Just Don't Bother with a Certain Narrowboat Website

My first point of call on the web in the Narrowboat World is Andy Denny of Granny Buttons for interesting, entertaining, informed stories and considered opinions which are always open for debate and comment from his readers, not to mention his superb photography.

Not like certain other self-important, poorly considered, carping load of old toss you might find elsewhere. The site I'm referring, but no longer directly linking to got on a few people's nerves here, here perhaps most appropriately here.

Crewe and Nantwich again...

My colleagues in Crewe complain that they’ve been getting over 30 political leaflets a week through their letterboxes, mainly from the big 3 parties all desperate to make as much impact on the by-election result as possible.

Most people I know are completely sick of the circus in town. You can’t move for politicians, famous and not-so-famous. (I'm not so sure about "safe Labour seat" in that article though!)

Up (Duck) on the Roof

The pitter-patter of webbed feet....

Back on Stage

After several million years in the wilderness I'm finally making a low-key return to the music scene at an open mike night as part of the Crewe Rock & Indie Music festival. This will be at the Borough Arms, Earle St, Crewe on May the 25th form 8.30.

Myself and Jason Louth from our band Oceans will be performing some acoustic versions of our songs. This will help to dust off the cobwebs and nerves before booking some gigs proper. More details of my musical plans here.

Be there or be dodecahedral (preferably both).

Grumpy Old Men

I hope to Christ The Grumpy Old Men of the narrowboat world i.e. Narrowboat World don't pass my boat. I'm S T I L L not displaying my waterways licence in spite of paying for it. I'd better get onto the phone again. Granny Buttons has already fallen victim to them for an alleged overstay offence.

Chill out.

Who Would've Thought...Crewe & Nantwich are the centre of the Universe

I work in Crewe for 10 months of the year and sometimes moor in Nantwich (for as long as 6 months at times on "winter moorings") and for reasons you are probably aware the place has suddenly become the centre of the Universe.

It's quite a funny constituency in the sense that the two towns, Crewe and Nantwich are worlds (and just 4 miles) apart, Crewe seeming very run down, poor and with many social problems that go with poverty. When I lived in Crewe I had plenty of things stolen, other things vandalised and my garden shed burned to the ground. I was also beaten up a few times. The West End of the town has apparently got the highest under-age pregnancy rates in the whole of Europe. However at least it's alive and has a thriving music scene for instance (largely next to the lap-dancing emporium) and I've had many a good night out there (that's in Crewe generally by the way, before you jump to conclusions!) when I've felt brave enough.

Nantwich on the other hand is a wealthy, Immaculate old town with a rural feel of full of wealthy, immaculate old people with a rural feel and shops most of which I can't even afford to look through the window of, selling Agas and Champaign. On the other hand Nantwich has a frenzied night life attracting thousands of glamourpusses from all corners of Cheshire. Anyway the Tories are going hell for leather wherever you look.

If you're interested The Crewe Blog keeps a close eye on local events.

Three views from the bow...

A boater's view at the bottom, a misty morning view and a duck's-eye view. By the way, as always, the misty view gives no-where near the true impression of how the mist actually looks to the human eye. In reality it was awesome, partly through it's billowing, rolling movements but also because a lot of it seems invisible to my camera phone. Maybe mist-capture is a job for a real photographer...

I'm Only Happy When It Rains baa baa baaaaa

Like Bones, I love the rain - and I'm ecstatic in a mega thunderstorm like we had last Sunday! Yeeeaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!

Luckily I'd just tied up for water and avoided a complete soaking (which i guess would've taken about 10 seconds but would still have been better than missing this)

Bank Holiday Traffic Chaos...

All those boats on the left are queuing up for the lock....though it's all a bit more sedate than the motorways.

More Chimney Envy

Last September I posted here about the steam boat Emily Anne (though I didn't know what it was at the time). Well the boat has it's own blog now.

Water Music (2)

I have mentioned The Jolly Tar (now with their own website) in a previous post

Well I'm back in the area again and on Friday I saw the fab Funk School play there. If you are as bored as I am of the usual pub-rock offerings, this band is overflowing with funky grooviness and fun(k) and I defy anyone to go to one of their gigs and not have a fantastic time.

It's that time of the year again....

Yummmm....sitting out on the front, hatches open.

Bliss.

Note the ducklings :)

...and the other locals are friendly around here too.