A typical day...

 The autumn days are gradually getting cooler so the first job for the first person to wake up is to turn on the diesel heater, and the boat is soon toasty warm. The heaters are spread throughout the boat, and as well as keeping us all warm, they are very handy for drying bits of hand washing that we do when we shower. We don’t have a washing machine, so most of our laundry is hand washed as we go along and it works quite well. We have used one launderette so far, mainly to wash the sheets and towels and larger items.

Breakfast is usually muesli, or porridge on colder mornings. And coffee, of course. Often the boys will fire up the engine and set off at a sedate walking pace while enjoying their morning coffee out there. The engine is also what charges our batteries for the lights and powers the inverter to charge electrical items when needed, as well as heating our hot water for showers. We usually have a ‘boat shower’ that goes something like this:  turn on water, wet down, turn off water and soap up, turn on water and rinse off. Short and sweet, but you are clean and fresh at the end.




It’s very pleasant out on the stern deck, sharing a coffee and keeping the skipper company while they navigate the twists and turns, locks, bridges and tunnels of the canal. It’s early morning right now and outside at the moment there is forest with leaves changing to their autumn brightness and squirrels scampering around collecting acorns and dropping them with a thud onto the cabin roof.





By lunchtime we will have either found a pretty spot to stop for a while, or decide to eat as we go along. Lunches are usually either ham, cheese, tomato toasties or Emmy eggs, which is an egg fried with ham on the bottom and melted cheese on top, between two slices of toast with relish. Yum. Thanks for the great idea, Emmy! Both are quick and easy to make on our full size gas stove.


The front well deck is a good spot to sit and have a bite to eat  and a chat, or just watch the world go by, enjoying the ever changing reflections and scenery. Often we come across boats going in the opposite direction, and usually exchange a cheery hello. When there is a boat following, we sometimes leap frog through locks or lift bridges: one boat will open the bridge, go through themself, let you through too and then close the bridge and set off themselves, which leaves them behind you. Next time, you let them through after you, and end up following again.




When we stop close to a town we will often go for an afternoon walk exploring, and if not we might continue on until we find a pleasing spot to stay for the night. The plan is no plan, so it’s all very relaxed and relaxing. If we love a spot, we will stay on for more than one night. When we’re close to town we will often take our shopping jeep and pick up the bits we need. If we’re canal side, there’s usually a pretty walk both ways along the towpath. (Sorry for all the pictures of stone bridges, I admit I am a bit obsessed.) 






There is no shortage of pubs along the canals, every village has at least one, and some pubs don’t even seem to have a village. We have eaten at quite a few pubs now, the food is variable but I guess you get that everywhere. Some of the best meals we have eaten have been cooked right here in our own oven. Roast chicken with all the trimmings is a favourite. Tonight I'm cooking an Irish meal of colcannon, which is basically mashed potatoes mixed with braised cabbage, onion and bacon, and Irish steak cooked with a sauce of caramelised onions and Jamieson's Irish whiskey. We are definitely not going hungry. And a glass of wine, of course.



Evenings are spent chatting or reading, and then off to bed. Goodnight!

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