just the two of us

On Saturday morning Woz helped one of our neighbours, Dom, take his boat down to the local boat painter around the corner. Dom hadn't taken his boat out since last Summer so he called in Woz to help him out. We've taken our boat out too many times to count, particularly in the last few months as the end to our 'barge years' draw to a close.

The exterior of Dom's boat was in a particularly bad condition so it will be a complete transformation when it comes back ... although he's still not sure what colour. Plenty of time for that though!

busy bees

Life in our household is very busy at the moment. We have an endless list of 'to do's' which seems to be added to daily with a comparative few being ticked off. There's the boat safety certificate and everything we've had to do to make sure it's up to scratch, the hull survey, booking tickets and everything else that comes with it for our trip to South Africa and Kenya in April, trying to find a place in a nursery for Nate, and then there's finding a place to live which to date has involved countless hours of scanning the internet, as yet, in vain.


The sale of our boat is coming along nicely, well frightening close actually. We haven't agreed a date we will move out as we're yet to find a flat to rent, but with the new owner having sold her flat and staying on a friends living room floor we're obviously keen for it to happen a.s.a.p.

there were three in the bed

Well it's official, after three years we now have cabin fever. They said it would happen, and actually we didn't think it would take this long, but three years down the track, with the end in sight, the boat all of a sudden seems to have gotten smaller. Nate's toys seem to be bursting out of his toy basket, our clothes out of our wardrobe and even the kitchen cupboards seem to have shrunk.

Only we still don't know where we're going next ...

no fixed address

It never fails to amaze me how much of a spectacle a narrowboat passing through a lock becomes. Add to the equation a flashy modern boat and a cute toddler and crowds are drawn, infinite in number and unrelenting in their stare.

This afternoon I had another disturbing phone call from Woz. This time he and two mates had taken the boat out to Paddington. I was of course planning on coming home and relaxing but once again, a familiar conundrum presented itself. How is it that I can go home when indeed my home is not at home at all?

The answer today lay in the number 29 bus where I jumped off at Camden Lock to meet Woz, Dobs and Martin. Our past experience of Camden has been either passing through on the underground, an exercise which results in only a brief interchange with Camdenites, or to pass through via the canal, where the younger Camden crowd come face to face with the lock, and almost with ourselves. Venturing through Camden High Street on foot on a warm sunny afternoon however is an entirely different scenario. Pushing a buggy through the immense crowds who are knee deep in Doc Martens, clothed in black and sporting multi-coloured mohawks is an experience not to be forgotten and certainly one that left me feeling out of place.

I finaly met up with the guys at the lock, where millions of visitors (no word of a lie) photographed and recorded us as we passed Nate over the railings, then the buggy, then me.

I don't get it ... Boat goes in, gates close. Boat goes down, gates open. Boat goes out again. It's not that exciting.

But still they stare ...

mooring anyone?

What a rollercoaster ride the last few months have been.

On New Year's Day we had a phonecall from someone who had seen our site and was interested in viewing the boat. We'd only listed the boat a week or two before, and over the busy Christmas period so we hadn't anticipated much interest. We acted immediately and scheduled the viewing for later that afternoon. What a great start to the year!

The viewing took two hours as the enthusiastic couple questioned us on every detail and inspected the boat inside and out, getting very excited in the process. They left us high as a kite with full intentions to buy the boat. We then stopped taking viewings and put everyone else who contacted us on hold. A fortnight later with great reluctance they came back to us, regrettably unable to finance the purchase and terribly disappointed.

So were we.

But not for long, with viewings back on the cards our second intersted buyer came along. He too loved the boat and after a quick 20 min early morning viewing before work he too set off to organise the finance on the boat. A week or so later, he had bad news for us, and once again, our hopes were dashed.

I'd like to say we were very level headed about it all but in all honesty we had a few dark days there when we realised that the hard bit wouldn't be finding someone who loved the boat, but finding someone who could finance it. It really felt as though we'd never find anyone.

Last weekend we scheduled a third viewing ... she offered and the process began again. Things don't feel like they're on hold this time though as we've been busily exchanging emails and paperwork. Having given notice to British Waterways, if things go ahead we could be moving in as little as a month ... but where to?

According to our poll, our readers think that we should opt for a bigger boat. We're still searching, and should a mooring come up we'd love nothing more.

Anyone got a mooring up their sleeve?

slightly different from yesterday

like sunday morning

cashed up?

Of course there is always a plus side to publicity, particuarly when you have a captive market of obviously interested punters. At the risk of being completely inundated with questions, potentially making our leisurely afternoon into an advertising campaign we put up a 'For Sale' sign on our boat. Lots of photos just like this one were taken. Now we play the waiting game.

camera shy

Every man and his dog was out walking along the canal today. It was our first trip out since last Summer and somehow over the Winter months we had forgotten the amount of attention boaters receive when stopped at the locks. Everyone was looking into our boat, watching us working the lock and taking photos. Their unrelenting stare proved a little too much for me at times (ever the wallflower) and I realised I'd have to get used to it again, sort of like soft winter feet walking bare in the dirt again after months of socks and boots. At least that's what we did in the country!

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!"

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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?!