Oh Vanessa, that was such a lovely touch to serve yourself Custard Creams in memory of your nan. I so love your vlogs, they are the highlight of my week! Looking at your bee mug, here is a little bee tale for you.. The other evening I found about 10 drowned bees in a birdbath in my garden. I was devastated. I emptied the water in anger and placed all the dead bees on a large stone. During the night I happened to be researching how to make a bee bath when I came across an article that explained that bees can be brought back to life after drowning by drying out the excess water and putting them in sunlight to warm up. So next morning I took each one carefully in the palm of my hand and sat in the sunshine with them until they dried off and warmed up enough to fly away! Whilst they were drying and warming I had the honour of watching them wash themselves. I was able to study them up close, something that, hopefully, I'll never have the chance to do so again. It was truly a wonderful experience. I managed to save all but two bees! X
I have also rescued bees from birdbaths. The sun will dry them out and also give them a little honey off a toothpick and that can perk them up. Sue from NZ
Oh my goodness!!!! What an incredible story of love for our tiny creatures and nature. You are just wonderful for the care you took to first try and find a bee bath suitable for the bees and then to discover this miracle of bringing them back to life! Honestly, this moved me so much. This is what the real world is about- people like you, but we never hear about them as the media want to portray doom and gloom all of the time. Thank you so much for highlighting how beautiful human beings are! Have a super weekend, take care🐝🐝🐝🌻🦋💚
It's always good to have official confirmation that biscuits are good for your health. I see your grandmother has passed her love of custard creams onto you too! Thanks for another gorgeous vlog. I have just managed to snap up a copy of your 2023 journal. Yay! xxx
Custard creams, 4 grapes a day and jellied eels were my Nan's regular foods in her 90s! Thank you so much for buying my book and for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
What I find so amazing is how you get through all those locks on your own, driving in opening ,closing , I would find that quite scary. I love the peace and tranquility your videos give me . And Zephyr is such a clever dog and the perfect companion.❤️
I am so pleased that you are enjoying the videos. I travel with my husband so he helps with the locks, but you won't see him on the camera as he isn't allowed to be on social media due to his work's strict code of conduct. Thank you so much for watching. Have a super rest of the week. Take care🌻🦋
@@themindfulnarrowboatthanks for sharing that info!! Do you ever find it frustrating that on camera he cannot share in a lot of the experiences, although I hope he actually does share in the experiences. It's just that we don't see it. I was wondering about managing to do all of THAT lock work alone!! PS I just ordered one of your books, can't wait!! You're such a talented artist and I share your love of wildlife!! However I can barely draw a stick figure!!!
Hi Vanessa, You fight your way through the elements. It's nice that the canal is maintained so well. Very special the boys in the mines. A sad accident for sure. Indeed a fantastic story about your grandmother.
Hi Vanessa ~ I’m new to your channel - I came across one of your vlogs last week, and was Very pleased I did - you really did go through troubled times in the storms - I haven’t even began to watch this vlog yet but felt I had to comment - I live in a rehabilitation centre as I suffer with multiple sclerosis and lupus - so it’s lovely to find a travel vlog that’s inspiring- your drawings are absolutely beautiful - sending love and hugs ~ Xxx
Louise, my heart goes out to you- what a brave and wonderful person you must be, to be in so much pain and still find time to make such a kind and caring comment to me. Thank you so, so much! I wish you all the best in health, happiness and miracles! Take care🦋🌻💚
7:40 how he looks back at you is so sweet somehow🥰 he probably wasn’t expecting any kind comments if it was a normal day for him! Call me old fashioned but looks like that one makes me wonder what are they thinking about! 🤭I thought your comments about Hanley Park were lovely, good to root for the underdog👍🏻 have a lovely weekend on the canal❤
Hello Vanessa, I grew up in the Armley area of Leeds in the early 60's to late 70's, around St Barts church, It was known as a slum area, bit rough but if you lived round the area it was great, 95% of my family lived around us (and there was a lot of relatives) so they made sure I wasn't getting in to too much trouble lol. The area had a great sense of community, which I think is lacking these days. My Grandad (on my Mother's side of the family) was a Bevin boy during the war, down the pits around the Castleford area. he was involved in a few tunnel collapses and ended up with an adults fist sized 'dip' in his back due to the collapses. He ended up being on the surface looking after the pit ponies and then working as a bus mechanic until he retired. He was my hero growing up and I still think of him often. Another awesome vlog Vanessa and thank you for triggering some memories of my Grandad for me. take care and stay warm, till next week x
Your comment made me cry, John! No wonder your Grandad was your hero growing up. I read that many boys who were the age to go to war prayed that they wouldn't be chosen to go down the mines! Sometimes, I think we should all look back on those who lived before us and be grateful that things are not that tough anymore. Thank you for your beautiful comment. I am so pleased that the vlog brought back these memories for you. Have a super weekend, take care🦋🌻
Hi Vanessa. Good to see you again, a smashing vlog, thank you so much. You mentioned your elderly gran, who lived in London. You don't sound 'cockney' at all. We follow several other narrowboaters, they tend to get anxious when they have to raise a bridge and stop the traffic 😢On one occasion Kevin Shelley (well known narrowboater "CountryHouseGent) he suffered verbal abuse by stopping the cars 🚗. That effected him for a long afterwards. You really got a bargain with that replacement chimney 😅. We look forward to see you soon ❤take care Nessa xxx
You brought back some superb memories for me. I worked for the Prudential in the mid 1970s in Leeds. My patch was Armley Morley Dewsbury and Brighouse. The Withers stands out for me. But most of all were the wonderful people.
@@pamelawatson2366 A school friend, Dave Burrows, used to live in the Edinburgh's in the mid 70's. Edinburgh Terrace I think, and another mate, Alan Naylor, used to live on Town Street across from the Edinburgh's. we used to roam that area, playing kick can and hop-it or football (though the residents didn't like it)
Working my way through your lovely Vlogs, so many inquisitive questions regarding narrowboat living ❤ in May have to visit the Norfolk Broads to take a look for myself at these beautiful boats ❤
Good day birding. I has some similar but different birds in my backyard. Bushtits, pine siskins, and once in a while a varied thrush in the summer. Lots of little juncos year round. Hello from cloudy Oregon, USA.
I am so pleased that you find the vlogs relaxing and that you shared them with your friend too- say 'hi' from me. Thank you so much! Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
I've just found your channel and have already watched quite a few. Very good production quality. You have a very calming voice and manner which I find nice. Great shots of narrow boat life, wildlife and art. I intend to work through your library. Congrats on a good channel and thanks.
Well, I am so pleased that you have just found my channel and that you are enjoying the vlogs!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hi Vanessa: I'm glad that your lovely trees survived your two storms. It must feel great that the weather is Springlike with all of the birds and sunshine. That's pretty scary how the man's truck ended up in the canal but glad no one was hurt. Those men cleaning up the debris must have been cold but glad they ensured the canal was safe for boats. Glad you made it to your water pit stop. Wow! Your 95 yo nanny was sure saved by her custard cream biscuits from the cricket ball! I'm glad she wasn't hurt. Oh blimey! You lost your chimney! Last night one of my neighbors pointed out a bald eagle perched in a tree across from our apartment complex. His white head made it easy to spot him and I grabbed my binoculars and enjoyed his majestic profile. A barred owl was in a tree next to our apartments earlier this week, which the same neighbor took a picture with his mobile. The Castel you spotted looked beautiful! Glad you found a nice, quiet place to moor with bunnies and geese for company. And Tawny Owls too! Annddd a brand new chimney with hat! Your bird count was much appreciated I'm sure by RSPB. 🐦🕊🦅🦆🦢🦉🪶 Loved watching you draw the Castel. Have a great weekend! Jenny 🫖🍵🐰
hi Vanessa. What a journey you have had, first the problem with the poor man in the water clearing the debris then the problem with the bridge not lifting. Still you found a lovely mooring. Loved your video keep them coming.x
Another pretty as a picture vlog Vanessa. I knew you'd work out that bridge that didn't raise at the initial try. More information and instructions would help the unwary. I believe you see more variety of Birds in one afternoon than I used to see in my long walks through the countryside as a younger Man in England , Mansfield ,Teversal , Pleasley on the walkways were the old Rails had been removed. I cycled mainly. They do not sell Custard Creams, Hob Nobs, Digestive, Jaffa Cakes etc in America so I really miss England more after this episode. I see weekly you have a passion for Wildlife and Biscuits. That's Cookies for the American Viewers. See you next week Vanessa :)
Hi Paul, I hope you are able to find cookies that taste as good as custard creams where you are? It is an essential part of life's enjoyment! Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🦋🌻
Hi Vanessa! Re the Bevan Boys, the lottery was if your call-up number ended in a 9 you were to be a Bevan boy and sent down the mines. There is a book by Tom Hickman, Called Up Sent Down (The Bevan Boys War) a very good read Regards Mike
That sounds like nail biting narrowboating to me as it's impossible to see what is in front of your boat when steering isn't it?Thank you so much for watching. Have a super week, take care🦋🌻
What a wonderful skill you have, I am an RSPB member and a very keen birder, but never done a bird count day. I think it is always in November? And I confess not inclined to visit the UK during the winter (too cold & wet). So I find your vlogs especially rewarding, your outlook on life really is mindful. The Mindful Narrowboat(er) indeed. Paul, Johannesburg
Hi Paul, I am so pleased that you find the vlogs enjoyable. Well done for being a member of the RSPB too!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Good evening Vanessa what a eventful week u have had😊. Another excellent portrayal of life on the canal with lovely water side views, and of course ur filming of the wild birds u amaze me on ur weekly content of excellence. Wishing u all a pleasant weekend take care. 🐕👍🪨⚾️📸🥉
Hi Simon, the canal is full of adventures isn't it? We seem to have had quite a winter of challenges but they're all good ones in the end.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hi Paul and Anthony, it's lovely to hear from you. Thank you so much for such a kind comment; it means a lot coming from an artist like you. Safe cruising guys- take care🦋🌻
Lovely illustration and evocative poem of the kestrel. When I was young, I read The Peregrine by J.A. Baker, a book about a pair of peregrines in the Fens. It's an extraordinary book that changed how I perceived the mysterious lives of birds and the natural world... You have an excellent channel. Thanks for making these videos.
Another wonderful adventure of yours I totally escaped for half an hour into. One of my favourite bits was when the diver was clearing the debris and said it's a normal day for him. You then looked down at zephyr laying on your foot plate watching the world go by, and I couldn't help but chuckle thinking it's just another day for zephyr also 😂. I normally comment and say something that should be immortalised in your journal. Often animals or birds i think you may have missed out. I obviously knew kestrel was up for the leading man role. He really knew how to hold the screen. But with the theme of the place that wasn't desirable to moor in. I too have lived in such places that are full of amazing people on the whole. So with that theme in mind. What I think should be in the journal in a supporting role. Especially as I got a real wind in the willows vibe when we seen him. Was ratty. I think he deserves a mention and a portrait showing our love. The other illustration I think would be great. Is the biscuit that in the days we had biscuit tins and all our biscuits would just be thrown into. Then we'd have to finish them before our parents would refresh them. And they all ended up soft and stale, plus whatever biscuits were in there got overpowered by the humble custard cream and tasted of it. There was something just not right biting into a rich tea and it tasting of custard creams. In my head you drawing a custard cream would be a work of art. So I think that would make a great journal illustration. Andy Warhol pop art esq 😂. It's been an amazing January.
I really welcome you ideas for journal additions and it is funny as I wanted to draw ratty, but I draw based on my own photographs, using them to look at the details, but I couldn't take a still frame from the footage that gave me a clear enough image of our brown rat and I didn't want to draw any old rat. You are right, it did deserve a mention. As for the biscuit- now I didn't think of that; I really ought to draw one somewhere in my book! Thank you so much for your great comment. Have a super rest of the week, take care🌻🦋
re your chimney, may I suggest that you may have your chimney come up off the roof of your narrowboat about 8-10 inches, then have it bend horizontally , level with your roof, so as it will give it greater space should you encounter a low bridge, regards, Ron
Love your work! Your videos are so soothing, as is the sound of your voice. They make me wistful and even sometimes a bit sad, knowing I'm likely never to experience a lifestyle such as yours. Nevertheless, I always look forward to the next. Thank you. Jim from Oregon.
I am so pleased that you enjoy the vlogs, but I don't want to make you feel sad.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Awww your lovely Gran🤗 You've got her sparkle! And, a wonderful memory of her.. Super vlog as always with a lucky find for your chimney🤣 Safe journey lass👍
Hello Vanessa A very interesting video as always. Interestingly I was born and lived in Mile End in the 1960s. Yes it was officially a slum area but it was a great place for a child. We had the regents canal and Tower Hamlets cemetery both havens for wild life. Have you been on the Regents Canal? As an inner city child we also had a beach on the Thames near to play near Limehouse. No access these days. Near by in Bow we also had another haven which was the Bow Back Rivers. Or Bow creek as we knew it. As a child from the slums we certainly very lucky to have so many wild life areas nearby. No one really appreciated them until the area was developed for the Olympics. Now everyone can enjoy these places of tranquility.
I'll have to ask my parents about Bow Back Rivers as they were both brought up there as children too. Thank you for your great comment. Have a super week, take care🌻🦋
Vanessa, Thank you for the nice video of life on a narrowboat. I think in the USA we have narrowboats on the Erie Canal in up state New York. But not like in the UK. Hope your bad weather is behind you now. Love the birds 🦢🦢🦆🦆🦔🦔and wild animals along the canals. I watched on RUclips and anyone can rent a narrowboat in the UK even an American. I have watch several renting narrowboats.🚢 They all have to do the crossing of the highest aqueduct in the UK. They are very brave. I would love to rent a narrowboat for a week or two. Maybe I would hire you as my captain. Don't worry it will not happen but it is a nice dream. 🤠Cheers 🥯🥯🍵🍵
I hope the bad weather is behind us too, but looking at the forecast for this week, I'm not so sure that it is. I hope the weather is good where you are? Are you sure you want me as your captain, did you see what I did to the chimney!😂🙈Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Interesting vlog as usual. Referring to your previous vlog. You should have gone to the pottery with Guy Martin, you might have been able to make a tea mug as well.
Well, that was an adventure what with soggy gloves, airborne chimney, mischievous road bridges not to mention men in the canal!! Nevertheless, all sounded fun. Have a great, but quieter week ahead.
It was a real adventure, Nigel but I am ready for some calmer cruising for a while now! Thank you so much for your lovely comment. Have a super week, take care🦋🌻
Hello Vanessa - greetings on Friday evening from Poland Oh dear! - what a traumatic journey. Still, everything ended well with a lovely bird count and a quiet and peaceful mooring. A nice touch having custard creams with your tea. I bet your Nanna was watching over you. Beautifully photographed with an excellent commentary from you.
Re your chimney hat I did leave a message on your last post but it vanished in that the stainless steel ones last longer but I always drill holes in the three struts and into the chimney and bolt the hat on, no longer will you loose them, lost count of how many I lost overboard in high winds over the years, I don't now! PS stainless steel nuts and bolts as well.
Thanks Vanessa for being honest about what's happening where you are. I have seen similar groups of people working in and around the freezing water. Thanks for information about the colliery and the Bevin boys. That is a very hard choice to make. I too have lived in a neighbourhoods that are considered unsafe or unsecure. We did what we could.
Hi Sian, I am so pleased that you enjoyed the vlog. It is great to hear that the community where you lived try to do what they could to make things better.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hi wow yes that guy needs a medal. Lucky there’s no bull sharks in Australia wouldn’t be in a creek like that there be bull sharks everywhere they are very dangerous anyway love the videos Cliff from Logan City Queensland Australia 🇦🇺
He does deserve a medal doesn't he? There is always the most exciting wildlife in Australia isn't there? I have a story about my time in Australia in next week's vlog which will make your roll your eyes at me for being a typical tourist!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hello again! Thanks for this wonderful vlog, seems you had some adventure. Although I preferred the look of the old chimney, as a retiree I appreciate the value of a good deal as much as anyone, Especially enjoyed the night camera footage of wildlife. What a wonderful life you live. Best wishes, as always!
Hi Chris, the old chimney will be missed, but I rather like the new one's personality too!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Thank you so much for going through all the old vlogs and catching up now- that deserves a medal...🥇Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
It was lucky Your Little Old Nan's 'Guardian Angel'😇 was alert EH? - It's quite amazing how often inexplicable things happen in a split second to save us from SURE fatal disasters as we travel through life - Guiding spirits - definitely REAL 🤠 .... Though you need to tell yours OFF! for allowing your chimney to fall in the canal 😂😂
Hi Pete, she really did have her guardian angel with her that day and many times throughout her life. I have had a chat with mine re: the chimney disaster so hopefully this one will not come a cropper.Thank you for your lovely comment- have a super week, take care🦋🌻
What a lovely description of a canal. I think it is the most evocative I've ever heard. Shame about the chimney. Considering how you have a thing (maybe) about toppling chimneys, have you ever thought to tie it to the boat with some rope or chain?
We have decided that every journey now, the chimney is coming off and being tied to one of the roof boxes and shut away!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
I'm glad that you found it exciting too as I would not want to be frightening you completely!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Wunderbar buzzard week but your drawing is really lifelike and basically absolutely superb.The countryside up there looks really good.I shall have to do the Caldon before really old age catches up with me! Today has been really spring like so I should be on the move soon.Now I am going to be really critical but you ought to do something about that rusty looking deck around your water tank filler.Have a lovely week.
Hi Chris, thank you so much for your lovey comment. I totally recommend the Caldon- it is wonderful! Old age is never going to catch up with you!!! The deck is painted in locker paint which looks like rust but is actually paint which we did last summer.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Vanessa those things you call biscuits are called cookies in America even though you probably know that..enjoy your vids..❤❤ps..Pull your chimney cover before you move and save money..😅
Hi Vanessa love your vlogs. They seem the only realistic ones. We lived on the canals years ago and know full well about being frozen in! Does your dog every fall in? Our dogs used to but I was scared about locks and shut them in then
I bet you must have some amazing memories of life on the canals. Being frozen in is always such an exciting moment isn' it?Thank you so much for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend. Take care🦋🌻
Hi Vanessa you passed close by us at Trentham.. Stoke is an adventure but its got a rich industrial history you must of passed James Brindleys statue near the bone and flint mill , we enjoyed watching reguards Glyn
Hello vanessa just found your video and I really enjoyed it I fancy living on a narrow boat how do you go on about your shopping and getting fuel for the boat when you move places that was nice having a custard cream in memory of your nann very moving
I order my shopping online and they deliver to whatever bridge that I am near, but you can moor your boat near towns and villages and use the shops there too. Fuel is sold by marinas which you pass along the way or by fuel boats which travel on the busier sections of canal. Thank you so much for your questions. Have a super rest of the week. Take care 🌻🦋
I travel with my husband but he can't be on the vlogs due to his work's strict code of conduct about being on social media. That means that when I do a lock I am either driving or operating the lock as we take it in turns. There are single handed boaters though and they each have their own technique when doing a lock by themselves: Narrowboat Will and Heidi the Narrowboat Pirate are good vlogs to watch to see how it's done. Take care 🌻🦋
My dad was a Bevan's boy. He joined the RAF as a radio operator but when he was in the air he found that couldn't hear certain frequencies (not his fault). I think that he was treated abominably because he was court marshalled ( to demote him.) and his CO wanted to put him into the army. He stood his ground (very hard for someone who was very shy) and went to work with the pit ponies. The winter of 1947 was very bad but because of his job he was able to get coal for his mum - funny how things happen isn't it?
That is such an amazing story, you're so right when you say how funny things happen in the end, but your poor Dad had to really go through some tough times didn't he? Thank you so much for this interesting comment. Have a super week, take care🌻🦋
That is such a good idea! The new chimney has its hat bolted on and so every journey we are going to take it off and strap it into one of the roof boxes so it won't happen again.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hi Brian, we have a strong magnet in the well deck, and so on the way back, we'll going to try and find it.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hi Vanessa. Firstly, thank you for your wonderful videos! I have been watching them for a little while now and love them all! I don’t think I’ve quite caught up with them all, as yet, but have you taken, or do you intend to take Zeph and your narrowboat down the Shropshire Union canal? It’s an area I know very well and would love to see you talk about this wonderful part of the world. Secondly, do your books tend to sell very quickly on Etsy? I’ve tried to get hold of them, but with no joy, thus far! Jimmy
Hi Jimmy, thank you so much for your lovely comment. I will travel back on the Shropshire Union as I love that part of the system. I did it in the early days of boating when I wasn't vlogging so I'd like to give it a proper explore and film it all this time. At the moment, my books are selling very quickly. I will put stock in on a Thursday evening and it is gone by the end of Saturday, but I think this will all calm down soon as I have only just released my 2023 book. My next set of stock will be in a couple of weeks, so check the shop then on a Thursday. Have a super week, take care🌻🦋
We're continuous cruisers and have noticed more dead animals floating in the canals around the Midlands lately. We've seen moor hens, pigeons, a rabbit and a fox in just a couple of days. So we wanted to ask if you know why that would be - is it because it's the winter time or maybe something else?
Something is very wrong to have such a succession of animals in a small space dead in the canal. How did a rabbit get into the canal? Otherwise I would have said that toxic farm waste has got into the water? I think that definitely needs reporting to CRT. Let me know how it goes as that is so sad. Thank you for watching. Take care🌻🦋
What pencils do you favour? Yours give such good coverage and blend so nicely.... Lovely video as ever some gorgeous birds and doggies and your poor chimney 😢... hoorah for market place!
I use Derwent watercolour pencils in my journal- they are lovely pencils. I am so pleased that you enjoyed the vlog. Thank you so much.Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
@@themindfulnarrowboat love Derwent! I use Inktense...great on fabric as well as paper/card/ canvas etc. lovely deep colour and no need to heat seal (on fabric) as it's permanent once dry. Xx
Hi Anne, what a wonderful idea to collect wildlife drawings! That is such a kind request but I only sell my books as I just don't get anytime to do commissions anymore.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🦋🌻
Dear Vanessa, Every time I watch your videos my heart sings out. You are always so positive and manage to capture that in your videos. Keep doing what you are doing. If I may offer a suggestion, when you need to pull Alice Grey into the shore with a line, bring the line across the back of your hips and then lean into the line. Doing this will help prevent any possibility of injury to your shoulders. Hope you stay on the canals until you grow as old as your nan lol. Mark Alberta, Canada
What a fantastic story about your grandmother who was saved by custard creams! You made me want some, I must buy some tomorrow when I go shopping. You had some adventures during this cruise, road bridges that wouldn’t open, debris in the canal with a man in the water amazing to think some people spend their days in the water like that! I love how your vlog always includes some historic information and how you always turn the negative into positive. Don’t ever change Vanessa, you’re so entertaining and talented too, the way you manage to always make up a poem to go with your artwork, it can’t be an easy thing to do every week. Take care all of you. xxxx
Hi Shirley, what kind words- thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I think I need to get a sponsorship deal with custard creams now as you're not the only one who has said that they are going to buy some this weekend!😂 They do dunk lovely in tea though so I can see why my Nan enjoyed them so much, but she also ate jellied eels nearly every day and they don't go so well with tea! 🤭 Have a super weekend, take care🦋🌻
Hi Vanessa, I love the way you giggle at adversity 😊. If you carry a magnet on a rope, you can fish out those precious thing you keep loosing. Much love and friendship to you all. 😊
Hi Stephen, we are going to magnet fish there on the way back, so hopefully, we'll find it.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
The Kestrel brooding presence on the wire is captured perfectly in your drawings What a busy eventful journey & to end it all a fire opal sunset PERFECTION 💕🫂
Hi Sue, that kestrel was the tamest kestrel that I have ever seen. It let me stand there underneath it and film it! I love those birds!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Your outgoing excursions is such a delight. Love how you photograph the landscapes. The comradary of the townsfolk, especially those who maintain the canals. Also, the historical explanation of buildings and property is very well needed. Thank you, and enjoy your life.
Hi Hector, the care of the canals by the people that work and volunteer along them blows me away every time!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
What a comfort to see your beautiful video, getting you successfully past all the challenges. Arriving at beauty, birds, poetry, and drawing. I love that you use the same brand of journaling book that I do! I've been recovering from illness and feeling very anxious about missing work. Watching your video really helped me to feel better. Thank you!
Dingbats are wonderful little journals aren't they, Ann? I am sorry to hear that you've been ill, but I hope you're mending well. I know it's easier said than done, but try and forget work completely for a while as being anxious about it will not help you in anyway and time will pass, you'll be back at work and on top of it all again, for now, just rest. Take care🌻🦋
Oh Vanessa, that was such a lovely touch to serve yourself Custard Creams in memory of your nan. I so love your vlogs, they are the highlight of my week!
Looking at your bee mug, here is a little bee tale for you..
The other evening I found about 10 drowned bees in a birdbath in my garden. I was devastated. I emptied the water in anger and placed all the dead bees on a large stone. During the night I happened to be researching how to make a bee bath when I came across an article that explained that bees can be brought back to life after drowning by drying out the excess water and putting them in sunlight to warm up. So next morning I took each one carefully in the palm of my hand and sat in the sunshine with them until they dried off and warmed up enough to fly away! Whilst they were drying and warming I had the honour of watching them wash themselves. I was able to study them up close, something that, hopefully, I'll never have the chance to do so again. It was truly a wonderful experience. I managed to save all but two bees! X
What a wonderful story.
I have also rescued bees from birdbaths. The sun will dry them out and also give them a little honey off a toothpick and that can perk them up. Sue from NZ
😮 I've never heard of bee revival before, how wonderful!
🙏💜💜💜💜🙌🙌🙌
Oh my goodness!!!! What an incredible story of love for our tiny creatures and nature. You are just wonderful for the care you took to first try and find a bee bath suitable for the bees and then to discover this miracle of bringing them back to life! Honestly, this moved me so much. This is what the real world is about- people like you, but we never hear about them as the media want to portray doom and gloom all of the time. Thank you so much for highlighting how beautiful human beings are! Have a super weekend, take care🐝🐝🐝🌻🦋💚
It's always good to have official confirmation that biscuits are good for your health. I see your grandmother has passed her love of custard creams onto you too! Thanks for another gorgeous vlog. I have just managed to snap up a copy of your 2023 journal. Yay! xxx
Custard creams, 4 grapes a day and jellied eels were my Nan's regular foods in her 90s! Thank you so much for buying my book and for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
You always handle adversity with such Grace !!
I’m happy the canal is open and you made it through the storms !!!
Blessings
That is so kind of you! I'm glad the canal has opened up again too.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
What I find so amazing is how you get through all those locks on your own, driving in opening ,closing , I would find that quite scary. I love the peace and tranquility your videos give me . And Zephyr is such a clever dog and the perfect companion.❤️
I am so pleased that you are enjoying the videos. I travel with my husband so he helps with the locks, but you won't see him on the camera as he isn't allowed to be on social media due to his work's strict code of conduct. Thank you so much for watching. Have a super rest of the week. Take care🌻🦋
@@themindfulnarrowboatthanks for sharing that info!! Do you ever find it frustrating that on camera he cannot share in a lot of the experiences, although I hope he actually does share in the experiences. It's just that we don't see it. I was wondering about managing to do all of THAT lock work alone!! PS I just ordered one of your books, can't wait!! You're such a talented artist and I share your love of wildlife!! However I can barely draw a stick figure!!!
Hi Vanessa,
You fight your way through the elements.
It's nice that the canal is maintained so well.
Very special the boys in the mines.
A sad accident for sure.
Indeed a fantastic story about your grandmother.
I am so pleased that you enjoyed the vlog.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hi Vanessa ~ I’m new to your channel - I came across one of your vlogs last week, and was Very pleased I did - you really did go through troubled times in the storms - I haven’t even began to watch this vlog yet but felt I had to comment - I live in a rehabilitation centre as I suffer with multiple sclerosis and lupus - so it’s lovely to find a travel vlog that’s inspiring- your drawings are absolutely beautiful - sending love and hugs ~ Xxx
Louise, my heart goes out to you- what a brave and wonderful person you must be, to be in so much pain and still find time to make such a kind and caring comment to me. Thank you so, so much! I wish you all the best in health, happiness and miracles! Take care🦋🌻💚
7:40 how he looks back at you is so sweet somehow🥰 he probably wasn’t expecting any kind comments if it was a normal day for him! Call me old fashioned but looks like that one makes me wonder what are they thinking about! 🤭I thought your comments about Hanley Park were lovely, good to root for the underdog👍🏻 have a lovely weekend on the canal❤
Fancy having a normal day like that everyday! It's incredible isn't it?Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hello Vanessa, I grew up in the Armley area of Leeds in the early 60's to late 70's, around St Barts church, It was known as a slum area, bit rough but if you lived round the area it was great, 95% of my family lived around us (and there was a lot of relatives) so they made sure I wasn't getting in to too much trouble lol. The area had a great sense of community, which I think is lacking these days. My Grandad (on my Mother's side of the family) was a Bevin boy during the war, down the pits around the Castleford area. he was involved in a few tunnel collapses and ended up with an adults fist sized 'dip' in his back due to the collapses. He ended up being on the surface looking after the pit ponies and then working as a bus mechanic until he retired. He was my hero growing up and I still think of him often. Another awesome vlog Vanessa and thank you for triggering some memories of my Grandad for me. take care and stay warm, till next week x
Your comment made me cry, John! No wonder your Grandad was your hero growing up. I read that many boys who were the age to go to war prayed that they wouldn't be chosen to go down the mines! Sometimes, I think we should all look back on those who lived before us and be grateful that things are not that tough anymore. Thank you for your beautiful comment. I am so pleased that the vlog brought back these memories for you. Have a super weekend, take care🦋🌻
I worked on Church Street during the 80's and loved it. Alan Bennett grew up in the Edinburgh's, off Town Street.
Hi Vanessa. Good to see you again, a smashing vlog, thank you so much. You mentioned your elderly gran, who lived in London. You don't sound 'cockney' at all. We follow several other narrowboaters, they tend to get anxious when they have to raise a bridge and stop the traffic 😢On one occasion Kevin Shelley (well known narrowboater "CountryHouseGent) he suffered verbal abuse by stopping the cars 🚗. That effected him for a long afterwards. You really got a bargain with that replacement chimney 😅. We look forward to see you soon ❤take care Nessa xxx
You brought back some superb memories for me. I worked for the Prudential in the mid 1970s in Leeds. My patch was Armley Morley Dewsbury and Brighouse. The Withers stands out for me. But most of all were the wonderful people.
@@pamelawatson2366 A school friend, Dave Burrows, used to live in the Edinburgh's in the mid 70's. Edinburgh Terrace I think, and another mate, Alan Naylor, used to live on Town Street across from the Edinburgh's. we used to roam that area, playing kick can and hop-it or football (though the residents didn't like it)
A big `Thumbs Up' to the man in the water.
Totally!👍 Thank you for watching, take care🦋🌻
Working my way through your lovely Vlogs, so many inquisitive questions regarding narrowboat living ❤ in May have to visit the Norfolk Broads to take a look for myself at these beautiful boats ❤
Have a wonderful time on the Norfolk Broads. Thank you for your lovely comment. Take care 🦋🌻
Good day birding. I has some similar but different birds in my backyard. Bushtits, pine siskins, and once in a while a varied thrush in the summer. Lots of little juncos year round. Hello from cloudy Oregon, USA.
Your birds sound amazing!🤩 Thank you so much for your lovely comment. Take care🦋🌻
Jeeze you have the best most relaxing videos on youtube. Thank you so much for this. Also, my friend likes them now too. She's hooked.
I am so pleased that you find the vlogs relaxing and that you shared them with your friend too- say 'hi' from me. Thank you so much! Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
😊Vanessa I'm so happy that I discovered your channel just now! Beautiful Vlog!! Thank you, from the Detroit area🇺🇲🕊🇬🇧
That is so kind of you- thank you so much for finding me! Have a super week, take care🦋🌻
Very excited 😊 good to see u again have fun on the water 💧 in boat 🚢 nice see the out doors 🚪 😀
Thank you for watching. Take care 🌻🦋
Awww wonderful vlog nature and memories just grand tc now he oldies 🤗🤗🌟
It is always nice to remember the good times isn't it?Thank you for your lovely comment, Ann! Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
I've just found your channel and have already watched quite a few. Very good production quality. You have a very calming voice and manner which I find nice.
Great shots of narrow boat life, wildlife and art. I intend to work through your library. Congrats on a good channel and thanks.
Well, I am so pleased that you have just found my channel and that you are enjoying the vlogs!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
i really enjoy your channel! great tours of the countryside, nature and cool art work.
I am so pleased that you are enjoying the channel.Thank you so much for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the week. Take care 🦋🌻
Hi Vanessa: I'm glad that your lovely trees survived your two storms. It must feel great that the weather is Springlike with all of the birds and sunshine. That's pretty scary how the man's truck ended up in the canal but glad no one was hurt. Those men cleaning up the debris must have been cold but glad they ensured the canal was safe for boats. Glad you made it to your water pit stop. Wow! Your 95 yo nanny was sure saved by her custard cream biscuits from the cricket ball! I'm glad she wasn't hurt. Oh blimey! You lost your chimney! Last night one of my neighbors pointed out a bald eagle perched in a tree across from our apartment complex. His white head made it easy to spot him and I grabbed my binoculars and enjoyed his majestic profile. A barred owl was in a tree next to our apartments earlier this week, which the same neighbor took a picture with his mobile. The Castel you spotted looked beautiful! Glad you found a nice, quiet place to moor with bunnies and geese for company. And Tawny Owls too! Annddd a brand new chimney with hat! Your bird count was much appreciated I'm sure by RSPB. 🐦🕊🦅🦆🦢🦉🪶 Loved watching you draw the Castel. Have a great weekend! Jenny 🫖🍵🐰
Oh Jenny a bald headed eagle and a barred owl! That is amazing!!!🤩 Thank you so much for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
@@themindfulnarrowboat You too. Jenny
Well, I hope the winds calm down for you!! Look after your chimney!!
So do I... they haven't yet though!😄🌻🦋
Hello Vanessa good afternoon love your blogs always good and eventful and inspiring x
I am so pleased that you are enjoying the vlogs- thank you so much!Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
hi Vanessa. What a journey you have had, first the problem with the poor man in the water clearing the debris then the problem with the bridge not lifting. Still you found a lovely mooring. Loved your video keep them coming.x
The mooring was perfect!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Another great video ... all the best .
Thank you for your lovely comment, Peter! Take care🦋🌻
Another pretty as a picture vlog Vanessa. I knew you'd work out that bridge that didn't raise at the initial try.
More information and instructions would help the unwary.
I believe you see more variety of Birds in one afternoon than I used to see in my long walks through the countryside as a younger Man in England , Mansfield ,Teversal , Pleasley on the walkways were the old Rails had been removed.
I cycled mainly.
They do not sell Custard Creams, Hob Nobs, Digestive, Jaffa Cakes etc in America so I really miss England more after this episode.
I see weekly you have a passion for Wildlife and Biscuits.
That's Cookies for the American Viewers.
See you next week Vanessa :)
Hi Paul, I hope you are able to find cookies that taste as good as custard creams where you are? It is an essential part of life's enjoyment! Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🦋🌻
Looking last night for an update video, blessed tonight 👌🏻😎
I'm glad you found it!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Great video. Thanks for sharing.
I am so pleased that you enjoyed it. Thank you so much.Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hi Vanessa!
Re the Bevan Boys, the lottery was if your call-up number ended in a 9 you were to be a Bevan boy and sent down the mines. There is a book by Tom Hickman, Called Up Sent Down (The Bevan Boys War) a very good read
Regards Mike
That is so interesting; I'll have to try and get a copy of that book!Thank you for your lovely comment- have a super week, take care🦋🌻
We was on the river Ouse for 4 years before moving our narrowboat onto the canal….we were constantly dodging wild swimmers 😄
That sounds like nail biting narrowboating to me as it's impossible to see what is in front of your boat when steering isn't it?Thank you so much for watching. Have a super week, take care🦋🌻
another very enjoyable video. Love it!
I am so pleased that you enjoyed it- thank you so much!Have a super weekend, take care🦋🌻
What a wonderful skill you have, I am an RSPB member and a very keen birder, but never done a bird count day. I think it is always in November? And I confess not inclined to visit the UK during the winter (too cold & wet). So I find your vlogs especially rewarding, your outlook on life really is mindful. The Mindful Narrowboat(er) indeed. Paul, Johannesburg
Hi Paul, I am so pleased that you find the vlogs enjoyable. Well done for being a member of the RSPB too!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Good evening Vanessa what a eventful week u have had😊. Another excellent portrayal of life on the canal with lovely water side views, and of course ur filming of the wild birds u amaze me on ur weekly content of excellence. Wishing u all a pleasant weekend take care. 🐕👍🪨⚾️📸🥉
Hi Simon, the canal is full of adventures isn't it? We seem to have had quite a winter of challenges but they're all good ones in the end.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
I love the longevity by custard creams theory. I think I’ll give that a try :-)
Even if it doesn't work, it will be very enjoyable to try it! 😂Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hi Vanessa really enjoyed watching your art and seeing the journal come together. ❤
Hi Paul and Anthony, it's lovely to hear from you. Thank you so much for such a kind comment; it means a lot coming from an artist like you. Safe cruising guys- take care🦋🌻
Lovely illustration and evocative poem of the kestrel. When I was young, I read The Peregrine by J.A. Baker, a book about a pair of peregrines in the Fens. It's an extraordinary book that changed how I perceived the mysterious lives of birds and the natural world... You have an excellent channel. Thanks for making these videos.
I will have to read that book. It sounds wonderful. Thank you so much for your lovely comment. Take care 🦋🌻
Another wonderful adventure of yours I totally escaped for half an hour into.
One of my favourite bits was when the diver was clearing the debris and said it's a normal day for him. You then looked down at zephyr laying on your foot plate watching the world go by, and I couldn't help but chuckle thinking it's just another day for zephyr also 😂.
I normally comment and say something that should be immortalised in your journal. Often animals or birds i think you may have missed out.
I obviously knew kestrel was up for the leading man role. He really knew how to hold the screen.
But with the theme of the place that wasn't desirable to moor in. I too have lived in such places that are full of amazing people on the whole.
So with that theme in mind. What I think should be in the journal in a supporting role. Especially as I got a real wind in the willows vibe when we seen him. Was ratty. I think he deserves a mention and a portrait showing our love.
The other illustration I think would be great. Is the biscuit that in the days we had biscuit tins and all our biscuits would just be thrown into. Then we'd have to finish them before our parents would refresh them. And they all ended up soft and stale, plus whatever biscuits were in there got overpowered by the humble custard cream and tasted of it.
There was something just not right biting into a rich tea and it tasting of custard creams.
In my head you drawing a custard cream would be a work of art. So I think that would make a great journal illustration. Andy Warhol pop art esq 😂.
It's been an amazing January.
I really welcome you ideas for journal additions and it is funny as I wanted to draw ratty, but I draw based on my own photographs, using them to look at the details, but I couldn't take a still frame from the footage that gave me a clear enough image of our brown rat and I didn't want to draw any old rat. You are right, it did deserve a mention. As for the biscuit- now I didn't think of that; I really ought to draw one somewhere in my book! Thank you so much for your great comment. Have a super rest of the week, take care🌻🦋
re your chimney, may I suggest that you may have your chimney come up off the roof of your narrowboat about 8-10 inches, then have it bend horizontally , level with your roof, so as it will give it greater space should you encounter a low bridge, regards, Ron
That’s an interesting solution, Ron. Thank you so much. Take care 🦋🌻
Love your work! Your videos are so soothing, as is the sound of your voice. They make me wistful and even sometimes a bit sad, knowing I'm likely never to experience a lifestyle such as yours. Nevertheless, I always look forward to the next. Thank you.
Jim from Oregon.
I am so pleased that you enjoy the vlogs, but I don't want to make you feel sad.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hi Vanessa, if you're going through Endon water station you'll know that's where we used to play as kids, fishing even jumping in the lock there
How wonderful to have experienced that freedom as a child.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Awww your lovely Gran🤗 You've got her sparkle! And, a wonderful memory of her.. Super vlog as always with a lucky find for your chimney🤣 Safe journey lass👍
I would love to have Nan's sparkle and longevity in life!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hello Vanessa A very interesting video as always. Interestingly I was born and lived in Mile End in the 1960s. Yes it was officially a slum area but it was a great place for a child. We had the regents canal and Tower Hamlets cemetery both havens for wild life. Have you been on the Regents Canal? As an inner city child we also had a beach on the Thames near to play near Limehouse. No access these days. Near by in Bow we also had another haven which was the Bow Back Rivers. Or Bow creek as we knew it. As a child from the slums we certainly very lucky to have so many wild life areas nearby. No one really appreciated them until the area was developed for the Olympics. Now everyone can enjoy these places of tranquility.
I'll have to ask my parents about Bow Back Rivers as they were both brought up there as children too. Thank you for your great comment. Have a super week, take care🌻🦋
Thank you
You're welcome. Thank you for watching, take care🌻🦋
Great videos X
Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Vanessa, Thank you for the nice video of life on a narrowboat. I think in the USA we have narrowboats on the Erie Canal in up state New York. But not like in the UK. Hope your bad weather is behind you now. Love the birds 🦢🦢🦆🦆🦔🦔and wild animals along the canals. I watched on RUclips and anyone can rent a narrowboat in the UK even an American. I have watch several renting narrowboats.🚢 They all have to do the crossing of the highest aqueduct in the UK. They are very brave. I would love to rent a narrowboat for a week or two. Maybe I would hire you as my captain. Don't worry it will not happen but it is a nice dream. 🤠Cheers 🥯🥯🍵🍵
I hope the bad weather is behind us too, but looking at the forecast for this week, I'm not so sure that it is. I hope the weather is good where you are? Are you sure you want me as your captain, did you see what I did to the chimney!😂🙈Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Interesting vlog as usual. Referring to your previous vlog. You should have gone to the pottery with Guy Martin, you might have been able to make a tea mug as well.
I wish I had done that now too!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
New to your channel and love you and Zephyr so much. 😘
Welcome to the channel, Cathy! Thank you so much for your lovely comment. Take care🦋🌻
Love your presentation and content. Watching from South Africa. Thank you for doing these amazing videos! Am a recent convert!
That is so kind of you! Thank you so much 😊 Take care 🌻🦋
Well, that was an adventure what with soggy gloves, airborne chimney, mischievous road bridges not to mention men in the canal!! Nevertheless, all sounded fun. Have a great, but quieter week ahead.
It was a real adventure, Nigel but I am ready for some calmer cruising for a while now! Thank you so much for your lovely comment. Have a super week, take care🦋🌻
Hello Vanessa - greetings on Friday evening from Poland
Oh dear! - what a traumatic journey. Still, everything ended well with a lovely bird count and a quiet and peaceful mooring.
A nice touch having custard creams with your tea. I bet your Nanna was watching over you.
Beautifully photographed with an excellent commentary from you.
Hi Michael, I will always associate custard creams with my Nanna now. Thank you so much for your kind comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
High Drama on the water this week 👍😆
Thanks as always Vanessa 😊😊
Definitely high drama- all calm now though! 😅Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Re your chimney hat I did leave a message on your last post but it vanished in that the stainless steel ones last longer but I always drill holes in the three struts and into the chimney and bolt the hat on, no longer will you loose them, lost count of how many I lost overboard in high winds over the years, I don't now! PS stainless steel nuts and bolts as well.
Great tip- thank you so much!Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Thanks Vanessa for being honest about what's happening where you are. I have seen similar groups of people working in and around the freezing water. Thanks for information about the colliery and the Bevin boys. That is a very hard choice to make.
I too have lived in a neighbourhoods that are
considered unsafe or unsecure. We did what we could.
Hi Sian, I am so pleased that you enjoyed the vlog. It is great to hear that the community where you lived try to do what they could to make things better.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hi wow yes that guy needs a medal. Lucky there’s no bull sharks in Australia wouldn’t be in a creek like that there be bull sharks everywhere they are very dangerous anyway love the videos Cliff from Logan City Queensland Australia 🇦🇺
He does deserve a medal doesn't he? There is always the most exciting wildlife in Australia isn't there? I have a story about my time in Australia in next week's vlog which will make your roll your eyes at me for being a typical tourist!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
fter being tempted by the custard creams my favourite also the buzzards and Kestrals re magnificent thank you
I am so pleased that you it was a vlog full of your favourite things!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Thank you🙏✝️🙏🇨🇦
Thank you for your lovely comment, James! Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
My Dad was a BEVIN BOY!❤
Wow! He was a brave man!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
I’ve just come according your channel, relaxing and informative, you’re photography is stunning 🤩
That is so kind, Dave!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hello again! Thanks for this wonderful vlog, seems you had some adventure. Although I preferred the look of the old chimney, as a retiree I appreciate the value of a good deal as much as anyone, Especially enjoyed the night camera footage of wildlife. What a wonderful life you live. Best wishes, as always!
Hi Chris, the old chimney will be missed, but I rather like the new one's personality too!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
"Wind frolickers?" Perfect!
Isn't it the perfect name!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Another fantastic expedition ive totally caught up-to-date vlogs now so wait with excitement for the next adventures 😊
Thank you so much for going through all the old vlogs and catching up now- that deserves a medal...🥇Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Brilliant yet again!!
That is so kind of you!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
It was lucky Your Little Old Nan's 'Guardian Angel'😇 was alert EH? - It's quite amazing how often inexplicable things happen in a split second to save us from SURE fatal disasters as we travel through life - Guiding spirits - definitely REAL 🤠 .... Though you need to tell yours OFF! for allowing your chimney to fall in the canal 😂😂
Hi Pete, she really did have her guardian angel with her that day and many times throughout her life. I have had a chat with mine re: the chimney disaster so hopefully this one will not come a cropper.Thank you for your lovely comment- have a super week, take care🦋🌻
What a lovely description of a canal. I think it is the most evocative I've ever heard. Shame about the chimney. Considering how you have a thing (maybe) about toppling chimneys, have you ever thought to tie it to the boat with some rope or chain?
We have decided that every journey now, the chimney is coming off and being tied to one of the roof boxes and shut away!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Wow this was a scary one 😮and exciting at the same time 😊
I'm glad that you found it exciting too as I would not want to be frightening you completely!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
We did a bird count here in Scotland as well.
I bet you had eagles and all sorts of amazing birds in your bird count!🤩Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
@@themindfulnarrowboat the hour we did , the birds decided to do something else. No eagles 🦅
Wunderbar buzzard week but your drawing is really lifelike and basically absolutely superb.The countryside up there looks really good.I shall have to do the Caldon before really old age catches up with me! Today has been really spring like so I should be on the move soon.Now I am going to be really critical but you ought to do something about that rusty looking deck around your water tank filler.Have a lovely week.
Hi Chris, thank you so much for your lovey comment. I totally recommend the Caldon- it is wonderful! Old age is never going to catch up with you!!! The deck is painted in locker paint which looks like rust but is actually paint which we did last summer.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Vanessa those things you call biscuits are called cookies in America even though you probably know that..enjoy your vids..❤❤ps..Pull your chimney cover before you move and save money..😅
Great tip, Steve! We are going to do that on every journey now.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hi Vanessa love your vlogs. They seem the only realistic ones. We lived on the canals years ago and know full well about being frozen in! Does your dog every fall in? Our dogs used to but I was scared about locks and shut them in then
I bet you must have some amazing memories of life on the canals. Being frozen in is always such an exciting moment isn' it?Thank you so much for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend. Take care🦋🌻
Zephyr hasn't fallen in by accident yet, thankfully.
Hi Vanessa you passed close by us at Trentham.. Stoke is an adventure but its got a rich industrial history you must of passed James Brindleys statue near the bone and flint mill , we enjoyed watching reguards Glyn
It was a wonderful place to moor! I didn't know it was so close to where you live.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hello vanessa just found your video and I really enjoyed it I fancy living on a narrow boat how do you go on about your shopping and getting fuel for the boat when you move places that was nice having a custard cream in memory of your nann very moving
I order my shopping online and they deliver to whatever bridge that I am near, but you can moor your boat near towns and villages and use the shops there too. Fuel is sold by marinas which you pass along the way or by fuel boats which travel on the busier sections of canal. Thank you so much for your questions. Have a super rest of the week. Take care 🌻🦋
Hi, I really like watching your videos. You show so many wildlife. I wonder how you get the boat through locks and bridges. Do you run back and forth?
I travel with my husband but he can't be on the vlogs due to his work's strict code of conduct about being on social media. That means that when I do a lock I am either driving or operating the lock as we take it in turns. There are single handed boaters though and they each have their own technique when doing a lock by themselves: Narrowboat Will and Heidi the Narrowboat Pirate are good vlogs to watch to see how it's done. Take care 🌻🦋
Good job againx
Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hi, I love custard creams but they don’t make them here in Australia any more sadly
Oh no! I'll have to send you some!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
My dad was a Bevan's boy. He joined the RAF as a radio operator but when he was in the air he found that couldn't hear certain frequencies (not his fault). I think that he was treated abominably because he was court marshalled ( to demote him.) and his CO wanted to put him into the army. He stood his ground (very hard for someone who was very shy) and went to work with the pit ponies. The winter of 1947 was very bad but because of his job he was able to get coal for his mum - funny how things happen isn't it?
That is such an amazing story, you're so right when you say how funny things happen in the end, but your poor Dad had to really go through some tough times didn't he? Thank you so much for this interesting comment. Have a super week, take care🌻🦋
Just wondered if you could put some kind of safety chain on your chimney so if it gets knocked you don’t loose it forever?
That is such a good idea! The new chimney has its hat bolted on and so every journey we are going to take it off and strap it into one of the roof boxes so it won't happen again.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Yeah custard creams 🎉
🥳🥳 Whoop! Whoop! Have a custard cream weekend, take care🦋🌻
Your Natural History knowledge is impressive. You need a strong magnet on a rope to retrieve metal objects from the canal.
Hi Brian, we have a strong magnet in the well deck, and so on the way back, we'll going to try and find it.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
So much for the pop rivet gun. Probably lucky it was loose
You're right there!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Dziękuję.
Super weekendu, uważajcie na siebie🌻🦋
OMGGG jesus your chimney.. it just gets worse hahahah
🙈 I know!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Hi Vanessa. Firstly, thank you for your wonderful videos! I have been watching them for a little while now and love them all! I don’t think I’ve quite caught up with them all, as yet, but have you taken, or do you intend to take Zeph and your narrowboat down the Shropshire Union canal? It’s an area I know very well and would love to see you talk about this wonderful part of the world. Secondly, do your books tend to sell very quickly on Etsy? I’ve tried to get hold of them, but with no joy, thus far! Jimmy
Hi Jimmy, thank you so much for your lovely comment. I will travel back on the Shropshire Union as I love that part of the system. I did it in the early days of boating when I wasn't vlogging so I'd like to give it a proper explore and film it all this time. At the moment, my books are selling very quickly. I will put stock in on a Thursday evening and it is gone by the end of Saturday, but I think this will all calm down soon as I have only just released my 2023 book. My next set of stock will be in a couple of weeks, so check the shop then on a Thursday. Have a super week, take care🌻🦋
@@themindfulnarrowboat Thank you! 🙂
We're continuous cruisers and have noticed more dead animals floating in the canals around the Midlands lately. We've seen moor hens, pigeons, a rabbit and a fox in just a couple of days. So we wanted to ask if you know why that would be - is it because it's the winter time or maybe something else?
Something is very wrong to have such a succession of animals in a small space dead in the canal. How did a rabbit get into the canal? Otherwise I would have said that toxic farm waste has got into the water? I think that definitely needs reporting to CRT. Let me know how it goes as that is so sad. Thank you for watching. Take care🌻🦋
I went to buy a copy of your lovely book today but it’s sold out.😢 Will you be publishing more? ❤❤❤
Thank you so much for your interest in my book. I hope to have some more in stock in a couple of weeks. Take care🌻🦋
What pencils do you favour? Yours give such good coverage and blend so nicely....
Lovely video as ever some gorgeous birds and doggies and your poor chimney 😢... hoorah for market place!
I use Derwent watercolour pencils in my journal- they are lovely pencils. I am so pleased that you enjoyed the vlog. Thank you so much.Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
@@themindfulnarrowboat love Derwent! I use Inktense...great on fabric as well as paper/card/ canvas etc. lovely deep colour and no need to heat seal (on fabric) as it's permanent once dry.
Xx
i want a custard cream the next time I visit
I'll fill up the biscuit tin with them for you!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Grounghog day today ! In the USA ! he didn t see his shadow....they said ! lol ! So prediction is Spring coming soon ! lol ! 🦫😎
Oooh- spring coming soon- fabulous!Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
I'd love to have some custard creams with you Vanessa 😊
I'm happily married, yet still in luv with you.
Great life style, we've been off ģrid since 2010.
Luv ya, cheers
You have been off grid for a while which is a super achievement- well done! 👍🤩Thank you so much for your lovely comment. Take care 🌻🦋
Hi Vanessa loved your video I collect drawings and I would love you to do some wild life ones for me that I can purchase from you thanks ❤
Hi Anne, what a wonderful idea to collect wildlife drawings! That is such a kind request but I only sell my books as I just don't get anytime to do commissions anymore.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🦋🌻
How can I sponsor you
That is so kind of you. In the description of this vlog, there is a link to my Patron page. Thank you for your lovely comment. Take care🌻🦋
That is so kind of you. In the description of this vlog, there is a link to my Patron page. Thank you for your lovely comment. Take care🌻🦋
❤🌹
Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super rest of the weekend, take care🌻🦋
Sending boys off to die in war.... disgusting! Never again!
I agree. 🌻🦋
Who's driving the boat when you're not on it ?
My husband, but he can't be in the vlogs due to his work's strict code of conduct about being on social media. Thank you for watching. Take care🌻🦋
Dear Vanessa,
Every time I watch your videos my heart sings out. You are always so positive and manage to capture that in your videos. Keep doing what you are doing.
If I may offer a suggestion, when you need to pull Alice Grey into the shore with a line, bring the line across the back of your hips and then lean into the line. Doing this will help prevent any possibility of injury to your shoulders.
Hope you stay on the canals until you grow as old as your nan lol.
Mark
Alberta, Canada
That is such good advice- I will do that with my ropes from now on. Thank you so much!Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
So much better then watching tv.....
Unwinding....
That is so kind of you!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
I agree. Haven't watched tv in decades
Agreed. This is waaayyyyy better than anything on the telly. It’s authentic and gentle and totally uncontrived. I adore it.
I agree.
My weekly check on serenity and sanity. Many thanks love.
That is so kind of you- thank you so much for taking your weekly check with my vlogs!Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
What a fantastic story about your grandmother who was saved by custard creams! You made me want some, I must buy some tomorrow when I go shopping. You had some adventures during this cruise, road bridges that wouldn’t open, debris in the canal with a man in the
water amazing to think some people spend their days in the water like that! I love how your vlog always includes some historic information and how you always turn the negative into positive. Don’t ever change Vanessa, you’re so entertaining and talented too, the way you manage to always make up a poem to go with your artwork, it can’t be an easy thing to do every week. Take care all of you. xxxx
Hi Shirley, what kind words- thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I think I need to get a sponsorship deal with custard creams now as you're not the only one who has said that they are going to buy some this weekend!😂 They do dunk lovely in tea though so I can see why my Nan enjoyed them so much, but she also ate jellied eels nearly every day and they don't go so well with tea! 🤭 Have a super weekend, take care🦋🌻
Hi Vanessa, I love the way you giggle at adversity 😊. If you carry a magnet on a rope, you can fish out those precious thing you keep loosing. Much love and friendship to you all. 😊
Hi Stephen, we are going to magnet fish there on the way back, so hopefully, we'll find it.Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Oh funny you say that, I was just thinking the same. I love watching those magnet fishing channels !
The Kestrel brooding presence on the wire is captured perfectly in your drawings
What a busy eventful journey & to end it all a fire opal sunset PERFECTION 💕🫂
Hi Sue, that kestrel was the tamest kestrel that I have ever seen. It let me stand there underneath it and film it! I love those birds!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
Your outgoing excursions is such a delight. Love how you photograph the landscapes. The comradary of the townsfolk, especially those who maintain the canals. Also, the historical explanation of buildings and property is very well needed. Thank you, and enjoy your life.
Hi Hector, the care of the canals by the people that work and volunteer along them blows me away every time!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋
What a comfort to see your beautiful video, getting you successfully past all the challenges. Arriving at beauty, birds, poetry, and drawing. I love that you use the same brand of journaling book that I do! I've been recovering from illness and feeling very anxious about missing work. Watching your video really helped me to feel better. Thank you!
Dingbats are wonderful little journals aren't they, Ann? I am sorry to hear that you've been ill, but I hope you're mending well. I know it's easier said than done, but try and forget work completely for a while as being anxious about it will not help you in anyway and time will pass, you'll be back at work and on top of it all again, for now, just rest. Take care🌻🦋
Hi Vanessa I do enjoy your vlogs with all the wild life and your lovely journey wish you all the best and cep your vlogs coming 👍
I am so pleased that you enjoy the vlogs, Terrence!Thank you for your lovely comment. Have a super weekend, take care🌻🦋