Boatbird

Normally a bit of a pussycat as rivers go, mine turned into a raging torrent yesterday…

Look a little closer…

It’s running across the towpath…

And into the field…

Doing exactly what it should and draining onto flood plain…

And, what do you know, there’s been talk of building here.

Are they mad?

Will they never learn?

Apart from anything else and from an entirely selfish point of view, it wouldn’t half spoil my outlook.

Which at the moment…Is not quite the norm…Fortunately, the new landing stage is still above water – though only just…

Much more heavy rain and that might not be the case.

A couple of the early shots were taken into direct sunlight and came out in black and white.

I liked the effect so, as you may have noticed, I played around with the rest of them – worked better with some than others.

Today sees the river receding some but the wind has come out to play. That will of course help dry out the ‘dry land’ – ready for the next lot!

You’ve heard it said – I won’t need much rocking…

Well looks like I’ve got plenty!

Crikey it’s rough out there…

Quite a chop!

I have been known to say to those contemplating a life afloat “know that the elements will impact so much more on your life…”

Well, told you so this is one way they do just that.

I’ve had many messages from concerned friends who fear for my safety – even offering me an alternative place to stay. Thank you for that but I’m fine. Really.

In any case I must be vigilant and keep a close eye on things – ropes etc.,  so couldn’t desert the good ship Hobo even if I wanted to. And I don’t.

I bet there’s some people in Somerset that would be glad of an ark right now..

John also sent these pics, which I thought deserved a post all of their own…

Especially after I stitched them together…

Like so.

Nice eh? Apart from that pole taking centre stage.

I tried to take it out…But don’t have either the expensive software or the knowhow to do this properly.

Still, it has softened it a little.

Will let you decide which is best: the real thing or the doctored image?

Clearly, Boatbloke is suffering…

But is bravely bearing this hardship in order to bring us images from far away places.

Places that aren’t currently battered by wind and rain, waterlogged, muddy, murky, cold or devoid of colour.

Places where wild flowers like this… grow by the roadside.

As I write, the rain is once more hammering on the roof, topping up the river and forming lakes of diluted mud on already saturated ground…

Ground I have to walk over squelch/wade through to get to the car, often with a trolley full of shopping/coal/gas or whatever. Sometimes making several trips too, for fear that too much weight  will make me and/or my load sink into the bowels of the earth, never to be seen again. Happens to my wellies regularly. They are a bit big for me so, when they get stuck in the mud, I walk right out of them. And that’s real nice.

Last night’s winds made being on board boat pretty exciting. Talk about the boat that rocked!

To steal something a friend and fellow liveaboard posted on facebook yesterday – When my boats a rockin’… it’s just really windy outside.

I liked that, sums it up nicely for Hobo as well as Bella!

Cooking utensils that hang in the galley were doing synchronised swinging like bizarre and demented pendulums.

Anyway, enough of that, John has been on the road again…

Taking Conrad to Amakhala, a game farm in-between PE and Grahamstown, where he is due to start his new job.

One that looks like it might be a bit exciting…

Lots of these strange beats about…

This is his house…

And this lives in a pool out back…

Bugger…

Brings a whole new meaning to owning Crocs.

Meanwhile, his younger brother Geoffrey is serving out the couple of months notice necessary at the farm I featured in a previous post, before joining Connie.

He hopes to bring along their own menagerie – Tikki the terrier,  breeding rabbits, tame crow, cats and chickens. Can’t help but wonder how they’ll get on with Mr Croc.

John is currently staying with a friend at Knysna, by way of breaking the journey back to Bot River and the bus. Rudi has a super place just up the hill out of town, where he works on his sculptures, farms worms, has millions of Macadamia trees and all sorts of other stuff going on. He also makes damn good coffee and a pretty mean stir-fry.

It’s a long old drive – PE to Bot River – which we have done straight through before now, but not such a good idea if you are the only driver.

John is due back towards the end of March, so almost halfway through his stay already.

By then, it should be spring here so my tropical flower…will arrive when all this nasty weather nonsense is a dim and distant memory. We hope.

But for now we soldier on regardless down at the funny farm…We handsome beasts…Even a little formation feeding…We might not be so scary or exotic as those in the southern hemisphere but we are made of stern stuff, BB included.

And, for sure, as happy as…All of us!

Not something I get to see very often, not being a morning person…

Maybe I should make more of an effort in future.

Many of my people seem to be off to sunny climes just now. You know who you are and I hate you all.

For those of us not actually basking in the sun, here’s a look at somewhere really hot and dry…

John has been to visit his two youngest boys where they live and work on a farm near Aurora, on the West Coast of South Africa . It’s semi desert with temperatures around 40C.

He liked it there; far from civilisation and peaceful. The dirt road sees no cars at all some days.

They grow some sizeable specimens…

And is home to some interesting birdlife…Some tamer than others…

Conrad here is in films – as an extra – what a poser very photogenic.

He’s also a good cook – I remember this from my travels of a couple of years back – this time serving up deep fried rabbit strips…

Which John pronounced delicious.

Geoffrey, the youngest, is the outdoors type…

Well they both are really.

They were involved with an anti poaching unit up near Kruger before. Exciting stuff. They’ve recently been offered work on a Big Game Farm near to Port Elizabeth, which they are about to  start I believe.

Not sure who looks roughest in this one…Only kidding!

Wow, sunflowers…

Now where have I seen that before…?

Ah yes, that’s it!

Spot the UK one.

Well apart from monkeying around in a restaurant on the way to PE…That’s all the pics I have so far. Hopefully there will be more to come and I look forward to sharing them.

Beats banging on about the mud.

Was taking in tonight’s sunset, like I do, when the mist rolled along the river…It actually rolled. Right before my eyes.

Can you see it?

Take a closer look…Got it?

No?

Well, maybe you had to be there.

Believe me, it was spooky. Creeping eerily towards me like the backdrop to a gothic horror movie or something you’d read about in a Stephen King novel.

Or perhaps I should lay off the pills…

Hurtling headlong into the new year. Twelve days in already.

So what’s the story so far?

River’s been up and down like the proverbial, no surprise there, Hobo’s been rocking and rolling in the wind and wellies have become a way of life…

Mud has taken over down in dog-dirt alley…

That said, life is good and I still feel positive for 2014.

My beloved has flown south and is, until the end of March,  in another hemisphere. One where it is summer with constant heat, sunshine and biting things. I feel for him but someone has to go there.

And I remain here with the wet, wind and mud. My choice.

Apart from being sensible, not a trait usually attributed to BB,  I want this year to be the one when the writing really gets off the ground and starts to earn its keep.

And to do that I have to write.

I’ve make the mistake before of thinking that this can be done anywhere but, in reality, it can’t. Or at least not by me. I can be so weak in the discipline department.

I need to establish a routine I can stick to. Without distractions. Even cruising is a huge distraction for me, let alone being in a foreign country where the weather is wonderful, scenery stunning and people so engaging. I don’t stand a chance.

But it’s all still there in my head, adventures past/magical moments/people stories, to be dragged out and turned into words and used for profit.. one of these days.

Of course I’ll miss it.

Especially this…

and this…

and this…

and this…

and of course, this…

And so, so much more besides.

But I’ve been busy.

I’ve joined a writers’ group – for motivation and education.

A reading group – for inspiration and socialisation.

A Pilates class – to make me strong and supple, give me good posture and stop me from seizing up. And I’m going to check out the local pool and get swimming.

That’s pretty good for me. Bloody excellent in fact.

I’ve had one friend to visit and another is due to come down later this month. And that’s a big deal, given I live so far away from them these days.

Maybe even get some boating in, given decent weather, when friend no. 2 pitches up. Hope so.

This weekend would be perfect for a chug – no crew. Bugger.

Still, perhaps if when the Pilates makes me strong I’ll be able to do the locks on my own. Now there’s a thought.

I’ve re-established contact with another friend and hope we can meet up again in the near future. He’s never seen Hobo down at dog-dirt, so that would be good. In fact the last time we saw each other was when we did the Thames. And that was July 2011!

Where does the time go?

I’m determined not to let it get away from me this year and feel I’ve got off to a good start. Let’s hope I don’t cave in can keep up the momentum and clock up some writing credits.

I know at least one of my close friends has some serious challenges ahead and I wish her luck, and whatever else it takes, in rising to them. And indeed to all of you that haven’t reached that point where all is as you would like it.

That’s everyone then..

Nothing is perfect and, hell, I wouldn’t want it to be.

Though I have to say, that when I look outside and see the river, the beautiful, big blue sky [well it is as I write] and my never ending garden [let’s call it the countryside], it feels pretty damn close.

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I love this time of year.

With silly season behind us [there is a god after all] and a new beginning on the horizon – I love new beginnings too – it’s like the slate has been wiped clean and the perfect time for a fresh start.  A whole 12 months of who knows what to look forward to. Exciting.

And I’ve a strong feeling that next year will be a good one. Don’t know why, just feel it in my bones – or maybe that’s Arthur [Writus] a new ‘friend’ that seems to have moved in with me.

Arthur aside, I’ve come over all positive about 2014 and have an unshakable belief that good things are about to happen. Lets hope so – for all of us.  I deserve it, not so sure about you as do you…

But be sure I shall share events with you here, hopefully some good pics too, whatever the new year brings, and look forward to your continued visits to my blog. Likes and any comments are always welcome – keep ’em coming – they make me stop thinking I’m talking to myself here my little world go round and keep me a very happy boatbird.

That’s about it then for now except to wish you all a fabulous 2014, be happy and healthy…

And keep smiling xx

To hell with the last minute shopping.

Yesterday we treated ourselves to a trip to The City – Leicester Square, Ambassador Theatre – to see Stomp…

Been on my list forever, since pussy was a kitten and before BB was born. And John and I have been angling to get there for a couple of years but now the box is well and truly ticked.

The show was every bit as good as I thought it would be. And more. Loved it. Loud, energetic, funny, inspiring.

If there was a downside, it would be the total ban on photography inside the theatre so, sadly, no pics for you here.

Well just the one then…Afraid this is as good as it gets folks.

Do follow the link to the Stomp website if percussion is your thing – it will give you a good idea of what they are about. If you didn’t already know.

A trip on a train/ London Underground/a visit to the city/ a pub lunch – all splendid stuff. I am easily pleased.

A great day was had by both.

Brief boatie news: river is up, unsurprisingly after Monday’s storm [boy, did the boat rock] and DDA is awash in places…

But my superb new jetty makes life so much easier.

Even if Hobo has risen over a foot, meaning a wee step up to get on board, but a far cry from the suicide walk down the old plank onto a soggy shore up to the ankles in muddy water.

Gas bottles now cunningly concealed within John’s latest masterpiece…

Keeping the regulators dry and my immediate surroundings less of a pikey site.

So all is well in Boatbirdland this festive season and we two are all set for a cosy day feasting by the fire.

All the very best to my readers this Christmas time and hope you have the day of your dreams and whatever it is that floats your boat at this time of year.

And what of those folk who don’t visit here?

Guess they’re off my Christmas list then…