Water Water Everywhere!

Well a hectic couple of weeks! My Daughters hen party, then the following weekend my lovely friends 50th Birthday party! It was a fantastic weekend, Jools was more than welcoming opening up her lovely home to a close bunch of friends and seven Dogs, yes seven! All dogs were so well behaved, I was in doggy heaven being surrounded by wet noses and waggy tails! Having not met her friends I was nervous, I needn't have worried they were all lovely and as nice as I thought they would be! You all know who you are so thank you for accepting me into your circle of friends, you are a great crazy bunch and it was great fun celebrating Jools Birthday with you all!

With Kirsty and Ians wedding day fast approaching, you can imagine it's all systems go on getting organised! Kirsty is a marvel and has everything in hand, it is going to be a wonderful day and I can't wait! I have surprisingly managed to get a dress and shoes for the big day. Now this is no mean feat for me, I really don't do dresses very often and I am even less likely to be seen in heels! I hate clothes shopping, so a few weeks ago when Mum, Heather and I had a meal at the Panoramic, we decided to have a look in some of the shops for a potential wedding outfit for me. Not looking forward to the task, we entered the dress department in Debenhams. I immediately spotted a lovely teal maxi dress, I tried it on and bought it, just like that,  painless and a huge relief! I have finally found suitable shoes too...they will last for as long as they have to but I know for a fact they will be getting kicked off and replaced with a more comfortable pair to party in.

Sneak preview of my dress.

Getting back to the meal in the Panoramic in Liverpool. My Mum had been given a voucher to have afternoon tea and very kindly invited Heather and I to join her. It was a lovely afternoon, the views from the 30+ floor were amazing!

 I loved this view from the Panoramic, the first stretch of water you see in the middle of the photo, is the Salt house dock, where any of you who have been through to Liverpool will have moored for your stay.

       

Liverpool link, 'Sids Ditch' the thin strip of water top right of photo. I love this trip through to Liverpool. Never tire of it and can't wait to do it again.

My lovely Mum enjoying her tea.

 Yummy Panoramic Afternoon Tea! Oh ok and Cocktails!

You may be wondering at the title of this post, water water everywhere, well.... You know I have already said how pleased I am with being in the Marina, and I still am, very much so but...
My walk to the bus stop to get the bus to work is a mile walk from the Marina, now I actually enjoy the walk to work, now I am over the shock of how far the bus stop for my 300 bus is! On a fine day it's quite invigorating and enjoyable exercise, however on a wet blustery rainy day, it's another story!

The road I have to walk down to the bus stop is somewhat busy with cars, motorbikes and huge lorries going about their business. The side walks in places are alarmingly narrow but as I said I have slowly got used to taking my life in my hands and doing the trek the days I am in work, ( apart from the days Dan let's me have the car which I fully and truly appreciate). It took me a little while to realise just how flooded and waterlogged this road gets when we have heavy rain and as you all know that has been quite often recently.

So one morning last week I woke to torrential rain but knew I had to bite the bullet and go forth into the watery hell of the outside world. On starting my walk I soon, to my horror, realised I wasn't going to get far before I resembled a drowned rat, actually that is an understatement! As well as the rain pelting on my umbrella the lovely car/van/lorry drivers were kind enough to share the puddles they drove through with yours truly, not happy with just sharing the puddles with the bottom half of my body they decided to drench me from head to toe! I was stopped dead in my tracks after my first experience of a wonderful cascade of water flying with a whoosh into my body...it was cold and for a split second took my breath away. I valiantly carried on with the uneasy feeling of the dampness seeping through to every part of my attire, do they even do waterproof bras I wondered! Finally I made it to the sanctuary of the little wooden hut bus shelter, my bus shelter, as it's very rare anybody else would be daft enough?? After diving into the very welcome shelter I composed my soggy self and marvelled at just how much water my Primani trousers could hold in each leg, so much so I felt at least a stone heavier than normal! I knew I would have to pop my head in and out the bus stop to keep an eye out for my bus otherwise he would not see me and drive right past! I was just getting into the swing of popping my head in and out like a proverbial cuckoo in a clock, and thinking how clever I was dodging the water spray from the traffic when I heard the rumble of a huge lorry baring down on my wooden bus stop, ha I thought you won't get me in here, as I pressed myself to the back of the bus shelter with a smug grin on my face lets see you get me now...WHOOSH!! The lorry thundered past and threw the contents of the gutter flood into the hut, filled my only shelter wall to wall with a deluge of water from the top of my head to my soggy feet. The most shocking part of the dousing was the force in which the water hit me in the face, I swear it wiped every bit of mascara from my eyelashes!! So what did I do?? After using language my Mum would ground me for, I just collapsed into a fit of giggles at the humour of it all, is this really happening to me? Just then I spied my bus. Thankfully the lovely bus driver glided slowly through the water to a halt, not wanting to splash me...bit bloody late for that, If I had dived fully clothed into a swimming pool I couldn't be anymore wet. The bus doors opened and the bus driver just looked at the sorry state I was in. You know when you visibly see somebody biting their lip so not to inappropriately laugh, that was the look on the bus drivers face, my look of, ''Don't you dare laugh'' diminished the look pretty quickly, but then we both laughed.

I spent the rest of the day in work looking like a shaggy dog who had been swimming in the canal. I dried out surprisingly quickly but my socks remained soggy all day and my hair dried out to resemble a burst cushion, then again my hair looks like a burst cushion most days, so no excuse there then! I now have dry socks in my locker in work. Note to oneself, under no circumstances do I leave the boat on a rainy day without wellies and waterproofs head to toe!

I watched Cold Feet on TV the other night one of the characters , Adam met the same fate as me....

I sympathised with every drop of water that blasted him in the face...I was thinking, been there done that ha ha ha bet he didn't have to work in soggy socks all day!

Now because this is essentially a boat blog, I will leave you with these photos...

Tickety Boo, happy in her new mooring.

                                     View from stern door at Dusk.

                                           No place like Home..
                                       

                                         View from side hatch from my pontoon 
    
So that is me up to date! Lots to look forward to and as always happy with my lot! I swore I wouldn't light my first Autumn/Winter fire till at least October but I gave in yesterday! I love lighting the first fire after Summer. Cosy nights on the boat, with hot stews, soups and scouse cooked on the wood burner, with crusty bread to look forward to. Happiness is...the simple things in life...                                 

Back In Blog World!

Well we are now into August. As always it shocks me at just how fast time goes!

Having the boat in the Marina is a godsend. The atmosphere is lovely, the people are lovely and I feel so relaxed staying on the boat here. As much as I would rather be out travelling about on the boat, a future I am so looking forward to, if I have to have a mooring while I have to go to work, I can't think of a nicer place to be!

I feel really lucky that I have the choice of two lovely homes. My fab Tickety Boo and a lovely flat in New Brighton looking out over the Mersey! Still being near the water and watching the wide array of boats and ships leaving and arriving at the port of Liverpool is great, what more could a girl want?
My heart is in the boat and Dan's heart is in the flat but we both feel equally comfortable in either places, so we have finally reached a happy medium that suits us both.We both realise how lucky we are to have two great places to spend time with our favourite pains in the arse!

This month has been pretty manic, I spend a lot of the year not socialising that much, I am not much of a party animal but suddenly all the invites come together!! We had Dan's Sister Anns 60th. It was a great party and enjoyed by all! Then my lovely Daughter Kirsty had a hen afternoon in a gorgeous setting. Her good friend Clare organised it all and she did Kirsty proud! We had afternoon tea in the beautiful Vintage Tea Room on Mathew street in Liverpool. It was a fabulous place , food and service spot on. The whole place is realistically vintage and the atmosphere was so relaxed. For any of you boaters coming through to Liverpool it comes highly recommended for a visit, I promise you won't be disappointed!

This coming weekend I have another celebration, a lovely friend I met through our love of boats,  is celebrating her 50th birthday, you know when you meet someone and you immediately know you are on the same wavelength, well that is how I am with her. we haven't known each other that long but it doesn't feel like that, feels like I have known her a lot longer! I feel honoured that she has included me in her close circle of friends to celebrate her Birthday. I am so looking forward to a fun filled weekend...details will follow after the event! If allowed by the party girl of course!

So, Tickety Boo? I have had the boat for nearly 14 years now and I love her so much! Who knew?
Considering all that went on at the beginning of my boaty venture, not to mention all that has gone on during, all of which I frankly wouldn't change, I am more happy than I have ever been! All that has happened to me in the past has moulded me into the person I am now, and lead me into the life I have now, so why wish I could change any of it? I still worry when I look at the list of jobs that need doing to keep her maintained, but I know they will be done, eventually....and so worth the effort!

Dan and I are on a very even keel, ( pardon this old pun again). We have had our up's and down's, mostly up's I am happy to say! It is hard at times embarking on a relationship in your fifties, especially when you have had a period of being alone where you quite quickly get set in your ways!!

The main issue was our two completely different lifestyles!! While Dan likes the boat and feels at home when he stays here, it's not for him 24/7. I on the other hand feel the same about the flat! It did cause friction for a while, but as soon as we both realised we could tailor the relationship to cater for both of us and reach a happy medium, we both find ourselves in our own comfort zones and it's nice! Compromise on both sides works wonders for a relationship!

Looking back over the years I have been with Dan, including the downs, I am so glad we didn't give up and go our separate ways, we are good together but our stubborn streaks often cause havoc! Thankfully we get over the squabbles eventually, and get back to our happy selves.

More news recently, is that of my youngest Daughter Heather, I am so proud of her, as I am of Kirsty and Dean too, she has recently moved into her own place, she is renting a lovely little house and it is a credit to her. I have been on a couple of sleepovers with her since she has moved in, always great fun, we are both crazy and do a lot of laughing! I am so impressed with how she is coping. I know what she has done is not easy, it can be quite a shock to the system when you are responsible for all the bills but she is doing great, and it's lovely to see.

My eldest Daughter Kirsty has recently moved to a lovely part of the country, Tamworth. Her, Ian and the girls now live in a lovely little house and I couldn't be happier for them. The girls have settled into their new schools and are both amazing little girls who I am very proud of! I don't see them as much but it makes me happy knowing that they are happy with their Mum and Dad in their new home. Kirsty and Ian get married in September and I can't wait, that will be for another post though! Ian is all you could wish for in a future Son in law, they are a lovely little family.

My Son Dean is the only one left to fly the nest! His Dad has given him such a lovely home to live in for so long I know it will be a wrench for him. I am trying to encourage him to go over on the Wirral, the flats over there are lovely and quite reasonable rent wise. As he works over there it would make sense. I hope he gets settled soon, then I will be happy that all my children are settled in their own places...none of them have even considered a boat?? I find that unbelievable!! Maybe, and I am being tongue in cheek here, they're not mad enough like their Mum!!

I am hoping to get back into my blogging again, Heather has recently got a new lap top so has kindly let me bring her old one back to the boat, I am like a Pig in Poo! I can blog again.My last lap top gave up the ghost, my lovely friend Jerry the Wizard tried to fix it for me but to no avail. He did however save all my photos! I will be forever grateful to him for that!. I only enjoy blogging on a laptop, while I can do it on my tablet or phone it's not quite the same as tapping away on a keyboard, something I find very satisfying! As this is a new lap top, I need to get photos sorted and how to get them on here! It's surprising how quickly you get out of practice!

I am off work for two weeks and have many jobs I want to get sorted while I am off, Tickety has rust spots that need sorting before they get really bad, the weather however is raining on my parade, I am  living in hope that I will get at least a few days to get sanding and painting done!Story of my life but my big hunk of steel is so worth it! Dan is spending the two weeks holiday with his daughter Erin at the flat, I will hopefully join them for the odd meal or day out, It's nice that we can both do what makes us happy with our time off and then meet in the middle now and again! It's good to miss and be missed!

I promise my next blog won't be too far away, and will be accompanied, by photos that will make it more interesting! I have plans for Tickety Boo's decor, lots of plans, mainly the boudoir! I can't wait to get stuck in! I have to put those plans on the back burner for now though! I have the 50th party weekend coming up, then Kirsty's wedding then to top it off my lovely Mum is a fantastic 80 years young in October, so it is all go!! Not forgetting my lovely Dan's Birthday in September! I have to say I couldn't keep this social activity up long term but I am enjoying every minute!!

Just a thought before I go....by the time all the social activities are over, thoughts will be turning to Christmas!! Where on earth did 2017 go??  As much as I hate to discuss Christmas just now, I am looking forward to decorating the flat for our first Christmas there! Apologies for mentioning the ''C'' word....

Boat Village Life!

Well it's Saturday in the boat village, it's a gorgeous day even if the wind is a little cold.
I have been out and had a nice walk, been to put my rubbish in the bin...loving being able to do that!!
You always have to take into consideration just how long a simple task like taking your rubbish to the bin takes! Being amongst boats where ever you are, brings out the friendliness in people, so taking a stroll around to the bins often results in chatting to people, today was no different! I said good morning to a couple with two children and two dogs we got chatting as you do. They are excitedly waiting for their new wide beam to come to the Marina, they are ecstatic and it was palpable, I was soon smiling from ear to ear for them too.

They were asking how nice was it being on the boat and in the Marina, my enthusiasm for how nice it is just made them even more excited if that was possible! How lovely for them, I hope all goes well for them, I somehow know they are going to love it!

Over the years my mood has fluctuated over my life afloat, I have never once regretted my decision to take to the canal lifestyle, I just sometimes get days when it all becomes a little overwhelming, especially when things go wrong. But then doesn't everybody feel like that whatever path they choose in life? I am an over thinker, no in fact I am an over over thinker!! I take things to heart and let them hurt more than should be allowed...I wallow in worry at times then once through the other side wonder why I have been so daft. I dust myself off and carry on!

Whatever happens in my life be it good or bad I like to think I can walk away with some clarity as to why it happened, not everything is controlled by us though is it? As I have got older though, the wisdom that comes with age does start to make more sense, well some of the time anyway!

The one thing I find difficult, really difficult is why other people can't feel what I feel? I am hopeless at drifting off into my own little bubble, Danny could tell you all about that one, he just doesn't understand where I go when I get immersed in my thoughts, it's like I have walked through a door into another dimension one that not many others if anybody can understand, whats more I like it there! When something captures my attention, however mundane it may be to others, I'm gone and sometimes for some time!! Is that a bad habit or good depends on what way you look at it! If however there is something else interesting going on that keeps me engrossed I won't disappear to the annoyance of those nearest and dearest to me, I will stay involved with them in this new interest.

Dan and I find it really hard at times, we have such diverse interests and sadly it is putting a huge strain on our relationship. as much as I have tried to inject interest into Dan about this wonderful boat lifestyle he just doesn't feel it like I do.... there by lies the problem. We will hopefully work through our differences and come up with a solution....but time will tell.

For all you lovely couples out there who both love boat life, don't ever take that for granted. I have lost count of the amount of couples who struggle because one loves the lifestyle and the other doesn't. It's not wrong on either persons account just makes things a tad difficult!!

We will either come up with a solution or sadly go our separate ways...

In the meantime I will do my up most to be happy, and I am here, other areas of my life are not so, 'plain sailing' but hopefully the storm will be weathered and a calm outlook will resume!

Another New Chapter!

Well here we are again, it's been a while since I last blogged.
My life is constantly changing, whose isn't?
I haven't felt settled for a long time. Always feel comfortable on Tickety Boo, she is my sanctuary, my big steel hug that envelopes me in her safe arms!
It's the outside things that have made me feel unsettled...

I am not going to linger too much on my last mooring. What can I say, it was fabulous while it lasted...until my happiness there was brought to an abrupt halt. Now this, 'Halt' was to me at the time a nightmare but as time has gone on it wasn't such a nightmare as a blessing!

I have many fond memories of my time at the club where I was moored for 13 years. I met some lovely people, who hopefully I will see out and about on the cut. I also, to my sadness, met people who shocked me to the very core with their actions! I shouldn't think for one minute these people would ever read my blog...personally I wouldn't want them to if I am being honest but the people in question know who they are. If they are proud in how they have conducted themselves it just sums up the type of people they are. Individuals I am so glad I have distanced myself from!

I refuse to go into anymore detail than that, as individuals they don't really warrant valuable space on my blog! My blog is for nice things, they are categorically not nice!

So, on to this new chapter. I am now in a Marina! I have always dreaded the thought of being moored in a Marina! Marina's to me always conjured up a picture of a car park for boats, how wrong could I be! I now liken it more to a village, a boat village. The atmosphere here is lovely, very relaxed and well run. All clean and tidy, lots of trees and greenery which I love, friendly people facilities are excellent and the Marina tea rooms are so relaxed and welcoming. You know when you go to a new place and it all feels strange, it takes a while to settle? It never felt strange here from day one.

I recently put a post on my face book saying that if boats could smile Tickety Boo would have a huge grin on her bow, but in the meantime I will smile for both of us!

Financially I have had to tighten my purse strings, but the extra expense is worth every penny for the peace of mind I now have, so much so I have decided to bore you all with my blog posts once more!

I have been off the past week feeling run down with a cold and all the stress of the past few weeks, not the nicest of periods in my life but now firmly put behind me. I once again have lots to look forward to.

I will over the coming weeks and months hopefully have interesting things to waffle on about on here so apologies in advance!

I have to add just before I go, aren't friends and family wonderful when you are having a tough time? I have such lovely people surrounding me and know how lucky I am. I have a lovely family who are always there for me. Also a lovely man who has been in my life for the past 4 years.  We are having problems and worries just now but I know given time we will get through it and it will be sorted one way or another. I am 60 in two years time and I want to live the rest of my life being happy, whatever that takes to achieve  I will strive towards...