Happy New Year <<First Name>>
!
It's time to cruise into 2019 at 3 miles per hour, with a woolly hat on your head and a mug of coffee on the roof hatch at the stern. Or if you're not up for that, just grab a cup of coffee and snuggle up inside to read this month's incredibly true adventures from my narrowboat life!
The Real Life of a Narrowboat Wife
My Narrowboat Wife blog began when I was bringing up young children on a narrowboat. Last month's episode of my epic narrowboat adventure with my young family was about our first Christmas on board. This month I thought I'd share the story of the day that I met Barge Mum. Some days it was lonely looking after young children, while my husband was at work. Because we travelled a lot we never had local neighbours or friends, so imagine how great it was to meet another boat mum moored up near by.
Is it Cold in Winter?
Today I bumped into another boat mum and she invited me round for coffee this afternoon. I carried Baby sister, and Big Sister walked down the towpath; there’s no need for the pushchair as she is only a few boats up from us. She has a lovely Dutch barge and it is for sale. It’s wider than a narrowboat, and in comparison seems huge inside. There is a full size bath and two bedrooms! I started to picture that extra bedroom with two little beds in it for my girls. We sat in her wide-beam living room with wooden floorboards and I envied her bookshelves. There is a lovely writing desk in the corner and I imagined myself writing books there. Dutch Barge Mum provided me with coffee and cream cakes, and supplied Big Sister with a washing up tub to splash about in. Baby sister was laughing at Barge Mum’s two little dogs, I don’t think she’s ever seen little dogs up close before.
I told Barge Mum that I am thinking of writing a book about boating-mums. People are always asking me if it is hard having kids on a boat, and I say no. But then I’ve never lived in a house with kids, I’ve been living aboard for ten years, and maybe I don’t think about all the little things I have to do that you wouldn’t have to do if you lived in a house. They all add up. Barge Mum said,
“Yes, like moving the boat, filling up with water...”
“Emptying the toilet, getting rid of the rubbish and recycling...” I added. “Although that’s just a little job, by the time I’ve got everybody’s coats on, loaded them both into the pushchair and carried all the rubbish to the rubbish point it all takes time. If I lived in a house I would just put it all outside the door and somebody else would take it away!”
“Yeah,” smiled Barge Mum, “and you’d be just chilling in the garden with the kids.”
“So what’s the worst thing about living aboard then? Why are you selling the boat?”
“This winter was so cold” said Barge Mum. You can’t maintain a constant heat with a solid fuel stove.
“Yes, this winter was bad” I agreed. “I mean, the canal always freezes for a bit in January but we were frozen in for about three weeks this year. I’ve never been frozen in that long.”
“We ran out of coal,” confessed Barge Mum.
“Oh my god!”
“We managed to borrow a bag from the boat next door, and then Barge Dad got a lift to Uxbridge Boat Yard, and we bought all the bags they had left.”
“We ran out of water,” I replied, “and used bottled water from the supermarket for washing and everything! But having no heating is terrible – especially with a baby!”
Read more real life stories from our life afloat.
Next month: Introducing the Miserable Monologue
<<First Name>>, I want you to know that I appreciate the time and attention you take to read my stories. You may not open every email, but the fact that you’re reading this now means that you’ve allowed me the privilege to connect with you and share my writing. So thank you. Wishing you and your family a fun-filled, happy and healthy New Year.
Lotsa love from,