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.