On this cold bonfire nights evening, we ruminate on our three years of ownership of the Dove of Belgrade. It was in November 2008 we took her on and it has been a steep learning curve, one that we have got into the ebb and flo of. We have travelled the Leicester ring twice at least, done the trent to Nottingham, the GUC to London and now into Birmingham after that we are thinking of the Shropie to see in spring.
We are seasoned boaters, weathered, more experienced and prepared and in good spirits to head into winter. The routine of making the fire, doing the engine checks, dressing in thermals, moving the boat in rain, working locks and living in a compact space is second nature now. Winter and it's challenges is just part of life, a life of ropes and knots, strong arms and legs, muddy fingernails and smokey hair, self-sufficiency and resourcefulness, jumping fish and the best views in Britain.
On the winter note, I'm rather looking forward to the delightful xmas market in Birmingham with it's 'seasons greetings' smiles, fingerless gloves exchanging goods for notes, decorated wooden huts and streams of twinkling lights. In all the winters cold it brings warmth to my heart.
We are currently moored in Tamworth having spent the past couple of days in quaint Atherstone. We visited family and our good friends Rupert the photographer and Dylan the doggy-model. So we decided at Braunston to head via Rugby and up and round to Brum along the Coventry canal instead of the route through Warwick along the GUC. We plan to reach Brum centre by Monday night so I can get to Nottingham for Tuesday. I read somewhere that Birmingham has more canals than Venice so we should be good for cruising about then!
Delia has spent this evening crying at the door to go out but we'd rather she didn't enter the firing line of fireworks and we have tried to keep her busy with strokes by the wood burner.
On the creative front, I've been sending out my poetry to The Eric Gregory Award in the hope of getting some support and funding to dedicate time to make work. Also I have a 'week of tweets' piece of prose in Mslexia magazine in December - its a take on a week in the life of...
Leigh has been busy making his music in the evenings and has started a collaboration with his good friend Orla Wren. Already it sounds fantastic! Can't wait to hear the end results of Flotel vs Orla Wren.
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Amanda here. I hear that there are problems with commenting again. So sorry to those who have tried of late. I am going to see what the problem is from google. Thank you all for reading and responding to my blog.
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