Living on a Narrowboat Diary

We wake up in Northampton and go to Delapre Abbey for breakfast. We are early so we talk a stroll around the beautiful gardens. We spend a leisurely morning with our friends before heading to Curries to buy a printer. The one we want is not in stock so order one from Milton Keynes for collection later. We head to the office to do some work, pop in to see my mum and then pick Mia up from school. We spend a lovely couple of hours playing games and enjoying a Pizza birthday feast. It has always been our plan to head out on our boat for our 6-week cruise but our plans change suddenly. I promise to update you tomorrow when our plans are finalised. Visit A Life Full of Meaning to find out more about our life onboard Nutshell.

It is a significant day in the next stage of opening up the country after lockdown, pubs and restaurants are now open and you can now go inside peoples houses. You can even give people a hug! We head to Northampton, first stop at the office and then onto a Travelodge. We are celebrating our friends birthday at the pub. We stop off at Chloe’s to drop off the awning pole that Glenn fixed yesterday, it was so good to be able to pop in and have a cup of tea. We stroll to the Collingtree and meet up with our friends, it was sooo good to see them. Visit A Life Full of Meaning to find out more about our life onboard Nutshell.

Video Diary | Narrowboat Vlog | Sun 16 May The weather forecast predicted rain all day so we decided to stay on the boat. Glenn tried out some soldering bars that he had brought from eBay and I busied myself cooking a lamb biriyani. Visit A Life Full of Meaning to find out more about our life onboard Nutshell

Glenn takes a trip to Watford to deliver a couple of boxes, he then does some jobs that have been bothering him - including replacing some rotten wood around the galley window. Mum and I walk take a stroll into Burnham on Sea and have a mooch around the shops, we stop for a coffee and a toasted teacake and get back to the caravan before the rain starts. Visit A Life Full of Meaning to find out more about our life onboard Nutshell.

I am still in Somerset with my mum spend the morning visiting graveyards in my ancestry search. We head to Norton Fitzwarren and then to Staplegrove. I am surprised we find my mums aunt and uncle, plus several other potential members of my family. I am really loving Ancestry! Glenn finishes packing his fulfilment job and gets the last of the packages despatched. Visit A Life Full of Meaning to find out more about our life onboard Nutshell.

Mums and I head to Burnham on Sea for a little holiday while Glenn has a fulfilment job to do at the office. Once we have checked in to our caravan on the haven site, we go to the town to watch the RNLI boats launch. My nephew James is a crew member so my mum proudly has her photo taken with him. My brother is a head launcher but he isn’t training today so he tells us what is going on. Visit A Life Full of Meaning to find out more about our life onboard Nutshell.

We start the day with Mr (Very Aggressive) Swan trying to get our attention. He taps on the boat, pulls at the cratch cover and generally, we will not leave us alone. This is all our fault as we feed him yesterday when he brought Mrs Swan to see us with their beautiful babies. Yes, we were suckered in by the babies. He eventually leaves and we vow not to feed him again. Glenn goes to see Jeff, and help him and Liam put up a new shed. Visit A Life Full of Meaning to find out more about our life onboard Nutshell.

My birthday celebrations continue as I open a lovely hamper from Jeff and Sally. Glenn makes some cheese and bacon turnovers and the weather is so awful we stay in all day. We share some very sad news, 99-year-old Vena passed away this week, we send love to Keith and his family. You can watch this podcast on Youtube Visit A Life Full of Meaning to find out more about our life onboard Nutshell.

50!!!! I celebrate my 50th Birthday in lockdown but I don’t need to worry as it is jam-packed full of laughter, gifts, virtual birthday wishes and doughnuts. It was a perfect day and I felt loved! I am ok with turning 50, to be honest, I feel so lucky to be alive. Does that sound a bit dramatic, maybe, but with everything going on in the world I can’t help but feel grateful for being safe and well. Anyway, anytime I think I am ‘old’ I am just replacing that with the word ‘wise’ You can watch this podcast on Youtube Visit A Life Full of Meaning to find out more about our life onboard Nutshell.

We start the day the right way, with a delicious bacon and avocado sandwich, before Glenn heads off to the office. I stay at the boat working and I am very excited that the Lingovie cards are going to print. Glenn calls to say that Grove Lock has flooded and water is all over the road.  I head out for a walk but the towpath is super muddy so I cut my walk short. Glenn comes home with a surprise afternoon tea for two which is a birthday gift from Debbie, my sister in law. You can watch this podcast on Youtube Visit A Life Full of Meaning to find out more about our life onboard Nutshell.