C.L. Peache's Blog, page 14
March 7, 2024
Going back home… Day 216
Friday 23rd February Day 216
I do some more admin work ahead of picking up the car and once again, all goes smoothly as they collect us from the marina. Then we drive straight to Newark to see Chris’s parents and go for a meal. I’m not sure when we get the chance to be over that way for a while as if plans go to plan, we will be heading to London and therefore further away from everyone. Although, in the UK you’re never really that far away from anyone. I think when you’ve been about a bit ((Hey, hey. This is a family blog)) No, I mean travelled to different places in the world, you realise the UK isn’t that big and generally you can see someone within a few hours unless one of you is in Cornwall and one in Scotland that is!
After a nice lunch and catch up we head to the marina where we used to live and have a natter with a few people and pick up our post a friend has kindly kept for us. I decide my only option is to return the letters and mark that ‘I no longer live at this address’ it’s funny how companies refuse to take an address off the system and seem to have nothing in place for people who have no address. They would rather keep sending post to an address you don’t live at ((Bit of a data protection breach!)) I think so too, Brackets. Not that I think anyone at the marina would open them but that’s not the point. I don’t live there anymore!
On the way back we stop and get some shopping and then it’s back to the boat. Day done. Until tomorrow. xx
March 6, 2024
Car hire day… Day 215
Thursday 22nd February 215
It’s time to get the sanding sheets out again today ((Your life is so interesting. Also, your boat is supposed to be 60ft long, how have you not finished it already?)) I have no idea Brackets, I really don’t. This is final room which needs sanding though, I’m so sick of it the boat and ready for the boat to be tidy again for the final time!
Tomorrow we are hiring a car as we need to go and buy carpet and vinyl and all the other bits and bobs we need to finish the jobs, so a car will be handy. We normally use Enterprise for our hire cars which are so far a really good company. The people are really friendly and they come and pick us up from the marina which is a bonus. It feels like a rarity to received good customer service but we have had nothing but, during the time we have used them. They also give points for hiring cars so we manage to hire the car for free for one of the days. Result.
Anyway, it’s back to the sanding… until tomorrow. ((Is that it?)) Yes, sorry, it’s a busy time but not for much longer fingers crossed. ((You’re giving me no chance to be sarcastic in these short blogs. Never thought i would want you to write more Peachy but…)) Day done. Until tomorrow. x
March 5, 2024
Always need a coffee to start the day… Day 214
Wednesday 21st February 214
The day starts with the usual coffee, then breakfast and then it’s a few hours of admin work ahead of the usual boat jobs which wait for no-one – yep, you guessed it. The toilet needed emptying as did the bins. Tomorrow we plan to start on the shower room. I will be so glad when we stop doing DIY – it doesn’t take much for a boat to look untidy and if I move one more thing, which I then realise I need, and have more even more stuff, I’m going to scream ((On the canals no-one can hear you scream))
We welcome a new Patreon to the ever-growing list. It’s really nice to see all the hard work paying off and you never get anywhere in life without help from family and friends. I’m very lucky that everyone is supportive of my journey. ((It’s only because you’ve promised to hire a cruise ship and take everyone on holiday when you hit the big time)) Hey, I’ve got a narrowboat so that’s going in the right direction!
((If you want to be on the best team in town then don’t forget to sign up. Although don’t be thinking you’ll be going on a cruise ship anytime soon. You might get to stand on the stern and travel 3 mph but you aint going to be travelling on the open seas anytime soon)) Sorry another short one today ((we don’t mind!)) when we are back on the canals and i have my book back for editing there will be more exciting updates ((Cannot wait!)). Day done. Until tomorrow. x
Patreon account – get early access to vlogs and you find out our plans first!
March 4, 2024
Boating DIY… Day 213
Tuesday 20th February Day 213
Today the blue skies arrived so we decided to go for a walk around Shugborough – which is a lovely area close to the marina. We haven’t got very long left in this area and I don’t know when we will back this way so we need to make the most of it. Walk done it’s back to the boat for my DIY…
We give the kitchen and dinette a good tidy up, finished some jobs and then vlogged the finished area. We are so pleased with the transformation. At the moment we are painting the shower room so it’s pretty much none stop with the DIY. When we finally leave the marina and go cruising, we have decided we are going to have a week off so we can really enjoy and appreciate everything we have done so far.
It’s an early night for me and I’m doing well sticking to my plan of going to bed early and reading. Especially with these dark nights it’s tempting to just flick through channels ((You wont be able to do that soon Peachy when you get cruising again.)) I know, for those who don’t know; in the marina we are hooked up to mains electric but when we leave, we rely on the boat batteries which have to be charged when cruising the boat or solar panels. Obviously at the moment the sun still isn’t high enough or enough light in the day in the UK, to help much, so our power bank we use to plug the tv in on won’t have much charge on it.
We were going to order a larger power bank but they are about £500 and we cannot afford that with all the DIY we are doing so we will just have to manage. ((more reading time Peachy)) exactly Brackets. Day done. Until tomorrow. x
March 3, 2024
I’m behind again… Day 212
Monday 19th February Day 212
It’s Tuesday 27th February and ((Don’t tell us you’re just updating this blog. You were doing so well!)) I know I was, but we have been so busy with having the car and DIY jobs I just haven’t had time.
This morning was a nice day. In the morning I cracked on with some Book Festival admin work as Chris went out for a bit so it meant I had peace and quiet to concentrate. Then I managed to get last weeks blog up to date and scheduled; which you will have just read. This timeline thing is very confusing when I’m behind with updating it. ((You’re confused!))
I did some more Booktok and YouTube shorts and finally I’m starting to get more watch hours on YouTube again and all the hours put into them are worth it. We figured out how to add text and make it disappear ((I wonder if that works with people?)) within the vlogs. I feel like there is still so much to learn and one day I might actually find I have some time to try and figure a few more tricks out to make the vlogs better.
That’s it for today ((Because Peachy cannot remember what else happened! Which is lucky for you as it means she won’t go on for ages)) If you do watch my YouTube vlogs then it would be fab if you could subscribe. Our next target is 1,000 followers and we currently have 658. It’s free to subscribe and we will be cruising soon so lot’s of the UK to show you along the way. YouTube Channel – Watch our narrowboat adventures here. Until tomorrow. x
Narrowboat life, working and YouTube adventures… Day 205 – 211 / Mon 12th Feb – Sun 18th Feb
Monday 19th February Day 212
It’s Tuesday 27th February and ((Don’t tell us you’re just updating this blog. You were doing so well!)) I know I was, but we have been so busy with having the car and DIY jobs I just haven’t had time.
This morning was a nice day. In the morning I cracked on with some Book Festival admin work as Chris went out for a bit so it meant I had peace and quiet to concentrate. Then I managed to get last weeks blog up to date and scheduled; which you will have just read. This timeline thing is very confusing when I’m behind with updating it. ((You’re confused!))
I did some more Kooktok and YouTube shorts and finally I’m starting to get more watch hours on YouTube again and all the hours put into them are worth it. We figured out how to add text and make it disappear ((I wonder if that works with people?)) within the vlogs. I feel like there is still so much to learn and one day I might actually find I have some time to try and figure a few more tricks out to make the vlogs better.
That’s it for today ((Because Peachy cannot remember what else happened! Which is lucky for you as it means she won’t go on for ages)) If you do watch my YouTube vlogs then it would be fab if you could subscribe. Our next target is 1,000 followers and we currently have 658. It’s free to subscribe and we will be cruising soon so lot’s of the UK to show you along the way. YouTube Channel – Watch our narrowboat adventures here. Day done.
Tuesday 20th February Day 213
Today the blue skies arrived so we decided to go for a walk around Shugborough – which is a lovely area close to the marina. We haven’t got very long left in this area and I don’t know when we will back this way so we need to make the most of it. Walk done it’s back to the boat for my DIY…
We give the kitchen and dinette a good tidy up, finished some jobs and then vlogged the finished area. We are so pleased with the transformation. At the moment we are painting the shower room so it’s pretty much none stop with the DIY. When we finally leave the marina and go cruising, we have decided we are going to have a week off so we can really enjoy and appreciate everything we have done so far.
It’s an early night for me and I’m doing well sticking to my plan of going to bed early and reading. Especially with these dark nights it’s tempting to just flick through channels ((You wont be able to do that soon Peachy when you get cruising again.)) I know, for those who don’t know; in the marina we are hooked up to mains electric but when we leave, we rely on the boat batteries which have to be charged when cruising the boat or solar panels. Obviously at the moment the sun still isn’t high enough or enough light in the day in the UK, to help much, so our power bank we use to plug the tv in on won’t have much charge on it.
We were going to order a larger power bank but they are about £500 and we cannot afford that with all the DIY we are doing so we will just have to manage. ((more reading time Peachy)) exactly Brackets. Day done.
Wednesday 21st February 214
The day starts with the usual coffee, then breakfast and then it’s a few hours of admin work ahead of the usual boat jobs which wait for no-one – yep, you guessed it. The toilet needed emptying as did the bins. Tomorrow we plan to start on the shower room. I will be so glad when we stop doing DIY – it doesn’t take much for a boat to look untidy and if I move one more thing, which I then realise I need, and have more even more stuff, I’m going to scream ((On the canals no-one can hear you scream))
We welcome a new Patreon to the ever-growing list. It’s really nice to see all the hard work paying off and you never get anywhere in life without help from family and friends. I’m very lucky that everyone is supportive of my journey. ((It’s only because you’ve promised to hire a cruise ship and take everyone on holiday when you hit the big time)) Hey, I’ve got a narrowboat so that’s going in the right direction!
((If you want to be on the best team in town then don’t forget to sign up. Although don’t be thinking you’ll be going on a cruise ship anytime soon. You might get to stand on the stern and travel 3 mph but you aint going to be travelling on the open seas anytime soon)) Sorry another short one today ((we don’t mind!)) when we are back on the canals and i have my book back for editing there will be more exciting updates ((Cannot wait!)). Day done. Until tomorrow. x
Patreon account – get early access to vlogs and you find out our plans first!
Thursday 22nd February 215
It’s time to get the sanding sheets out again today ((Your life is so interesting. Also, your boat is supposed to be 60ft long, how have you not finished it already?)) I have no idea Brackets, I really don’t. This is final room which needs sanding though, I’m so sick of it the boat and ready for the boat to be tidy again for the final time!
Tomorrow we are hiring a car as we need to go and buy carpet and vinyl and all the other bits and bobs we need to finish the jobs, so a car will be handy. We normally use Enterprise for our hire cars which are so far a really good company. The people are really friendly and they come and pick us up from the marina which is a bonus. It feels like a rarity to received good customer service but we have had nothing but, during the time we have used them. They also give points for hiring cars so we manage to hire the car for free for one of the days. Result.
Anyway, it’s back to the sanding… until tomorrow. ((Is that it?)) Yes, sorry, it’s a busy time but not for much longer fingers crossed. ((You’re giving me no chance to be sarcastic in these short blogs. Never thought i would want you to write more Peachy but…)) Day done. Until tomorrow. x
Friday 23rd February Day 216
I do some more admin work ahead of picking up the car and once again, all goes smoothly as they collect us from the marina. Then we drive straight to Newark to see Chris’s parents and go for a meal. I’m not sure when we get the chance to be over that way for a while as if plans go to plan, we will be heading to London and therefore further away from everyone. Although, in the UK you’re never really that far away from anyone. I think when you’ve been about a bit ((Hey, hey. This is a family blog)) No, I mean travelled to different places in the world, you realise the UK isn’t that big and generally you can see someone within a few hours unless one of you is in Cornwall and one in Scotland that is!
After a nice lunch and catch up we head to the marina where we used to live and have a natter with a few people and pick up our post a friend has kindly kept for us. I decide my only option is to return the letters and mark that ‘I no longer live at this address’ it’s funny how companies refuse to take an address off the system and seem to have nothing in place for people who have no address. They would rather keep sending post to an address you don’t live at ((Bit of a data protection breach!)) I think so too, Brackets. Not that I think anyone at the marina would open them but that’s not the point. I don’t live there anymore!
On the way back we stop and get some shopping and then it’s back to the boat. Day done. Until tomorrow. xx
Saturday 24th February Day 217
We are up and out for just before 9am and it’s a chilly -1 degrees as we get into the car. We head straight into Stafford and to all the usual shops; The Range, Home bargains, Dunelm, Wickes and mange to get most of the last DIY bits and bobs. Then we head to the carpet shop we visited a few weeks ago as they were so friendly we returned. We found a great roll of carpet for the lounge which was £79 but she did us a deal for £50 as we also bought some vinyl for the shower room at £59 so a real bargain. ((which you’ve not yet fitted!)) Give us a chance.
We take all our purchases back to the boat as the car is bulging, have some dinner and then head back out as we have decided to visit Stone again. This is the place we moored up near for a while last year and we love it. It’s really nice to be back and we do the standard wander of the charity shops and I buy some nice jigsaws. I cannot decide which book to read so task Chris with the decision to choose me one… ((This should be good!)) He chose ‘Woman of a certain rage’ by Georgie Hall ((brilliant)) you don’t need two guesses to why he chose that one! Also, when I read the blurb on the back one of the characters has a canal book – what are the chances!
We go for a sneaky drink in the pub before heading home. Day done.
Sunday 25th February Day 218
We decided we don’t like the tiles we bought for the shower room and the baking trays didn’t fit! You would believe how hard it is to find the baking trays to fit our boat oven. Anyway, we take the tiles back and it’s funny when they ask what my address is for the return and I say I don’t have one and then that leads to explaining I live on a boat. We manage to find some better ones and they are on sale for the bargain price of £3 and seeing into the future and they are now fitted they look great!
Having purchased everything we need and with the car going back tomorrow we decide to have a little tour to Iron Bridge and Bridgnorth. It’s a bit frustrating as the satnav keeps trying to send us on the motorway and we fancied a countryside cruise but we soon realise this is probably due to the floods everywhere and we have to turn about a couple of times. Certainly not attempting to cross a flood in a hire car!
Anyway, we manage to make it and stop to have our pre-prepared egg butties and crisps before heading back home as we have so many jobs to do we really need to crack on so we decide to get stuck into the sanding. ((Also bike racing has started again so they are watching that!)) Alright we might have watched it in between jobs!
Yet another week done and as I’ve said we were intending to leave next Friday but we have decided to stay a few extra days to get the boat finished as much as we can. We are so ready to cruise now but it’s a funny feeling being cast adrift again. I’ve mentioned before about how strange it is for the focus to return to ‘where do we empty the toilet/where can we get water/where can we get rid of the rubbish/where can we get shopping/do we have enough battery power to run the coffee machine. All these routines are back into the conversation of the day but the beauty and privilege of cruising the cut once again make these challenges and satisfied jobs to achieve.
I hope you’ve all had a lovely week. Until next week. x
YouTube Channel – Watch our narrowboat adventures here
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March 2, 2024
Carrying on regardless and TikToking! Day 211
Sunday 18th February Day 211
Still ill but decided I’m going to ignore it. I stay in bed for the morning and get the blog updated and scheduled for the week, then have some noodles for lunch as we have a food delivery on order but it’s not due until tonight and the cupboards don’t reveal anything healthier.
Chris is cracking on with the painting and the bow is finally all blue! Well other than the bits he still needs to grind which we cannot do until we are out of the marina. I’ve mentioned we need to get it painted as it needs a couple of weeks to dry without us having to stand on it, which won’t happen once we are out cruising.
That talk I had with myself must have worked as in the afternoon I have a burst of energy and create a video for TikTok – specifically booktok and it goes down really well and get just under 2k of views quite quickly. I found it pretty easy to learn how to create the video but trying to attach all my other social media account like Instagram and YouTube prove tricky but I get there in the end. I still think my social media will always be a bit random on how i’m feeling on the day and i guess i just have to make peace with that. There are reason people are paid good money to do these jobs!
If i’m never successful financially in any of my endeavours no-one can say I haven’t tried! ((I agree Peachy. You’re a trier that is for sure.)) must be true as you gave me a compliment. ((well I have to keep you going as without you I won’t be able to carry on))
Right, that’s this week done and spring cannot come soon enough. I’m so ready for some sunshine and lighter days. Day done. Until next week which should include us leaving the marina! X
March 1, 2024
Reading goals and being ill… again… yes, again! Day 210
Saturday 17th February Day 210
This day is pretty much a write off as I’m in bed most of the day. Chris warns me to take it easy and have a day off which I sort of do but obviously do a little bit of faffing with the vlogs as well as social media posts. The problem with social media is that if you’re not consistent then the algorithms ignore you and you’re not going to get any traction or views but keeping this up is hard!
At least I manage to also catch up on some reading. As you can tell if you read this blog regularly, I’m not very good at doing nothing. I like being busy and having something to do. I love goals, spreadsheets and achieving things in life. That’s why I get annoyed when I’m ill. ((To be fair can you imagine what you would be like if you were on top form all the time?? Man alive, just think how long these blogs would be! You would be filming a new vlog everyday. A new book out every week. It would be exhausting for us! Most people can barely keep up with you as it is. You never even know how many books you’ve published.)) Fair point!
Does anyone else have a reading goal for this year? I’m logging mine on Goodreads if you want to join me. Day done. Until tomorrow. x
February 29, 2024
I’m coming back as a dragon… Day 209
Friday 16th February Day 209
It’s up at an unsociable hour as the new washing machine is due between 7am and 7pm and there is some anxiety in the air about getting it into the boat, connected and avoid water gushing into the boat and sinking us ((A few pennies were added to the swear jar!)) It went surprisingly well and we now have a proper washing machine on board. It makes the boat feel even more homely and will be useful when we are cruising again and not having the hassle of finding a launderette and carrying our clothes for miles and miles.
I’m trying to work it out and I think the vlog for this should be live now… if you want to see the renovation of the kitchen and dinette from start to finish then have a look. We are so happy with it even if it’s taken a year and a half to get to this stage. Can someone please explain why time goes so quickly?
Oh dear… in the afternoon I go for a power nap because I’ve come down with another cold ((OH come on! You cannot even ring in sick to work!)) I know! I’m so annoyed with myself and this sets about a couple of days of proper grumpiness and many sessions of having a ‘word’ with myself to stop getting ill. Honestly, it’s so annoying that I cannot get on with stuff. Also, I end up missing book group again because when I get up I have some freelance work to do and had to get the Jersey vlog uploaded. The joys of being self-employed! Although generally I love the freedom and very grateful for this life, it’s just hard when poorly and I have no-one who can do the work for me!
I spent the night on the sofa flicking between feeling sorry for myself and feeling annoyed. ((YOU need some sunshine Peachy!)) I know, I think it’s a combo of lack of Vitamin D and peri-menopause it’s absolutely evil. I honestly have something different wrong with me every single day! I am deffo not coming back to earth as a woman – might come back as a dragon… ((are you delirious??))
At least the nights are getting lighter that’s something. I’m holding onto the day when I’m sitting on the stern, basking in sunshine, with a glass of prosecco in my hand appreciating this amazing life. ((you would probably just get sunburn lol)) Day done. Until tomorrow. x
P.S. Today we should be leaving the marina so wish and luck and pray for nice weather!
February 28, 2024
Is this the end… Day 208
Thursday 15th February Day 208
Today was all about getting the vlog ready and uploaded to Patreon and YouTube. I had to film a little intro to explain what the vlog was all about as it spanned a long time period from when we arrived in the marina in December to more or less up to date and included our time in Jersey so thought I needed to explain. ((I’m sure that made it clearer with how you explain things!))
I’ve created and uploaded the short vlog to music in Jersey and I’m really pleased with how it’s been received ((I feel like you already said this somewhere but I cannot be bothered to go and check!)) No, I think I’d mentioned I’d created it but not uploaded it. It slightly different to the normal vlogs as it has music which we have to add the copyright information to the description to acknowledge the creator. We don’t want to get sued but also someone has taken the time to create it and make it free so it’s only right they get credit. Long term we need to look into option of music for the New Zealand vlogs which might also be live by the time you read this.
We have decided to try and broaden our viewers of the YouTube channel. It’s so hard as the YouTubers who get loads of views us the old clickbait. I’m really against this unless it is actually relevant to the blog but if you want to make an income from it, then it’s hard not to join in. For example: if you put on a vlog which says ‘disaster’ or ‘emergency’ ‘it’s the end’ things like that, we probably get 3 to 4 times the amount of views. Anyway, we are hoping by having a broad range of vlogs it will help us avoid having to use clickbait too much! You will see i’ve titled this blog ‘is the end?’ just to do a little test and compare against my other viewing days. I will let you know the stats.
My friend came to visit whilst we are still in a fixed location so that was most of the afternoon spent chatting and then a bit of freelance work and then delving into my latest book – The Gift of Poison by Bella Ellis – highly recommend this series especially if you love the Brontes. Busy day done. Until tomorrow. x
