Swan ATTENTION!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-51760615976696801322013-05-20T13:30:00.000+01:002013-05-20T13:30:02.315+01:00When boaters come to visit...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-46DmuMT_8M8/UZYVKwR03lI/AAAAAAAABGs/TvPW3ISLA1k/s1600/Snipe+and+Taurus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-46DmuMT_8M8/UZYVKwR03lI/AAAAAAAABGs/TvPW3ISLA1k/s320/Snipe+and+Taurus.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Last week, just as I arrived home I saw this unlikely pair moored up at my local water point. The lovely hotel boats <a href="http://www.canalvoyagers.com/about/our-hotel-boats/">Snipe and Taurus</a> were once again in my local area. Although we have plenty of beautiful pictures on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/canalvoyagers/">Flickr</a> I couldn’t resist taking a few more of the red-painted boats and traditionally colourful water cans. Even on a gloomy, rainy day these boats are a sight to make you stop and stare (also known as ‘gongoozling’!)<br />
<br />
There are very few traditional working pairs of hotel boats on the canal system today. It’s lovely to watch the motor tow the butty towards an ancient ‘bridge hole’, unhurried as they travel onward. Yet Neil, Corinne and the crew can cover a surprising distance in the space of a week, always offering their guests a varied trip that can include big cities and tiny hamlets.<br />
<br />
That night Neil and Corinne came round to my boat: It’s always a novelty to have friends to visit who have arrived by boat, knowing that their own home is conveniently moored a short walk away down the towpath. I had just put my two little daughters to bed, but upon hearing the arrival of Neil and Corinne they immediately got up again to see ‘the lady who turns us upside down’! There were a lot of giggles, running about and tickling before Corinne persuaded them back to bed with the promise to visit again in the morning.<br />
<br />
I love to chat to Neil and Corinne about their unusual lifestyle, their travels, their boats and adventures, and <a href="http://www.canalvoyagers.com/about/your-hosts/">how they got into it all in the first place</a>. So while the girls obediently settled to sleep in their boatman’s cabin at the back of our boat, I shared a few glasses of wine with my travelling friends and talked about all things boaty. They’ve done many more hours of boating than me and have learned traditional techniques that I’ll never need, like how to take a butty and motor safely into a lock. At the moment I’m reading the memoir ‘Maiden’s Trip’ by Emma Smith. She learned to carry cargo with a traditional working pair during the Second World War and the descriptions in the book make you realise how very different things are manoeuvring a pair of 70ft boats together.<br />
<br />
The next morning my youngest (age 3) opened her eyes and immediately said,<br />
“Can I go into the living room?”<br />
“Yes…. But why?”<br />
“To see if Corinne’s still there!”<br />
I explained that Corinne had returned to her own boat, but shortly after breakfast Corinne arrived with home-baked biscuits for the girls. Her boats were already in the lock beginning to climb the Marsworth flight and since then they have travelled all the way to London.<br />
<br />
I noticed on Twitter recently that Corinne shared a cool picture of <a href="https://twitter.com/hotelboats/status/334229236019773442/photo/1">narrowboats moving faster than lorries on the M25</a> and smiled to myself.
You may think the lifestyle is slow and relaxed but they sure do get around. As I write this they are now preparing for a trip up the River Lea. Catch up with them soon and grab your own cabin (much more affordable than hiring a whole narrowboat), with a <a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Late-Availability----50-Cruising-Voucher.html?soid=1103416365838&aid=FHsrrZZ4z5o">£50 discount</a> .<br />
<br />
<b>Disclosure</b>: I was paid to write this on Neil and Corinne's hotel boats blog but re-published here as it is also part of my Real Life! I realise I am not writing much about my real life lately and this is because work and other personal commitments are making me super-busy at the moment!<br />
<br />
Peggy<br />
xNarrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-31660135074852542482013-04-29T13:05:00.000+01:002013-04-29T13:05:00.284+01:00A Ghost Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZT-C1mtcxc0/UWAe6NXyHMI/AAAAAAAABE4/CTsgFtSmKjU/s1600/A+Ghost+Story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZT-C1mtcxc0/UWAe6NXyHMI/AAAAAAAABE4/CTsgFtSmKjU/s320/A+Ghost+Story.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Malcolm Stirling is a reader of this blog and we recently chatted on email when I asked my readers what sort of topics they'd like to read more of. He was kind enough to allow me to publish this story he's written, which I think is pretty cool: and a lovely change to my usual articles.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<br />
Tethered to the canal bank near Rickmansworth Town Lock lies a large rusting relic of a Dutch Barge. It bears no name but is known by the local canal boat travellers as the “The Ghost Barge*. Only the ignorant will moor their boats next to it and some even take a footpath detour to avoid walking past it.<br />
<br />
The barge first came to the locals’ attention when it was purchased by a young man of about 27. He lived onboard and had started to renovate the boat. One evening, after a hard day’s work he sat down with his supper. He had left the engine running to provide electricity for light and warmth. It was cold night and the doors and windows were shut tight to keep in the heat. The exhaust system for the engine became defective and leaked carbon monoxide into the cabin. The young man fell asleep and never woke up.<br />
<br />
The barge was later sold and the new owner set about the renovation process. One of the first things he did was to have the exhaust system from the engine repaired and certified as safe. He then set about repairing the hull which was suffering from corrosion. In the deepest part of the hull lay concrete ballast blocks. These are necessary for stability and ensure that the barge stays upright. They were put in place during the construction of the barge. Once the ballast blocks are in place the decking and cabin are then added to the barge. Over the years water had collected under the ballast blocks and this is where the corrosion was the most severe. The blocks needed to be lifted and the steel hull underneath cleaned and painted with rust inhibiting paint. The man rigged up a hoist and pulley system to raise the blocks, one at a time, so that he could prepare the hull underneath. It was a fateful day when the man was scraping the rust from underneath one of the raised blocks and the pulley system collapsed causing the block to fall and crush the man against the steel hull.<br />
<br />
The boat was again put on the market and later purchased by a man wishing to make it his home. It was on a winter’s evening when the canal was quiet and the water was still when a chugging sound was heard in the distance. The new owner was sitting on deck enjoying a beer when a large boat came down the canal at some speed creating a wash that rocked the boats on their moorings. He heard shouts of complaint from canal boat owners. He leapt to his feet and spun round to see what the commotion was about. The deck of his barge moved with the wash causing the man to lose his balance. He fell from the deck into the narrow gap that had opened between the canal bank and the hull of the barge. The heavy barge had moved as far as the strained tethering ropes would allow. The tension on the ropes could not be sustained and the barge began to move slowly and unyieldingly back to its original position adjacent to the canal bank and, in so doing, crushed the life out of the<br />
fallen man.<br />
<br />
The barge sat empty on its mooring once again. Local folklore had branded her “The Ghost Barge” and canal travellers wouldn’t go near it, let alone buy it, when it was put up for sale again. Given the local feeling against the Black Barge it was felt that a local buyer was unlikely and so it was moved to a marina 100 miles away in Ipswich and put up for sale. A buyer was found and the deal was struck. The new owner knew nothing of the Ghost Barge’s past and set about his plans for renovating the craft and finding it a suitable mooring.<br />
<br />
The renovation process has been slow and methodical. The owner still doesn’t know anything about the boat’s grisly past. But can you imagine the look on the faces of the canal people in Rickmansworth when they woke up on a cold November morning to see a thick mist heavy on the water and the instantly recognisable dark shape of the Ghost Barge solemnly tied up at its old mooring. Just as if it had never been away.<br />
<br />
(c) Malcolm Stirling<br />
<br />
This is a true story and was recounted to the author by two people on a canal boat in Rickmansworth on 3rd<br />
September 2012.<br />
<br />
Gongoozlers (name given to people who watch but don`t participate on canals).<br />
<br />
The illustration is of a similar barge but not an exact copy. The author did not want to have in his possession a drawing or photograph of the real thing.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Malcolm is the chairman of <a href="http://www.rwsc.co.uk/index.html" target="_blank">Rickmansworth WaterSki Club</a> at the Aquadrome: a family orientated club, where visitors can participate
on a 'pay as you play' basis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-48668937373322770272013-04-15T13:00:00.000+01:002013-04-15T13:00:18.110+01:00Boat family told to cruise further... or else!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5OgCdwT_94E/UV75Jt8S-yI/AAAAAAAABEo/6kj6ZKQMNTE/s1600/Heidis+Boat.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5OgCdwT_94E/UV75Jt8S-yI/AAAAAAAABEo/6kj6ZKQMNTE/s320/Heidis+Boat.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boat cats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">This guest post is from a local boat-mum that I know and was written during the recent <a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/2013/03/the-code-is-more-what-youd-call.html" target="_blank">Canal and River Trust mooring consultation.</a> I am pleased to say that since this was written the boating community have had constructive meetings with the Canal and River Trust discussing affordable moorings and various other solutions. We are continuing to meet with them and the original mooring proposals for Berkhamsted have been amended.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I sometimes get questions from my readers about the reality of family life on board, and also questions about the perceived 'problem' of continuous cruisers. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I hope this gives readers an insight into the lives of the ordinary families that live on board. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Living on a narrowboat in </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Berkhamsted</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">We live on our 70ft narrow boat with our two children and two cats. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The Canal and River Trust CRT (formerly British Waterways) are saying if we don't move further than we are every 14 days they will take our licence (which we pay a £1000 a year for) and make us homeless by refusing us a licence and eventually taking our home as it would become an unlicensed craft. </span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
We move at present between Berkhamsted and Cow Roast because the children go to nursery and school here and I help to run a playgroup in Berkhamsted. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
We own and live in our 25 year old Coal craft boat that we have been restoring for the last 5 years. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
I have an Art & Craft degree, am a qualified teacher and have spent the last 15 years as a specialist children's worker, with special needs children, damaged children, children from travelling back grounds and homeless families mainly through education and awareness, I know ironic isn't it? </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
I have taken a career break to care for our youngest children until they are both in full time education, my eldest child is a Police officer, my partner was a Professional Boxer for 9 years and now works as a self employed waterproof specialist to support his family and pay Tax. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
I just cannot comprehend the mentality of these narrow minded bureaucrats, they seem to have no compassion or thought for the families they harass or the stress they cause or the wider social implications on the rest of society their actions will have. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
At the moment we live in our own home, we have never had the Police called or caused trouble, we are clean and tidy we abide by the law our children go to school, we are well educated people and very much active members of our local society and are keen conservationist, which is why we have chosen boating as a lifestyle and why we have only one car which my partner uses for work (when alternative transport is not an option) and the children and me cycle or walk everywhere we go.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
The Canal and River Trust are proposing to evict us at great cost to the tax payer and other licence paying boaters, they are willing to up root us and cause immense distress to our young children (who would lose their home and have to move nursery and school) us and our wider family and cause us to lose most of our possessions. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
The CRT are threatening to make a family with two young children age 3 and 5 homeless for the sake of us not moving a bit further every 14 days. If this happens the local Council will then have to re home us, firstly in a hostel then in a flat or house, a home that we don't want or need, that another family in genuine need of a home could have thus displacing or moving genuinely needy people further back on the list of the already desperately inadequate Social housing situation, all of this because we can't move an extra few miles every two weeks.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">There are many unlicensed and abandoned boats throughout the inland waterways that are literally rotting away in the water causing environmental damage as they go, the CRT don't bother to remove these boats as that would cost them money and not make any so the reasons quoted by the CRT for moving on genuine live a board licence payers is pure hypocrisy, just nothing more than thoughtless corporate bullying that needs to be challenged and stopped. The CRT are not offering any solutions to the mooring problem, just creating more problems with proposals such as the ones in Berkhamsted which, if they come in to effect will see less 14 day moorings than before and take away the boats that the Canal was specifically built for in the 1700s and has ever since then been a place of work and homes for many families and individuals and allow the CRT to fine boaters for overstay so forcing people to move further. Live aboards are not generally as "pretty" as summer or holiday boats, what they are peoples homes, peoples lives, not a glossy plastic theme park or a row of identical terraced houses.We can understand the need for some boats to move every 14 days in the summer in busy boating areas but why move boats on in the middle of Northchurch, Dudswell or Cowroast even when there are no other boats for weeks at a time, or in the winter when the summer boats don't run? Why not make places like these in to Tow path moorings? </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">We would love a mooring, it would make our lives so much easier but the reality is there simply aren't enough moorings available. There are no fulltime moorings in Berkhamsted at all and very few affordable moorings generally, only winter moorings. The only alternatives we have are to register as travellers with the local education authority so that we can place our children with two or more different schools and not be prosecuted when we are forced to take them out of school while we travel further, (we also then as travellers will be classed as an ethnic minority) or we could remove our children from their present school education and home educate which would mean them loosing their friends and local connections and making us a lot less connected to the rest of Society than we presently are and effectively more isolated and outcast. There are many more articulate, hard working boat families like ours that are being made to feel like criminals when all we have done is chosen to live an alternative life style. We didn't choose to be victims of prejudice, discrimination and exclusion, we don't want to be forced under threat of homelessness or fines to undertake much longer journeys, the effect of which will make it extremely difficult or impossible for us as a boat family to maintain contact with our local communities for work, education, socialisation and health-care. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
Like I said we would gladly take a mooring if there actually were any. If anyone on here is a land owner or knows of any Canal side land owners between Berkhamstead and Cow roast willing to rent land to us so we can have a home mooring then please<a href="http://peggymelmoth.com/about/" target="_blank"> get in touch</a>.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
This article first appeared on <a href="http://www.berkhamstedpeople.co.uk/Live-aboard-boaters-Berkhampstead/story-16590325-detail/story.html" target="_blank">Berkhamsted People</a> and is reprinted here with kind permission from the author. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
You may also like this article: <a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/2013/02/the-long-road.html" target="_blank">The long road </a></div>
Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-35096957642700407702013-04-08T13:00:00.000+01:002013-04-08T13:00:09.505+01:00West country canals – a forgotten dream?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/canalvoyagers/4071662594/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="P5074266 by canalvoyagers, on Flickr"><img alt="P5074266" class="alignleft" height="240" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2479/4071662594_ab3126787a_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I grew up in Devon but by the time I lived there, there wasn’t much in the way of navigable canals left. I remember going on a school trip to see Cann Quarry Canal, a two mile waterway that connected with the Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway. I think it was only working for ten years. There’s a little five mile long canal in Exeter from Exeter Canal Basin to the River Exe estuary. There’s also a little canal near Tiverton which I think runs a horse drawn boat trip. There are several more abandoned canals around Devon but they have long since fallen into disrepair. So it wasn’t until I grew up and boldly went to seek my fortune in London that I really began to discover the thriving canal network that is still navigable for 2000 miles across the UK.<br />
<br />
I lived in a flat in Kentish Town near Camden and watched with fascination the painted boats that would pass through Camden lock. The romantic gypsy in me began to realise, <em>some people actually live on these boats!</em> A seed was sown, and I have since become someone who lives on a narrowboat, and has travelled the canals of London and Hertfordshire.<br />
<br />
I can never take my boat on the long forgotten canals of Devon where I grew up; the short canals that remain are not connected to the main system. By default then, I have always thought that the way to connect my boating life with my West Country roots would be to travel west as far as I can by canal. This is why the Kennet and Avon canal has become the journey that I have yet to do.<br />
<br />
Having spent my adult years building a career, and then a family, in and around London, do I still hear the call of the West Country? Do I see a white horse carved into a Wiltshire hillside in my dreams? Or a famous flight of 29 locks at Caen Hill near Devizes?<br />
<br />
This is the boating journey that I never got to do. Now that I am settled on a residential mooring near a good school my cruise down the Kennet and Avon must be done as a holiday trip someday. (If you are single or a couple, it is cheaper to go by <a href="http://www.canalvoyagers.com/about/our-hotel-boats/" title="See inside the boats!">hotel boat</a> than to hire a boat.) I’ve seen the charming historic buildings of Bradford on Avon and the Georgian architecture of Bath on weekend visits before, but that is fleetingly, by car.<br />
<br />
Exploring by narrowboat is a slower pace of life, more connected with nature. In a city we are surrounded by man-made creations. But travelling through England’s countryside on the water I feel more connected with <em>real</em> life.<br />
<br />
“What is this life if, full of care,<br />
We have no time to stand and stare.”<br />
<em>(From the poem ‘Leisure’ by William Henry Davies.)</em><br />
<br />
So one day, I will let the Kennet and Avon take me slowly back west. Where will it take you?
Read more about the highlights of the Kennet and Avon on <a href="http://www.canalvoyagers.com/2012/cruise-9-2013-devizes-to-newbury/">the Devizes to Newbury cruise</a> or the <a href="http://www.canalvoyagers.com/2012/cruise-8-2013-bath-to-devizes-via-bristol/">Bath to Devizes via Bristol</a> journey. Or <a href="http://www.canalvoyagers.com/2013/narrowboat-hotel-to-visit-devizes/">read more about why Devizes is high on my list</a> of places to visit by boat.<br />
<br />
<b>Disclosure</b>: I was paid to write this post on the Canal Voyagers blog. I re-published it here because it tells a little about me, my narrowboat life and my dreams.<br />
<br />
Canal Voyagers are currently offering a <a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Late-Availability----50-Cruising-Voucher.html?soid=1103416365838&aid=FHsrrZZ4z5o">£50 discount</a> on the first 12 cruises of the year.Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-5892302116560325272013-03-30T10:00:00.000+00:002013-03-30T10:00:06.722+00:0050ft trad narrowboat for sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w0Kfkzz6JgI/UVQojop6tSI/AAAAAAAABEM/xxCafDPZC6I/s1600/Celandine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w0Kfkzz6JgI/UVQojop6tSI/AAAAAAAABEM/xxCafDPZC6I/s1600/Celandine.jpg" /></a></div>
A friend of mine has just finished 'doing up' and refurbishing this beautiful narrowboat. It's light and airy inside with a fixed double plus a dinette. Full details and pictures are here: <a href="http://beautifulnarrowboatforsale.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Beautiful narrowboat for sale. </a>There is also a full list of the work recently completed.<br />
<br />
She is currently moored near Milton Keynes.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">£34,950 ono</span><br />
<br />
If you're looking for a live-aboard boat or a leisure boat for holidays and weekends this one is lovely. Even if you're not, <a href="http://beautifulnarrowboatforsale.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">have a look at the photos</a>, for some gorgeous inspiration of how light and airy a narrowboat can seem inside!<br />
<br />
If you have any questions about living aboard grab yourself my free eBook <a href="http://www.narrowboatwife.com/p/subscribe-to-boatshed-grand-union-blog.html">Living on a Boat</a>.Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-25279262915137678642013-03-25T13:05:00.000+00:002013-03-28T11:36:34.003+00:00No more news from Boat Wife? Really?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YJY_3_n04xk/TXKhG0eZ2YI/AAAAAAAAAEY/q3bSXuTfraE/s1600/image-upload-95-779152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YJY_3_n04xk/TXKhG0eZ2YI/AAAAAAAAAEY/q3bSXuTfraE/s320/image-upload-95-779152.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
If you're reading this in Google Reader then did you know that Google is closing down Google Reader on June 1st? If you don't use Google Reader it's an easy way to keep up with the blogs that you enjoy.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Act now!</span><br />
<br />
If you still want to read blogs in a reader try swapping to <a href="http://feedly.com/" target="_blank">Feedly </a>instead. It' free - I'm just recommending it because <a href="http://www.viperchill.com/feed-off/" target="_blank">Glen at Viperchill</a> did, and he's really cool and knows stuff about blogging! Don't leave changing it until the end of May, swap readers now and forget about it. Sorted! I just did it, it was really quick and Feedly even went and grabbed all the blogs I usually read from my Google Reader.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What are you on about?</span><br />
<br />
If you don't use Google Reader then you can stay in touch with me in other ways. If you subscribe to posts in the sidebar on the right you will get an email whenever I write something new. If you don't want to be inundated with emails create an email filter to sort your favourite blogs into a separate folder. That's what I do :-)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My inbox is overwhelming!</span><br />
<br />
Yep, mine too. Perhaps you'd rather have the monthly round-up from Narrowboat Wife. The newsletter summarises what I've been up to, and if you join the list now you get a free eBook called 'Narrowboat Families.' Choose the html version to see the lovely pictures as I think the text version looks a bit weird.<br />
<br />
love<br />
Peg<br />
xx<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<!--End mc_embed_signup-->Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4156512341658582610.post-17404639284867087362013-03-18T13:00:00.000+00:002013-03-18T13:00:07.325+00:00What’s so good about the Grand Union Canal?<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dkOTSR6PR7s/Ty1CeUU7deI/AAAAAAAAAbk/v5w5bdhMeoQ/s1600/Peggy+steering+small.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dkOTSR6PR7s/Ty1CeUU7deI/AAAAAAAAAbk/v5w5bdhMeoQ/s320/Peggy+steering+small.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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When you live and travel on a boat it feels like you have several
areas that you could call ‘home’. You might even feel at home on a whole
stretch of canal and for me that stretch would be the southern Grand Union.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve travelled from Blisworth to London and often settled
myself comfortably on a winter mooring in Angel, Islington. When we finally
decided to settle for good so that our eldest daughter could start school we
were lucky enough to find a residential mooring in Marsworth. This is a tiny rural
community, with a little church, two cosy pubs and many colourful moored boats
lining the centre of the village. The loveliest thing about the area though is
the three reservoirs that feed the canal. A favourite with families, dog
walkers, fishermen and photographers the views are stunning. It is quite an
unusual sight to see a vast expanse of water right next to the canal. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Rising up the flight of seven locks you then arrive at
Bulbourne, a little hamlet which was once a hub of traditional lockgate making.
The old British Waterways workshops can still be seen beside the canal.
Drifting onwards the Tring summit level takes us through a leafy canal cutting
down to Cowroast. Originally known as ‘cows rest’ because farmers would rest
their cows here on the way to market in London, the local pub and boatyard now
take on the name. The English countryside remains green and beautiful as we
travel towards Berkhamsted, a charming historic town featuring an olde worlde
sweet shop, a multitude of lovely restaurants and an ancient ruined castle. Travelling
through Hemel Hempstead you see nothing of the concrete town centre, instead
chugging past the ancient Three Horseshoes pub (1535), through the swing bridge
and the spacious urban parkland known as Boxmoor. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Other highlights for me on the journey are the fields around
Rickmansworth where Black Beauty was filmed, the quiet of Cassiobury Park, the
lakes of Harefield and the woodland of Denham Country Park. This is followed by
the Swan and Bottle pub in Uxbridge, full of wooden beams, real ale and
memories of my old boating friends who have long since moved on. Then turning
left at Bulls Bridge we head into London still travelling quietly through
parkland such as Horsenden Hill and Perivale Wood before briefly flirting with
the modern world as we drift over the north circular aqueduct. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The only way to end a cruise like this would be to moor up
in one of the boatiest places in London: Little Venice. Here you can remain
with the quiet English pub vibe (try the Warwick Castle) or eat at somewhere
swanky and modern in Sheldon Square. You’ll also be a short walk from
Paddington so could simply head off to see the famous sights of London. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I love this whole stretch of canal and can’t believe Neil
and Corinne are offering a <a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Late-Availability----50-Cruising-Voucher.html?soid=1103416365838&aid=FHsrrZZ4z5o">£50
discount</a> on what must be one of the best boat journeys you can do! <o:p></o:p></div>
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See more details and check availability on the <a href="file:///C:/Users/Peggy/Documents/Bluetooth%20Folder">Leighton Buzzard to
London (Little Venice)</a> narrowboat hotel cruise. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Remember</b>: If you are single or a couple, it is much cheaper
to come hotel boating than to hire a boat, and you don't have to do the cooking
and washing up!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Disclosure</b>: I was paid to write this post for the Canal Voyagers Hotel Boats blog. It was my choice to republish it here as it tells a little bit about my own narrowboat life. <o:p></o:p></div>
Narrowboat Wifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10137645528374249710noreply@blogger.com2