A random question on Facebook uncovers a tale of two families and one boat
Terra Nova
A boat, a reader and a coincidence
Have you noticed that the world is full of strange coincidences? I’ve always been a firm believer in fate – what is to be, will be – but sometimes the twists and turns that fate takes are very odd indeed.
Environment Agency’s licensing blooper
A couple of months back I wrote a piece in this column exalting in the fact that Environment Agency inspectors had nabbed a significant number of boats on our stretch of the Thames which weren’t displaying the proper registration licence sticker and urging all boat owners to do the right thing and apply for the river equivalent of a tax disc.
She’s a patient lady
Hooray, it’s March – and spring is just around the corner. Okay, it’s still blooming cold and that north-east wind is proving incredibly persistent, but at least the hours of daylight are increasing and there are the obvious stirrings all round the garden as nature prepares to share its colourful bounty.
Moor and peace
Its been something of a busy year in the Smith household – what with my son starting a new job, my daughter announcing that she is going to get married next February (requiring attendance at wedding shows and help with the planning of receptions etc), the hot water tank in our house deciding to leak copiously all over the place…
How life ought to be lived
Right, England failed to win the World Cup, Andy Murray crashed out of Wimbledon and England lost the last two one-day matches against the Australians – everything’s back to normal, then.
Her bottom is foul no more – bring on those long summer voyages
While I was swanning around having a truly memorable holiday in Hawaii, my lovely brother, Alan, was working his fingers to the bone, up to his elbows in grease and diesel fuel, refurbishing bits of the engine on Terra Nova, our old Seamaster Admiral cabin cruiser.
Seal fans, look away now
So the clocks have gone back, Marks and Sparks have got all their Christmas merchandise out on display and the youngsters are letting off fireworks left right and centre ahead of Guy Fawkes’ night. The summer is officially over.
A fresh look at London
Many thanks to my old chum Roger Jolly for taking over the tiller while I toddled off down the Thames on Terra Nova last week. I’ve escorted the old boy back to the ‘Laughing Ferret,’ bought him a pint, given his parrot a handful of grapes and he’ll be fine until the next time he’s called into action.
Our capital adventure
The thing about owning a boat on the Thames is that, just occasionally, there’s a desire to venture to pastures new. To cast off from one’s home mooring and head off into the unknown (well, almost unknown, anyway).