gothic city

Those who have travelled with us through Camden Lock on a sunny day will know it is known for it's masses of young gothic revellers, loitering around the lock, sitting on it and generally seemingly unaware that it is used for anything other than a meeting spot for other paleskinned, dark haired friends.

On a winter's afternoon it was staggering (no pun intended) to see how many were out and already hitting the bottle. To me it seems such a waste but then maybe I'm just getting old.

Spot the odd one out.

have boat will travel

What to do with a gorgeous sunny Saturday? Invite friends over and take the boat out. At least for a little while ... all too soon our home will no longer be ours.

Today Lindsay and Delilah came over for lunch and we took the boat out for a short jaunt along the canal towards Paddington. Nate loved every moment (well at least the ones he was awake for).

everybody needs good neighbours

sundrenched

Basking in the morning sun. Hard to believe we're not even half way into February yet.


The forecast snow not only didn't arrive but in fact the sun shone most of the day and has done for most of the week. At this rate our deathly pale skin might even get a bit of a glow about it.

they say it will snow tomorrow

and I think they may just be right.

This morning was one of those awful mornings that make even the brightest button want to stay in bed all day. Unfortunately for me, had I done so, a certain little boy would have been up, drawing all over the walls, playing with all the sharp things and dragging the entire contents of the washing basket through the boat .... again. So rise I did and Nate and I ventured out to 'Messy Play'.

The weather managed to hold out while we were there, but decided to bucket down just in time for our ten minute walk home. The walk then took about twice as long as I fought to push the buggy directly into the galeforce winds, getting drenched from head to toe, the icy winds cutting like knives at my wet fingers and forehead.

Remind me again why we don't live in Barbados? Woz?

conversations on a wednesday afternoon

Woz: "Hey, where are you?"

Em: "I've just picked Nate up from Linda's and I'm on the bus coming home, why?"

Woz: "Because I just wanted to let you know that I'm at St Pancras lock"

Em: "Ok cool ..... why are you there?"

Woz: "It's a beautiful day. I wanted to take the boat out to make sure everything was running ok after the weekend. It's fine."

Em: (a little confused) "Ok great .... so where are you now?"

Woz: "At St Pancras Lock. I should be home by the time you get there"

Em: "Right, (starting to dawn on me) and where's the boat?"

Woz: "At St Pancras Lock"

Em: "Uggh! Well it better be back when I get home because I'm tired and cold and I just want to go home and if you have my home then I can't go there can I?"

Woz: "Don't worry, I'll definitely be home by the time you get there"

Em: (with desperation) "Please, please, please be there when I get there!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is it just me or is it a bizarre concept that someone can just take my house away while I'm not looking?

carpe diem

Today was a gorgeously sunny, mild and spring-like day and so this afternoon Woz and I decided to take the boat out. Now that the boat is on the market (and we have someone who is very interested in buying it) we're not sure how many more chances we'll have to take it out and so we decided to seize the day and invited Dobs and Bec to come with us.


As we moved out of the basin the thrill of 'home on the move' returned to us and re-ignited our passion, stirring up thoughts of 'what are we doing?' and 'we must be mad to give this up!'. Nate seemed to be experiencing it to a whole new depth too and it was so much fun watching him, watching his home, moving down the canal.


The excitement was short lived. We weren't the only ones to relish the opportunity and so when we arrived at the first lock we had to switch the engine off to wait for three boats passing through. By the time they had moved through the lock we couldn't start the engine again and found out that our battery was flat.

We then began the slow journey home, being towed alongside another boat heading our way.

Oh well ......

waltzing matildas

This morning Bec and I had a girly day together to celebrate her birthday. We spent the morning ice skating in the gorgeous setting of Somerset House, not that we noticed. We were both out of practise and spent the majority of the session with eyes transfixed on our feet, or the grandparent moving dangerously slowly in front of us, or the small child whizzing past us and practically between our legs. There were several near misses (particuarly while taking the photos with our phone whilst skating) but thankfully both of us managed to stay on our feet.

Afterwards we warmed up with a hot chocolate and then walked to Covent Garden for lunch.

Being Australia Day we had to visit the Australia Shop in Covent Garden and manged to spend a small fortune buying coveted treats for ourselves.

a very grand entrance

After putting up with a very temperamental diesel central heating system for years Woz and I decided that we couldn't pass on the boat with the heating the way it was and ripped the old system out, replacing it with electric radiators. They're incredibly efficient, have individual timers and work at the flick of a switch! Luxury!

With the space we've gained at the front of the boat where the boiler used to sit, we now have an entrance 'hall' where we have put up shelving for bags and shoes as we come in. It's made such a difference to how clean we're able to keep the boat and we're kicking ourselves we didn't do it three years ago.

Nate loves the new space as he is able to sit or stand on the shelves, leaning up on the counter from his elevated position. The fruit bowl however has had to find a new home.

thank dom you're here

Some of you may know I love a good celebrity spotting and have a natural attraction to all things 'TV'. Last week Woz and I were watching a new TV show which our Aussie readers will be very familiar with, 'Thank God you're here'. It's originally an Australian show, by the production company, Working Dog. Anyway, as the credits were rolling Woz and I were very excited to see a familiar name, our neighbour Dom, who is a production designer. We sent him a text to say that we'd seen his name and he responded with an invitation to go along to a filming session the following week at The London Studio's. You can imagine my excitement.

We had a brilliant night, sitting in one of the control rooms with the production and lighting team. From there we watched the filming on several monitors showing every angle captured by the various cameras, the autocue and the other various animations used in the final product. We watched as props came in and out of the room, watched on as Dom scutinised his work as each new set was unveiled. laughed with the crew at the sketches as they happened and all with the running soundtrack behind us of 'Ok I want camera 2, long shot, camera 4, cut to 8, and pan, camera 3' etc. etc. etc. Dom made us feel so comfortable there and everyone else was incredibly friendly to us too. I warned Dom that they shouldn't be too nice to me or I'd be there every week.

Afterwards, following a tour of the set we joined cast and crew on the 18th floor for drinks over looking the Thames. One of the regulars on the Aussie version, Hamish Blake, made an appearance both last week and at the filming we were at. He was brilliant, and it was very obvious he was a seasoned guest on the Australian version. I was so tempted to go up and say 'hi' (mostly just to tell my family I'd met him) but I wasn't really sure what to say except 'Hi, I'm Austrayan' and hope the conversation moved on from there. In light of the fact that I actually knew little about his work I decided not to go up and introduce myself and I think I can safely say it was best for all concerned.

google us

Since we created our live the dream site I have installed a hit counter on it, mainly so that we could monitor the site and see if anyone was looking at it and if we were getting any returning visitors.

On setting it up I thought I might as well do the same for our personal blogs, so tonight Woz and I decided to have a butchers (to use an English expression) at some of the statistics and found some very funny results.

Key word searches in Google which have led people to our site in the last month:

• banksy
• london snow march
• london weather in march 2006
• how to say st pancreas
• st pancras renovation
• st pancras international
• st pancras inside
• boring (how dare they!)
• bruges canal by narrowboat
• dishes prepared during christmas in london
• london fireworks display new years eve 2007
• boxing day going out london
• copenhagen fireworks video "new years eve"

and our favourite, 'romantic dinner london' in which we made it to number 2 of 263,000!

Who says that romance is dead after six years of marriage?!

should old aquaintance be forgot

Another New Year's Eve, another anniversary which holds particular significance for us. In a way, the three years it's been since we left Australia have flown by, and at other times it seems as though we've been gone for decades.

They say that when you've been away from your hometown or country for a long time and you go back to visit or to live, nothing will have changed. Everyone will still be doing the things they were doing years ago and you will feel that you're the only one whose life is radically different. On the contrary, on our last visit we found our friends lives had changed significantly, they'd become engaged, married, had children, bought houses, changed jobs ... all of those major milestones in life, and there's the terrifying thought that we'll be forgotten in all of that.

And now, a move that will bear even more significance to the changing face of Australia, a new government has been elected in, and the British media has taught us little about our Prime Minister except his name and that he is fluent in Cantonese .... or Mandarin ...., (or are they the same thing?!).

There are of course things we could do to keep in touch. We could listen to the various Melbourne radio stations online, keeping up with the Australian music scene and popular culture (and believe me they vary significantly), but then there's the strange and slightly off putting feeling of hearing the morning news when you're heading to bed or the forecast of clear sunny skies and a hot day when outside it is dark, bleak and cold. We can read our friends and families blogs, where we treasure each snippet of seemingly boring information or irrelevant photo, and there's always the phone, texts or emails.

So, ahead of us lies another year in which Australia and the lives of our friends and families will go on without us. The price we pay for adventure. We're excited about our year ahead and have made a great many ambitious plans we hope will come to pass, not the least of which we plan to finally travel to Africa, a return visit for Woz and a daunting first time for me. Time will tell.

Here's to another year of 'making it count'.

it wasn't me

When we first moved to London three years ago Woz and I heard about Banksy, an English pseudo-anonymous graffiti artist who has revolutionised graffiti as we know it.


Unlike other artists, who seemingly randomly 'tag' walls in cities all over the world, Banksy's work which often features rats, is satirical with anti-war, anti-capitalist or anti-establishment messages.

For a long time Banksy's work was blatantly obvious as he used a distinctive method of stencilling, allowing him to complete large pieces of work in minutes. His work opened the floodgates however as copycat works were seen popping up around London in the very streets Banksy frequented.

This one was mistaken for a Banksy (which would be worth a considerable amount of money) however it was actually sprayed by another artist 'Dbase' who has put his name to many Banksy-esque pieces of art.

Always one step ahead, Banksy visited the graffiti and put his own stamp on the work, a signature rat with a spray can confessing 'It wasn't me'.

coram's fields, bloomsbury

happy days

Woz has taken this week off work and wont return until January 2nd. We're hoping to have some lazy days together, mulling around, hanging out with friends and checking out what's going on in London.

This morning we've had yet another sleep in, this time snoozing while Nate played with his new toys. Then we headed out for a walk to Coram's Fields so that Nate could get some fresh air and run around. We wandered slowly home checking out the flats in the local streets and talking about where we want to live. It's fun dreaming but we're not looking too seriously until we find a buyer for the boat.

As far as the sale process is going we've had loads of hits on our website with many returning visitors, and have a viewing lined up next week. It's strange to think that they could be the very one to buy our home and that our life on the water could be over. Who knows what 2008 will bring?

thames views near putney bridge

angelic

boxing day

This morning after another sleep in we woke to a beautifully sunny day and then the five of us headed out for a walk along the Thames,through Bishops Park and then for coffee at a little coffee shop close by where we sat and chatted for hours.

Back at home tonight Woz and I are sitting by the fire, bellies very full from the last few days of indulgence (and I dare say a few pounds heavier) and yet we continue to eat - a chocolate orange which was just begging to be eaten. I have a feeling we may be making a few New Year's resolutions next week, but until then, we're going to eat and be merry!

and so this is christmas

Woz, Nate and I spent Christmas in Putney this year, staying with friends from Christmas Eve through to Boxing Day.

On Christmas Eve we were invited to drinks at Linda and Sanjay's house where we devoured mince pies, mulled wine and ....... curry! (Sanjay is Indian and over the years his very English wife Linda has mastered the art of traditional Indian cooking passed on by her mother-in-law). Nate absolutely loved the party as most of the people there had kids and brought them along. The adults gathered in the kitchen where we chatted over traditional Christmas music with lashings of Bollywood, and the kids ran riot in the rest of the house. We had a great night!

After the party we travelled home with Bec and Andrew (Dobs) who we were staying with for Christmas. With Nate being the only child in the house and being totally unaware of the excitement of the day, we all slept in until quite late, had a leisurely breakfast, exchanged presents and then got to work preparing a traditional Christmas dinner, led by Dobs.

It was mouthwatering. A huge turkey, covered with rashers of bacon, baked with pigs in a blanket (sausages wrapped in bacon) and stuffing balls (it's not as common to stuff the bird with stuffing here as it is to simply serve balls of stuffing, cooked in the roasting pan with the meat). We had parsnips roasted in honey, carrots soaked in ginger beer, brussel sprouts served with red onion and chestnuts, Yorkshire puddings and potatoes roasted in semolina and goose fat. To top it off was a gravy made from scratch with ham, vegetables and cloves of all sorts of things!

Dobs did an incredible job cooking the elaborate feast for eight, co-ordinating the timing of each dish and cooking each one to perfection - hard to believe it was his first attempt.

merry christmas to all and to all goodnight!

Christmas Eve, you've got to love it. All the anticipation of the day ahead, Christmas Carols playing (or Christmas Songs as they have here), baking, wrapping, the pitter patter of tiny feet totally unaware of what is to come, and food glorious food!

We'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas from Woz, Nate and myself and hope that it brings all the joy and laughter it should.

Here's a little Christmas wish especially from us, we've been practising for a while, so we hope you like it ... (and special thanks go to the little elf who put us on to it!).

Merry Christmas!

jack frost

We've had clear sunny days for the last few weeks and frost most mornings but today we woke to find the basin covered in a thin layer of ice. With Nate locked down in his high chair eating porridge I headed out with the camera with the intention of photographing the ice and got a little distracted capturing the world around me.

This Winter feels to be the coldest we've had yet and the chilly days seem to penetrate to the core. It has taken every ounce of energy on my behalf in getting out of the boat during the day, preferring to hibernate in the warm. Nate doesn't seem to mind the cold and will happily play at the park for as long as I will let him but my time frame is getting slimmer and slimmer.

Winter in London brings an incredible array of delicious aromas; the smell of chestnuts roasting on the street, mulled wine, and the minute we step through the gates into the basin, the smell of coal fires burning brightly. A sweet smell which once you step into the boat, permeates everything and like a warm pair of well worn slippers says, 'I'm home'.

deck the halls

mid morning frost

This week we've had chilly days of around 5 or 6 degrees, and brilliant blue skies which has made it feel about 2 degrees. Every morning we've had a layer of frost and have had to take extra care not to slip getting out of the boat, especially on the early mornings when I leave for work in the dark and the frost isn't visible.

This morning, when I ventured out at 9.30 to take Nate to playgroup the ground was still laden with frost and it appeared as if it had snowed. All the roofs on the boats were covered and glistening sparkly white.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! Fingers crossed for snow!

for sale, enquire within

Well, it's official - Papillon is on the market. After almost three years on the water we have decided to return to terra firma. We have loved living on the water and are sad to be giving this lifestyle up but have simply run out of space with a little boy who is growing by the day, and dare I say it, if number two comes along we simply wont all fit.

It has been a long process getting to this point. We have looked into selling our boat and buying another to put on our mooring, but with only another 10 feet of space we were not sure it was worth the bother and expense. We've also looked into Dutch barges, and even entertained the idea of buying one in the Netherlands and bringing it across the Channel (ever the adventurous types) but the problem of a mooring in Central London for a Dutch Barge defeated us.

So, the search is now on for an affordable flat in Central London that offers close proximity to a park for Nate and enough rooms to house us. We will stand our ground! We will not be driven to suburbia!

In the meantime, we're marketing the boat ourselves, and have designed the flyer below, and a website accompanying it with further information (to stop us going around the bend answering the same questions). Although a good amount of our readers are in Australia, we thought it wouldn't hurt to post the information up for those of you in London who might either be interested yourselves or know of someone who might.

Live the dream!

home

More photos of the new look 'Papillon'. A striking difference from what it was.

right back at ya

Although we have loads of windows in the boat, they're all well above Nate's line of vision. Our bedroom window however, is his window to the world. Standing on our bed he can see out into the basin and watch the boats coming and going and the variety of wildlife that swim past the window.

Woz took this photo using his zoom lens from another boat across the water. I love this shot because it captures Woz's reflection and Nate imitating him by putting the phone (which he knows has a camera in it) up to his eye to zoom back at Woz.

drumroll please ...

We've finally finished painting the exterior of the boat, and just in time too as it's getting way to cold to paint now and much too cold for it to dry with any speed.





A while ago we posted photos of Woz painting over the old signwriting on Papillon. So today we unveil the new and improved version which Woz cut out from signwriting vinyl.

hi ho hi ho

Another Saturday spent working on the boat. Mostly clearing up and finishing off minor things. It was incredibly satisfying to finally cut up all the leftover bits of wood we've had lying around on our roof and on the pontoon, just in case. Now, with all the projects finished, everything left can be either discarded or cut up for firewood, which couldn't come at a better time as it's been freezing here lately.

Also cut up was our bathroom floor, which we loved, but unfortunately was the only design flaw in the renovation. We've replaced the floor with a combination of rubber and wooden decking. (Photos to follow). We're yet to test it as we are waiting on a part we've ordered for the shower but fingers crossed this will be the solution.

st pancras international

Yesterday I met Woz on his lunch break and we went to check out St. Pancras International which is the new Eurostar Terminal replacing the one at Waterloo. We've always loved the outside of the building, which for the last three years that we've been living here has been covered in scaffolding, so the opportunity to see it unveiled was something we'd looked forward to for a long time particularly as Woz has become something of a Trainspotter, or at least, a Trainstationspotter.

Inside it really is breathtaking and exciting all at the same time. It was originally designed in 1863. The Barlow train shed arch spans 240 feet and is over 100 feet high at its apex with every inch beautifully designed and beautifully restored.

It will also house a significant number of shops, cafes and a farmers market which I know we'll make the most of meaning we don't have to head into manic Oxford St if we just want a few things.

Most exciting of all, we are just a few hundred metres from the gateway to Gare du Nord, Paris, or just two hours and 15 minutes. I can't wait until that first trip when we wheel our suitcases from home to our train, taking us right into the heart of Paris.

Ooh la la!

awe

the barlow train shed at st.pancras

time keeps on slippin'

Time seems to be flying by. Only six weeks til Christmas ... geez!

Woz and I have both been really busy over the last month or so, spending all our free time working on finishing up all the loose ends with the boat. Woz has done an incredible job so far and comes home most nights to then spend hours working outside in the cold. Thankfully it has barely rained lately so he has had a good run and he's slowly ticking things off his list. Winter is closing in however and with the evenings starting at around 4.30 pm working on the boat on weeknights is becoming more and more difficult. When I can I've been painting during the day while Nate sleeps. It's a snails pace compared to what I used to be able to do but it's something at least.

When Woz isn't working on the boat he's working extra hours in his job. This week he has worked 7 days, 8 of those hours being from 8pm last night after Nate went to bed to 4am this morning. Unfortunately, the architect contracted to the station which Woz project manages pulled out some months ago leaving Woz (who lucky for his organisation happens to be an architect) picking up the slack. The upside is he's being paid for the hours and can work from home so we're not complaining.

My life has picked up a new pace as of last week. After 18 months I have finally returned to my old job to work part-time, two days a week. I am loving the new mix of home and work and although it took me a lot longer to get back to it than most, it was perfect timing for me and for Nate too I think. Woz has been incredibly supportive in letting me decide if I want to return to work or not, when and for how long.

All in all we're loving life and all it has to offer.

autumnal views

I absolutely love the disctinction of the Seasons in Europe. It's Autumn and every inch of the landscape is clothed in leaves, whether they be falling or fallen.

Not only that but we've been enjoying stellar weather of late, as if to make up for the drab Summer we had, and so the skies are blue, days warm and the leaves are crunchy underfoot.

only you ...

I'm not entirely sure what to write to accompany this photo except to say that Woz is a very lateral thinker. The problem which presented itself whilst painting the boat in the water (most people take it out of water to a dry dock) was that the pontoon which runs along one side of our boat stopped about a quarter of the way of the boat. The solution; a canoe (of course!) in which Woz precariously manoeuvred his way around the boat with a paint brush in one hand and a bucket of paint in the other. It's an absolute miracle he didn't fall in.

The key to his success was to keep the water tank on the boat near empty which raised the hull of the boat. After the paint had dried we filled the tank again and the blackened area sank neatly below the waterline. Genius!

what's in a name?

before

Woz and I have been taking advantage of the beautifully sunny and clear days we've been having and have been painting the exterior of the boat. I was reticent to paint the exterior ourselves and wanted to pay to have it painted professionally, but having started to paint it ourselves I am surprised at just how good it looks and what a difference we're making. As usual we forgot to take any before shots, so when I realised this, the only rusty bit I could find was this small patch which shows you what the rest of the boat looked like. In it's past Papillon has been green, red, light blue , navy blue and now, grey. Traces of this were everywhere on the boat and so with a good sand and a dash of paint it looks like a different boat entirely.

that about does it!

Finally I think I've caught up on our last month in Australia. We had such a great time catching up with everyone but of course ran out of time to do all the things we wanted to do and see everyone we would have liked to have seen. Even a month is not enough it seems.

Thank you to those of you who made the effort to come and see us at Phillip Island, particuarly those who travelled from the city. We really appreciated it and loved seeing all of you.

So, there's quite a few photos there, scroll down the page to see them all, and then when you've done that there's more on the page before so make sure you click on 'older posts' to see them all.

Goodnight Australia.

cough, sniffle, wheeze.

Just a quick note to let everyone know we arrived safely back in London. The second leg from KL to London was fantastic, with a near empty plane which meant that we were able to take up ten seats in three adjoining sections allowing us to set up a play area for Nate, and a sleeping area for us which we took in shifts.

Arriving home however we have all been hit with jetlag and have a terrible flu which has left us all sneezing, congested and with a high fever. I've spent the last two days mostly in bed with Nate while Woz has gone to work. Not quite sure how he has managed because this is honestly the worst I can remember feeling for a long time.

I've been feeling too sick to do anything other than sleep when Nate is asleep so haven't had much chance to update our blog except for tonight but look out for a complete update next week sometime.