Hi family and friends,

After taking a week off from my adventures for an amazing holiday in Iceland, I've now returned to the river Wey where I left Therapy, my floating home. Ewan picked me up at the boat to go to the airport and brought me back here afterwards (so no cheating!) and now after nearly 3 months aboard she really does feel like home.

I had a day to restock and clean Therapy before my next friends, Philip and Caroline, my son in law's parents, arrived. We have grandchildren in common so there was lots of praise and photo sharing of our beautiful Mary and gorgeous George. Philip has been a ship's doctor and although a narrow boat is different, they both embraced learning the ropes and even started to think about getting one for themselves.

The weather was fine, if a bit cold, and we made good time up the river Wey to Guildford, where I changed crew. My friends had time to say hello to each other before I put Philip and Caroline on the train and took my Scottish friend Val back to the wharf where Therapy was moored. Despite being 72, Val eagerly took on lock duties, climbing up and down the ladders or jumping onto the boat roof.

We travelled on to Godalming where the limit of navigation is (canal speak for "boats can't go any further") and turned the boat, mooring up in a pleasant open meadow for the night leaving ourselves a couple of hours cruise back to Guildford.

Poor Val drew a short straw in timing her visit, as next day was my 3 monthly check up with my oncologist in Swindon and we needed to be on the train by noon. We were up bright and early and did all our regular checks to the engine. When we moor up in the countryside where there are no mooring posts, we use big stakes, hammered into the ground to hold the mooring ropes.

Val worked at the front (bow) to pull out the stake and cast off while I did the back (the stern) and also pulled in the gangplank. I didn't pay any attention to poor Val's struggle with her peg, and jumped on with rope and plank to find the boat slowly drifting out at the back. I quickly threw the plank back into place but didn't have the courage to use it to get back ashore as it was now 2meters and increasing from the bank.

I had time to pick up the gangplank and take it aboard but in no time the current took the stern and whipped it out into the river. I immediately tried to drive back in but the current was way too strong and quickly reversed the direction of the silly boat- how did that happen???

We tried everything we could think of to turn Therapy back towards Guildford but she just didn't want to go. It was now about 10am and we had a train to catch to Swindon. Flustered, I started looking for turning points upstream but Val was calm and sensible and suggested walking the mile and a half into town.

The day was fine, Bunty enjoyed her first train journey, Ewan met us as planned at Swindon station and all went well at hospital. We took takeaway Chinese food back to the boat for our supper and looked forward to another boating day tomorrow.

Val had a Scottish friend, Anne in Godalming who kindly invited us for supper and so next day we followed the boats nose back to the start of the navigable river. I quickly warmed to Anne and we enjoyed an evening of superb food and lively discussion about Scottish independence.

Val left from Godalming and I spent the next day taking Therapy back to Guildford. I now feel quite confident about taking her through locks by myself, something I thought I would never be able to do. A kind lady on the bridge at one lock even remarked that I made it look easy. The weather has suddenly improved, it's sunny and warm, the birds are singing and spring is in the air. The towpaths are now full of people jogging, strolling, riding bikes and walking dogs, and everyone is happy to say hello and remark on the warm weather. I see several other craft passing me as people bring their boats out of hibernation, and I begin to feel a sense of pride at having come through the winter.

I hope you're enjoying spring too,

Lots of love, Sally

Dear friends and family,

The last time I wrote to you I was in central London, about to make my way out of town by myself. It was forecast to be a very wet day and I'd never moved Therapy anywhere near so far by myself before. I grounded her as I moored up for lunch but otherwise managed well, there being no locks to deal with all the way from Paddington to Maypole Dock where Ewan and I both drew up at 3pm, exactly at the appointed time. I was delighted to see Bunty again (and Ewan too) and was really looking forward to having her back on the boat with me now that I was out of the city. She is a remarkably adaptable puppy and quickly switched from farm routine to boat routine.

Ewan helped me through a couple of locks before dusk and reunited, we settled down for the evening. Ewan had plans to visit his daughter Steph in London next day and an old friend from school, Chantal was meeting me at lunchtime. Following my success the day before I decided to try the next flight of locks, the Hanwell six by myself. As well as opening and closing gates and winding paddles up and down, this meant climbing out of the lock on a side ladder after Therapy was lowered to the bottom of it by the reducing water level. It was tricky. However, at every lock I was helped by passers by and for the final three, a young couple took over the windlasses (the winder things) and then came on board for a cup of tea.

Chantal arrived as planned and we had a very relaxing afternoon with only one lock to get through. Like others, Chantal fell on love with my little dog and tried to hide Bunty about her person when she left.

I pushed on to Brentford where I met Ewan and we moored up for the night. The next stage of our trip was on the tidal Thames and early Sunday morning saw us leaving the Grand Union Canal through a big lock and catching the last two hours of the incoming tide to take us to Teddington. It was very exciting and Therapy seemed very small on the big river.

Ewan had to go back home, but it was now half term holiday and my next guests, my grandchildren, Mary, 8 and George, 6 joined me the next afternoon. Oh yes, and their parents Katy and Mark too. That evening we moored on a small island in the middle of the huge river, that we had to ourselves; it was such fun.

Next day we cruised regally up to Hampton Court Palace, where we met up with more grandchildren, Edith, 4 and Thomas, 2. Oh, and yes their mummy and daddy, Jenny and Struan too. It was a very ​relaxed way to arrive and we pretended to be kings, queens, princes and princesses, (and of course a royal dog) as we disembarked.

The week passed very quickly and in no time we'd got upstream to Shepperton where we left the Thames and took off on a much smaller river, the Wey. It was time to say goodbye to the children and extricate Bunty from their luggage.

Its tough being on holiday for such a long period, so Ewan and I had arranged for a little holiday from this long holiday- tomorrow we will be going to Iceland. But that's another tale...

The trip is going by very quickly and there will be only 4 weeks left when I come back from my holiday. Some people have not managed time on the Voyage of Friendship and there are only two nights when the bed is still free, Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th March when I'll be on the Thames around Windsor. Let me know if you'd like to join me. Also, you are very welcome to come aboard for a day, or even a couple of hours, anytime over the next month; I'm really looking forward to seeing some of my former work colleagues as I get nearer and nearer to home reaching Newbury on Friday 27th March.

Love and best wishes,
Sally
X x x

Hello family and friends,

I've been in London this week and what an adventure it's been. As one dear friend (who should know better as she lives aboard a boat!) said after her visit "I had no idea there were canals in London".

Having moved from moorings at Little Venice to a quiet spot at Primrose Hill I was staggered when my stepdaughter Steph arrived on Saturday morning and took me a few hundred yards up the towpath to Camden Lock market. Lauren, a youth work colleague who also knew the market joined us and we explored all kinds of stalls. I bought some neon shoelaces that subsequently shone beautifully in the next tunnel.

Next to arrive were Orla and Hilary, colleagues from the Youth Offending Team who brought huge quantities of bedding, food andtreats for us all for the weekend. With a novice all girl crew we set off to do our first lock, Camden lock, which is overlooked by food stalls, pubs and a crowded bridge; on a very busy Saturday afternoon, it meant for us some very public boating. Gosh, we were fantastic!

We spent a surprisingly quiet night in Islington enjoying all the nice food and drink. Next day was gloriously sunny and my brother "can't keep away Bob", joined me with his wife Angie. I'm sure he's hoping that she'll enjoy it as much as he does. Heading east on the river Lee towards Stratford where Steph lives, I was disappointed to find that all the waterways around the Olympic park were blocked and we couldn't get close. However, we were approaching Limehouse Basin from where boats go through a big lock on to the Thames.

Spaces were short and we moored up outside a scruffy warehouse and walked the last half-mile. It was full of ocean-going sailing boats and looked gorgeous in the setting sun. What's more there was only one boat in the visitor moorings leaving plenty of space for Therapy.

My team raced back to fetch her and moored her proudly among the big boats just as the sun set. Bobby and Angie had to say goodbye, then Hilary and Orla too. It had been a great weekend.

I stood on the roof so that Jennie could see me, after all we were a small boat in a big pond. I know Jennie from my community worker days in the Highlands of Scotland and we had some very happy memories to mull over.... which was just as well as I discovered while having a shower that the boats water pump was broken. After some 'phone calls we bought some big containers of water and decided to push on until I could find a boatyard. Poor Jennie didn't
complain but quickly picked up lock duties and fell in love with Therapy and life aboard. Even when, a day later, during a routine call with Ewan, I realised that the water tank had simply run out, she​ didnt make fuss but continued to enjoy the experience. Perhaps it had something to do with the happy news that her second grandchild was born today and a huge smile never left her face.

My good friend Sue met us as Therapy retraced her route back along the Regents canal to Islington and back to Camden lock, where I now knew my way around and sniffed out some good food. Here Jennie left us and we stayed again at the quiet spot at Primrose Hill. Next day, it was back through the zoo, back through Regents Park, back through Maida Vale tunnel (with glowing shoe laces) and back to my favourite mooring in Little Venice. Sue stayed another night and kept me company with some essential jobs like laundry and restocking with food and gas.

A few months ago I was interviewed by email and telephone by a journalist writing an article about womb cancer for the Guardian.

Daloni works hard to raise awareness of this wretched disease, and now here she was trotting along the towpath to meet me. She lives in Kent and came up to Paddington bearing warm, homemade bread for me. We quickly felt like old friends and spent the rest of the day cruising back to the zoo and of course chatting.

After a week of continuous company I was alone again and planning the next stage of my journey. I'm not skilled or brave enough to return by the Thames, past Westminster, the London eye and houses of parliament, so I must now return up the Grand Union to the junction where I can take a left turn to Brentford and join the tidal Thames further upstream. And for the first time on the voyage I'm travelling alone. I'll let you know how I get on.

Warmest wishes, Sally

Good morning friends and family.

I won't keep you in suspense any more - yes of course I made it to London and I'm sitting writing to you from my cosy boat, moored in Primrose Hill near Regents Park. Nevertheless, a heartfelt thank you to Chantal who offered to come and get me from a cold dark bridge in Watford!

Last Monday morning and a series of mobile phone calls heralded the arrival of Mamie and Lyndsay Girvan, my practical, straightforward farming friends from the north of Scotland; if anyone could cope with this cold weather it was them. My spirits lifted as I saw them striding down the towpath with smiles on their faces.

The canal was icy and made steering difficult, but the Voyage of Friendship "Duck to Water" prize for the person who picked up narrow boat driving most quickly must go to Lyndsay.

As we got nearer to London, the scenery became less and less rural. We were passing by gas works, several aggregate sites, lots of factories and deserted former factories of firms such as Guinness, Heinz, Lyons and Hoover. However, our guide book suggested that this is the most exciting way to enter the capital, "even the most sceptical, country-loving canal explorer's adrenaline will be pumping by the time they reach Ladbroke Grove". And I have to say that
coming through Maida Vale and Bayswater, through Little Venice and into the Paddington basin was really exhilarating, if only because I was amazed to actually be here.

We found a pretty mooring in Little Venice, took team photographs and patted each other on the back. I said goodbye to Mamie and Lyndsay and called Ewan to let him know that I was at last in London.

Next day I pottered about on my bike, stocked up with food and tidied the boat. At lunchtime a group of teenage boys were gathered outside smoking and I heard someone say "who wants a bike?" I went outside to protect my trusty means of transport and we got chatting. They wanted to know about the boat, if I lived on it, how much it cost, if I had to pay to moor up and for electricity. They said they thought it was a sick way of life (teenage speak for good or great). I let them look in the windows but didn't I invite them on board as I could hear Ewan’s warning ringing in my ears telling me to do no such thing!

On Friday my daughter Jenny visited with my grandchildren Edith and Thomas, along with Ian Tattum, her uncle. It was years since I'd seen Ian and it was lovely to see an old friend again. Together we cruised up through Regents Park, past the zoo and moored up at ​Primrose Hill. We spent a lovely day at the zoo, before going back to Waterloo to put Jenny and two sleepy children on the train home.

I can hardly believe that I made it, but now I'm looking forward to exploring the London canals.

Best wishes,
Sal
X

Every year, lock cills catch boaters unaware, no matter how experienced they are. Once a vessel’s caught on a cill, it causes the rudder to pop out of the cup, which is easily resolved. However in many cases it results in damage to the skeg, rudder and bearings, and the boat needing to be towed and dry-docked to have the damage repaired. There’s also a risk of taking on water and the vessel sinking.

River Canal Rescue chief rescue co-ordinator, Pete Barnett, explains what to do if your boat’s caught on a cill: “Cills protrude below the water, close to the top gates of most canal locks. If you’re travelling downhill in the lock chamber and your stern, ie rudder, gets caught on the cill, when the water recedes only the bow of your boat will lower with the water level, leaving the stern raised up. Sinking or capsizing can happen in seconds.

“If you’re aware the stern’s caught, close the bottom gate paddles to stop the water receding further and slowly open the top gate paddles to refill the lock. To stay safe in the lock, position yourself centrally, and where possible, keep the engine running with a centre line to maintain the position while you tie off.

“A boat travelling uphill can equally get its bow stuck on a projection under the top gate, causing the stern only to rise with the water level. If this happens, close the top gate to prevent the lock filling and open the bottom gate paddles to allow the water level to fall.”

Simple oversights such as being unaware of the position of a lock cill can cause devastating consequences. If the worst does happen, Pete recommends:

“If your boat’s rapidly taking on water, ensure everyone in your crew is safe and contact the Canal & River Trust, they’ll send out a team to assess the site, contain pollution and ensure your boat isn’t causing a navigational hazard.

“If your boat’s on the River Thames you’ll need to contact the Environment Agency as the CRT does not have jurisdiction. In either case, the EA and CRT will work in tandem with recovery specialists to get your boat moved as quickly as possible."

“If you own the boat, you’re responsible for finding someone to raise your vessel, arrange what needs to be done and liaise with the authorities. While you’re free to use your own contractors, if you need to bring plant/lifting equipment onsite or use non-emergency service divers, the contractors will have to meet the CRT’s/EA’s risk management requirements; otherwise they’ll not be given permission to raise the vessel.

“RCR is a CRT pre-authorised salvage specialist which means we can start the salvage straight away. Most insurance companies expect you to take action to mitigate loss in situations like this and a fast recovery reduces the amount of damage a vessel suffers, helping to keep insurance claims low.

“Boaters with insurance must contact their insurer who will ask for a specialist recovery firm to salvage the craft. It’s likely our Canal Contracting team will appear on the scene as we’re authorised to handle claims for most of the UK’s leading boat insurers. Once the boat is raised, the cause of the sinking will need to be identified by an engineer or surveyor before the claim’s accepted.

“RCR can be contacted at any point in the process; it all depends on the urgency. If a vessel’s in the process of sinking then contact RCR first, we can arrange a rescue team within hours in most cases. However if the vessel has already sunk, as long as a recovery is in place within 48hrs, the damage is still manageable and the vessel will be recoverable.”

To find out more about RCR, visit their website or find the team on Facebook, email  or call 01785 785680.

NOW SOLD

Cruiser stern narrowboat Cashflow is currently lying in Kinver, on the Staffs & Worcester canal. The hull is sound, and while the roof and port side have been sanded and prepared for final paint cover, the starboard side, plus the bow and stern, need attention. There has been some water ingress due to rainfall, but the internal timbers seem sound. The Lister engine turns, but has not been started for some time and will need some tlc. The engine may start when applied to a battery, but there is no guarantee. No batteries are currently in place and towing may be required to move the boat to a suitable location. Towage to any UK location is available upon request.

specifications

Make and Model              Severn City Boats
Name                                  Cashflow
Length                                 55 Feet
Beam                                   7 Feet
Year of Manufacture      1979
Engine                                 Lister ST3 (Air Cooled)
Original Outer Skin of 6mm on  Bottom and Sides Over plated 2010

external images

internal images

engine room

Asking price: £12,000 ono.

This is a fantastic opportunity to purchase a cruiser stern narrowboat which you can turn into your dream boat. Viewing is essential.

To arrange a viewing please telephone 07826 118 195.

I'm not sure how this happened, why it happened. But what I do know is: 'I knew as soon as I arrived at the place I was visiting. That this was meant to be, my new Life!

And there were more signs why this was to be, later on into the story. Like I said earlier, why and how this came about was by accident. And this is my story.

February 2021

The start of covid! Life for everyone at this time was difficult in every aspect. A lot of people were unsure about the future, many people needed to escape the lock down that had been forced onto us all. Me being one of them. But I was fortunate to have a job that allowed me to still move about in a much freer way. So, life wasn't as difficult or in some circumstances, as lonely! Like everyone else, you had to just get on with it.

Due to unforeseen circumstances I encountered in the early months of the year, I moved back to my mum's around March/April 2021. Here is her 54yr old son moving back to his mum's, (having left when he was 17!) But that was the way it was going to be.

Fast forward January 2023

Living with my mum has to be 100% priceless. All I had to do was get up (after her telling me to get up for work by banging the kitchen door and turning the hoover on, and other subtle wakeup call hints) then go to work, come home, have my already made evening meal, take my dogs out and go to bed.

Same routine every week. What more could you ask for??????

Well, I'm not sure I had the answer to this! Not until I visited my mate Chrissy Robbo on his narrowboat on his mooring on the Shropshire Union Canal In Cheshire. Although he wasn't there, I was let in by one of the mooring residents after I had explained to them why I wanted to gain access to the mooring! This is because it had a security gate and cctv installed for security and safety reasons. I went onto the mooring and had a walk along looking at the narrowboats and the moorings. Got to Chrissy's mooring and he wasn’t there. So, I had a wander around, fascinated at what I was seeing. To tell you the truth, I was quite envious! I was imagining to myself, wouldn’t this be so relaxing; a perfect way to live; my dogs would be so happy here; it was everything I could imagine would make me happy; would make me feel so at home. In fact, this moment was the start to my new life on a Narrowboat!

The thought hit home after only 20mins of being on these moorings: this could be our new and final destiny! It was quite strange to realise that this could, in reality, become our new home - a home not only for myself, but also for my three dogs: Scruffy 16yrs, Maggie 14yrs and Shadow 5yrs.  As I have always told people in the past,  my 16yr old Patterdale Terrier, Scruffy, should have been raised on a farm, and here we have moorings on an old working farm called Top Farm! Scruffy is the most adventurous and most of all, loveable little fella you have ever met. He loves to be outdoors: whether it's sunny, windy, raining or snowing, he is in his element. We've had so many adventures in our 16yrs together and without doubt there will be many more; memories I'll cherish forever, far too many to list. But without any doubt he will be included in this venture, 100%.

Maybe one day I will write an autobiography, Myself and the Scruff(y)meister's life together!

So, I'd found mine and the dogs' new home. I contacted the mooring's owners and asked if there were any available moorings. Low and behold there was, the last one! Mooring 11!

This was now a venture into a world I knew nothing about!

I don't know whether it is the location, the quality of food and drinks, or the landlord and landlady and their team which make a pub that little bit more special than others. In the case of The Tenth Lock, it is all three factors which make the difference.

location

The location of The Tenth Lock is excellent, being right beside the bottom lock of a flight which runs down from Merry Hill towards the Stourbridge Canal. There are eight locks. Which leads one to question what happened to the Ninth Lock, and why the pub is called the Tenth. The pub has a back garden which overlooks the 7th lock, and the car park opens directly onto the canal, so it is very handy for boaters. There is even a secluded mooring spot just over the lock, enough for two boats, and with a very convenient layby next to it where you can safely park your car if you have one.

wining and dining

The pub is a Marstons pub, so the food is standard fare that you would expect in any of these establishments. We can, however, personally recommend the fish, scampi, Hunters chicken, steak and ale pie (and especially the gravy). The children's menu is good, too - with a choice of larger appetite dishes for those who are almost ready for a full adult portion (but have eyes bigger than their bellies!). Food is served daily from noon.

The bar is a busy one with real ale, good choice of lagers, wines and spirits - anything you might want. If you go there on a Tuesday, you will hit Real Ale night with discounted prices on any real ale on tap.

The locals are very friendly and there is a television area with live sports, plus a darts board. The pub has its own successful darts team (described affectionately as 'the dream team'). Tenth Lock is also popular with card players.

The pub holds charity events, has live music on special occasions, and more frequently, disco cum karaoke evenings. All of these are well attended and very popular with locals and visitors alike.

Children and dogs are welcomed.

the people

The Tenth Lock is run by Nicola Potts, (Nic, the Boss) and supported by a team which are second to none. There is Ruby (Gobby) and Chloe (Silent but Deadly). There is one other person on the team - and that is Patrick, Nicola's fiancé. Patrick is always ready to talk, and he told us how he and Nicola came to be running the Tenth Lock. Patrick says:

"My fianceé Nicola had a dream of one day running her own pub. She dreamed, but never made any move toward bringing this dream to reality. She never had the push she needed. Until one day she actually listened to me, and started to look at a few that were available. Nothing really suited her - until we came to view the Tenth Lock, and it just clicked with her. She knew it was her home, her dream.

"I am her biggest fan, and even now I'm still astonished at how she gains her momentum and stamina. It is her commitment, her passion and her drive to make the pub work, that has made everything happen."

special events

Patrick went on to tell us of their early days in the pub, and about their first official engagement - a charity Duck Race. He said:

"From start to wobbly duck finish, It was hilarious.The kids loved squirting water and throwing bucketfuls at us; we were like drowned rats! But it was all for a good cause, and after it all calmed down we realised it had all been a pleasure. 

Patrick then went on to tell us about a charity walk which started and finished at the pub.

"The walk was for Maya, 3 years old. We didnt know her, but her dad Ray came into the pub one day and asked if Nic would provide a finishing point for the walk, and before he could finish his sentence, both Nic and myself had said yes. It was an honour and a pleasure.

"We started out at 7am, with 29 walkers, locals in the pub, plus sponsors. We raised £10,038! 

Patrick told us that he had pushed Ray's friend Al in a wheelchair for 22 miles, and that it was hard graft but worth it:

"Walking behind the fire brigade with little Maya in her father's arms, smiling after three bouts of chemotherapy - it was well worth all the effort. 28.6 miles for a smile!"

The evening then went on, with Nicola hosting the entertainment, providing food, and overseeing everything with dignity and humility. As Patrick says, the pub is her life. They have never had so many friends, and they love it!

Nicola Potts and her fiancé Patrick offer more than a warm welcome as they invite you in to their home, their dream, their castle! Plus they say that anyone visiting will be welcomed by the very best local people - wonderful people! We can certainly vouch for that!

You can contact Nicola and Patrick on  01384 79041, visit their website , or follow them on Facebook 

Background

To introduce myself, I am a writer and amateur astronomer living in Kendal (as in the Mint Cake, yes…!), up in the Lake District. I have been writing children’s astronomy books since 1988, when my first title – “Journey Into Space”- was published by Viking-Kestrel, with a foreword by famous science fiction author Isaac Asimov. I have now had 12 children’s astronomy reference books published, the most recent of which, “The Solar System – A Ladybird Book”, was published last year by Ladybird. I am probably best known for “A Cat’s Guide to The Night Sky”, which was published by Laurence King in October 2018. Since its publication the book has been translated into more than 20 languages worldwide, has won a major award in Germany (the EMYS children’s non-fiction prize), was long-listed for the 2019 SLA Information Book Award and has been featured and enthusiastically reviewed on many blogs and websites. It is being released in softcover this April, with a national promotional campaign by Hachette.

For the past 25 years I have also been an astronomy and “space” editor/consultant for many publishers. I have edited or acted as a consultant/expert on almost every astronomy- and space-related title published by Usborne Publishing since 1994, including their award-winning “The Story of Astronomy and Space” and “The Astronauts Handbook”, the latter of which was produced in co-operation with the European Space Agency and British astronaut Tim Peake. Most recently I was the consultant/checker on Buster Books’ two very successful astronomy titles written by popular Sky at Night presenter Dr Maddie Alderin Pocock . I also worked with Penguin on fact-checking and revising a new junior version of “Unlocking the Universe”, by Stephen and Lucy Hawking.

When I am not writing or editing astronomy books I am kept busy writing features and articles about astronomy for a number of monthly UK astronomy magazines, such as BBC Sky at Night Magazine and All About Space, and I post a lot of online astronomical content on social media too. My Facebook page is full of pictures of Mars – and my cat – and I have over 10,000 Twitter Followers, who enjoy looking at the images I take of the night sky and the NASA images of Mars that I process: recently one of the images of Mars I processed was viewed over 130,000 times on Twitter!

So why am I author of the season for CanalsOnline Magazine?

I have to be honest and tell you that I have never been on a boating holiday, so I am not qualified to talk about boats, sailing or other aspects of a boating holiday. However, I am a very enthusiastic camper and caravanner and I am aware of many similarities between the two pastimes - holidays away from home, surroundings changing regularly, sometimes daily, time spent in remote and dark locations...

My partner and I regularly take off in our caravan or tent to enjoy short breaks out in the countryside, and several times a year go up to Kielder in our caravan to attend “star parties” at the beautiful Kielder Campsite. These are organised events where amateur astronomers get together to enjoy looking at the night sky, and sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with others.

But every time we go on holiday just by ourselves in our tent or caravan I end up holding informal stargazing sessions for our neighbours, and without fail they love learning how to find the stars and constellations they have heard about so many times.

I know from talking to friends who do enjoy canal holidays that at the end of a busy day of sightseeing or other activities many of them usually “call it a day” and either head down to the nearest pub or go inside as darkness falls. But that is such a waste! Many boaters will be totally unaware that if they stayed outside, especially if they were moored at a dark sky location, away from lights, they would be able to see some of the wonders of the universe, without the need for a telescope or even a pair of binoculars.

Although many canal routes across – and beyond – the UK pass through heavily light-polluted areas, others pass through “dark sky” regions, making them ideally placed for stargazing. It’s a great shame that many holiday boaters will pack up and go home totally unaware that they missed out on an amazing experience during their holiday – exploring a beautiful starry sky. My dream is to take the place of a friendly amateur astronomer and lead boaters, whether they live on a boat, take regular boating holidays, or perhaps a 'just once in a lifetime' boating holiday. I would like to take them somewhere dard, introduce them to the starts, constellations and planets they can see. Or it would just sit with them, out on deck, and point out some of the amazing things they can see – if they just take the time to look.

a cat's guide to the night sky

With beautiful illustrations created by one of the UK’s most popular and accomplished artists, Brendan Kearney, “A Cat’s Guide To The Night Sky” was published by Laurence King in October 2018, and is a guide to the night sky and getting started in amateur astronomy with a unique twist: the book’s main character is a starry-eyed, stargazing cat called Felicity!

“A Cat’s Guide To The Night Sky” was inspired during a trip to the Kielder Starcamp (”star camps” are special camping events, where amateur astronomers get together at a remote site to enjoy observing and photographing a night sky unspoiled by light pollution) in late 2016, when I briefly took my cat, Peggy – a rescue cat who had a very hard life before being adopted by my partner, Stella – outside to allow Stella to tidy their folding camper without interruption.

Whilst holding Peggy I noticed she was looking at the night sky, eyes darting from constellation to constellation. A classic “light bulb moment” followed: I wondered if cats were as fascinated by the night sky as humans? After all, they were often out all night, and from the tops of trees and tall buildings, often in very dark places, they would have a grandstand view of the night sky…

This idea became “A Cat’s Guide To The Night Sky”, a richly-illustrated, fun guide to the night sky, which explains to young readers how to identify stars, planets and constellations. There are star charts for each season, as well as advice on how to see the phases of the Moon, meteor showers and even the northern lights.

The book’s guide is a fun, starry-eyed stargazing cat called Felicity. She is seen on every page, observing the stars and leaping across the night sky, and was, of course, inspired by and is a tribute to Peggy, who accompanied Stella and I on many astronomy expeditions before she died in 2017. In the book, Felicity strongly resembles Peggy – but with one striking and touching difference: Felicity has a tail, whereas Peggy’s tail was cut off when she was young.

The book is also a tribute to another cat – Félicette. Most people are familiar with the story of Laika, the first dog in space, but few know that in 1963 a French stray cat called Félicette became the first cat to go into space, so I decided to name the book’s narrator in her honour.

Stuart Atkinson is a prolific writer of books on Astronomy, and has written many reference books and fictional books for children. His books are of relevance to anyone with an interest in the universe or in learning more about the night sky.

Stuart's books are available to buy from Amazon or from good book shops. You can contact him by email or you can find out more by visiting his website