Well 2010 was a great year for me, not only healthwise, as my operations have been successful, but I managed to buy my narrowboat Caberfeidh. Everything I touched seemed to work in my favour, well, apart from my suggestion that we should Liveaboard.
The boat is looking good, and most of the conversions are nearly done. Not bad, considering the weather we've been having. I'm still working on the wife !, hopefully, she will change her mind, but I know that whatever happens, I will be a permanant fixture on Caberfeidh at the start of this season. I have learned a lot by reading the many great blogs of the canals residents, and some of the fantastic Forums online. The supportive messages from wellwishers have only encouraged me that it is possible for me to go it alone. So as I wave goodbye to 2010, and life on the bank, I will raise a glass and look forward to a new life on the cut. Happy New Year Everyone, may 2011 bring health, wealth, and happiness to all my new friends.
NB CABERFEIDH
MY BOAT
Thursday 30 December 2010
Wednesday 15 December 2010
Digging in for a Long Cold War
The bombshells been dropped, and now I'm sittiing among the shrapnel & debris. I've had it all, the tears, the anger, the hurtful slanging match, and now...Listen, hear that ? thats the sound of 'The Silent Treatment'. I'm just glad that we don't have any kids, as I couldn't go through with the ''Tell your father his dinners ready'' etc,etc. A few things were said in anger, ( I hope), like, ''I just wasted 5 years of my life lookin after you'' and ''I wish I never allowed you to buy stupid boat''. Allowed ? I think she's taking marriage vows too far, Love honour & OBEY.
Oh well, I suppose I know the answer to her joining me on board now, something about Hell freezing over, which shouldn't be too long now, if weather forcast is anything to go by. -{thinks}' Wonder if the dogs wanna share their bed'.
So it's on to planning my life aboard Caberfeidh, I'll have to get on to the forum, as I need a lot of Newbie Liveaboard/Constant cruising questions thats gonna need answering ? Ducks to avoid low flying quilt. Oh, so its the couch for me then I take it. Night night.
Oh well, I suppose I know the answer to her joining me on board now, something about Hell freezing over, which shouldn't be too long now, if weather forcast is anything to go by. -{thinks}' Wonder if the dogs wanna share their bed'.
So it's on to planning my life aboard Caberfeidh, I'll have to get on to the forum, as I need a lot of Newbie Liveaboard/Constant cruising questions thats gonna need answering ? Ducks to avoid low flying quilt. Oh, so its the couch for me then I take it. Night night.
Thursday 2 December 2010
The other side of me.
Just in-case you wonder what I do when I'm not working on the boat,in my spare time, I'm a stage hypnotist. it's lots of fun and goes down well at parties. See an example here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80j2xrVHc_c This was me in Las Vegas where I did my training.
The Seven Year Itch ?
I sat here the other night (at home), staring out the window at the snow, it's -16 degrees out there, and my thoughts are with those out there on the cut. How are they coping ? god, I've so much to learn if I'm to be one of them next year. ''Can you imagine being out there on our boat right now'' I said to Brenda, -'' No bloody chance'' says she, as she turns the thermostat up a few degrees. Mrmm, not the right time to tell her that that's my intention then, eh ! ? She has me by the proverbial testiclaires, as they say, as she has had full control of my life and where I go, since my accident. She does all the driving to and fro, has been steering the hireboats whilst I did the locking, ( I have to rest the paralysed right arm after my last operation, to allow the transplanted muscle & tissue to grow). Damn, that driver, gone are the days when I could just jump on the motorbike, with tent on my back, and disappear for a few days.
We celebrated our 7th anniversary last week, both of us had come out of a previous bad relationships, and been on our own for years. I'd swore blind never to go down that road again, but here I am. Apart from boats,we always had shared interests, and she was a regular pillion passenger on my trips to the MCC rallies. Don;t get me wrong she likes the boat, once I persuaded her to join me, but sees it as a holiday destination, escape, and not as I do, as a way of life. ''You love that boat more than you love me'' she just said, and I blush, she could be right ! Oh oh, I feel a guilt trip comin on. I almost feel that I'm having an affair, and I've just been caught out.I have already planned the 'new name trip' for next year, the route, places to see, things to do, features like the Pontcysyllte aquaduct,Anderton Boat lift etc just to say 'I've done that'.
So, we need to talk, and as the time draws nearer, I have to decide if I could go it alone, theres plenty out there who've done it, and I'm sure if I get stuck then I could always ask help from the many people I've met out there, and those I've yet to meet. Will she, won't she ? We'll see. Watch this space.
We celebrated our 7th anniversary last week, both of us had come out of a previous bad relationships, and been on our own for years. I'd swore blind never to go down that road again, but here I am. Apart from boats,we always had shared interests, and she was a regular pillion passenger on my trips to the MCC rallies. Don;t get me wrong she likes the boat, once I persuaded her to join me, but sees it as a holiday destination, escape, and not as I do, as a way of life. ''You love that boat more than you love me'' she just said, and I blush, she could be right ! Oh oh, I feel a guilt trip comin on. I almost feel that I'm having an affair, and I've just been caught out.I have already planned the 'new name trip' for next year, the route, places to see, things to do, features like the Pontcysyllte aquaduct,Anderton Boat lift etc just to say 'I've done that'.
So, we need to talk, and as the time draws nearer, I have to decide if I could go it alone, theres plenty out there who've done it, and I'm sure if I get stuck then I could always ask help from the many people I've met out there, and those I've yet to meet. Will she, won't she ? We'll see. Watch this space.
Saturday 27 November 2010
Art Work For Boat
The Story So Far...
There's nothing more life changing than when you have life, (as it was) taken from you. Lost my job,as I couldn't protect myself, never to ride my bike to a motorbike rally, and my right arm, (which I used for everything) hangs uselessly at my side. But hey I'm lucky to be alive they told me.
My wife, of 2 years ,Brenda , gave up her career to look after me, as I needed 24 hr care at the time. After 23 operations to date,I'm back on my feet, though my arm still has very limited use, and severe muscle wastage. We purchased a few static caravans in a holiday park in Scotland, to supplement our income. This is doing well, but I remembered my holidays afloat and decided that I wanted to fulfill my childhood dream of owning and living on my own boat.
Barbara in background as she was.
I did all the usual searches, magazines,brokers etc, but the ONE eluded me. Brenda wasn't keen on the idea of boats, due to an incident in a boating pond when she was a child, but I was determined even to the point of discussing divorce. Eventually I persuaded her to join me on a hire boat and she could make her decision from there. She loved it, and on our return we discussed the possibility of purchasing one of these boats from Black Prince. John Lucas at Stoke Prior took us round 'Barbara' a five year old cruiser stern, the usual checks performed, a week on the cut , and a deal was struck. The boat was painted out of their stable colours and blacked, John said that we could moor her there, and that she would be handed over to us with a full intenary just like they would send her out on a hire, and that he'd look after me with paperwork etc. She still has 2 years to run on the existing BSS but John has booked a new one to be arranged for Feb 2011.
I had an inverter,battery charger etc fitted in September and organised for a signwriter to design and paint her new name 'CABERFEIDH' on over the winter. A few changes are required, so that I can eventually live aboard her, so I've begged and pleaded throughout the Forums for info and tips required to do so. A multi fuel stove will have to be fitted as a priority though type & model is yet undecided, any recommendations.
I have just returned from an inspection visit and was really surprised to see the amount of boats moored there. I've never seen it so full.Speaking with a few CCr's, ( most of them have boats purchased from Black Prince's several bases) they reckon that its going to be a difficult winter. They all had a tale to tell, and welcomed me with tea n' bacon butties. I can't wait to join them. Even through the most difficult times I find myself really envying you all. The cameraderie, scenery, pubs and the glass of wine shared at the waters edge, This is the life for me.
So whats my plans for next year ? well, most of the year will be spent cruising the many, yet to be discovered ( by me ) waters, that I've been reading about in the many blogs here. I will spend 3-5 weeks at a time on board (mainly persuading Brenda that we need to be permanently there to experience the life). She hasn't realised that I plan to be permanently on the cut, and thinks that my purchase of the boat was just as a bolt hole we could escape to for a couple of weeks a year ???,and the purchase would satisfy my desires. Will she come round to my way of thinking ?...., I don't know,... will I give up on the idea ?.... NO WAY. This time next year, I will be onboard, living the dream.
Well, thats the story so far, how will I do ?... Watch this space.
To all you guys & girls out there on the cut, my best wishes go out to you. Be safe, take care and I'll see you out there next year.
p.s. I'd like to hear from anyone who has been holidaying on Barbara as I'd like to know more of her history.Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I will add to it as and when things happen.
My wife, of 2 years ,Brenda , gave up her career to look after me, as I needed 24 hr care at the time. After 23 operations to date,I'm back on my feet, though my arm still has very limited use, and severe muscle wastage. We purchased a few static caravans in a holiday park in Scotland, to supplement our income. This is doing well, but I remembered my holidays afloat and decided that I wanted to fulfill my childhood dream of owning and living on my own boat.
I did all the usual searches, magazines,brokers etc, but the ONE eluded me. Brenda wasn't keen on the idea of boats, due to an incident in a boating pond when she was a child, but I was determined even to the point of discussing divorce. Eventually I persuaded her to join me on a hire boat and she could make her decision from there. She loved it, and on our return we discussed the possibility of purchasing one of these boats from Black Prince. John Lucas at Stoke Prior took us round 'Barbara' a five year old cruiser stern, the usual checks performed, a week on the cut , and a deal was struck. The boat was painted out of their stable colours and blacked, John said that we could moor her there, and that she would be handed over to us with a full intenary just like they would send her out on a hire, and that he'd look after me with paperwork etc. She still has 2 years to run on the existing BSS but John has booked a new one to be arranged for Feb 2011.
I had an inverter,battery charger etc fitted in September and organised for a signwriter to design and paint her new name 'CABERFEIDH' on over the winter. A few changes are required, so that I can eventually live aboard her, so I've begged and pleaded throughout the Forums for info and tips required to do so. A multi fuel stove will have to be fitted as a priority though type & model is yet undecided, any recommendations.
I have just returned from an inspection visit and was really surprised to see the amount of boats moored there. I've never seen it so full.Speaking with a few CCr's, ( most of them have boats purchased from Black Prince's several bases) they reckon that its going to be a difficult winter. They all had a tale to tell, and welcomed me with tea n' bacon butties. I can't wait to join them. Even through the most difficult times I find myself really envying you all. The cameraderie, scenery, pubs and the glass of wine shared at the waters edge, This is the life for me.
So whats my plans for next year ? well, most of the year will be spent cruising the many, yet to be discovered ( by me ) waters, that I've been reading about in the many blogs here. I will spend 3-5 weeks at a time on board (mainly persuading Brenda that we need to be permanently there to experience the life). She hasn't realised that I plan to be permanently on the cut, and thinks that my purchase of the boat was just as a bolt hole we could escape to for a couple of weeks a year ???,and the purchase would satisfy my desires. Will she come round to my way of thinking ?...., I don't know,... will I give up on the idea ?.... NO WAY. This time next year, I will be onboard, living the dream.
Well, thats the story so far, how will I do ?... Watch this space.
To all you guys & girls out there on the cut, my best wishes go out to you. Be safe, take care and I'll see you out there next year.
p.s. I'd like to hear from anyone who has been holidaying on Barbara as I'd like to know more of her history.Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I will add to it as and when things happen.
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