Last weekend was our second time trading at the Huddlesford Heritage Gathering as it's a bi-annual event. I've even got a photo published on their 2017 write-up - a terrific tiger! It was a fortuitous final festival of 2017 for us, as it's nearby geographically to where we'll be spending the next 15 or so … Continue reading Huddlesford – for us a final 2017 gathering of registered traders
Facepainting
A Funtastic time in Droitwich
There's something very special about this small town; it has a most endearing feel. Having spent a fair amount of time here since 1998, when my mum and dad relocated from Sutton Coldfield, I've got to know its nooks and crannies rather well. Every time we came back for a holiday from New Zealand we'd … Continue reading A Funtastic time in Droitwich
Busyness on land and water – heading to Blisworth for the weekend
What a fun experience facepainting (mostly) adults at an evening wedding reception in Leamington Spa on 30th July. I'm so thankful I took the plunge to build 'Funtastic Facepainting by Sandra', an artistic talent I hadn't realised I was capable of. Barry came along as my line-manager and supporter, and of course helper to carry … Continue reading Busyness on land and water – heading to Blisworth for the weekend
Mercia Marina’s First Floating Market
Returning to Mercia Marina last week, for their first Floating Market, produced many more magical memories for us. Shortly after mooring up on the trade boats pontoon, at almost the same spot we spent November and December 2015, there was a knocking at the canalside kitchen window. We like to believe the playful swan attracting our … Continue reading Mercia Marina’s First Floating Market
Floating Market Fun in Fazeley Followed by a Photo Shoot
I'm loving gathering information for our weekly 'Trading Tales' feature - we'll publish a new one every Friday at 12 midday, as long as I'm given stories to share. You won't be surprised to hear the inaugural post by fun-loving Heidi and The Pirate Boat was rather popular! With the season now in full swing, last weekend … Continue reading Floating Market Fun in Fazeley Followed by a Photo Shoot
An up and down weekend at St Richard’s Festival in Droitwich
“Stay in the gazebo or you’ll catch your death!” Adults often say the most ridiculous things to children without thinking. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at this startling statement uttered by a parent of children waiting to have their faces painted. Luckily they all saw the funny side too. “Oh look. There’s death. … Continue reading An up and down weekend at St Richard’s Festival in Droitwich
St Richard’s Festival Droitwich – our third time trading
Festival season for narrowboat traders is finally getting in full swing - starting this weekend. While many of our colleagues are at Norbury Canal Festival, we're happily back in Droitwich for the third year in a row. In previous years we've been thrilled to moor up comfortably close to Helen and Andy and their 'Wild … Continue reading St Richard’s Festival Droitwich – our third time trading
A blustery boggy Bugsworth Basin – but a brilliant first trading weekend
'The Wizard of Oz' turned out to be a very appropriate theme for the Buxworth Community Gala. There were times I wondered if Dorothy herself had returned, and the storm-like conditions were taking us to a magical '... there's no place like home' destination. Barry's newly constructed canopy (see above taken Friday evening) came a cropper … Continue reading A blustery boggy Bugsworth Basin – but a brilliant first trading weekend
Meandering up the Macclesfield Canal for our first festival of 2016
It feels like longer than five months since our last festival at Stourbridge in October. Fortunately we're not totally reliant on such events for income. Winter has been slow for The Home Brew Boat sales, but significantly better than previous years. Last week something happened; as if people suddenly woke up and realised spring is … Continue reading Meandering up the Macclesfield Canal for our first festival of 2016
Our winter plans so far
Isn't it fabulous that Barry's posting his favourite images of 2015? I'm loving seeing scenes I'd forgotten about, and remembering why we've chosen this lifestyle. The Inland Waterways contain such a wide diversity of beauty, no wonder Barry's so enraptured by it (I quite like it too!). Latest news from Mercia Sitting still at Mercia … Continue reading Our winter plans so far
Boat businesses – it’s all go on and off NB Areandare
Winter may be the time of hibernation for many animals. We may have come to a standstill in relation to continuous cruising, but definitely not in regards to 'working'. Making self-employment on/from a boat work I recently read entrepreneurs leave behind 40 hour working-weeks to find more freedom and flexibility in their life. This resonated … Continue reading Boat businesses – it’s all go on and off NB Areandare
Huddlesford Heritage Gathering and Barry’s 20 Questions in Canal Boat
Amongst the 2,000 miles of interconnected navigable canal and rivers in England and Wales, there remains sections in the process of restoration - some more actively than others. Lichfield, a cathedral city (famous for it's three spires), is a short distance north east of Sutton Coldfield, where I grew up and raised my two children. … Continue reading Huddlesford Heritage Gathering and Barry’s 20 Questions in Canal Boat
10 of our best bits from Blisworth Canal Festival 2015
We’d heard tales of the fabulousness of Blisworth Canal Festival via Helen and Andy, aka ‘Wild Side’, who’d regaled us with tales of their annual experiences over their past few trading years. Sadly we weren’t able to make it in 2014. The logistics of travelling from Hebden Bridge, where we were for the Tour De France … Continue reading 10 of our best bits from Blisworth Canal Festival 2015
Adapting to the realities of running three businesses from a narrowboat!
It's around five years since Barry and I first began formulating the possibility of finding ways to make a 'sustainable' living, continuously cruising aboard a narrowboat. Running three businesses whilst moving around the system involves a bit of a juggling act! Allowing a plate or two to stop spinning and fall (like writing this blog … Continue reading Adapting to the realities of running three businesses from a narrowboat!
Appearing on the cover of Waterways World …
Many readers will be aware before Barry was a master home brewer, he'd been a professional photographer. In fact 35 years of his working life was spent photographing weddings, family portraits, the majority of the schools on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, and a plethora of commercial contracts. He sold … Continue reading Appearing on the cover of Waterways World …
A cracking time at Crick after a challenging start
Wow! What a wonderful weekend we had at The Crick Boat Show - in spite of a particularly challenging beginning. Our arrival on Friday turned into a bit of a tense and troubled time, as due to what seems like a communication cock-up somewhere, we had no mooring booked on the harbourmaster's list. A case … Continue reading A cracking time at Crick after a challenging start
Getting a soaking at Alvechurch AND en route to Crick
We're currently 'speeding' along at 3-4 mph to the Crick Boat Show. Barry's driving in the pouring rain which promises to accompany us throughout the day. Unfortunately we don't have the luxury of sitting it out as we've 55 miles and 79 locks to get to Crick in time for the show. I'll be making … Continue reading Getting a soaking at Alvechurch AND en route to Crick
Showers, sunshine and socialising in Stone
It's certainly been an interesting weekend here in Stone at another of the Roving Canal Traders Association Floating Markets. Arriving on Thursday afternoon, we slotted in between 'Here be Dragons' and 'Reverie', in the middle of a line of ten trading boats. Trading and socialising Barry set up shop on Friday, and there were a … Continue reading Showers, sunshine and socialising in Stone
Meeting many people and trading at Middlewich
Whatever happens this year in relation to Barry's visa, one thing we know without a doubt is how incredibly fortunate we've been to meet so many lovely people - mainly through this blog! The past four days have been enriching in many ways. Not financially, we've had a steady trading weekend, nothing extraordinary. Convivially though … Continue reading Meeting many people and trading at Middlewich
Six weeks grace – seeing a bit of boating business!
Things are beginning to calm down a little here in Worcestershire, so much so I even managed to squeeze four days and nights back with Barry from Friday to Tuesday for a taste of 'normality'. We ventured into town one evening for a Thai meal at a restaurant mum, dad and I often frequented on … Continue reading Six weeks grace – seeing a bit of boating business!