Dear Jumper, Just over thirty years ago, on the 27th of December 1989, you were born in Heddal, a small village in Norway. In a house about 100 yards away from the famous Stavkirke. It was cold, even at daytime, but luckily it stopped snowing. I had just decided to get divorced, and my whole world … Read More →
Is a box of energy and a bottle of hours. For some people the time in the marina is leisure time Or, better maybe, absolutely boring. Nothing else to do than hours of computer games, Facebook and catnaps. Oh, and the odd game of golf, of course. Others, however, could do with a bit more … Read More →
Once upon a time there was a country that decided to do something smart: a Brexit (all foreigners out). All inhabitants of that country, obviously not the brightest of people, are delighted. Not realising that without these foreigners their country would come to a complete standstill: vegetables stay on the fields forever, enormous queues at … Read More →
Spotlight on, fog generator working. And WRT appears on stage. That’s what crosses my mind when I set off, early in the morning. Just about to turn around in the winding hole after the New Scarisbrick Arms. This is what I saw when I opened the back doors, earlier on. Mist rising up, over an … Read More →
…I like to be prepared. Too many times I’ve been in a lorry, crossing a EU/non-EU border. Morocco, Tunesia, Switserland. The amount of paper work needed, and the amount of time it takes to cross the border is unbelievable. And this is the ‘normal’ daily situation for these borders. Now think Brexit. All border personnel … Read More →
That’s us back at Scarisbrick. We had to hurry home, because Lawrance is running out of tablets. Which meant me getting soaked the last four days in a row because of the horrible weather. I definitely need new (and proper) waterproofs! Anyway, time for statistics. We’ve been out 185 days, which is a lot less … Read More →
…but had no choice. The Fire Is On! Much earlier than last year, or 2014, or 2016. In these years we lit the fire in the first week of October. I didn’t record what date it was in 2015. Only in 2017 we lit it early, on the 18th of September. Hopefully lighting it early … Read More →
Trust me to run into the biggest fishing competition of the UK. The final of the 2019 Division 2 National. A staggering 18 miles of Shroppie is lined with anglers, with about 25 yards between each angler. OK, there are places where there are none, like Woodseaves cutting, or the Tyrley, Adderley and Audlem Locks. … Read More →
What’s the point of making plans? For landlubbers it might work. But when you live on a boat… forget it. Almost three weeks we spend on the Grand Union. Three weeks of hard work. The locks are all double, and have very heavy lock gates. Boat after boat after boat is moored up at the … Read More →
We’re in Braunston, and met up with Ann and Mick again. They’re facing east, we’re facing west. Then there is a change of plans. Why not cruise together for a fortnight and explore part of the Grand Union? Yes, why not? Well, we’re facing the wrong way, so I have to turn around. Jokingly I … Read More →