I started a discussion on the groups.yahoo.com/group/canals-list email group about continuously cruising and not having a postal address. Moose asked me whether I’m registered to vote. Under the Peoples Act, apparently I could be fined 1,000 pounds for not being registered. Moose told me the rules were relaxed a couple of years ago by Labour […]
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A year afloat
Today it’s exactly one year since I started living on Bristol Fashion. It’s been the best year of my life in many ways. Buying a boat has made me happier. A year on, just starting the engine and setting off along the canal still makes me feel good inside. Mooring at dusk in a strange […]
Surfers and Pirates
I have a techie tool that tells me the words people typed into Google to find this website. That’s how I know that a lot of people search for information on “how much does it cost to live on a dutch barge”, “live on a boat” and “little venice” in which case I hope they […]
Spiders on a boat
Why do spiders love boats so much? Bristol Fashion has been teeming with them over the summer. Yes spiders eat other insects, fantastic, good for them. But in the mornings I don’t want to wake up, step out of bed and put my face straight into a cobweb. It’s been worst when I’ve moored underneath […]
Hurrah for old technology
This week at work I’ve been following a slightly geeky email discussion about the merits of using old technology and whether it was built to last longer. This was definitely borne out by my recent experience. I’d been talking to my Dad about my boat’s bilge water problems. Water had been steadily dripping from a […]
Lost it, dropped it, found it
So far I’ve dropped in the water… three windlasses (dropped in locks, always keep spares); four mooring pins (now I only buy the sort with eye holes); one boathook (while trying to moor in strong wind); one set of keys (always keep a spare set); one watering can; one mobile phone; one photo frame (fell […]
Stratford upon Avon
I went on a long weekend’s holiday to Stratford upon Avon. I didn’t take the boat with me but still ended up spending half the time on the canal. Bought a tasty burger from this boat: Looked around this floating gallery: Got an ice cream from here: And took the ferry across the canal. The […]
Inland Waterways Helmsman’s Certificate
A year ago today, before looking for a boat of my own, I went on a two-day course to get an Inland Waterways Helmsman’s Certificate. Although I’ve wanted to own a narrowboat for half my life, I’d never actually been on one so it seemed sensible to learn how to drive properly and safely. There […]
Canal repairs
A damaged culvert brought part of the Grand Union canal to a stop last week. Unfortunately I’d left Bristol Fashion in the middle of the closed section of the canal. After work I found a British Waterways dredger under the bridge next to the Turning Point pub, blocking the entrance. At the next bridge men […]
(Not quite) The Poseidon Adventure
I went to the Malt Shovel pub last night for a meal (calves liver and bacon is good) and at closing time walked back to the boat. Walking along the boat to bed I put my bare foot down on soggy carpet. Investigating I found the bilge full to the brim with water. Panic! Man […]
Boaters who blog
I use my blog to talk about the experience of living aboard. Other people keep a blog as a log of their journeys; some record their experiences of building a boat; some spread towpath news. But who are these blogging boaters? Take a look at the Granny Buttons website, written by Andrew Denny. As well […]
The necessities of life…
Living on a boat, I have most of the facilities you’d find in a house: they just work a little differently and require more thinking ahead. There’s a large water tank at the front of the boat which I refill every two weeks or so and provides all I need to shower, cook, clean, heat […]