Home News Columnists The Narrow View

Narrow View: A lot of canal and a long time to see it

This week, my best friend celebrated her birthday by forcing myself and some of her friends from work to go for dinner with her. She had to tempt us with pancakes. It worked.Read

Narrow View: Lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer festivals

The month of May is almost upon us, with the promise of sunny days and summer close behind. It is also apparently the month chosen for local canal festivals.Read

The Narrow View: Little trickles can lead to sinking feelings

“What if your boat starts leaking?!” Another common question, no doubt brought on by too many Channel 4 re-runs of Titantic.Read

Narrow View: Live on it but don't swim in it

OCCASIONALLY– usually in the heat of summer, which apparently does exist – someone will ask me whether I’ve ever been swimming in the canal, as opposed to simply fallen in.Read

Narrow View: Not what the navy would call a shore party. More like a scene from Trainspotting

WHEN I was 15 years old, my parents decided that there wasn’t really enough room on a single narrowboat for a growing teenager and a sane adult, and so I moved out on to my own boat, Freedom, which was, as I said at the time, frickin’ awesome. Read

Narrow View: Head over heels for the mechanic's son

“Have you ever fallen in?” is one of the most common questions I get as a boater.Read

Narrow View: Queen of foraging loves princess puss

This week my mother and her partner have disappeared off to sunnier climes (lucky for some) and have left little old me in charge of their boat and, more importantly, our cat.Read

Narrow Escape: Would Daniel Craig keep me from my bath, I wonder?

All children are scared of ridiculous things... monsters under the bed, evil Penguins wearing rubber gloves on their heads, Lord Voldemort. Read

Narrow View: Further tales of girl vs swan

... the story continues It was a warm, sunny day when I met my arch enemy. I wasn’t uncomfortable, waiting patiently on the path for The Swan to decide she wanted to move, but equally I felt ridiculously waiting for her to move out of my way.Read

Narrow View: They might belong to the Queen but they are still killers

Every superhero has their nemesis, the villain more threatening and terrifying than any other.Read

Narrow View: Our Way of Life Under Threat

EVERY so often, I am reminded of the fact that living on a boat doesn’t just involve awkward toilet situations and a lack of electricity. Read

Narrow View: Blow me, wind's the worst

IN THE past few weeks England has been battered by snow, sleet, rain and wind.Read

Narrow View: Locking for love? Try a blind date, complete with cill(a)

Heads up anyone who likes canals (and who doesn’t, am I right?)Read

Narrow View: Leftovers overboard

“Ugh I can’t finish all this food”, I said, staring wistfully down at the final slice of pizza and clutching my belly.Read

The Narrow View: Deck the ..err.. decks, for floating festivities

Well, the festive season has been and gone, leaving nothing but a bleak, damp January stretching out before us.Read

The Narrow View: Pouring beer on troubled waters

LIFE on a boat can sometimes feel like living in a TV show from the 1950s, but a bit grubbier and with higher incidents of sitting in pubs. Read

The Narrow View: Properly addressed

Today I tried to apply for a provisional driving licence.Read

Narrow View: Trouble with locks - part 2

There are two side-hatches into the boat’s engine room – double doors made of steel on each side, about 1m high. Read

The Narrow View: Trouble with locks - part 1

Today I wanted to get some writing done, but my laptop was out of battery. In a house I would have just plugged it in but unfortunately this is a boat, and nothing is that easy. Read

The Narrow View: Water, water everywhere ...

... and not a drop to drink. I’ve lived more or less my entire life on a boat, which has led to two things: Read