One Week On

Spring comes to the Garden

We've come down to Devon for a couple of days.

I'm sitting in mister's favourite (land based) comfy chair while writing this, remembering the times he was upside down in it, snoring, and extremely comfy. The river was super calm on friday, and the sun was shining, so we took dogma out for a short cruise up to Marlow. Did it on an easy tickover, and everything went well. Nice to feel the boat moving again, and to enjoy the sun on our faces. Nothing popped, broke or fell off. Bonus.

Sheena wanted me to post this image, as it's one of her favourites....

The Sumo Shake

We have thousands of pictures documenting Sumo's life, and will continue to update his gallery with the best ones, when it isn't so painful to look at them. I think we've come to terms with the fact that he's gone. And it isn't so emotionally raw as it was a week ago. Thankyou once again, to everybody who took the time and effort to send us a comment. They are all very much appreciated.

Kingfisher

We got a little message from nature yesterday.

It's been warm enough to sit with the back door open recently. Winter is finally relaxing it's grip, and I was enjoying watching the willow trees swaying gently in the breeze. A Kingfisher plonked himself down on our back rail, less than 10 feet away from where I was sitting. Only for a couple of moments, and then he was gone again. I felt extremely privileged that he'd chosen our boat for his brief respite.

Facing the Future

Thankyou to everyone who has left a comment. It's comforting to know that he's touched so many people. It still feels so unreal. So quick. I'm waking up in tears, having to tell myself that "He's gone", and "He's not coming back". I hope this phase of grief passes soon, as it is so very painful.

Yesterday, we retraced some of his favourite local walks. It was sad not to be carrying a lead, or feeling him tug me. But it was healing. On top of winter hill, with a view of the river that hasn't changed in 3500 years, it helped me to put things into a better perspective. Nothing lasts forever.

I hope that in time, the trauma of losing him, will be replaced with the happy memories of the many things we did together. A big consolation for us, is that he had a bloody good life, with people who loved him to bits. And he got to enjoy a wide variety of new and interesting sniffs every day. He made everybody who saw him smile with his infectious happiness and his comical bumbling about. He really loved his life.

Run free, mate. Run free.

Sumo chan

We had to say goodbye to our little man today. Our best friend and constant companion for over 10 lovely years. It hurts like hell to have made the decision. But it was the kindest thing we could do for him. There was a slim chance the tumour that was ruptured and bleeding into his intestines could be removed. But, sadly, that turned out not to be the case, and we had to let him go. No more pain or suffering.

Sunny Spot

Happy Days

Mister Handsome

Fluffy Pillows

Sweet dreams, mister Sooz.
Thanks for all the wags, the beautiful walks, and the times you snuggled up next to us at night, and in the pouring rain. We love you. And will never forget the joy you brought into our lives.

Are you staying on the boat?

A fair few people have expressed their surprise that we will be continuing to live on our (scuffty old) narrowboat, rather than scuttle off back to the comfort of bricks and mortar, now that we have the opportunity. I guess they've never experienced the tranquility and peace of mind that living on a boat brings. I, personally, love being able to sit down in front of our woodburner in the evenings, comforted by the realisation that we don't owe anybody anything. Also, being able to move our home, so that the view out of our windows changes and never gets boring.

I'm not saying that boating is "free". It has it's own share of scarily large bills, and things that need to be paid regularly. But we do manage to avoid "paying out large sums to corporations every quarter" that was the cause of so much stress and ill health, when we were land based. I suppose I should be thankful people think living on a boat is mostly cold, damp and hard work.



Sumo's doggy friend ~ "Archie"



Reminds us of his dad "Barley"

Sunny Disposition

Hi Everyone.

I feel a lot better for getting things off my chest yesterday. Thanks for listening. And my normal sunny disposition has now been resumed. Today, I bring to you a picture of boats in the sunshine...

Bourne End Marina

Considerably different from this time last year, when I was sloshing about in waders, and Sumo had to deploy his mountain rescue harness. People are out buffing their boats, painting their coachlines, and generally hoping that Spring is about to be Sprung. Let's hope so. Hoovering out the bilge every time it hammers it down, is getting a bit tedious.

In other news.... Congratulations to our good friend Graham Holden (and his wife Matilda) who have just had a baby son. They've called him Toby Millican Holden. Which references Sheena's uncle Millican Dalton, who instructed people how to climb mountains (while he lived in a cave in the lake district). Thanks for that, you two. It's great to know that the name and spirit lives on.

Autonomy

Hey Everyone..

 

I've been back on the boat for a while now, but been putting off blogging. Sorry about that. Truth is, I am sick to death with hearing about bloody islam. and how all the religious violence and terrorism in the world, is "nothing at all to do with islam". I am appalled with the BBC for rebranding 'islamic terrorists' as 'militants'. I am appalled by Labour councils enabling and defending paedophilia. I'm also appalled by the current shower of government, doing absolutely bugger all about bugger all. But I am at least thankful, that as we live on a boat, we don't have to pay for any of their blatant propaganda, lies and bullshit. Beyond what they can wheedle out of us on VAT.


Moving swiftly on..... We recently heard from our good friend Peter Roberts.... who had this to say....

"I have brought myself up to date with your blog, interesting life you people lead. but you have let it tail off this last 6 months, as though things have stopped happening. I am sure that is not true. and you could easily find some one to upset, so that you can insult them or it."

well, yes... there are 1.6 billion idiots I could upset, quite easily. you know, the ones that mustn't be insulted with satirical pictures of their 'prophet', because they don't live in the 21st century, like the rest of us. the ones who hate the west and it's freedom of speech so much, yet love it's adidas trainers, mobile phones and it's tolerance of them spouting vile hatred against it's institutions. any opposing voices get prison sentences for "racially aggrevated behaviour". even though a manmade religion is clearly, not a race. people have been arrested for holding a contrary opinion to the "religion of peace" on twitter and facebook (neither of which i use anymore, naturally). The politically correct world is patently insane, and one must now be ultra careful what one utters in a public space (ie: the internet). Sometimes, it has been best to say nothing at all. and remain at liberty.

Music ~ Absolutely Haram

So, moving swiftly on, before I insult anyone else...

Our lives have changed very much, since Sheena's mum died. I spent the winter landlubbing down on the Devon/Dorset border, where our mobile phones didn't work. You can get a phone signal out in the deepest Sarangeti, but not on the Devon/Dorset border. Xmas and new year came, and went. Many days passed by, in a grey drizzly blur. The wind blew, but the house didn't move. It was odd to be so cut off from nature. Whereas on the boat, we are in amongst it. Mostly, we were biding our time until probate could finally be resolved, and our normal life on the boat could be resumed again. As of today, things have still not been resolved fully, and probate trundles it's way inexorably onwards at it's own snail's pace. Which means that Sheena is still not back here full time. The river has red boards all along it's length. So nobody is going anywhere, at present. The cherry on the top, is that our tenants in London, are threatening to withhold the rent we need to survive, because of a damp problem (which they caused). Our shit, at the moment, is incredibly tight, so to speak. And as the old nautical saying goes, we're sailing "very close to the wind".



Nice new Chimney

High points of the last few months.... Watching film four's Werner Herzog season, with Sheena, on the boat, in front of the glow from a well stuffed Squirrel. Finally getting myself a "cheap ass" chinese laptop (only took 3 years), stuffed with ad and spyware which needed removing. Replacing the chimney that Sue and Vic donated to us years ago, because it had corroded away so badly. (thanks Sue and Vic, it did us proud). Sumo, in good health, and back snoring on the couch, where he belongs.

Sheena says "There are no mosques on the river bank". And she is, of course, right. So there is plenty to be thankful for. And our life that can be led, away from the stupidity of other people and their bronze age sky fairies. Didn't John Paul Sartre have something to say about that? So, no complaints, really.

6.5 tonne of Aluminium

Now I've broken the ice, and actually posted my first blog entry for many months, I will try to keep things more up to date. On a day to day basis, as long as I remember to stay away from the news, and the newspapers, I am fine. I'm in good health. And high spirits. Sorry if my rant has offended you, but I firmly believe that followers of the doctrines of organised religion are mentally ill. Hence, our boat name.

Hope you all are fine too.