River Canal Rescue began its journey in June 2000, when now-retired chief executive officer, Trevor Forman (partner of managing director, Stephanie Horton), had a recurring dream about providing a breakdown service for boaters. He even dreamt the name of the business and logo!
Trevor was a diagnostic mechanic and Stephanie, an electro-mechanical power engineer. They owned and had a love of boats, so possessed the necessary expertise and passion for such a venture. Having found nothing similar existed in the UK on a national scale, the business started with three staff; Trevor, Stephanie and director/chief rescue co-ordinator, Pete Barnett, testing reactions to its service proposition.

Following a formal launch in 2001, by the end of that year, RCR gained 100 members. Now, 25 years on from that initial dream, the company has grown from three staff to 37, and supports 20,000+ members, plus anyone else requiring assistance.

In 2024, RCR engineers responded to 171 major incidents; emergency situations involving submerged, partially sunken or grounded craft, plus salvage work, and 3485 general call-outs, for electrical, fuel and engine issues, flat batteries, over-heating and gear box failures etc. Over the past 25 years, Stephanie estimates its teams have responded to over 60,000 call-outs.

Other services

In addition to breakdown and recovery services, RCR offers maintenance and electrics courses, servicing, a WaterNav app offering offline mapping and route planning for the entire network, and Bilgeaway – the world’s first environmentally-friendly filter that stops fuel and oil pollution from bilge discharges.

Its subsidiary, Key Diesels, supply new and refurbished engines, nationwide and RCR is a distributor for electric motor company, Lynch Motors.

RCR’s Canal Contracting team – soon to be rebranded RCR Plus - helps boaters manage insurance claims and recover costs following an emergency and staff also have access to a nationwide network of over 600 specialist marine engineering service providers, electricians, plumbers, welders etc, with negotiated labour rates and parts’ costs.

No other organisation, whether marina, contractor or engineer has such an extensive in-house team or stocks such a wide range of parts to ensure solutions are sourced and implemented as soon as possible. Similarly, no other organisation works in partnership with a UK-wide network of service suppliers and contractors, addressing boaters’ issues, regardless of their location or issue.

RCR is authorised to handle claims for most boat insurers and is a pre-authorised by the Canal & River Trust (CRT), meaning teams have permission to attend on-site without having to complete in-house paperwork or secure approvals before undertaking a rescue or refloat, saving valuable time.

Awards

RCR’s apprenticeship programme is one of the best in the UK and the company is recognised as a Top 100 apprenticeship employer. RCR has also received awards for customer services, business growth and innovation and Bilgeaway has won the British Safety Industry Federation’s Water Pollution Prevention Award.

Not bad for a company that was at first a dream!

I sometimes think there aren’t many opportunities in our lives when we get to do exactly what we want without having any responsibilities or commitments towards anyone or anything else; I’m not talking about being selfish or narcissistic, but being able to fulfill a dream or desire that’s held deep within you….to follow a path that is uniquely yours.

Most of us start school at 4 or 5 years old and often attend a nursery or playschool of some sort before that; the education system in the UK doesn’t allow for much individuation, so we follow the national curriculum and try to find subjects that interest us and that might eventually inspire us towards a career choice that lights us up.

We leave school as young adults and although we might choose to have a gap year before starting university or work, we’re pretty much thrust into the world of work and responsibilities for the next 4 decades at least.

I read something in a Sunday paper last week where a 70 year woman had had a ‘makeover’; she commented that she was usually dressed in jeans as she spent a lot of her time ‘running around after grandchildren.’ I have a photo of my paternal grandma who died at 52 and she looked at least 20 years older than that, as did many women of her generation; I can’t imagine her ever running around after anybody!

So much of our lives are taken up by education, work and sometimes family life; our children have their children and suddenly, we’re thinking about what our later years might look like.

I have friends who are choosing to continue working in their 70’s, others who’ve retired, but are involved in volunteer work; some are very involved in their children’s and grandchildren’s lives, others less so….

So little of our time is free enough for us to be able to step back and think ‘what do I want from my life?’

When we chose to sell our house and move onto a narrow boat, the primary driver was to have an adventure; being continuous cruisers (we don’t have a home mooring) means that we move around all the time, sometimes without a destination in mind.

We have been moored in a marina over this winter as we’ve been on 2 holidays and we needed to leave the boat somewhere secure, but we don’t have a fixed plan of where we going when we leave in a couple of weeks time.

It’s quite an unusual lifestyle and not having a settled base wouldn’t be everyone’s idea of a good time, but having a choice of where to travel is one of the positive aspects of life on the cut.

There are over 2000+ miles of waterways in the UK (canals and rivers) and travelling at an average of 2-3mph means it’ll take a while to cover the whole network!

As we prepare to leave the marina, our thoughts are turning towards where we’d like to go and what we’d like to do and see this year; we also need to take into account time we want to spend with family and friends and how we can integrate the different aspects of our chosen lifestyle.

Living in a house lends itself towards a more structured lifestyle with more opportunity for a settled pattern in the days of each week, whereas living on a boat often means tentative plans change as locks break down, canals close for a while because of a fallen tree or even completely breach because of a landslide (look up the Bridgewater Canal).

It’s helpful to have a relaxed approach when planning a route as invariably, there will be something that forces us to change direction. We’ve often met boats approaching a junction and shouted ‘which way are you heading’ and they’ve shouted back ‘we’re not sure, we’ll see which way the nose wants to go when we get to the junction’; most continuous cruisers tend to have a very relaxed attitude to route planning!

The last few years have been the first time in our 67 and 72 year old lives where we don’t have to go anywhere in particular at any specific time; we can arrange to meet family and friends to suit their schedules and our life is freer than it’s ever been.

Having said that, it feels like a bit of a golden time as we’re alive (good start), together after 40 years and happy to be so and we’re both fit and well; we actively (no pun intended) take care of ourselves and hope to be able to maintain this itinerant lifestyle for a few years at least, but there are no guarantees.

We always said when we made the decision to radically change our lives that we’d rather do it and regret it, than not do it and regret not taking the plunge…not literally.

So, it feels as if we have a window of opportunity to live a life with less responsibility and we’ve no idea how long that window will last. We had no plans to do any of this before we did it and that surely is the beauty of life….who knows what’s ahead of us?

We want to stay closer to our family this year (we spent last year ‘up north’) so we’ll stay within an hours drive of Birmingham and plan to visit places we haven’t yet been on the boat. Some of those places include Stratford, Worcester, Stourport, Gloucester and wherever else appears interesting along the way.

If you had a year (or more) to do exactly what you wanted to do, what would it be? Life is short, time is precious and although many people wouldn’t want to do what we’re doing, we all have a dream that we’d love to fulfill before we die.

Maybe now’s the time to look for and plan for that window of opportunity, maybe the time IS now…..your dream awaits!

Spring has definitely sprung as we are enjoying some beautiful March sunshine and warmer, longer days. It’s the month of new growth as those fresh young green wild garlic, nettle and dandelion leaves emerge, they are perfect for picking and have lots of uses. Wild garlic shouts out “Pesto” to me but also is a great addition to salads, stir fries and almost any other dish, just wash, chop and add! We had savoury pancakes for Shrove Tuesday with a creamy leek, mushroom, bacon and wild garlic filling.

Now we’re into double figure temperatures I would definitely say it’s time to think about cooking outdoors. My Cobb Barbecue/cooker will be put to good use, it’s efficient, compact and a versatile way of cooking so many meals.

I’m sharing some lighter Spring recipes with you, but keep your eye out for a special Cobb feature coming later on. Who’d have thought you could cook a stir fry on a Cobb! It’s one of my favourite anything goes kind of meals to cook, whether it’s bits and bobs from the bottom of the fridge, chicken, noodles, pork or beef, anything goes!

I’ve got some different salads to share with you, a couple of chicken dishes, some ideas with salmon and mackerel, and a very indulgent chocolate Easter treat!

Frozen green beans, broad beans and peas play a big part in a lot of my recipes. Even if you don’t have a freezer, a part used bag will last a few days in the fridge, you can even pickle them and they will last a few weeks. They marry well with a boiling of new potatoes and mint sauce, or a simple mustard butter using soft butter and 1 tsp mustard with a squeeze of lemon juice and pinch of sea salt. Add them to any crunchy salad bowl, pasta dish, soup or stir fry. Or mix with some cream cheese or crème fraiche, herbs and seasoning.

SPRING GREEN FATTOUSH

Traditionally made from toasted or fried pieces of pita bread, mixed greens and salad veg with a tangy lemony dressing. This salad is perfect for using up an odd leftover wrap, pita or flatbread. Bring a pan of water to the boil and add your choice of green beans or peas. Boil just for a minute or so, until tender then drain and sit in cold water, this keeps the colour and stops the cooking process to keep a nice crunch, drain again. Halve a piece of cucumber lengthways, scoop out the seeds and cut into half-moon shapes. Whisk together 2 tbsp olive oil, juice of half a lemon, ½ tsp sugar and a pinch salt and black pepper. Open up the wholemeal pitta bread into two pieces and cut into bite size pieces, dry fry in a pan to toast, oil can be used but not necessary. Finely chop any fresh herbs such as parsley, coriander, mint or chives. Don’t worry it you don’t have any, you can substitute with mint sauce out of a jar. Combine everything together with some crumbled feta cheese, season with a pinch of sal flakes and freshly ground black pepper to serve.

If you don’t have all the lemon and herb ingredients a great quick marinade or dressing is a bottle of Rapeseed Oil (The Yorkshire brand) infused with lemon, garlic, oregano and thyme!

SUPERFOOD TABBOULEH

Tabbouleh is a Middle Eastern herb salad using finely chopped fresh parsley and mint with bulghur wheat and a simple lemony dressing. Quinoa can be used instead, for a gluten free version. Simply chop your herbs and add whatever you like. For a superfood version use crunchy salad greens, avocado and soya or black beans. My favourite version is a combination of cooked puy lentils, spring onions and tomatoes, with a dressing of olive oil and lemon juice.

Serve with a simple dip made from natural yoghurt, crushed garlic, pinch paprika and squeeze fresh lemon juice.

We get through a lot of lemons and limes and often run out, so I keep a bottle of supermarket lemon and lime juice in, its convenient and not expensive. Likewise fresh mint or coriander aren’t always handy, a good dried leaf version works ok, or mint sauce from a jar.

ROAST RADISH, NEW POTATO AND MACKEREL SALAD

You can use any kind of pre-packed cooked mackerel, such as peppered, smoked, hot or plain. Either leave the potatoes whole or halve or quarter so that they are a similar size to the whole radishes, this ensures even cooking. Drizzle with olive oil and roast in the oven for about 30 minutes, tossing half way through, until golden and tender. Meanwhile make the dressing: whisk together 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 small crushed garlic clove, 3 tbsp natural yoghurt, juice ½ lemon, handful freshly chopped herbs such as parsley or dill. Allow the cooked radish and potato to cool a little, then toss together with the dressing. Flaked mackerel and some fresh salad greens.

SWEET SMOKY CHICKEN

This can be served in a number of ways: over rice with steamed veg, tossed in a stir fry or left overs can be used in a crunchy greens and chicken salad. For the recipe use 4 to 6 Chicken thighs, skin on, if you prefer chicken breasts that’s fine. For the sauce 1 tsp ground allspice 3 tbsp soft brown sugar 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tbsp rice vinegar 5cm piece of ginger, peeled and grated 1 tsp smoked paprika 3 tbsp olive oil Preheat the oven to 220 fan (or cook over the barbecue coals). Combine all the sauce ingredients and coat the chicken well. Leave to marinate in the fridge, preferably overnight, or at least half an hour. Place the chicken on a baking tray and cook for about 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through, baste with the sauce half way through cooking. Once cooked the chicken will be dark in colour, sticky and delicious. Slice up and serve with rice, flatbreads or salad and pickles.

CUCUMBER SALSA

This is a lovely side with fishcakes, rostis, falafel, bhajis etc. ½ cucumber, halved, deseeded and finely sliced or chopped 2 spring onions, finely chopped ½ tsp sugar pinch chilli flakes 1 tsp mint sauce squeeze lemon juice Combine all the ingredients and season with salt and pepper to taste

INDIAN SALMON AND SWEET POTATO CAKES

Steam a large peeled and cubed sweet potato until tender. Then mash with a pinch of salt and 1tbsp curry paste. Flake a 180g tin of salmon into the potato with a handful of breadcrumbs and chopped coriander. Shape the mixture into four cakes and chill for 10 minutes. Shallow fry in a little light oil for about 3 minutes each side until golden and warmed through. Serve with some leafy greens, cucumber salsa and natural yoghurt.

SATAY CHICKEN WITH SPRING GREENS ROASTIES

This recipe uses a full 1kg pack of chicken thighs, but can easily be halved, or will freeze. 1kg chicken thighs, skin on and bone in 1kg Maris Piper potatoes, peeled and cut into large pieces 4 tbsp vegetable oil Any choice of greens such as spring onions, broccoli or Spring cabbage, finely sliced Coriander leaves and sliced red chilli to serve (optional) For the satay sauce 4 tbsp smooth peanut butter 1x 200g tin full fat coconut milk 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 lime, juiced 2 tbsp clear honey 2 tsp curry powder

Preheat the oven to 220 fan. Mix the satay sauce ingredients together. Place the chicken, skin side up in a roasting tin and coat in the sauce. Roast for about 45 mins, basting half way through, until the chicken is tender and the skin crisp. Meanwhile, simmer the potatoes in boiling water, drain after about ten minutes, leave to dry. Put the oil in a shallow roasting tray and pop into the oven for about 5 minutes until very hot. Add the drained potatoes, season with salt and black pepper and toss to coat in the hot oil. Roast for about 30 minutes or so until crispy and golden, turning half way through. Add the greens for the last 5 mins. The chicken and potatoes should finish cooking at the same time, serve with extra sliced spring onions, red chilli and coriander. If there is any cooking sauce left, it can be re-heated with some quick noodles for another day.

CARDAMON CHOCOLATE POTS

These are very rich and indulgent, with a lovely aromatic hint of cardamon. They only need to be made in small portions. I use small glass tumblers. These quantities (can easily be halved) make at least 4 pots, depending on size.

300ml double cream, plus extra for drizzling 12 cardamon pods 200g dark chocolate 25g butter 2 egg yolks, lightly beaten (save the whites and add to an omelette or scrambled egg)

Put the cream in pan. Crush the cardamon pods lightly to remove the seeds and pop them into the cream. Gently warm and remove before boiling point is reached. Set aside for about 20 mins for the flavour to infuse. Pour the cream through a sieve to remove the cardamon flecks, then pour back into the pan and warm. Finely chop the chocolate and add to the cream, off the heat, stir until melted. Add the butter in very small knobs and keep stirring to melt. Quickly but gently fold in the beaten egg yolks. Pour into small pots and allow to set in the fridge for about 4 hours. Drizzle with a little cream to serve.

Hopefully we will have a good Summer with lots of fine weather boating days. I’ll be back for the Summer edition, with a few extra’s along the way. In the meantime you can follow more recipes on my Facebook page Canal Cuisine.

Lock coming up Joyce! What already? I haven’t finished preparing lunch yet, came the reply from down in the galley. I know, its been an easy one this morning, the flow is not as strong as yesterday, all that rain we had last week must have finally worked itself out of the system.

We were aboard Art Deco, a wide beam canal barge that has been our home for the last seven years. On the river Thames, we’re cruising up river, heading for Iffley Lock where we are due to meet up with a couple of other boats. There are good moorings there and a pub, the Isis Farmhouse, right on the towpath, in a lovely, remote rural setting and the perfect place to spend a few nights before we head up to Oxford, just a short cruise away.

This is our first cruise of 2022, a chance to spread our wings after the confines of the winter, which has been particularly wet on the Thames, with quite a few periods on red boards. We had spent it around Marlow, a favourite place of ours. There are great moorings by Higginson park, and it’s just a short walk into the town and all its facilities. It even has a railway station, on a small branch line from Maidstone; how it survived the Beeching cuts I have no idea, perhaps a ‘person of influence’ lived there at the time. An extra bonus is a water tap, well hidden and not for public use, but if you know where to look and have an extra long hose, you can fill up, under the covers of darkness of course!. It came in very useful this winter as we were on red boards for over six weeks. Diesel could have been a problem at the time, but one of our fellow boaters had access to a van, so we were able to fill 5 gallon cans from a boatyard at Caversham just a few miles away.

We liked to get in a long cruise as early as possible in the year, before the river becomes busy, and this year is no different. We had set off mid March, heading down river, easy cruising, we were going with the flow of the river as it made its way towards London, and eventually the North Sea. Our journey would take us as far as Kingston on Thames, the last main town before Teddington Lock and the tidal Thames, a no-go area for us as we do not have a licence for that part of the river. We looked forward to this time of year with the anticipation of the better weather and plenty of cruising.

It had become a bit of a tradition on Art Deco to start the new season with a complete cruise of our area, Kingston to Oxford, a distance of 88.5 miles, it would give us a chance to familiarise ourselves with the river, towns and locks again and see what damage, if any, the winter weather had caused. Our first overnight stop would be Windsor, but before there, just above Romney lock is an EA mooring, where we stop for lunch. From the river there looks to be nothing around, but just a few meters away, hidden behind the trees is Dorney Lake, the venue for the rowing events of the 2012 Olympics. It is now owned by Eton College, has an impressive arboretum set in a nature reserve, and remarkably is open to the public. We have spent many an afternoon there wandering around the extensive reserve with its wonderful view of Windsor Castle some miles in the distance.

In Windsor we’re heading for the EA mooring opposite the castle, a small mooring just large enough for a boat of our size, which is much sought after and virtually impossible to get in the summer, but this time of year we have no problem and spent the night there. Its a good mooring, spoilt only by the aircraft coming and going into Heathrow, I swear you can almost see the crew in the cockpit. The noise is deafening but thankfully they aren’t allowed to fly at night, much to the relief of the residents, the Royal family included, although I am told that when they are in residence the planes are diverted.

Our journey next morning would take us down as far as Sunbury where again there is good mooring just the other side of the lock. Not easy to find if you’ve not been there before. On exiting the lock you have to make a 180 degree turn to the left and the mooring is on the right, opposite the boatyard. We like to overnight here, it's a quiet mooring and it will make life easy tomorrow, when we hope to moor outside Hampton Court. To get there we have to pass through Moseley lock, but before we do that we will use the facilities, take on water and dispose of our rubbish. Hampton Court moorings are just after the lock so we will moor there for a couple of days, again, a very popular mooring but we will be okay at this time of year. There is a charge but it's well worth it. Apart from the palace there is Home Park the old hunting ground of Henry VIII, a great place to spend an afternoon wondering around and spotting the deer. Kingston on Thames is a short distance from the moorings and normally we would make a visit, but we decide to start the journey up river to Oxford from here. There is not much to see beyond this point and its only a short cruise to Teddington, the end of the non-tidal Thames and our licence area.

After a couple of nights we decide its time to leave and it's a bright and sunny April morning when we set off, without a firm plan in mind, apart from getting to Oxford around the first of May. There are many favourite places along the way and we will make lots of stops, we know the best moorings and where to stock up on food, water, diesel etc. We will just 'go with the flow', not the best phrase as we will actually be going against the flow, but you know what I mean. That's the beauty of this lifestyle, compensation for the long, wet winters we have to endure. We spend our first night at the Weybridge moorings, just below Shepperton lock, there is not much to see here, so we often walked the mile or so into Weybridge town centre.

We know the area very well, in fact we spent five months stranded here during the Covid lockdown when the river was closed to traffic in 2020. Actually we were very lucky at that time. We had left the boat in a boatyard at Walton on Thames and visited family and friends back in Sheffield, but the day we arrived back the whole of the country was put into lockdown and the river closed. We had no alternative but to stay put and take advantage of the situation, negotiating a deal which allowed us to stay in the boatyard and use its facilities, including shore power! Anyone who has spent time living on a boat will know what a luxury that is, and indeed we need it more than most. Art Deco has an unusual electrical system, not powered using the usual 12volt leisure batteries as most boats are, but a 48volt system consisting of 24 x 2 volt motive power batteries, which coupled to an inverter, gives us masses of 240volt electricity. Enough to power an oven, hob, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine, plus mains plug sockets throughout the boat. As an extra bonus it means we have no need for any gas on board. We have a 12 volt circuit that powers just the cabin lights and water pumps. The beauty of the system is that we are able to have domestic appliances throughout the boat, the downside is that we needed to run the engine to charge the batteries. This is not normally a problem as we are ‘continuous cruises’, cruising most days, but lockdown was an unknown and no one had any idea how long it would last, certainly not 5 months. We considered ourselves lucky compared to what some people had to endure, we were ‘self isolated’ on board and we had Walton town centre just a short walk away with all its facilities.

We like walking, in fact we have walked most of the Thames path, not all in on go, but in stages. Whenever we moored for a few days we would explore the area, not just the riverside but inland as well. Its amazing the places you find hidden away and it was one of the most enjoyable parts of our lifestyle.

We had no desire to stay, so early the next morning we were off, planning to pass through Windsor and moor overnight at Runnymede, another favourite place of ours. There are National Trust moorings on the left bank by the meadows, and we try and spend time here whenever we are passing, but it can get very busy in the summer, so we take advantage and are moored up before lunch. In the afternoon we walk across the meadow to the Magna Carta memorial. It’s in a lovely setting surrounded, fittingly, by English Oak Trees and is a very peaceful place. But that's not the only attraction. Sitting nearby are ‘The Jurors’ by the artist Hew Locke, depicting 12 intricately sculptured chairs cast in bronze. Its very difficult to describe in words but we love it. If that wasn’t enough there is another installation about 500 meters away: ‘Writ in Water’ by Mark Wallinger and is a new memorial celebrating the signing of the Magna Carta, again difficult to describe in words, but as the title suggests, it's very reflective. Add to that the John F. Kennedy memorial and the memorial to all those killed in the service of the Royal Air Force, there is lots of culture to be seen by the river at Runnymede.

There is no hurry to set off the next morning, we have no plan just as long as we are heading up river in the direction of Oxford. We stop for lunch at Maidenhead just below the railway bridge, Brunell's iconic brick built structure that never ceases to amaze me. It seems to defy gravity, in fact when it was finished there were people who would not travel over it for fear that it would collapse. It still stands proud today, testament to Victorian ingenuity and engineering. In the afternoon we passed through Boulters lock and on to what we think is the prettiest part of the river, Cliveden reach. With open meadow on the left and steep wooded chalk hills to the right, topped by Cliveden House, it is the classic English river landscape. We have often moored on the tree lined bank below the house and walked into the gardens, there is an entrance that is never manned, but to ease our conscience we always have coffee in the National Trust cafe. Of course Cliveden will be associated by people of a certain age with the Profumo Affair of 1961 and the scandal around it with John Profumo, Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davis. Even so it is a stunning place to visit.

The next morning we set off for Henley on Thames making the short cruise up to Cookham lock. This stretch can be quite difficult if the river is running fast because of a turn sharp to left, needed to get into the lock cut. If you get it wrong you can be in serious trouble and finish up in the trees on the Cliveden side of the river, it happened to us once, so we are extra careful here. We moor by the church and have lunch and take a walk around the village before we set off for Henley, where we have a dinner invitation from Jean and James on ‘La Bouvier’, good friends who are, like us, constant cruisers. They have spent the winter in Henley, along with a few other boats we know, and they love entertaining on their large boat. There will be eight of us for dinner, and as it's the first one of the year there will be much to catch up on. We know from experience that dinner will be a full on roast with all the trimmings and plenty of good wine accompanied by a few gin and tonics. They are the perfect hosts, the drinks flow and conversation is convivial. We discuss our plans and Jean and James, along with Jan and Mike on ‘Afterglow’ decide to tag along for their first cruise of the year. I don’t like to travel in convoy, its too restricting, so we arrange to meet at Iffley lock moorings in a month's time. We would prefer to meet at Oxford where there are moorings at Osney lock, a short walk from the city centre but it's just not practical, we would struggle to moor 3 large boats on the limited moorings there. At Iffley there is a long stretch of visitor moorings and we know we would have no problem mooring all 3 boats together.

Over the following weeks we slowly make our way towards Oxford, catching up along the way with the lock keepers and hearing the latest river gossip, reacquainting ourselves with the riverside towns and villages we love so much. Staying a few nights here and there, sometimes longer if we find something particularly interesting to see or do. By early June we have reached Abingdon, a pleasant town that is very welcoming to boaters. We moor by the abbey gardens and spend 2 nights here, it's a very pleasant town and good place to replenish the larder. After a relaxing couple of days we are fully stocked and set off once again, up through Abingdon lock, where we have a good old chat with the lock keeper and volunteer, two of the friendliest people we know on the river. There are facilities here so we fill up with water and dispose of our recycling and general rubbish before heading off for our next overnight stop at Iffley lock.

We arrive at Iffley on Saturday lunchtime, ‘La Bouvier’ and ‘Afterglow’ are already there and we are able to moor in front of them. As luck would have it there is a bit of a music festival tonight, advertised as ‘A Mayday Festival’ in the field behind the pub, nothing grand, just a couple of local musicians. I quickly check the calendar on my phone, today is the 30th of April, we have arrived on the actual day we planned way back in March! It's a beautiful afternoon so Joyce decides to invite our friends on board for a buffet and a few drinks before we go to the pub. We are sat on the back of our boat chatting, drinking and eating, enjoying each others company when the music starts up, so we stroll over and join the small crowd already gathered and enjoy the music, which is mainly acoustic folk, and fits very well with the idyllic setting. The pub is unusual in the fact that it has no road access, the only way to get here is either by the towpath or river and because of this it is popular with walkers and cyclists who come down from Oxford, and of course boaters who have a good, safe stretch of moorings. The flip side is that it's impossible for delivery vans to get here, so there is no draught beer, larger or cider, it all comes in bottles, but it's a small price to pay for the atmosphere. It's defiantly a summer pub, almost all the customers sit outside and enjoy the surroundings, the inside, which could be best described as “shabby chic”, reflecting this. Never the less it's probably the best place we know on the river to while away a summer evening. We have a very pleasant time, it's a good crowd and the music is surprisingly good; every one is in a relaxed mood enjoying the perfect combination of weather and location. We chat to fellow boaters and locals alike, everyone is very friendly and welcoming, not like some pubs on the river that seem to view boaters as a lower class, the phrase ‘water gypsies’ often heard, but not here.

The music finishes around 10.30, and folks start drifting away, our little party included. As usual we discuss whose boat to go back to for a night cap but decide instead to make an early start in the morning for Oxford, reasoning that if we reach the moorings at Osney by mid-morning there is a chance we will all get moored. Its a fact that our lifestyle, spent mainly outdoors, and maybe also our age, means we are always glad to get to our beds, usually well before midnight, and indeed tonight is no exception. We bid goodnight to our friends and step aboard Art Deco, open the back doors and reach for the light switch just inside, press, and nothing happens, the fuse must have blown. It's dark on the towpath, but we have left a 240 volt light on in the saloon at the front of the boat so I am able to see enough to find a torch. We have a 240 volt mirror in the bathroom and also bedside lamps in the sleeping cabin so I decide to sort out the cabin lights in morning, it will be easier in the daylight.

Joyce gets ready for bed while I take the torch and go back outside to check that the mooring ropes are secure and everything is shipshape and Bristol fashion. I like to have a walk around before locking up for the night, a habit formed when we were on the canals in and around London. The whole atmosphere there was different to the Thames, more ‘edgy’ and the towpath could get busy in the evenings. It's very quiet here though, not surprising, given its remote location, the pub is closed and all the revellers have long since gone. In fact it''s a lovely evening so I sit on the back deck and enjoy the moment. There is a mist beginning to form, the moon is full and the stars, twinkling in the heavens, giving an almost magical quality to the night. I find myself reflecting on the coming day, Mayday, a festival that has fascinated me ever since I first saw the ‘Wicker Man’ film some 40 odd years ago. In pagan times it was seen as a time of death and rebirth; death of the cold dark winter and rebirth of spring, mother nature waking from her deep sleep. I think about our lifestyle and how similar it is to the natural world, we are metaphorically waking up from our winter confinement and looking forward to spring and the better weather. It's so quiet and peaceful, just the occasional call of an owl or the ‘plop’ of something entering the river, a swan glides past, closely followed by 4 cygnets, no doubt looking for a safe place to roost for the night. I need to go to roost too so I take one last look around, thinking how lucky we are to be here at this moment in time, climb down into the boat and lock the doors for the night.

Joyce is already in bed and I soon join her and begin to drift off as soon as my head hits the pillow. I am at the point where I’m not fully awake nor fast asleep, when Joyce shakes me quite violently and whispers: Dave, Dave wake up, there’s someone on the boat. I am quickly awake and lay for a few seconds before I hear the noise that’s frightened Joyce, a loud metallic rattle and realise that something or someone is at the back doors. It stops suddenly and all is quiet, just the sound of Joyce’s heavy breathing. The adrenaline kicks in and I am out of bed in a flash, out into the galley and hit the light switch, nothing, and immediately remember the blown fuse. I’m quickly up the back steps, unlock the doors and throw them open without a second thought. What greets me is a complete surprise, a figure calmly sat on the rear deck, hands folded on the knees, looking directly into my eyes. For a moment I stand there transfixed, trying to process what I’m seeing. A hooded woman dressed in black, not old, but not young, with a kind smiling face, and piercing stare. She lifts her hands and offers them to me, saying in a clear voice: “would you like some scones?”. For a moment I’m confused, not knowing if or how to reply, so in panic I just shout no! and slam the doors closed. I stand on the steps trying to make sense of what’s happening, eventually coming to my senses, I feel I should engage with her, but on opening the doors find she’s gone. I quickly climb on to the back deck but there's no one there. I look up and down the towpath but there’s not a soul in sight. From the deck I have an elevated view and can see a good way, about 100 metres in each direction, the moon is full, giving off just enough light, and the mist just hangs over the river, but there's no one in sight. Anyone familiar with Iffley lock will know the towpath is dead straight in each direction with no paths leading on or off, quite simply the lady has vanished. This is very weird, it can have only been a matter of seconds from closing the doors to opening them again, no time for anyone to even climb off the boat. I go back to join Joyce in the cabin and immediately she asks who it was that I was talking to. I explain to her the events and say that I must have imagined it, but says she distinctly heard a female voice talking to me. Both of us are very confused, if only I hadn’t panicked but had gone and sat and talked to her, we are sure there would have been a rational reason for her being on our boat, but maybe she knew what my reaction would be. We talk about it for a while, and I wonder if my fascination with Mayday has any significance, but we dismiss that, there is nothing to be done and we are tired so we drift off to sleep.

In the light of day we still have no logical answer, but decide to put it to one side and get on with the day. We meet up with our friends, and relate the nights events. It's soon dismissed by them as a figment of my imagination fuelled by alcohol, so we let it go, but Joyce and myself know better. They plan to turn around and head down river but we decide to cruise up to Oxford and stay overnight at Osney lock. We like the city, the architecture is stunning, ‘the city of dreaming spires’ is an apt description and it's so vibrant, helped no doubt by the students and tourists, a pleasant change after the quiet villages and towns down river. We get a space at Osney, just above the lock, get the boat moored up and have lunch before walking the short distance in to the city, spending the afternoon soaking up the atmosphere. I’m in daydream mode walking round, it’s impossible to visit Oxford without thinking of Inspector Morse, but its more than that, I can’t get the image of the hooded lady and last night's events out of my mind. What’s troubling me most is I think she spoke again just as I slammed shut the doors, it’s been praying on my mind all day. The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that I heard her shout “leave this boat” or words to that effect. The strange thing though is that we have been having conversations over the last month or so about selling the boat and moving back on to dry land.

We have had 7 great years with Art Deco, we conceived, designed and commissioned her and I was involved at every stage, from the shell being delivered to her launch on the Grand Union canal at Watford. The problem is that we are not getting any younger and we want to choose when to leave, rather than waiting for the time when we have to leave. Added to that we have our first grandchild back up north and we want to be involved and see her grow up. I can’t help wondering if last night’s event, either real or imaginary, was a warning, fate intervening to help us decide our future.

We stay a couple more nights on the mooring at Osney, we want to sample the delights of the Perch, a well known watering hole about a mile upstream, a lovely walk by the river. It’s one of our favourite pubs, and features in a few Morse episodes. The beer is good, by southern standards anyway, and they do a great lunch, served, if the weather's right, in the garden overlooking the river. Conversation inevitably falls on the hooded lady, but the more we talk about it, the less it seems to make sense. We decide the best course of action is to forget the whole thing. We vow never again to discuss it between ourselves, and to this day we have kept that vow. Not that others have done the same though. Over the next few weeks as we cruise down river we are teased extensively, especially by the lock keepers who know us. It seems our friends have been talking, taking every opportunity to tell the tale, no doubt elaborating and expanding at each telling. It soon becomes clear that everyone on the river knows the story, because thats what it has become, a story, not just any story but a ghost story. A strange tale of an elderly couple who had too much to drink one night and saw a ghost. We take it all in good spirit, pardon the pun, and laugh along, but we know the truth, and to this day I know what I saw and heard that night, I did not imagine it, it was real.

Over the following weeks, as we slowly make our way down river, I can’t forget the night at Iffley lock, although I try hard to put it out of my mind. I would go days not thinking about it, but suddenly, for no reason, it would jump into my mind and I get a chill run down my spine. Could the hooded lady be somehow haunting me, not manifesting herself in person, but getting to me through my subconscious, haunting my mind. I dwell on the last words I heard her say “leave this boat” they go round and round in my head, like when you hear a song on the radio with a catchy chorus and you're humming it for the rest of the day. Of course I don’t mention any of this to Joyce, as far as she is concerned its forgotten, and I want to keep it that way. The whole incident seems personal, something only between me and the hooded lady, almost like an illicit affair you want to keep secret. I like to think that I’m normally a very rational, level headed person, but I have to admit the whole thing is getting to me; it's becoming an obsession and I think the only way to end it is to give the hooded lady exactly what she wants, for me to leave the boat.

We carry on our discussions about selling the boat and after weighing up the pros and cons decide that the time has come. Apart from what I mentioned earlier, other factors seem to be pointing us in that direction. In the five years we have been cruising the Thames, river life has changed considerably, and not for the better. The funding that the Environment Agency gets for maintenance of the river and its facilities has been cut to the bone. Consequently that shortfall has to be replaced and it falls to boaters to do that. The licence fee has increased and the facilities are not maintained, so when something breaks down it is not fixed. The number of lock keepers has dropped, when we first came onto the river virtually every lock was manned, sadly that is not the case now. The river does not feel as friendly a place anymore and we think it's time to go.

We contact a brokerage in the Reading area and make plans for the sale of Art Deco, and prepare to become ‘landlubbers’ once again, a sad time for both of us, but we knew when we started on this adventure it would not be forever. We agree to have the boat onto the sales mooring by September, giving us a month or so of cruising and time to say goodbye to everyone we have met on the river, be it lock keepers or fellow boaters. It's fitting that we should spend the last weeks aboard Art Deco retracing our well known steps, heading down river to Hampton Court, then back to Oxford before leaving her for one last time at Reading. This way we will see as many friends as is possible and share a few drinks with them for one last time and say goodbye.

It's a couple of days into our final cruise when I realise I have not thought about the hooded lady, not once has she entered my mind, the first time it has happened since that fateful night at Iffley lock some four months ago. Has the ghost finally been exorcised, has she achieved her goal? For some unknown reason I think she has. I have a feeling that a large heavy load has been lifted off my shoulders, my spirt has lightened and I am looking forward to the future and a new chapter in our life. Little did I know that the next chapter would be more life changing than the last.

On the morning of March 18th 2023, after eighteen months on dry land I suffered a stroke while at home in Sheffield. I was rushed into the Royal Hallamshire hospital in the city by emergency ambulance. Fortunately the hospital was able to perform a procedure that dissolves the blood clot and I was spared the full effects of the stroke. I say fortunately because not all hospitals have the specialist equipment or clinical staff to carry out the procedure, which has to be completed within an hour of the event happening. Had I been on Art Deco, it would have been impossible to do so within the time frame, given the remote locations we often found ourselves in. Due to the experienced hospital team who treated me and the subsequent rehabilitation, the effects I suffered are limited.

I like to think that the hooded lady helped me ‘to dodge a bullet’ so as to speak.

I’ve done nothing. This could be a challenging 800 words; you may as well stop reading now. What have I done on the boat in the last few months?? Hmm... Diddly squat. Actually, I ripped the entire shower out, but more of that later.

Years ago, racing very old wooden often leaky old dinghies, one would get quite excited by the end of February and start applying liberal amounts of glue, glass fibre and paint; all of which failed by end of June being a total waste of time, effort and money and leading to even more leaks, so you learn the hard way. Glass fibre needs 24 hrs above 10 degrees c to set properly, as well as what ever it’s being applied to needs to be dry, which with theamount of condensation about, just isn’t happening. Paint especially modern stuff, which is water based is exactly the same, in fact I will save you reading a list: just apply the above to any product we may use to “tart the old tub up “and none of them will work until April (later if this weather doesn’t stop freezing).

The boat is actually a mess, all the floor tiles are up and stacked against the bulkhead because condensation just forms under them and they freeze and never dry out. All the locker tops are off for exactly the same reason but with added mushroom growth if there is no air. There’s no water connected because it would just freeze the pump, pipes etc., causing bigger issues. Gas is off at the bottle. One concession I did make today was to remove the bubble pack from the windows and open them and the vents all afternoon: a good breeze can dry out better than any heater. As for the outboard – it’s still there! I haven’t even looked at it let alone try and start it recently. The very last thing I want on a water-cooled engine is water inside when temperatures get down to below minus five. The battery is at home in the warm and dry rather than freezing. Even with solar it’s getting very little if any charge and apart from that cold batteries don’t charge anywhere near as well as they do when warmer. I did repair a zip in the canopy after a storm, it was like trying to sew concrete the vinyl was so hard and stiff. However, another few weeks and it will all be fine again. I also can’t move in the cockpit because the canopy is strapped down at every location with “bolt rope” as the weather goes from freezing to hurricane in a matter of hours.

The shower! Twice I have put a new tray in and twice it’s cracked – because it has the thickness of a margarine tub. Also the floor isn’t level so it has to be built up about 9 inches and the whole thing unless built as a wet room, leaks into the void below growing better fungi than the lockers. So before what seems to have been a mini ice age I ripped it all out with the idea of new tray, may be even a decent shower screen - you know, the kind of thing like you have at home. Then I gave up because I saw that originally the shower was built into the boat, the drain went through and into the bilge plates collecting not at the back but in a large trough under the floor. I throw this in because that seemed to be the 1970s way of doing It and not just on Dawncraft! In the bow section there was even the remains of a pump - the whole lot exiting through the sink waste. However, someone had filled it all with expanding foam and although I did try and gently remove it using bent wire in a drill (sort of egg whisk thing) caution got the better of me, seeing as we are below the water line! So, what have I done instead – I come from old school where boat buckets served so many purposes!! My shower is a bucket, well actually it’s a large blue tub because a bucket isn’t big enough and it works a treat! I got the idea from some swanky B and B made of a corrugated iron shed on wheels! (shepherds hut). It’s cheap, it’s simple, can be lifted out easily withoutaffecting its function. Just add soap and hot water and gently agitate.

Last bit is a word of warning. If, like me, you have done diddly squat, do not start that outboard on last season’s fuel – it will be stale, full of water at bottom of the tank and liable to block your carburettor by the time you have done less than a mile. Ditch it and start afresh, there are recycling centres that will take it in an approved container.

It won’t be long. Spring must arrive.

An original and tattered copy of the Newbury Weekly News Centenary Supplement dated February 1967 has recently been discovered in Hungerford Town Hall. It contains the following article by David Barnes.

Newbury has seen many changes, mainly for the better, over the past 100 years, but one for the worse, in the opinion of many people, has been a steady decline in the use and maintenance of the Kennet and Avon Canal.

Gone for ever, but nor forgotten, are the days when a fleet of barges carrying thousands of tons called at Newbury every year as they plied between Reading and Bath on this once-important inland waterway linking the Thames with Avonmouth.

Older readers will recall the time when supplies were regularly unloaded for coal merchants at the Wharf and West Mills, corn was brought in from the farms to Dolton’s Mill and large quantities of gravel, sand and other building materials were invariably moved by barge.

Today, Newbury is one of the few places where the canal is still fully navigable for a few miles in each direction. Elsewhere, it is now a quiet backwater choked with weeds and rushes, but still a potentially valuable amenity appreciated most by fishermen and a band of enthusiasts dedicated to its eventual restoration.

Completed in 1810, it was hailed at the time as a masterpiece of civil engineering, consisting of 87 miles of waterway with 106 locks, 29 of them within 2½ miles at Devizes – and an aqueduct over the River Avon about a mile from Limpley Stoke.

For the next 30 years, the canal lived up to expectations that it would be a profitable commercial undertaking. In its heyday, 300,000 tons of merchandise passed along the canal, bringing prosperity to landowners, manufacturers, merchants and tradesmen who lived along the route and revenue of £70,000* in one year, 1832, to the owners, the Kennet and Avon Canal Company.

But by 1840, this golden era was drawing to a close. The advent of the Great Western Railway brought severe competition and a battle for survival between the railway promoters and the canal company.

Long struggles through the House of Commons and the Lords ended in 1851 when the Great Western Railway bought out the canal shareholders for less than a fifth of the million George III gold sovereigns it cost to build with the undisguised object of eliminating all competition.

From 1918 onwards the condition of the canal deteriorated to such an extent that the time taken to navigate it practically eliminated all commercial traffic.

The railway company continued, however, to pursue a policy of discouraging traffic to such an extent that before nationalisation there was rarely a canoe or rowing boat seen on the canal at Newbury.

With nationalisation in 1947, management of the canal became the responsibility of British Waterways. Its commercial use revived for a while, but in May 1950 it finally ceased completely when the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive closed a section between Reading and Newbury, ostensibly to repair some of the locks.

A second attempt in 30 years to close the canal, this time by the British Transport Commission in 1955, again met with widespread opposition. After protests and a petition, Parliament decreed that the canal must not be allowed to deteriorate beyond the state into which it had fallen.

In recent years, report has followed report in defence of the Kennet and Avon, but despite the thousands of words on the value of the canal as an amenity, its future is still uncertain.

The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, who for years have been campaigning for the complete restoration of the canal, recently showed what could be done by rebuilding a derelict lock at Sulhamstead with prisoners and soldiers carrying out the work under the supervision of the British Waterways inspector at Newbury. This project was carried out so successfully that the Trust hope to repair other disused locks.

* over ten million pounds in today’s money

Readers may know that the K and A canal was eventually restored and opened by the late Queen in 1990 – I will write about its restoration in the next issue of Canalsonline.

“Last year,” Jim said calmly as he leant over the little outboard motor. “Last year when I did this, it felt like life wouldn’t ever be the same afterwards.”
“I remember when you turned up at the shop, and claimed to live on a boat and I thought you meant some kind of houseboat,” Amanda replied, calling to mind with affection the day that Jim had first come into her life.
“And it was a houseboat!” Jim protested. “Just not the sort you expected.”
“And if you want the truth, it still feels like home,” Amanda smiled. “Even as empty as she is. Let’s head for the island Jimbo.”

With that, they were off, cutting through the water at a good pace on a brisk morning. It was less than a year since Jim had first covered the journey in the newly restored Mayfly, the weather was different, and there was another person aboard, but that day replayed in his mind as he watched the now familiar scenery roll past. Then he had no plans beyond getting to Dave Harris’ home on the island, now he felt there was at last something more solid about life. Not exactly a certainty, but there was a confidence that he felt that things would somehow reveal themselves and resolve. Maybe not the way he expected, but resolve anyway. Standing in front of him, between the cabin doors, and leaning on the top deck was the reason for this.
“You look miles away Jimbo, you been drinking bilgewater again?” she joked, her hair unruly in the breeze.
“There isn’t any,” he smiled, looking to check that the work on the rivets had done the job.
“That, my love, just goes to show that I am right!” Amanda replied with a wink.

The run to the island was over all too soon, but the afternoon’s work was still to be enjoyed. By early evening the rest of the craft was ready for the moveable items to be restored to the correct places ready for any journey they may want to undertake. Most of the deed boxes that they had used as storage for anything from clothes to food were stacked neatly in the bungalow, and would remain there until required, but ropes, anchor and other sundries that turned the little varnished wooden boat into something more usable needed to go back aboard both for convenience and due to lack of storage ashore. A celebratory meal from Killer Ben’s chippy now seemed apt and dusk saw the pair returning to their home sharing from the newspaper insulated parcel...

The dream of drifting on water, like that of falling through clouds, is not uncommon, and is usually terminated by the dreamer waking with a start in completely familiar surroundings to the realisation that it was just a dream. The sun was out, the couple were amiably moving across calm water as if by magic. No motor was running, nor was there any rope to shore, just two people, a boat and...
“JIM! JIM! wake up! NOW!”

With more of a start than the normal finale of such imagination he was bolt awake to see Amanda less than an inch from his face, and darkness instead of sunshine.
“We’ve been cut adrift!” she shouted.

No more information was needed, and Jim was out of the cabin within seconds.

“We need to move… NOW!” he replied as grabbed the fuel tank, and scrabbled to connect the line to the outboard whilst Amanda cleared the canvas covers out of the way, pushing them hastily into the cabin. The order of choke, no choke, then half choke was second nature and the little motor, as if understanding the urgency of the situation, started without trouble. Amanda cast the big torch she had brought aboard around to get some orientation on where they were, which was drifting sideways, and rather too close to quite a large weir.

“Jesus!” Jim exclaimed as he put the motor in gear and swung the craft to point upstream before turning the throttle to full and disengaging the choke, hoping that the spark plug would not foul up due to his ham-fisted treatment of the thing. Although cold, it responded, pushing as much power as it had, first to halt the Mayfly in her journey to oblivion, and then to start putting some distance between her and the weir.

The roughness of sound mellowed slightly as the cylinder block slowly warmed through, and a little more power fed its way to the propeller. Amanda moved the torch around so that Jim could see the piling ahead, on which was mounted a large notice proclaiming the danger that they had come all too close to. Jim took the throttle back to a more sedate speed as they glided past the obstruction, close enough to clear the chain that crossed the channel as a further confirmation of the danger that lurked. From there the island was not too far and in a little over three quarters an hour, Mayfly was again tied up to the jetty, albeit with shorter lines but with an anchor thrown out for good measure.

“Thanks Mand,” Jim said with a distinct tremor in his voice. “You’re a gem.”
“You too. You just went for it,” Amanda smiled nervously, blocking the image of the all too fast approaching weir from her mind.

Almost as though they had both been standing in front of a neon sign that had just been illuminated for the first time the realisation of how close to death they had both been dawned simultaneously on them. For some time they just stood as their minds absorbed the situation, then came the embrace, almost long enough for Rodin to sculpt the two in stone. Silent, as tears rolled down both faces, they took in the fact that, as a result of both their actions, they were still there, as was the Mayfly which had not suffered so much as a single scratch.

We've had a disaster on board
There's egg all over the floor
The omelette pan took a dive
When a boat went past full bore

We thought our ropes secure
And that we couldn't possibly move
But said pan was on the middle ring
And it didn't stay in the groove

We've all got that ring on our hob
That's really not fit for purpose
Like trying to balance a saucer
On the back of a moving tortoise

It's a lot like living in a jelly
Stuff slides and shifts about
If someone goes past too fast
Cupboards open and things fly out

Now many shout at the boaters
that seem like they are in a race
And those that are not on tickover
Risk getting my egg on their face

If you're a boater with the zoomies
And behind you there is a wake
Lay off the throttle at moored boats
To reduce the chance of a culinary mishap.
For heavens sake

Fifty five years ago, construction of the Westway forced relocation of hundreds of North Kensington families, earning it a place in history as one of London’s Most Notorious Highways. Today it’s a cautionary tale for Planners and Engineers in how NOT to build public infrastructure … and also how to mitigate its impacts.

Skateboard parks, exercise facilities, shops and offices were eventually added to Westway undercrofts, integrating the highway into neighbourhoods along its length.

Except for a bit that swerves over the canal near Westbourne Park, which stayed notorious, and lately has gotten worse. Burnt, sunken vessels — relics of a remarkable conflagration a year and a half go — still block mooring on one side of the overpass. On the other side a patch of rubbish and construction debris swells and shrinks depending on how recently CRT has evicted the
responsible entity.

How does this cycle end? How does the community take possession of a unique public place? The only rainproof stretch of canal in all of London? Allowing it to fulfill its promise as a weatherproof showcase for commerce and performance? Something London needs more than ever in the post-Covid age?

With the 300+ mixed unit Taxi House development rising within view of the blight, Cheyne Capital has a stake in it, but no clear obligation; their primary obligation is to shareholders and tenants. The Canal and River Trust is obliged to maintain their towpath, but lacks enforcement power and funding. Borough government is the only one with the financial means to address the problem. It is their residents, after all, who benefit most from a beautiful towpath; and their residents who suffer from its absence.

So the City of Westminster must be applauded for developing London’s latest borough-wide strategy to improve the canal in service to constituents.

The ambitious plan, launched after Labour took over for the first time in borough history, details three ongoing projects and seven future ones. The Flyover is listed as high priority.

With borough funding, Your Canal Boat is getting a jump start. Beginning Sunday Feb 23, we present 30 free workshops at the site to demonstrate a different vision for the space, and to grow support for its use as a point of outreach addressing the NHS's new priority, an epidemic of loneliness and isolation estimated to account for 20% GP office visits.

Sessions run the gamut, from drama therapy and teaching your toddler to make music, to journalling, crocheting, mindfulness and cooking. Gerard Williams, the Running Mayor of RBKC, leads running and walking sessions every morning that use our host boat, “Bibo”, as bag drop and refreshment station.

The full program can be viewed here: One of London's most notorious highways

Our partners are “social prescription” advocates Golborne Medical Centre, who believe that doctors should dispense more than pills, including recommendations for time on the water. That’s consistent with something that boaters learned long ago, that the canal boat experience is its own tonic.

Dr. Yasmin Razak leads a lunchtime discussion on the 25th of February on the topic of the canal as a tool for social prescription. A second lunch forum on the 26th features Dr. Greg Cowan, architect, boater and lecturer at University of Westminster, giving a boater’s history of the Westway. Imperial College’s Luke Muscutt moderates a panel of architects dissecting various proposals for the Westway’s future.

Attendance for both discussions is free, but limited to 10. Write to admin@yourcanalboat.com if you’d like to be part of either one.

It’s the time of year when we have more time to think about what we are going to eat, maybe plan a little more and enjoy the thought and preparation that goes into our meals, especially over the festive period.

Food gifts and decorations hand made with love are so much more personal and meaningful than those shop bought ones which involve a lot of packaging and plastic. Although, my guilty confession during November was buying and consuming (I did share) two of boxes of Ferrero Rocher chocolates, purely to keep the boxes to give my home made chocolate truffles as gifts later on!

The smell of orange peel drying over the warm stove top and clove studded orange decorations mingling with cinnamon and star anise are a favourite. Dried orange zest is a wonderful addition to casseroles and bakes. Add the peel of a tangerine with a few cloves, star anise and a cinnamon stick to a small pan of water and leave to simmer over the stove to give your boat a lovely hint of Christmas.

CRANBERRIES Although I always like to keep dried ones in for baking etc. I have in years gone by bought fresh or frozen and done little with them, the convenience of a shop bought jar of cranberry sauce is simple and easy. There are lots of ways to use these plump little colourful berries and they marry so well with orange, walnuts, sausage, soft cheese and of course poultry. Add them to a salad of roasted squash, sprouts, red cabbage slowly simmered over the stove top with apple, orange, brown sugar and mixed spice. They are also a tasty addition to homemade bread and stuffing, even if you don’t make your own stuffing from scratch, just add them to shop bought along with some extra herbs and nuts such as walnuts, pecans or hazelnuts.

SAUSAGE ROLLS are so rewarding to make and can have much more flavour than shop bought. A pack of shop bought puff pastry can go a long way. You could split the pack and do half and half with savoury sausage rolls and a sweet mince pie roll. As long as you have a rectangular shape, brush down one edge with beaten egg, place the filling down the middle in a sausage shape, fold over, seal and brush the top with the rest of the egg (or milk) before baking. Remember to make a few slits in each one after cutting into individual rolls, sprinkle the top with a little sugar if doing the mince pie version, or finely grated cheese, sesame or poppy seeds if savoury. Instead of cranberry sauce you could use mango chutney or any other fruit chutney with the sausage meat, add a bit of dried stuffing for extra texture if you like. A vegetarian version would be to use very finely chopped onion, peppers and mushroom fried with lentils, sweet potato and Moroccan spices with which dried apricots or prunes work well.

Bay, sage and rosemary are the woody herbs we love to use at this time of year. They marry perfectly with tray roasted potatoes and vegetables, compliment meats and stuffings and add a wonderful flavour when infused in milk for any white sauce or gratin recipe. The spices of nutmeg, star anise and cinnamon are equally wonderful.

I’m sharing a few one pot fuss free festive dishes, which may be cooked over the stove (instead of in the oven) on those cold days when the fire is in all day. I’ve also got with some little extras and tips along with some sweet delights.

TURKEY ONE POT WITH RED CABBAGE AND APPLE This would serve four and will freeze or keep in the fridge for a few days, the quantities can easily be halved for less. This recipe would also work with pork steaks.

6 tsp vegetable oil
2tsp balsamic vinegar
4 turkey breast steaks
1 red onion, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove crushed
500g red cabbage, finely shredded
225g raw baby beetroot, peeled and cut into wedges
2 red apples, thinly sliced
finely grated, zest and juice of 1 orange
1½ tsp light muscovado sugar
400g tin green lentils, drained
4tbsp chicken or vegetable stock
1tsp wholegrain mustard pinch salt and black pepper

Mix 2 tsp of the oil with 1tsp of the vinegar and lightly brush over the turkey steaks, season with the salt and pepper, set aside to marinate while you make the braised red cabbage. Heat 3 tsp of the oil in a flameproof casserole dish (approx. 3 litre capacity) and gently fry the onion for a couple of minutes, add the garlic. Remove from the heat and add the cabbage, beetroot, apple, orange zest and juice, remaining vinegar and sugar. Lightly season and stir everything together. Cover with a tight fitting lid and cook in a moderate (170/gas3) oven (or over the stove) until the cabbage is just tender, stirring half way through.

Pat the turkey steaks dry with kitchen paper, heat a frying pan with the remaining oil. Add the turkey steaks and cook on one side only for a minute or so until browned. Stir the lentils into the red cabbage, then place the steaks on top, browned side up. Combine the mustard with the stock and pour over the top. Cover and return to the oven or stove for a further 20 minutes until the cabbage is tender and the turkey is cooked through.

SPICED SAUSAGE ROLLS

1 tbsp oil ½ onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
½ tsp each chilli powder, ground cumin, ground coriander, turmeric
100ml red wine
squeeze of lemon juice
400g sausage-meat
pack puff pastry (approx 320g)
1 egg beaten

Heat the oil in a pan and add the onion, cook for a couple of minutes, then add the garlic and cook for a couple more minutes until soft. Add the spices and cook for a minute or two to release the flavours. Pour in the red wine and let it bubble for a few minutes to reduce, remove from the heat and add the lemon juice, then allow to cool. Combine the sausage-meat with the spice mixture and mix well.

Roll out the pastry onto a floured surface, cut into two rectangular oblongs. Brush one long edge with the beaten egg. Then with floured hands make a long sausage shape with the mixture and place over the pastry. Pull the pastry over the filling to seal the edges over the beaten egg side by pressing firmly together, carefully roll over to make sure the edges are stuck together. Cut into individual sausage rolls and place onto a lined baking sheet. Make two slits in each roll using scissors to snip v shapes out of the pastry. Brush with the rest of the beaten egg and cook in the preheated oven for about 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a wire rack, this helps keep the bottom of the roll crispy.

SWEET POTATO AND CHICK PEA HARISSA ROLLS (Makes 16)

1 pack ready made puff pastry
2 small sweet potatoes, very finely diced
1 tin chick peas, reserve the liquid
½ red onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 heaped tsp harissa spice mix
½ tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp tomato puree
2 tsp poppy or sesame seeds

Toss the potatoes in a little olive oil and salt and pepper, then roast in the oven for about 15 minutes. Gently fry the onion with the garlic and spices, add the tomato puree, sweet potato and chick peas. Combine everything together. Add a little of the chick pea liquid and then use a potato masher or fork to squash the mixture a little. Roll out the ready-made puff pastry on a floured surface and cut into two large rectangles, place the filling mixture in a sausage down the middle about 2cm from the edge, roll over and seal the edges. Brush the top with the chick pea water and sprinkle with the seeds. Bake in a 180 oven for about 20 mins until golden brown on top.

FESTIVE SIDES

• For glazed root vegetables, use equal quantities of (about 2 tbsp) of vegetable oil or light olive oil with honey or maple syrup.
• Roasted sprouts and shallots marry well with finely paired orange zest and juice with oil and a sprig of thyme. Use 2 tbsp oil, 2 tbsp honey and the juice of 1 orange. Or use balsamic vinegar instead of orange.
• For any tray roast veggies, ensure they are cut into equal sized pieces to ensure even cooking.
• Add a few finely chopped rosemary or sage leaves to your Yorkshire pudding mix for extra flavour.
• When seasoning your roasties, ditch the table salt for Malden sea salt flakes, they are the best and make all the difference! Use freshly ground black pepper.
• Crispy roast potatoes give better results when par boiled, dry the moisture and steam off wrapped in a t towel, then make sure the roasting tray is hot before they are tossed in oil, herbs and seasoning to roast in the oven. It’s not essential to par boil and sometimes can make one pan too many, but it will give nice rough edges to your roasties and they will be crispy on the outside yet fluffy in the middle. We know not to waste the water and re use it for other veggies, soup or stock.
• Carrots and parsnips cut length-ways and roasted with 2 tbsp honey, 1tbsp oil and 1tbsp wholegrain mustard combine well together for a tasty twist. Swap the mustard for fennel seeds for another alternative. It’s not necessary to par boil carrots and parsnips, for best results toss in the oil and roast until just tender then mix the honey, orange, fennel, mustard or whatever you’re using and toss through the vegetables to glaze and cook for a further 10 minutes. They can be cooked in advance up to the last step.

ONE POT BRAISED DUCK BREASTS WITH POTATO CELERY AND ORANGE

Pork steaks would work instead of duck and the dish can be cooked over the stove or in the oven.
3 oranges
2 duck breasts, skinless and boneless
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 celery sticks, finely sliced
1 garlic clove, crushed
250g new potatoes, halved
75ml vegetable stock
1 star anise
1 red chilli, deseeded and finely sliced

Finely grate the zest from two of the oranges. Arrange the duck breasts in a single layer in a dish and sprinkle over the zest, then squeeze the juice from the two oranges over the duck. Turn them over a few times and then cover and leave in the fridge to marinate for at least an hour or overnight. Allow to come to room temperature before cooking and preheat the oven to about 180/gas4. Peel the remaining orange and cut into 8 segments.

Heat the oil in a flameproof casserole and add the onion and celery, fry for a few minutes and add the garlic and star anise, continue to fry for a minute until the onions are soft but not brown. Remove the onions and celery from the pan and set aside. Lift the duck breasts out of the marinade and place in the casserole, spoon the onions and celery mix over them and then pour over the marinade. Add the potatoes and half the orange segments, scattering them around the duck breasts. Pour over the stock and add the chilli and bring to the boil. Cover and cook for about 35/40 minutes until the duck and potatoes are tender, season to taste. Remove the duck breasts from the casserole and slice them. Spoon the other ingredients into a bowl and top with the sliced duck, then spoon the juices over. Garnish with the few reserved orange slices.

CRANBERRY BREAD PUDDING

This is a deliciously satisfying pudding, full of chocolate fruitiness with a hint of spice and quick and easy to make.

6 thick slices of white bread, cubed
½ cup fresh cranberries
10 squares of dark chocolate
¼ cup toasted almond flakes
¼ cup sugar
2 tbsp butter
4 cups milk
2 tbsp coconut oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 small stick cinnamon
3 whole cardamon pods, bruised
3 eggs, beaten

For the topping beat together ½ cup melted butter 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract ¼ cup cream

Preheat the oven to 180/gas 4.

Cover the bottom of a shallow tart or pie dish with the bread. Scatter the cranberries, chocolate and almonds among the bread cubes and sprinkle the sugar on top. In a saucepan, heat the butter milk and coconut oil with the vanilla, cinnamon and cardamon, heat to lukewarm until the butter has melted. Remove the cardamon pods and cinnamon stick. Whisk the eggs into the milk mixture and pour over the bread allowing to soak in. Bake for about 40 minutes until cooked and slightly set. For the topping, beat the ingredients together and spread evenly over the pudding as soon as it comes out of the oven, return to the oven for a further 20 to 25 minutes until nicely browned. Serve with a good thick custard or ice cream.

CHRISTMAS PUDDING TRIFLE This recipe uses warmed up left over Christmas pudding and cold custard and cream for a quick and simple rich dessert. These quantities make two and can easily be doubled for more.

150g leftover Christmas pudding
200g tinned prunes in syrup
1½ tbsp sherry (optional)
250g ready made custard
150ml double cream
whole nutmeg for grating

Warm the Christmas pudding up in the oven with a splash of water for ten minutes or so to heat through. Meanwhile, drain the prunes and reserve the syrup. Remove the stones from about 8 prunes (if not pitted), the others will keep in the fridge in the syrup for another day.

Roughly chop and combine with the sherry and about a tablespoon of the syrup. Break the warm pudding and arrange over the bottom of a dish (or individual tumblers), add the prunes to each one, pushing them down into the pudding, spoon over a little of the boozy syrup to moisten the pudding then spoon over the custard. Whip up the cream until forms soft peaks and spoon over the custard layer. Finish with a finely grated dusting of fresh nutmeg and serve with any remaining syrup.

CHOCOLATE ORANGE AND CRANBERRY ETON MESS

This is quick and easy to prepare, combine all the ingredients and top with whole pieces of chocolate orange and a fresh orange segment. Use whatever quantities you prefer, whether you like more cream, meringue or fruit, you can’t go wrong.
Ready bought meringue nests A handful of fresh or frozen cranberries Tinned and drained orange segments (or fresh orange) Freshly whipped cream Broken chocolate orange pieces and whole segments to top
For a little extra festive indulgence add a splash of brandy!

MINCEMEAT LOAF CAKE

225g self-raising flour
150g light brown soft sugar
150g butter or margarine
425g mincemeat
2 eggs
50g blanched almonds
A small handful of glacé cherries

Lightly grease and line two small loaf tins and preheat the oven to 160/gas 2. Combine the flour and sugar, add the eggs, butter and mincemeat. Beat together until everything is mixed well. Divide between the two tins and arrange the halved blanched almonds and glacé cherries over the top. Bake for about 1 hour and 15 mins, cool on a wire.
Finish by brushing with warm marmalade melted in a pan and a sprinkling of sieved icing sugar.

Hopefully we will all enjoy this season of goodwill and look forward to bright and promising 2025.