Moving my whole life from a London flat to a narrowboat

What's it like to move from a 2 bedroom flat to a 70ft canal boat? Here it is, the very messy truth. Before we could start boat life proper, we had to tie up our land life and BOY was it a A LOT.
This one doesn’t feature the boat so much, but it was a very crucial step on our way to becoming full time liveaboard boaters. We packed up all our stuff and said goodbye to our North London flat for the last time. Also featuring in this moving vlog: local dining, visiting our favourite haunts, and extremely down to the wire packing.
Thank you for watching!
Please note: I believe you're no longer allowed to fly drones on Hampstead Heath, the included footage is from years ago when it was permitted, following all the rules set by the Civil Aviation Authority.
✨ thank you Andrew Kendall for helping with footage as always.
🧍🏼‍♀️About me:
Hiya, I'm Kris. At the end of 2022 I moved from a flat in London onto a 70ft narrowboat with my boyfriend Andrew and our cat Matilda. This is a diary of that very chaotic little time.
💌 Get in touch:
My website - www.krisatomic.com/
Email - [e-mail]
Insta - / krisatomic
Goodreads - / kris
The StoryGraph - app.thestorygraph.com/profile...
📷 Filming gear stuff:
Main camera - amzn.to/3Le7A4H
23mm lens - amzn.to/39nF0kj
56mm lens - amzn.to/3QetAAn
Smaller vloggy camera - amzn.to/3meoaY6
🎵 Music from Epidemic Sound - share.epidemicsound.com/8j5t6r
Tracks in this video:
Gentleman at Heart by Indigo Days
Rest Upon the Edge by Trevor Kowalski
Visible Nostalgia by Mathilda Skonare Karlsson
A Waltz among the Graves by John Abbot
Flutter By by Rossier
Links in description may be affiliate links, thank you for your support!

[@ruaidhrikathygill8833]

Wow….just wow! That was amazing. I have friends that make documentary films, so for the past 15 plus years, and especially during Covid when everything went Virtual, they have gifted with me passes to watch tons of full length and short docs. I don’t make films, don’t know what goes into making one, but I know what I like, and most of all, what makes my feel. The feelings of love that you have for London was palpable. “It’s meaty and it’s chipsey. It’s meat and chips”. After 3 times of watching it, I am still smiling. You are both extremely talented. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story. 🙏😊🤗 Kathy

[@krisatomic]

You are so sweet, I'm beyond touched. Thank you!!

[@oldasfolk-km1ov]

what a truly great story presentation. All of your videos have been excellent. Few people are able to translate transitions in a meaningful way , but you have done so masterfully. I will be eagerly waiting for the next one. thank you

[@krisatomic]

Too kind, thank you!

[@alextothezee]

Fair warning, I'm marathoning to catch up. All I'll say is I'm proud of you for getting through all of that, you're a trooper. Also the needle drop during "A night scene." was very melancholy Nora Ephron of you.

[@krisatomic]

Omg 😂

[@howdymartin6258]

Let me say it again @Kris - just love the way you put these together. The filmic quality is wonderful and the "pace" is just right. Final tidying at around 20 mins had a sort of Robert Wyatt melancholy to it that was so apt. You must gather so much B Roll in order to make these edits so accomplished and the vignette of North London life was exactly how I have experienced it with friends who lived close to you. Well done to you and Andrew - the journey continues.....

[@krisatomic]

Thank you so much, it’s so nice to read that someone notices the little things like that. Really means a lot! ❤️

[@MAdams853]

Your sequence of london life at the start was divinely beautiful, a true work of art. Loved it!!

[@krisatomic]

❤️❤️❤️

[@markpearce2510]

Well done Sell or give away all you don’t use or need. Less is best Good luck ❤

[@ItsLaterThanYouThink]

Really enjoyed this. Great contemporary vibes of London life. I do a little bit of boat life also and my GF lives in London so I dip my toes in all these areas. New subscriber here to you and I look forward to watching more adventures. Take it easy 🤙🏼

[@allpicturenosound]

The sheer amount of packing (or lack of packing at one stage 🤣) actually fully triggered my anxiety. Had to pause to make a cup of tea. Bless you both 😁 also "this is fine 🐶 🔥"

[@krisatomic]

Nooo I'm so sorry, hahaha. There was definitely a moment when I thought "oh god this is just not happening" but we got past it!

[@rachaelfratczak1846]

That was very interesting! Im worn out watching your packing, lol, but you did it. Your cat made me laugh speeded up in the flat 😹. Now you can make lots of happy memories on the boat. Looking forward to seeing the vlogs x

[@krisatomic]

Haha, I loved that part too, she had a whole nighttime life out there!

[@steven-andrewgriffith3369]

What an awesome vlog..thank you for sharing your lovely home!

[@LloydHywelBevan]

loved this so muchlies did a similar transition from kilburn park last year (Octoberish) & tomorrow will return for the first time as boaty is in the yard for her blacking very moving, evocative & captivating vlog - just wonderful

[@krisatomic]

Thank you very much 🥰

[@ktinka_]

Ugh, I definitely don't envy you for the moving mess. But you did it and your relief when you sat on the boat was so sweet. Looking forward to more vlogs and videos. Again, thanks for taking us along!

[@krisatomic]

Thank you Katrin! ❤️

[@adel3529]

You had that typical London thing of having so much stuff. So many shops, hard to say no. I did the same when I lived there. I also liked in Brighton, but now living a quiet, somewhat dull lol life, but not needing all the stuff. It is always a pleasure and treat watching you both. Your view numbers will go up each week, you put so much work into these, can tell by the way you edit, the music, the feel, it is so good.

[@krisatomic]

This is lovely, thanks so much! And yes, exactly. We also acquired a ton of furniture and homewares from other people in our building over the years, so it was great to pass them on to new homes. Felt very freeing!

[@ClareHenney-hd2hy]

Your videos are just amazing!!! Very professional. Looking forward to the next one already. We did the same as you 11 years ago, sold our house and permanently moved on our boat which we had spent the previous year doing up. Sadly due to health we had to come off it a few years ago. You’ve reminded me of the excitement & enthusiasm we both had. Good luck with your adventure xxx

[@krisatomic]

Thanks so much Clare. Take care x

[@YaaLFH]

Oh, you lived just down the road from me! I'm up the hill where Ruby Violet started.

[@davidhall4079]

What a life you have had so far and now for a new adventure I wish you all well grab life by the horns and enjoy 🎉🎉🎉

[@sianchatfield3052]

It made me a bit sad. In a couple of months ill be packing up the house ive lived in for 15 years and moving onto my boat once its finished and although i cant wait to move onto the boat itll be sad to leave my house. Also it was a lovely film about London. Before i lived here, i lived in London and I miss it terribly!

[@krisatomic]

Thank you Sian! If it helps, I'm a few months down the line now and loving it, so no regrets on the moving onto a boat front at all :)

[@stushikesandrides]

I’d like to second Howdy Martin’s Robert Wyatt comment, your film beautifully captured his expressive sadness. Onwards and upwards 👆

[@sethnavabi6926]

This is an excellent video. You must have put an insane amount of work into editing and production. Not much wrong at all - gripping, atmospheric, mood-evoking and dramatic. Top marks! 🎉

[@krisatomic]

Thank you :)

[@clairereid6974]

Bravo!! (I would have had the Dolls House!) ❤️🐚

[@krisatomic]

It went to a good home! ❤️

[@marianjacobs5597]

I am a new subscriber from Australia ... I have watched all the narrowboat-related posts and have enjoyed them all, thank you for your great cinematography look forward to your next post. 😊

[@krisatomic]

Thank you very much :)

[@Abimarvel]

Dang it’s like a love letter to london. Low key has me wanting to go out more and appreciate it 🙂

[@krisatomic]

GET OUT THERE 🥰

[@shogun666able]

I feel for you as moving is stressful enough, and minimizing is even worse which is the next bit to get over. I hope your next move is right for you, as no more turn on the tap, use the bathroom, or have the heating on as the gas bottle has run out can be something to get use to. However a log burning stove and a cuddle can work miracles, as can the living in the countryside even when raining if you travel. New page, new adventure, lots of new friends with the same mindset and new places now to look forward to as the first hard bit is done and a fall in love again lifestyle with its ups and down, is now in front of you.

[@AndreasDuessca]

If you would have asked me during my twenties if I'd ever say "goodbye" to London, I would have laughed at you. London was home in a way that no other place ever had been. Renting a room just off Portobello Road and buying boxes of veggies from the market traders at the end of the day for a fiver. Lived on a boat for a while, a 54' that originally belonged to a friend's parents. Moving to Hoxton and living in industrial spaces with no heat but lots of good friends and oh so much space. Buying a house in Whitechapel and becoming part of the East End. And then, one day and quite out of nowhere, it was time to move on. And so we did, to new dreams and other things.

[@krisatomic]

❤️❤️❤️

[@jenniferclyde8911]

Ah man, I moved at the end of last year also. Although I literally moved into a different apartment in the same building 😂🤷‍♀️ and the last 48 were very similar! I feel no matter how much I try and plan it out, the last bit of moving is just a chaos tornado. You have such a good eye for colors and texture, it’s always really lovely to watch your videos, even if they are reminding me of moving lol

[@krisatomic]

You're so right, the last bit is always horrific isn't it. And thank you!

[@jonjon738]

Wonderful. 🐇🐇

[@trevorsbarkingmadchannel4501]

Well done. Welcome to a new lifestyle. Look forward to future vlogs. Congratulations 🎉

[@krisatomic]

Thank you 🥰

[@fordpoppaul]

beautifully put together vlog, A joy to watch. following your journey ❤

[@krisatomic]

Thank you very much!

[@Claudia_K.]

I’d love to downsize, even though I’m not moving onto a boat any time soon! You’ve given me the motivation now. Fab vlog as usual, can’t get enough of your storytelling, Kris! x

[@krisatomic]

Thank you Claudia 🥰 It’s been really freeing getting rid of stuff, I recommend it for sure!

[@greghilton7797]

It is a trauma to turn your life upside down and squeeze it all into a small tube. Wishing you both all the very best on the cut. Cheers

[@chorleyted]

What a fantastic vlog Enjoyed every minute, Hope your new life change is full of adventures,Keep the vlogs coming you are made to do this 😊

[@krisatomic]

Very kind, thank you!

[@Fickle-Gamer]

Ohhhhh watching now!!!

[@Fickle-Gamer]

Loved it, Just made me smile. Well done!

[@krisatomic]

Thank you :))

[@stevemumbling7720]

Note, not a snarky question, just genuine curiosity. Why would you move from what looks like a really nice flat in a great area to the confines of a narrowboat with all the disadvantages (toilet, power, water, long walks to shops and pubs, car parking and having to move regularly etc etc) that holds?

[@krisatomic]

Not snarky at all, quite fair to ask! I talk about my reasoning in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJfMgpaMpNiji9k but the tldr is that the trigger was financial but the idea had been there for a long time and it just kind of fell into place! And we don’t even drive 😂 thats been a hassle actually.

[@stevemumbling7720]

@@krisatomic Thanks Kris. I watched the video, got the picture. It's a very nice looking boat. Not driving is probably a considerable advantage. Good luck with it.

[@_Tiamat_.]

💜💙💚

[@thehealthjunkie8996]

London isn't going anywhere?! You can still stay in London but on a boat. Thats what Im doing moving back to London and plan to buy a boat over the next few months. That is a lot of stuff though. I thought I had alot. I don't own any furniture well one chest of drawers, then mainly clothes and about 75 books. Good luck!! Are you taking it all on the boat?! Or selling it?

[@krisatomic]

The thought of London still being there while I’m gone is even worse!! No, I’m joking. We do want to come back at some point! But there’s also loads to see around the rest of the country so we want to do some travelling too :) We let go of almost all the furniture, but it’s crazy how much stuff there still was. We put everything in storage near our winter mooring so we could get things out as we needed them, and we emptied the storage last month so everything is now either on the boat, gone, or with one of our very kind and patient parents in the loft 😅

[@arthurkettle3010]

Nah, not for me...