Summer is here; we feel it everywhere, in the light, in the trees, in the birdsong, and in the wildlife. From misty mornings to golden evenings, life on the canal changes with the seasons.
In this week’s video (linked below), we share the peace of living aboard — mixing real moments of remote work, daily life afloat, and the quiet presence of canal wildlife that surrounds us. Whether it’s drifting leaves in winter, blossom in spring, or the long days of midsummer, every season brings something new to the towpath.
We’ve been living aboard our boat for five months now, and while Jamie’s still waiting for his favourite season, autumn. But, for Liz, nothing beats a British summer.
The canal is now abundant with lily pads, and Happidaze is surrounded by them. Paddling among the foliage are the ducks, and it is our duty to feed them each day through the aptly named “duck hatch.” If we’re running late, they tap their beaks on Happidaze’s hull to get our attention.
What began with feeding a single pair, but over the weeks that’s expanded to include not only their ducklings but also a few moorhens. Word has clearly spread throughout the bird community — though there’s definitely a pecking order, if you’ll pardon the pun.
But it’s not just a time for lying back with a book and smelling the honeysuckle; there are jobs to be done. Jamie still has to contend with boat maintenance, even on the canals.
And Liz is writing a book. She’s been talking about it for a while, but writing it has proved to be a bit more of a challenge than she realised.
After some encouragement from Jamie, she knuckled down and is now enjoying filling up the pages. To find out more about this book, commissioned by Bloomsbury, watch the video.
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