Moving On

Firstly, an apology: I haven't had time to update the blog with all the "interesting" jobs we've been doing for a long time. Turns out having a baby at the same time as trying to build a home, hold down a job and have interests other than boat building doesn't leave much spare time. So you'll be wondering what we've been doing...

This project has taken about two and a half years from buying the boat to where we are now, and it was the realisation that it would never really be "finished", we'd never actually be able to say "there, it's done", and we'd never have time to spend together as a family that prompted our decision. A bullet had to be bitten, no matter how bitter the taste. Bite it we did.

We handed in notice on the flat, giving ourselves a month to finish all the essential jobs on the boat to make it liveable, clear out our flat of all the clutter we've accumulated or been left as "guardians" of by previous housemates, and get moved onto the boat. This meant heading down after work most evenings to work on the boat, then home, eat, and sleep. So the amount of family time dwindled further, other interests were put on hold, and dinner was eaten late. But this was the home straight! Stresses like this are manageable when you have a clear end date. The finish line was in sight.


This strategy was not without risk, but all the major jobs were finished and we knew we could live in it in its current state so everything else would be making life more comfortable. We moved on without hot water on tap, a toilet, a plumbed in bathroom sink, or curtains as well as many other jobs that need finishing off. Several weeks later and thankfully we have a toilet! We're waiting for the gas man to come back to check the work they did connecting the water heater up is safe  - we use LPG which is heavier than air so a leak in a boat is very dangerous - before we will have hot water on tap. Until then we heat water in the kettle on the hob (you'll be pleased to know these have been checked by aforementioned gas man). For curtains we have a temporary solution but as we aren't (often) walking around naked we only need to block the portholes in the bedroom at night to keep the morning sun out. We clean our teeth in the kitchen sink. You get used to having certain comforts at home but it turns out life doesn't end if you take them away. Adapt and overcome!

Life on the boat is actually really good. I won't go into too much detail here because I have another blog post planned for that, but it's the first place that I've lived since leaving my parents house 10 years ago that has felt like home.

I must thank Luke and Sarah for spending a weekend helping us clear the flat and boat, cleaning, carrying, driving, childminding, packing, unpacking... Couldn't have done it without you guys! We're now moored at our 4th place so you could say we've moved home 5 times in the last couple of months! We've had ducks and cows for neighbours as well as some nice people but at the moment we have the most important neighbour: a good pub! You should come visit, we can go for a pint.