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.

Stained Glass

Mum tells me that the stained glass piece to go in the bow is complete! I am so excited and can't wait to see it. I have a vague idea of the design; a windmill on a hill, one of my favourite things, the rest will be a wonderful surprise! Mum has been studying the craft of stained glass for a while now and has branched out to make a variety of gifts for people; crosses, hearts and figures as well as commissioned pieces of a butterfly scene and now the windmill. I hear she is looking into producing a circular piece for her home.

Below is a heart that Mum gave to me as a gift, notice the water effect of the glass, pretty!

Whitening Winter

This weekend we started to feel the chill starting with Friday when we woke up to a frosty, cold morning...

We moved to our current mooring spot last weekend after receiving a patrol notice to 'move on'. We have been buttoning down for the freeze, hibernating like hedgehogs. I have merely been concerned with spending my days in an office and coming home at night to a beautiful, warm, loving home. Weekends have been our only opportunity to use facilities and spend over the odds at the Marina. Which might I add, Leigh has done brilliantly getting our rather long boat into a very, very, very tight spot when using Castle Marina services in Nottingham.

On Saturday this weekend we took a lovely jolly in a Skoda South, to the family. We had a warm welcome from Papa Bear and Ma Margaret and were sent off on Sunday with a car full of wood! Thank you to all those that donated each piece, we are managing to stay toasty warm and fend off the freezing cold. Mother bird provided a hearty meal at Sunday lunch-time and has plans for making a commissioned piece of stained glass for the bow. Stay linked to find out more about this...

And when we returned on Sunday, we were 4 inches in snow, Delia was fluffed up like a puffer fish to keep warm and we were breathing smoke like dragons on the boat until the wood caught alight.

Monday morning we carted the wonderful wood from car to boat...

and were hassled by some stylish swans who needed a good feed...

We filled the bow full of bags of wood and made a neat pile beside the multi-fuel stove.

Delia was running up and down in the snow like the trouble she really is...

And I was delighted at such a lovely weekend.

Delia Derbyshire by the seaside

That's right, she packed her bag and took the train to Brighton to visit the Grand Parents! We aren't sure if she will decide to come back to our rough and tough lifestyle after all the creature comforts of a bungalow to explore, central heating and doting family. I'll be dropping by on Tuesday to see.

A welcome message also to Brian and June - Papa Bear told me about you. Just don't print this one out unless you have reams of paper in the printer!

Back in Paddington

October is here already and what a scorcher until today! It was a lovely weekend, beginning with the 1st October celebrating Margaret's birthday with Papa Bear...

which was full of soaking up all the sunshine, a evening pic-nic in Victoria Park, taking the Thames Clipper from Westminster to Greenwich and plenty of tea. And on Tuesday, we got things together and set off from our 14 day mooring spot in South Hackney. It took several hours through the locks, passing Kings Cross St Pancras, Camden and Little Venice. The wind was against us and once again Paddington Basin was a challenge. After a bash and scratch we squeezed into the pontoon space and moored up.

The surrounding buildings at night are illuminating! It often feels quite odd that we are allowed to moor in such a crisp environment. We've got 7 days here and then will be off on the move again. It isn't ideal for Delia as there are few hiding places but she waits until night and heads out when it is quiet and the place is hers!

Practically, there are no resources here so we planned beforehand and filled up with water in Hackney. Hopefully 'Pumpout Pete' (a name our friend mentioned) should be along soon to do the business using his pump out machine from his old boat. We have noticed a frequent stream of businesses operating from narrowboats here selling fuel and providing services to boaters - it makes life pretty easy. Plus the fact that there are few marinas with provisions or facilities in London itself.

Leigh and I have spent lots of time getting to know areas, finding shops, laundrettes, garages, banks. I have still been looking for work with very little coming back which is a bit of a pain. We have both been working hard on our creative projects and finding contacts in the area. All this is noticeably part of the lifestyle of a roamer, which makes life rich and interesting but equally challenging for the most simplest of things.

The wood burner is going this evening with many thanks to Papa Bear keeping us warm with wood and now it really does feel autumnal - you see I was right to put away summer clothes and shoes and get out the winter jackets and boots!

Into the depths of London

Our mooring in Cowley was for 14 days without charge but after the one night we were keen to get into the thick of London.

I picked up some provisions from the local high street which was delightful - already I noticed the diversity of cuisine in the variety of ingredients in the smallest of shops. With our preparations on the hatch, horn, map, camera and tea...

we pulled out the mooring pins (like giant tent pegs) and set off for the last lock. Just before we used the facilities - rubbish bins, water and Leigh went into a canalside cafe to order a quick sarnie. They dropped it out to him as we were leaving.

We were in and out with Leigh working the heavy gates and me on the tiller and the sun was gleaming down.

I was glad to see the back of the locks! We were now on the look out for landmarks... was that Wembley Stadium?

We passed this most delightful boat...

with along the side, black 'lee' boards as noted by Andy's comment.

A mile along the way we reached Packet Boat Marina and the Slough Arm. Our guide book noted that this waterway of the GUC is badly silted and in a decrepit state. By the sounds of it, it doesn't get well used and you can get stuck, running aground. We carried on our way to the Paddington Arm.

We stopped at bridge 200 - Station Road bridge as there is a laundrette just round the corner from the canal.

I spotted a crazy Coot - one of the many birds that live on the canals. Their sounds are quite alarming! Particularly when the are warring.

Back on board, and with the engine going we were very close to Bulls Bridge Junction and the Paddington Arm...

The broken side of the sign is Braunston.

Leigh did an excellent manouver of a 90degree turn to get onto the arm. With a blow of the horn we warned any other boats coming through.

We were invited to our friends mooring at Northolt and popped over to see them.

We left their place early in the morning and the trip was lovely as the dew was glimmering, there was a fresh bite to the air and the canal was ours!

We passed through Perivale Wood (a lovely wooded stretch with Eucalyptus trees and green parrots!), Alperton, Park Royal and Acton, Wormwood Scrubs and into Kensal Green...

We began seeing some London views....

We passed through Little Venice, which is just that, little - not what I was expecting. And round the corner we were into Paddington Basin. We moored opposite this...

A beautifully engineered bridge that curls up like a scorpion tail forming a carefully closed octagon.

Paddington Basin is modern, majestic and full of busy office workers. The jetty is illuminated at night, it almost feels like a marina. There are no facilities here and the mooring is for 7 days only. It is perfectly situated close to the station, tubes and bus routes so it's easy to get around.

We had some lovely family visit us yesterday and we got to show off our brilliant home in the big smoke.

Today we walked to Hyde park and hired the 'Boris Bikes' for the afternoon to explore the park. It was so much fun!

Tomorrow I've got a job interview, so fingers crossed I'll get that. And by the sounds of it, we are staying put in London for winter (getting to Birmingham's out the window) so there will be more from us about life afloat in the smoke.

The visitors

Today in Braunston we had a lovely visit from some family friends. Leigh and I were given a wonderful gift by Fran which will keep the boat illuminated by candle-light and gently sway with the movements onboard.


After some exciting duck and swan feeding, a bit of noise making, collecting and preparing of plums to eat, some delicious banana-cake and talk of walking and writing it was time to think about moving on. We've got four miles to go to get to Norton Junction and then we are back on track to London. Let's start the engine!

What have we been up to?

Friends, family, followers...

My sincere apologies that it has been close to two months since my last post on The Kite Experiment. I shall update and awe you with some stories of caves, hunter gatherings, visitors and other sorts of business.

The canal in Nottingham...


it is still a pretty picture for a large city.


Just a 10 minute walk from the city centre, the canal is positioned below the castle. It lines a lean 'Tinkers Lean' where Delia likes to explore and chase the wildlife as well as escape the hisses of other cats and growls of dogs walking by.

The towpath is a paved path right the way from the river trent to Beeston and there are endless walkers, commuters, and cyclists passing by.


With a thick hedgerow of bushes and trees there is alot of wild action too. Not to mention the amazing array of fruits! Which we had to get our grubby mits on. Well they are free and we are skint so the two go hand in hand.


We are still not sure exactly what these little fruits are, plums? Qunices? Damsons? Any thoughts??


With a tub of these fruits, Leigh made a delicious crumble. They were a little tart but very juicy-lucy.


The potatoes have been growing happily on the stern...


Leigh thinks they are ready, I beg to differ, so we did a test.


I pulled one out to have a look...


Now do you really think this King Edward is ready??


I have been working here in Nottingham, pulling pints at the cafe bar of Nottingham Contemporary (art gallery)


And Leigh and I have been formulating a plan to start our own business. So I have been attending various business courses to find out the finer points of 'cash flows' 'profit and loss' and meeting other like minded people. It is very early days but we are doing our research as we go, chopping and changing our plans and ideas to find the right sort of business which runs to suit how we wish to live. Our first main idea was a mobile cafe, something like this...


But this idea may have to be tweaked depending on raising capital and the market. Lots to work out yet, but our own business is a sure future plan.

I have spent alot of time cracking on with some of my creative projects, and have finally started on my delay FX pedal! Horrah!




I have been tinkering with the guitar again and got some lovely tunes on the way.


Leigh and I bought between us a portable amplifier. Finally we have sounds that are louder than an ant.


The Roland Micro cube is a battery run amplifier that I can play my guitar through we can plug our laptops into, mp3 players, FX units... basically anything with a Jack lead. As I am writing this Leigh is filling the boat with his beautiful washes of electronic music. You can see his 'Flotel' website here.

Leigh has spent his time in Nottingham making brillaint music, gigging...


and exploring the delights of battery operated devices often running several items at once - funny man!


I have also finished my bee-house project.


It was a gift for my mothers birthday but that time came and went and I still had two nails angrily sticking high out of the ply and pieces of bamboo rolling around the bedroom. It came to me over a couple of days when I was in a good mood and relaxed about continuing the diy project. Calm and collected I pulled the nails from the ply roof and set about fixing the base in place with screws (pre-drilling the holes this time!) I even covered over the screw heads with slices of a thick branch. Gluing the bamboo inside the triangle of roof and base was a sinch. After a couple of coats of wood stain it was ready to be gifted. But I was miles from mum to give it to her....

Then, my lovely brothers came visiting their lil' sis.


I handed the gift to them to take back to mother-bird.

I showed my brothers the sights and delights of Nottingham. We went for lunch at the Olde Trip to Jerusalem, the oldest pub in England (apparently, recorded back to 1189AD),


which is built into the caves underneath the castle. It is a fascinating place to visit.


And they loved the renovations to the boat.


It is coming towards the end of July, our time in Nottingham is coming to an end. We are planning to set off again for London on the first of August, yes that is my birthday! I will keep you all posted on our adventure 'dahn sath'. So for the mean time, I wish you all well from the Dove of Belgrade. I'm popping to sainsburys now (literally a two second walk behind the fruit bushes) to get some sunday roast food. Thank you all for staying with me on the journey. xxxx