About Us

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In 1977 we hired our first narrowboat from Anglo Welsh at Market Harborough.From that moment our destiny was set. In 2006 we finally purchased our own brand new 57' narrowboat which we named 'Free Spirit'. Our aim is to travel the length and breadth of all the navigable rivers and canals of the UK. This will be our story as it unfolds.

Thursday, 21 April 2016

Yesss... free from the NHS (for now anyway).

Tuesday 19th

 We moved FS back today into the space that one of the hire boats had occupied. Thought it might be safer and less likely for us to be hit. Well we were wrong 'cos the first two boats that turned up, one went onto the landing and the other tried getting in by the slipway. I had to rush out and tell them about the ramp and if they continued might well find themselves stuck. So with nowhere to go it seems that FS had to play her part in becoming the landing.



A lazy day was spent enjoying the sun outside as FS got unbearably warm inside. Windows and doors opened didn't help alleviate the heat and needless to say we didn't bother to light the stove. It was an early night for both of us as the alarm was set for 6am on Wednesday.  We were picked up by Enterprise late afternoon leaving it as late as possible as we didn't fancy paying for a two day hire. We hoped that we would be in and out in double quick time but as this was a pre op appointment and the letter stated I may be there all day, we didnt hold out much hope. As my spinal condition and the pins and needles down the legs had improved we kept fingers crossed that I wouldn't need the operation.

Wednesday 20th

There is something to be said about rising early. The sun was appearing on the horizon and mist was rising from the canal. I opened the cratch to take a photo and caught a Cormorant fishing. It soon cleared off when it saw me!





The journey to Nottingham took longer then we anticipated. Should have known better as rush hour was well underway but luckily Ian knew of some of the back roads and got me to Queens in time for 9.30am. The nurse called me in and tried explaining the procedure but I stopped her in her tracks explaining that my symptoms had improved immensely and I now no longer felt I needed the op. She then referred me to the spinal consultant who was fantastic, agreeing that no op was needed at this time. He said that if my condition worsened again his secretary could be contacted and an appointment made. So we are now free to continue our journey. Don't have to turn round and head back to Langley Mill as we had thought, now that the op has been cancelled. So leaving early, and now with a car, we made good use of it by doing a big shop and buying two 25k bags of smokeless coal from a merchant in Derby and at a good price of £8.50 each. Snow has been mentioned for the Chester area over the weekend so quite glad to know we have enough now to keep us nice and warm.

Taken on Tuesday, loads of Bunnies about and all playing happily until the heifers and bullocks turned up.







This was was partial to a bit of soil

Obviously had no manners 'cos he spat it out.

Canal just feet away. Good job they were sure footed.
Then once they disappeared and the bunnies came back I noticed one with poorly eyes. It looked for all the world to be that Myxomatosis. This is a horrible disease causing loss of sight as well as a lingering death for the rabbit. I thought that this disease had run it's course years ago but obviously not.






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