A float on Miracle - 20ft narrowboat

^beardie they're so cute!! and if thats in your boat, WOW. Is she a widebeam?

Christmas on the Towpath:
Last night the Norwegien asked me where I wanted to be for Christmas. He wants to go to the Filter Beds and showed me on the map where that was. Alot of the people he knows will be down there and I think the quiet of Stone Bridge is starting to bore him. He checked Springfield and there's no room for me or him without asking people to move closer to eachother - not something I really want to do..
So with luck we'll mosey down there and I'll expereince my first Towpath Christmas surrounded by total strangers.
Intrepid.

No,its a narrow boat.Thanks for the compliment.Id like to say she`s nearly finished,but as you know no sooner you think so,something breaks or goes wrong!
In the last week-overheated the stove=boatfull of smoke+broken air control on stove:(

                   -Dead generator:(  :(
                   -Leaky window:[

oh well,on another note,the flooring that you can see was left next to a skip!solid beech no less.there was just enough to do the whole boat front to back.Long live skip diving/recycling:)

What area are the filter beds in?i have not heard of them before.I`m sure you will enjoy meeting the locals.

they're just at clapton beardie. We're south Leabridge road about 200 meters. Its a conservation area. Really nice for so close to town.

Dec 27.Tow path Christmas.

On the 23 after about two minutes of chatting and being given a coffee the Norwegian is looking at my hands.
*You burnt yourself again i see. *
Yup, its horrible but at least I'm getting to look like a boater. I smile.

His brow knots up and he purses his lips. I've come to recognise this is the visual signals him thinking about something.

I wait.

He half gets up from his couch, then shakes his head and sits back down.
He looks at back at the patchwork of burns across my hands.

*OK. *
He gets up and rummages about in his cupboards and then presents me with a shiney green Christmas box.

Open it he grunts and looks away.
I wasn't expecting a present.
The Norwegian has been quite adimit that Christmas is just another day to him and he doesn't celebrate.
Now, he's gotten me a gift.
To my surprise its a pair of Red Leather welding gloves.

So you dont burn your hands no more. He offers.
I get it.

I don't feel awkward about the mug I am going to give him now.

Dec 25th - 8am

I brought the Norwegian a Christmas present.
When I hand it to him he starts flapping.
I've caught him off guard and he tells me so. He's not ready to do Christmas presents it seems in Norway they do presents after the evening meal. I tell him its no problem and he can do it later.

We're all going to have a bon fire tonight after a pot luck style meal.

I'm pretty nervous to meet what appears to be the owners of some 30 boats moored up here for Christmas. The Norwegian knows most of them but I think he's nervous too.

He can't cook so he's never accepted an invitation to dinner before now.

What type of person accepts a dinner invite when they can't receprocate? he'd asked me when I expressed surprise at this. *I don't want to be that bastard so I just say no thanks. *

I got the feeling he would have again refused if I'd not been so keen.

We've found a trading point in cooking.
It's a relief. Since he confessed to only eating take away and ready meals, I'm teaching the Norwegien some very simple and quick receipies and he's helping me up the vertical curve of boating life.

I've promised to make the food.

I had a salad at LMNH the week before Christmas and i'm going to recreate it for the pot luck. It's got roast sweet potato, tomatoes, toasted sunflower seeds and spring onion. I'm making it on the Norwegian's boat, partly because he's going to watch and learn and mostly because his kitchen is much bigger.

**I've also gotten him a proper knife. **

Because he doesn't cook his kitchen knives are cheap, dull and horrible.
I clocked that and came prepared.

You're going to have to open your presents now. I tell him. (I'm not prepared to tourture myself cooking with his knives)

He opens the mug and giggles. It's big enough. He's really pleaesd.
I'm gonna save it til my one breaks.

Then he opens the knife.
He looks at it, touches the blade, feels it's weight and reads the name on the blade then turns to me. It was an expensive gift, too expensive for how long we've known eachother but I want him to enjoy cooking.

I know that's the nice gift he motions to the blade, but I'm really excited by this one, he picks up the mug again and smiles like a kid who's just been given a large amount of candy.

There's a lot of chatter and commotion outside.
There was talk of naked running this morning. I look out the window and see it's not running but rowing.

Two row boats each with a couple. Naked.

The boys, sitting with legs close together modestly only have bowler hats and wellies on, the girls are in carnaval feathers and lingerie respecitively. They're drinking champagne and going boat to boat to say hello.

We're the last on the line and run out to greet them with Baileys. The other boaters have met them with good cheer, no one is upset.. a pensioner walking on the towpath called out she'd love to join them.

**If they were looking to outrage, they've failed. **

We go to the kitchen and I explain the salad. I give him the spring onion and he begins the prep with his new knife.

It dawns on me, I'm really looking forward to my first boating Christmas.

Bet he grows to love that knife when he starts to cook a bit.

Nice one Jacqui, not many people get to enjoy a community like the one you have.

^ i think you're right. in time.

Only on the canal!Sounds fantastic,Jacqui..enjoy

Are you @ the Filter Beds now ? Our family have always loved visting them since we first found them 14 years ago. They remind me of the bird reserves in Suffolk such as Walberswick.For me, its where the Lee/Lea gets back some wildness and mystery , if only for a few 100 metres. Walthamsow marshes are also worth exploring, thats the bit N of you on the eastern bank. Its a SSSI and has a herd of cows, but they have now gone indoors till the spring

Whilst it does not look like it will happen in the next few days , the beds look great in the snow or the frost.

Get well soon, Jacqui (after the oysters).

Good story.

Merry Christmas Jacqui!

Ah Ducky.

29 Dec. Duckie vs Dog

Duckie is turning into a tom.
He's nearly a year old now and he's begun to fill out into his adult shape.
I'm constantly amazed when I catch sight of him at specific angles and I can see the adult features starting to change his kitteh cute into maturity.

We're at the end of the tow path at the Hackney filterbeds now and there's one good willow that he's be practiciing climbing since our arrival. He's not accustom to the narrow boat dog population that's prevelent here. Happily the dogs are all quite chilled and passive toward the cats, most seem to have cat companions in fact.

Regardless, Duckie has made it clear that he's not down with the dogs.

Last night I was visiting the Norwegien to watch a movie, Duckie was out. Down here about 200m from the Leabridge road it's pretty quiet. People rarely walk the river at night. The towpath is temporarily suspended so its a dead end.

So, what happened was quite surprising.

There was a thump, then the terrible sound I shall never forget of scrabbling of claws against hull.
I bolted to attention.

*Its duckie in the water. *

The Norwegian is in his boots out the door closely followed by me in socks. By the time I get out he's on the roof of his boat looking on both sides to see Duckie and he's yelling at the hooded owner of the Staff that's going mental to put it on its lead.

**The hooded figure is unresponsive. **

*Can you please put your dog on its lead. *

Nothing.

Can you please put your dog on its lead.

The hood raises and I see long blond hair framing a gaunt face wtih glassey eyes and an unfocused stare. She has the lead in her hand and in slow motion begins to approach her dog.

The dog is confused.
He's circling about.
In the confusion, he's missed Duckie's scramble up the bouys (hung in horizontally with extra ropes for claw insertion at the waterline only a few days ago, until hessian can be found) back onto land past him and up the willow.

Eventually the dog is leashed and she continues in her daze to walk toward the fence that blocks the path. The fence is inches from her face and she's clearly unsure as to what to do.

You can't go any further calls the Norwegian, still atop his boat.

My eyes have adjusted and I'm scanning the woods and the tree I know Duckie's been practicing on.

"Duck Duck Duck"

Silence.

*He went into the woods. *

Duck Duck Duck

It's too cold to leave him out here and he may be hurt.

Duck Duck Duck.

Walking toward the willow I see a flash of white. I'm nearly below him when he finally meows back to my call.

He's shaking.
He's dripping.
He looks so small with his hair plastered against the shivering frame.
He won't come down to me.

The dog and its owner have disappeared back down the towpath. I go to my boat and get the fish treats Duckie got for Christmas from Chris and Julia. The smell of those coax him down low enough to allow me to grab him.

He lets me lift him off the tree and I hold him close, soaking my front completely.

Inside he tollerates a rub down with a towel and an inspection for cuts, then goes off to sit and clean in front of the stove.

When the movie is done, I find Duckie, dry and alseep infront of the stove. He doesn't wake up when I pick him up to leave but he starts to purr.

The last three posts were truly beautiful, Jacqui.

The characters are so well shaped, from the quiet manner of The Norwegian to the vulnerability of Duckie, it is incredibly real to read (I know it actually is real, but making it so in words is a tricky task!)

I hope you're keeping copies of these posts in separate documents for future publishing!

Add to list:
Give 'the Norwegian' a name?

I disagree. I like the fact that he is 'The Norwegian'.

[QUOTE=Innanzi;2583248]Add to list:
Give 'the Norwegian' a name?

I disagree. I like the fact that he is 'The Norwegian'.[/QUOTE]

I have to agree with The General here. The semi anonymousness of it keeps the focus where it should be. On Miracle, Jacqui and Ducky.

So pleased Ducky climbed out on his own. I've been loving this.

^ Agree - the writing here is gripping.

Come to Little Venice Jacqui - I'd love to meet you, Ducky and Miracle.

Howard, which boat are you? I'm on Roe (70' River Class) but not back until tomorrow, then moving east is you fancy locking through together? There will be a brew on from around 2 if you fancy it

Aside from thoroughly enjoying the updates, I love how this thread is unearthing a lfgss boat community (... waiting for The Norweigian to pop up on here) - it's funny how folk meet. Also interesting hearing 'boat speak' ... some posts farther back took some deciphering!

Howard, which boat are you? I'm on Roe (70' River Class) but not back until tomorrow, then moving east is you fancy locking through together? There will be a brew on from around 2 if you fancy it

Ah I'd love to but it's only our flat that looks over the canal. You are more than welcome to pop in for a cup of tea though :)

I think I'm going to be caught up tomorrow fixing leaks by the phone call I just had :( Will let you know though as it may well be simple enough to sort. My friend has been looking after my boat and she's cool with her but doesn't know every little idiosyncrasy!

Hope you get it sorted :)

I has thought that dropout/drop-in was the thread of the year..... But on reflection this one wins, by a gazillion miles.

@purple mist - i do hope you get the leak sorted!!! Wish I could help but you know how green I am still. The Norwegian or his mate a clean cut hippy (both very good at metal works) may be able to help.

I'm really looking forward to meeting you east then heading toward little venice actually so let me know where you're at. Can't wait to see ROE, she sounds simply lovely.

Duckie seems obsessed with climbing the Norwegian's boat, and he's failing spectacularly. He seems to think the window bars are a ladder and has AGAIN this a.m. gone under.

My hearing of such sploshes and cat cries has gotten rather fine tuned and it took me about 45 seconds to be out at 8am in barefoot and braless to fish him out.
I'm now waiting for my towel to dry so I can shower. We need to get to a non corrugated bank, all this Duck - Fishing is giving me grey hair.

Oh Duckie.

x