Poetry: chalk works

I have been wanting to try out some outdoor poetry ideas that have been percolating of late. So with a few pieces of chalk in my pocket and camera on my back I found some places in Beeston to sketch my ideas.

In between
the two of us
you may find
the secret of
the universe.

I watch you and
try to reason.

Often

By the fast flowing river Trent I discovered some tree scarring that has taken place...

I saw this little fella and couldn't resist...

Plump stump


Along the trail by the river, a pathway has been made edged with small wooden fencing, I thought it would be ideal for a short piece...

Rivers wide, carries breath to the tide.


I made these pieces influenced by the surroundings and thoughts which bubbled up at the time. Using chalk was a quick solution, it won't be permanent and would probably wash away in all the rain today. I wonder if anyone might have discovered the pieces, especially those first poems in the hedge.

Keeping warm

Photo from Wex Gallery

This week, we have still been burning coal to keep the boat warm in between the rain showers. Our fuel stocks are low and after being told by the petrol station attendant that they only provide seasonal outdoor products; it's April there is no coal or wood only disposable bbq's and bags of briquettes, we have been on the hunt for free wood. Fortunately, we found some broken chair pieces in a skip and picked up some kindling from a shop in town to keep us going over the weekend. In Nottingham however, there is a lack of woodland lining the canal so my searches for dead wood have been unsuccessful here and without a vehicle it is not all that easy to collect wood from any distance. Leigh has been doing a spot of research on the weather forecast and by the sounds of it May is going to be cold too. Baa! Time for a cuppa I think!

Tuition and The Drought

I am a member of the River Canal Rescue, akin to the AA, but for boats. The engine is due a service next month and I am considering arranging for the one-to-one tuition provided by RCR for a cost of £150 plus parts. An engineer comes to the boat, helps/instructs whilst undertaking a service on the engine. This will cover oil changes, filter changes, checks of the alternator belt and stern gland, battery testing, top-up and checks. The tuition will last for 4 hours and can cover further engine specific queries during this time.

This might initially be quite an expense but it could be of help later on, as I could then complete an oil change and keep a knowledgeable eye on the engine so as to flag up any issues.

The weather in the East Midlands is quite frankly appalling. It was hailing again today. However, with the drought on everyone's lips as there is a lack of ground water from the south right up to Leicester, the rain is well needed. There have already been restrictions on the canal network, and the holiday season has not yet begun! This doesn't bode well for a summer of cruising. Oddly, we were warned off from cruising out on the River Trent on Saturday due to it being in flood.

So, here we are still on the Nottingham Canal, awaiting our engine service to then consider any further cruising in either direction on the Trent.

Without the elements

by Amanda Young


Without the elements
We yearn for combusting passion.

Without the elements
We starve of oxygen in air.

Without the elements
There is no reservoir to wash in.

Without the elements
We have no soil to prepare.

Without the elements
There's no cosmos to deify.

Within the elements
Our nerve endings electrify.

Stained Glass by Suzie Young

My brilliantly talented artist of a mother, Suzie Young has created this exquisite piece of stained glass artwork for the bow window of our boat. It is set off delightfully by the black cratch cover and wooden frame. We just need to frame the stained glass piece in wood, fix it in place and it will brighten our bow. I can't wait until the bow doors are open, sun illuminates the glass and I watch the twinkling of the windmill from our bed.

Potting on

Whilst I spent the Easter holiday galavanting around the south coast, Leigh was tending to the greens on board. For all of our benefit he documented the next steps in our gardening project; potting on...

The dwarf beans were far from small so were the first to be repotted and they have loved the transition, jutting up and out...

The bush tomato and chilli plants are maintaining themselves although still rather small. The courgette's are thick and firm and I am awaiting the next growth spurt of spikey courgette leaves. Out of all the herbs in the window planter, only the basil has come up so I've started over again with the herbs and planted a tomato plant at either end. The garden bed for the roof is not yet assembled and I am waiting for fairer weather before this happens. Still, whilst awaiting the fruits of our plants, we have been tucking into the sprouting seeds in sandwiches and salads, Mmm...

Garden on board

The raised garden bed which will sit on the roof is still under construction and I am cogitating on resolving it some time soon. In the meantime, we have been occupied with sowing the abundance of seeds donated to us from wonderful mother bird. Leigh has been excellent at watering and keeping the young alive and through the propagator we can see life!

There is movement in the trays of soil dotted around in the sunny spots of the boat...

The courgettes certainly are coming on strong...

And the lettuces are stretching their little green leaves up high to the streaming sunlight...

We also have bush tomatoes, chilli peppers, dwarf beans and squash which we are waiting to see a peek of green from soon. In the indoor window box, I have planted all the herbs of choice; parsley, coriander, basil and chives.

And this year we are filling up on micro salads in the form of sprouting seeds, easy to grow, no soil, only wet kitchen roll in a jar, covered with cling-film and they are so good for you...

So even with limited space, resources and money it is working out well to grow our own food aboard our narrowboat.

Seed bombs

By Amanda Young


A flower array in Fibonacci's sequence
like the coiled serpent whose mouth is wide open - listen
with your curly ear, searching
as the wind catches mycelium spores.

New York's 70's community garden, inspires the introduction.
A Guerilla Gardener's page-turner of green-fingered individuals and groups.
Forking over the city scape to recreate a vibrant vegetative life-force,
where seed bombs explode under flickering street lights.

Teased, tempted, hungry for community growing -
gypsophilia, gladioli, garlic and green beans.
Disused spaces, reclaimed for usage - we tend,
and engage again with the fruits of all shared gardens.

Modelling Monday

All photos of Delia Derbyshire are by Lovely Leigh