NARROWBOAT Living - Would we recommend BOAT LIFE? Ep87

[@jeecreative]

Another great video. Considering you're 'accidental vloggers'...you're videos are so well produced. Julie, you should be genuinely proud of the quality of what you do. It takes so much time and effort to produce these so, if anyone happens to see this comment...and you're not already subscribed...hit the button...means a lot to people who put content out. PS...I'm not sponsored by Julie & Martin on Rhapsody in Blue lol

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Wow! Thank you Greg, what a wonderful comment, such lovely compliments thank you! It does take me a few days to edit each vlog, so to receive a comment like this really makes it all worthwhile, thank you so much! xx

[@pamcullen537]

Between myself and other half we had over 46yrs continual cruising but unfortunately I lost him 3yrs ago to cancer. I am still on my boat and wouldn’t be anywhere else and would hate the thought of being in a house. So many memories of fun and people you meet has been a joy. Yes it can be hard work (I haven’t had water on my boat for over 6 wks due to corroded water tank) but I love my life and will be 70 this year so if it suits you do it, the boating community is amazing 🦆💕

[@jillosler9353]

Well done Pam ❤ What beautiful memories you must carry with you as you continue to cruise alone. I hope it won't be long before you have a full water tank again. Take care.

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Pam, so glad you have continued to stay cruising, even though losing your other half, like you say, you have lots of lovely memories being on the water and I’m sure you’ll have lots more to come too! I think once you fall in love with this life, there’s no going back, however tough it gets! Really hope you get your water tank sorted soon and hope we get to meet you one day out on the cut, please shout us down if you see us! Thank you so much! xx

[@NicksAllotmentDiary]

Hi Julie and Martin. I’d like to say that I really appreciate how much work you put into your vlogs. I’m glad you enjoy the editing Julie. Shots like the walking past the camera must take time to set up and edit. Thanks for being so honest regarding the Q&A. I’m glad that you’ve really enjoyed moving onto a boat and don’t miss much from living on land. Take care. Nick

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Nick, thank you for your lovely comments, so pleased you are enjoying our vlogs. I do really enjoy the editing, I could sit for hours doing it, finding new ways to improve and working out how to do new things lol. So pleased you are enjoying the Q&A, there’s more to come next week too 😃 Thank you! xx

[@ronald4792]

Hi guys Great part one q&a Thanks for answering my question.it was very helpful as it has made me more determined to get a narrow boat 👍👍👍

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Ronald, aww we’re so glad we could help and really pleased you are going to go for it, it’s a wonderful life, hard work at times, but well worth it! Thank you! xx

[@geoffmower8729]

Hi guys that was very informative and it was really lovely hearing your story's. We have been in our house for 32 years and yes there is a lot of clutter and things put away in case it might come in handy one day. So I really applaud you for decluttering and selling off unwanted possessions making it possible for your dream to come true of living a life on the canals. Stay safe and I'll catch you on the next one.👍🏻👍🏻

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Geoff, yes it’s amazing just how much ‘stuff’ you really don’t need. We haven’t missed any of it! 😜 Thanks Geoff! xx

[@neildaly6787]

Another great video. Thanks guys. I liked hearing about your lives before narrowboating and your answers to a lot of interesting questions. I have to agree with @jeecreative's comments about the quality of your videos. They are really very good. And I knew Martin wasn't Australian! Ha ha! Neil from Upwey, Australia.

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Neil, aww thank you for your lovely compliments, we try our best and it means so much to receive lovely comments like this! lol, we can’t believe Martin sounds Australian, it’s probably because he jokes about lol. Thank you so much! xx

[@terrymathis4213]

I love these questions. They r important. I would like to get out of tent camping and buy a camper. Im 64 yrs young and sleeping on cots in a tent is getting old. Listen to those birds. Love that I found y'll.

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Terry, thank you, glad you enjoyed the Q&A, we quite enjoyed passing on our experiences. Wow, don’t think I could do camping, not with this British weather lol, need a proper bed lol 😂 but we love that we get to see lots of new places and can still be close to nature too, hearing and seeing the birds as we open the hatch in the mornings, not sure if we could ever live anywhere that’s not on the water now. Thank you so much! xx

[@dennischapman7944]

You two are absolutely beautiful, Every time I see your vids you make me smile. Your so laid back you make it look so easy,( I know its not) but it just gives that impression. Keep them coming. All the best to you both.

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Oh thank you Dennis, such lovely words! Yes it can be hard at times, but mostly it is a relaxing way of life. We absolutely love cruising and being able to take our home with us. Thank you so much for your lovely comment! xx

[@jackiejones1684]

What a lovely vlog, really enjoyed hearing your story and look forward to part 2

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Aww thank you Jackie, so nice of you to say xx

[@landbk5015]

Really interesting and honest answers. You may remember I am coming up to 80 and Linda, my wife, is 76. I suffer a lot with arthritis and Linda has a heart condition, so as Martin rightly points out, one's health has to be taken into consideration. Many, many years ago we did consider buying a narrow boat. I could live on a narrowboat, if I was fit and able, but I know Linda, my wife, would not like it on a permanent basis. As I have mention before, we have done many narrowboat holidays and she loves operating the locks, seeing new places, enjoying the scenery and wildlife, but for her, holidays would not be holidays if you did not go 'home'. Again, repeating myself, our last narrowboat holiday was on the Llangollen canal sharing a boat with our son and daughter-in-law. They owned a sailing boat at the time, but the narrowboat holiday was not for our daughter-in-law, so will not be doing any more with them. Linda and I had talked about hiring a very small boat that could be easily manoeuvred manually if needed, by just the two of us, but we are now too decrepid for it. Hence, I am hooked on your videos with great envy. I would not have been able to get rid of my fishing gear though. Especially where you live now. I expect Martin fished the Ornamental Lake on Wanstead Flats, as I did as a boy. As an aside, I told you I was born in Elm Park, Hornchurch and moved to East Ham. Well, Linda was born in Manor Park and worked as a Saturday girl in Evan's Store, which was round the corner to the Boleyn Ground. It was a general store and one Saturday she served Booby Moore, which she has never forgotten. When I left school I started going out with a girl from work who lived in Fairview Avenue, Rainham, which is near the Jewish cemetery at the end of the No. 87 bus route, and I cycled 5 times a week for 18 months from East Ham and back to see her. I apologise to you and your followers if I am boring, but I can associate so much with you two wonderful people and the memories you bring from my nearly 80 years. You have the right attitude for your new lifestyle and I wish you all the best for a long and happy boating future. Barry x

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Barry & Linda, yes you do need a certain amount of fitness to be on a narrowboat. However, I know you are not disabled, but if you wanted a narrowboat holiday, there is the Lyneal Trust on the Llangollen canal that do boat trips and holidays for people with health issues and/or disabilities, here’s their link www.lyneal-trust.org.uk/ (hope you didn’t mind me saying) Wow, you are both very similar to us, where you were born and both grew up etc and wow Bobby Moore! Martin used to love going to the pie’n’mash shop at East Ham Market when he was a kid with his Aunt! Thanks Barry! xx

[@landbk5015]

@@JulieandMartinonRIB We are grateful for the info on narrowboat holidays, so are glad you mentioned it. It was Cooke's pie & mash in High Street North and my favourite was Mudies near the Granada cinema on the Barking Road going towards the Boleyn.

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

@@landbk5015 Wow, Martin remembers both of those Pie’n’Mash shops, well done for remembering their names! Thanks Barry & Linda! xx

[@landbk5015]

​@@JulieandMartinonRIBwell they say it's the short term memory that goes first 😂

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

@@landbk5015 😂😂

[@tteric67]

Hey guys, just had this vlog coming through and just needed you to know that you are brilliant at it and every new one is beautifully edited with lovely photography, so we hope you will continue as long as possible 😜❤️😘

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Eric, thank you, what lovely compliments! We’re not going anywhere, you’re stuck with us for a long while yet lol 😜 Thank you so much! xx

[@tteric67]

@@JulieandMartinonRIB am happy now! ❤️❤️

[@andreahickling1368]

Another lovely, funny vlog. Guess what ???????????? We're on our narrow boat, The Ace of Spades. Staying in Redhill Marina for a few weeks, to get settled in, and then our life will be as yours is WONDERFUL. I'm very excited, yet strangely worry about every sound??? "What! did you hear that?"

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Oh wow! That’s fantastic news! So pleased you’re on your boat, you’re going to love it! Hopefully we’ll see you out on the cut someday soon! I know what you mean re noises, it’ll take a little while to adjust, but wait til you’re out of the marina and you hear owls hooting above your boat at night, it’s great! Hope we get to meet you soon! Have fun and enjoy! xx

[@mishkawp8200]

Fabulous! Thank you for answering all the questions. So good to hear you don’t miss living in a house - you both seem genuinely happy with the lifestyle you’ve chosen and with each other, which is great xx

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Mishka, we do genuinely love living on the boat, being on the water is definitely home! Thank you for your question too! Thanks! xx

[@SLOWLYdoesit1]

Love your vlogs! Keep them coming! Baggage… I have started enjoying getting rid of stuff…. I discovered I had purchased hundreds of shirts over lockdown. I just gave over 500 shirts to charity,I had only opened about 30. I still have 5 meters of rails to go…

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Aww thank you so much, so pleased you’re enjoying our videos! Crikey, that’s a lot of shirts!! Wow, no wonder you are scaling down! Good luck! 😜 Thank you so much! xx

[@zonabrown9241]

❤what a lovely gift❤

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

It was beautiful wasn’t it, we were blown away! xx

[@tanyabishop5647]

Me and my husband wanted to go on a narrowboat holiday for years when we were younger. He was born and grew up on a boat and we eventually got the chance and unfortunately we found it really stressful. I think it was having to cruise to a schedule, and having 3 dogs, one of which kept trying to get out in the deck everytime we opened the door, we had nightmares for months. Shame, stuck to our caravan. Love watching other people's narrowboat vlogs though😊😊

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Tanya, aww what a shame you didn’t enjoy your narrowboat holiday after wanting to do it for so long. It is a little different to living on a boat, like you say, on a holiday you need to stick to a schedule, whereas we can take more time. We always say to people it is best to try before committing to buying a boat, as it’s not for everyone. We used to have a touring caravan years ago and loved it, such a great way to holiday! Thank you so much! xx

[@deballen6147]

Hey guys . Well done Julie for teaching yourself editing and all of the things you need to know regarding vlogging. Thankyou for sharing you answers to the questions and being honest regarding the finances.😊 Get polishing Martin not your alloys lol your mushrooms. Have a great week see you next week x😊

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hiya! Receiving comments like this makes it all worthwhile, thank you so much! Oh and Martin will definitely sort the mushrooms 👍😃 Thank you! xx

[@hakanfan]

Great vlog yet again , loved the Q and A with the birdsong in the background, as an East End boy nice to hear that Martin is a kindred cockney. Stay well stay safe.

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hiya! Yes, we managed to choose a beautiful day for answering the questions, the sun was warm, the sky was blue and the birds were singing, it was lovely! Good to hear from another East Ender! Thank you! xx

[@celiabell9466]

Love these trips. I was able to take a short cruise in GB once on a visit but watching the videos it's really entertaining as I can no longer travel in person.

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Celia, so glad you got to experience a short cruise and you’re enjoying our videos, we love getting feedback, thank you so much Celia! xx

[@zonabrown9241]

❤Martin a few days of suns what you need❤

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Absolutely Zona! 😎 Thank you! xx

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Absolutely Zona! 😎 Thank you! xx

[@Steve9357]

Oh I loved this conversation. and thanks for sharing 😊

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Aww thank you Steve, we answer the rest of the questions in the next one too, hopefully you’ll enjoy it. Thank you! xx

[@heavensmountains323]

Enjoyed this video very much. 🇨🇦🤗🌸

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

We’re so pleased, thank you so much! xx

[@RD-oe6if]

Great video with really honest, well thought out answers. Thanks for showing us a lifestyle that we would never get to experience. Take care.

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hiya! You’re very welcome, it’s lovely to have you with us, thank you! xx

[@glennclarke9787]

Hi Julie and Martin. Really was a great Vlog. So interesting to hear your thoughts on living on a Narrowboat. I always thought Martin would have been in the RAF, but Martin if you did you didn't say. (Hence the RAF sign and model aircraft). You were so easy to listen too ,and compliment each other gracefully. We can't wait to see part 2.All our very best. Glenn and Marion ❤xx

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Glenn & Marion, so pleased you enjoyed this video, we answer the question about the Spitfire in next week’s vlog 😜 Thank you so much! xx

[@lockingthroughlife2587]

Loved hearing your Q&A’s. I know what you mean about getting rid of stuff and how it’s not important. I downsized so much and either gave stuff away or sold for ridiculous low prices. Just need a boat to start my boating life on now. Happy Easter guys xx

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Aww fingers crossed you get your boat soon matey! Cant wait to see you happily cruising! See you soon! xx 😘

[@tonywest7236]

Fantastic vlogs, I’m from Market Harborough and saw the boat moored up whe walking my dog, very busy topath that stretch. Safe travels

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Aww thank you Tony, we loved Market Harborough, it’s a lovely town, we spent a couple of weeks there! Thanks Tony! xx

[@edwardtc8129]

Loved the video as always, Martin hope you’re feeling better now. Wishing you both a very happy Easter and hope you have a wonderful bank holiday weekend

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Edward, thank you, Martin is feeling much better now and a very Happy Easter to you too! Thank you! xx

[@martymerkler5472]

Julie & Martin: Are there any plans to connect the canals up into Scotland? I really enjoyed sailing from Fort William up to Inverness.

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Marty, they used to be connected until motorways came along and then they literally cut a canal in half and a motorway sliced through the middle, cutting the Scottish canals from England & Wales. As far as we know there isn’t any plans to join them up again sadly 😞 We would love to see the Scottish canals, so think we would need to hire a narrowboat in Scotland. Thanks Marty! xx

[@terrencehorton433]

Julie and martin watt a lovely story you told of past just love your vlogs so please cep them coming all the best to you both ❤

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Aww thank you Terrence, what a lovely comment, thank you! xx

[@davidcragg2550]

Great video as always from start to finish love the elvis room like mine when I lived at home take care both of you xx 😊

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi David, thought you might like that, I can’t believe I had to give most of it away! Glad you enjoyed the vlog! Thank you! xx

[@davidcragg2550]

@@JulieandMartinonRIB of course as always take care both of you xx

[@bryansnapp7364]

Love the vlogs. Watched them all. Julie, put a kill switch on the front hooters. Lol, sorry Martin. Much love from Ohio, Usa ! Hope you feel better soon, Martin !

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Bryan, lol, now there’s an idea re the horn, like your thinking! 😂 Aww thank you, Martin is feeling much better now, think it was just a 48hr bug. It’s so lovely that you are watching us from the USA, thank you so much! xx

[@nicholassimpson5646]

Ow ya Martin hope you feel better soon

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Aww thank you Nicholas, Martin is feeling a lot better now, thank you xx

[@trevorsbarkingmadchannel4501]

Thank u so much. Very good answer. Amongst other things controlled by meds I have terminal blood cancer so can get tired at times and thinking financially as I’m working part time for Amazon and get universal credit I have no mortgage and minimal council tax which I don’t suppose would be applied to any marina fees or licence fee as no fixed address. Also if I suddenly go into hospital it’s a worry leaving the boat and sorting dogs out as in different locations potentially where as here I have contracts set up for people to sort it out. You have answered so much. Thank you. Bless u both❤.

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Trevor, so sorry to hear this, but sounds like you have some great support structures in place where you are. Like you say, being on a boat and in numerous locations would hinder any medical needs you may require. We tried to answer all questions as honestly and fully as we could and am glad that it has helped you in a small way. Thank you so much for your kind words, take care and we’ll see you next week! Thank you! xx ❤️

[@rogerr1296]

Wow, I forgot I had even asked that question...lol. Thanks guys!

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Aww Roger, you’re welcome, thank you! xx

[@stevewait3299]

Only just found your vlogs really enjoyable, how do you give Tesco your location please.

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Steve, we look up the postcode for the nearest bridge, carpark, or pub, put that in, then once entered, edit the address i.e. the nearest address to a bridge may be a house number, or farm, so put that in initially, then edit the house number or farm name to say for example ‘Flecknoe Road Bridge 102’. Then in the message section put something like ‘we live on a narrowboat and this is the nearest bridge to where we are moored, please call me 20 minutes before you arrive so we can meet you’ We also put the What 3 Words location too. The driver always calls and if they are unsure where you are, you can direct them in. Hope this all made sense lol. Thanks Steve! xx

[@stevewait3299]

@@JulieandMartinonRIB Thank you for your reply that will make boating so much easier in the future. Your narrowboat is in lovely condition. Think it was built in Manchester by Crown narrowboats for an American couple we met many years ago.

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

@@stevewait3299 oh wow, yes you’re right, they had it built in 2004, he was from the US Airforce! Cant believe you remembered the boat from back then! Thanks Steve! xx

[@TheNarrowboatPirate]

Fabulous and you looked very glamorous today Julie 😃🏴‍☠️

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Aww thank you, it was nice not to have to wear a hat, coat and gloves for a change … I’d trimmed my hair that morning too! 😃 Thanks matey! xx 😘❤️

[@scotttindill3371]

Another great vlog. Our Thursdsy evening fix.( where you find your cup holders )

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Scott, thank you, so glad you enjoyed it! The cup holder we got from a chandlery on the Nene, but I think you can get them in most chandleries. (If you search ‘cup holders for camping’ in Amazon, they do something similar, or even a caravan shop too may sell them. Hope this helps xx

[@scotttindill3371]

@@JulieandMartinonRIB thinks I will take a look.

[@raymondneale8414]

Beautifully done ❤❤

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Aww thank you Raymond! xx

[@PhilipPress-l8m]

Greetings from the Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina. I also thought Martin might have been from Australia. You're a lovely couple, lucky to have each other. Fair winds, and following seas.

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Philip, thank you for such a lovely comment! Lol re Australia 🤪 Thank you so much! xx

[@nickevans1698]

Hi Guys took your advice on mooring places Market Harborough Arm. Currently at Water point moorings at the basin moving back towards Foxton locks Tomorrow. Thanks for the tip. 👍🏼

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

You’re very welcome Nick, it’s lovely there is t it! Did you see the Perigrines at the top of the church? xx

[@nickevans1698]

@@JulieandMartinonRIB no we got lost in a Pub called the Red Cow. Tell Martin it was Monty’s 🐶 fault he wanted to go for a walk. Market Harborough town we thought very nice. 😎👍🏼

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

@@nickevans1698 haha lol, we didn’t make it to the Red Cow lol 😂 xx

[@John-vd8xw]

Great Vlog. I was honerd to have my question read by such celeberity as you two. I am now suspecting that over the Centuries most Austrailians must have originated in East London . My Ansestors left Bristol while king Charles the first was on the throne. We Realy do enjoy your vlog. John (& Cindy) North Idaho

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi John & Cindy, you did make us chuckle 🤭 thinking Martin was Australian, however, you are not the only one, a few comments have agreed with you lol. Thank you so much for the question, we really enjoyed our question time! Part two is next week, hope you’ll tune in. So pleased you are enjoying our vlogs, thank you so much! xx

[@donnaheule5275]

Loved your very informative and fun vlog, thank you! 👏😃

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

So pleased you enjoyed it Donna, thank you! xx

[@sandrakent8049]

Absolutely loved the video brill as always and lovely interesting questions and answers. Always thought Martin was an EastEnders. He reminds me of my late grandad and looks similar in face funnily enough! You are both brilliant. Grandad was from bethjal green what was Ion square I think only garden square left!

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Sandra, yes Martin is known as a true cockney, definitely an Eastender lol 😂 Lovely that he brings back memories too, thank you so much! xx

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

If you enjoy our videos and would like to support our channel, you can buy us a coffee here, just click on the link, bmc.link/JulieandMartin Thank you so much, it means a lot to us ❤️

[@TCBfan62]

Loved this video Julie. It’s good to hear about the nitty gritty of living on a narrow boat. So what did happen to your Elvis collection? 🤔💞

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

@TCBfan62 unfortunately I had to give most of it away, just kept a few little bits, like Elvis Monopoly! 😃 xx

[@TCBfan62]

I think I’ll have to do something similar as we want to move to the coast and downsize. 😢❤

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

@@TCBfan62 aww you’ll be surprised, just keep a few favourites! 😃 xx

[@alexgilman1079]

Watched for a while. Today I subscribed because I have enjoyed your videos for a while and your straight forward honesty in answering personal questions that are similar to my own ponderings! Love the animation of your map.... How did you do that? Haha!

[@alexgilman1079]

Do you have a link to where you bought your coffee mug holder? The two times we rented a narrowboat so far we felt the need for a basket or something on the roof for the coffee mugs and a Cookie... as well as the map!

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Alex, aww thank you, so lovely to have you with us! I found I could use our boat as the pointer for the animated map using Keynote, thank you for noticing! 😃 We bought our mug holder years ago when we had our GRP cruiser, you can pick them up in most chandlers, but I’ve just looked it up on Amazon and found it on there, here’s the link amzn.to/3TVy8xX it has rubberised feet too so doesn’t move or slide around 👍 Thank you so much! xx

[@dorothydotson7154]

Very interesting. I was glad to hear some of the back story of how you ended up on a narrowboat. I first heard about narrowboats from an episode of "Lewis" and was hooked. Then I found David's new boat vlog. The rest is history.... obsession for a life I can never have. Wrong country and too old for it. I don't have the stamina anymore. It still looks like the best life ever to me. The good stuff outweighs the bad in my estimation. It is a shame that the CRT is going to gouge continuous cruisers. BTW, I think Martin has an Australian attitude more than an Australian accent.

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Dorothy, so glad you’re enjoying our videos 🥰 It is a lovely way of life, sometimes a little tough, but like you say, the good definitely outweighs the bad! Yes, it would be great if CRT would reconsider, but very much doubt it! lol, it did make us chuckle to think that people thought he was Australian 🤭 Thank you Dorothy! xx

[@carolwaser2973]

I wanted to let you know that I bought you three coffees today and they didn’t put my name on it. But I am the one from across the pond. My name is Carol from Kalamazoo, Michigan USA. Enjoy ☕️☕️☕️

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Carol, wow thank you so much, it’s so kind of you! Really pleased you are enjoying our videos! Thank you! xx

[@mikeboone4425]

Loosing the friends sucks I've lost all 36 of mine I do have 3left but there all in homes being taken care of . Good luck you 2

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Oh Michael, really sad to hear this, it is hard losing friends, thinking of you 🥰 Thank you! xx

[@wendycrooks875]

I had no trouble getting rid of everything. For instance, I had collected 9 big boxes of teddy bears and 3 of all the cards from family I had ever received. I realised that they had been up in the loft and I hadn’t looked at them for years, so why keep them. DVDs and CDs went, I have the music on my phone, so no need to keep them either. I love being on my boat but I am in a Marina as I can’t steer it, my Husband did that when he was alive. I need lessons, but a Marina is a very easy option! I don’t miss living in a house at all.

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Haha, it was quite exciting really, getting rid of all the things we didn’t need. Some things were harder than others, but generally it was a painless process. It’s fine to be in a marina, we enjoyed it when we were there, but our plans were always to be cc’ing out on the cut! We hadn’t really thought about if we missed being in a house until the question was asked, but we really don’t miss it at all, in fact, we now feel that we are home! Thanks Wendy! xx

[@wendycrooks875]

@@JulieandMartinonRIB our plan was to be cc’ers too. If I did a helmsman course I could give it a go, but I have to admit, I’m settled now and have got a little lazy 😂

[@juliesutton4551]

❤❤❤

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Thanks Julie xx

[@edwardhoughton2565]

Xx

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Thanks Edward! xx

[@nicholassimpson5646]

Hi guys yes two text from me first thank you for the lovely reply I loved it next I have a question bet it to late for next week and it not ment at you you treat your water but as you no I pick up on things as you no we my question is do you think the tap water from canal is it safe to drink I say this is bloggers that have been on there boat for five years or more look like they are from 1700 year bad teeth bad face complex what do you think x

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hello again! Thanks Nicholas, the answer is yes, the water is very safe, it is regular mains water, so is completely safe to drink! All boats have water holding tanks, ours is stainless steel so doesn’t rust or attract any mould, but even so we still treat our water a couple of times a year. Some boats have plastic tanks, so need treating a bit more often, and some boats have integral tanks, these need regular maintenance and painting, if not the paint flakes off and can develop rust, some people with these tanks often use bottled water for drinking, but if it’s kept on top of, then it is perfectly safe to drink too. Also, we should really use a food-grade hose, but we use a regular hose but keep it clean. Hope this all makes sense! Thanks Nicholas! xx

[@nicholassimpson5646]

Great vlog guys Julie you looked very nice this weekbrave knowing how dirty tow path well I thought you would now the river trust bill for next five years as you are very brain I have had to tell most vloggers they got it wrong with the bill if you watch the widebeam vlog she school teacher and she did two vlogs on it widebeam boaters who travel everywhere are getting screwed bless them 90% increase but narrowboat people like you lovely people are only paying 6% over five years hope this is great news for you will did vlog a couple off weeks ago then after I told him and he watched vlog he text a put up vlog saying sorry he got it all wrong and was right Martin does not look like lorry driver to skinny tell him

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Nicholas, lovely to hear from you again, always look forward to your comments. xx C&RT haven’t put the 2024-2025 prices up online yet so I couldn’t give completely accurate sums, but I believe that the widebeam vlogger you mentioned has got it wrong. Yes all narrowboaters will be getting a 6% rise, but continuous cruisers will be getting an additional surcharge on top of that, of 5% this year, 10% year 2, 15% year 3, 20% year 4, and by year 5 continuous cruisers will be paying an additional 25% surcharge to those narrowboaters with home moorings such as marinas. So by 2028 we will be paying well over double for our licence. The C&RT should have their new licence fees up online from 1st April, so I’ll check then, but certainly the email we all received states that continuous cruisers will be paying the extra surcharge compared to those who dwell in marinas or other home moorings. I would love the lady in the widebeam to be right, but really don’t think so, we’ll know for sure in a week or so 😃 Martin is chuffed with your compliment saying he’s too skinny to be a lorry driver! Thank you so much Nicholas xx

[@jacquelineryde7339]

Super vlog, live these Q@A. Mark said you two are so like us, your answers are literally like our conversations all the time 😅. Love it and so looking forward to the next one. I will contact you in messenger if ok as have something to ask and let you know 😊❤

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Aww thanks Jacqui! Can’t wait for us to meet up when you have your boat, so looking forward to seeing you both at Crick! Which marina will you be stopping at? See you soon! xx

[@jacquelineryde7339]

@@JulieandMartinonRIB hi after crick we are going to priory park marina in Bedford off the great river Ouse 🥰🥰❤️

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

@@jacquelineryde7339 are you going there by boat or by road? That’s quite a way! We used to live on the Middle Levels, we never went through to Denver and onto the River Great Ouse, we used to go on the Nene. As soon as we bought RIB we went on the canals. xx

[@naughtysquirrellyndatee96]

That lil key ring is for your ALDI coin… it’s a quarter here 🇺🇸💜

[@JulieandMartinonRIB]

Hi Lynda, yes it’s such a cute little purse, a lovely surprise! Thank you! xx