What is it like trading at the Black Country Boating Festival 2018? | BCBF

[@ericduffield524]

I know this is 1.5yrs after the fact; But, what a lovely trade show! Thanks for taking us around. It all looked so fun 😊

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@dudleyblokerave]

We are building a fighting force of extraordinary magnitude. We forge our spirits in the tradition of our ancestors​. You have our gratitude.

[@rossharrison5918]

Thank you so so much for coming along! It was lovely to have you with us and lovely to meet you both in person! So glad you had a good weekend and we hope to see you next year. Thank you from us all at BCBF!

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Thanks for being so welcoming and organised. It was a great first for us.

[@taber247]

I would Subscribe every time I watch one of your videos; but always give a Thumbs Up. I had intended to mention in the past my liking of your animated Introduction and signing off. So... a big thanks to you both and to the cats for a really enjoyable vlog. Take care, best regards Colin

[@terrykunst3883]

This was so fantastic! I really felt like I was there. Thank you.

[@marciajenkins819]

Annamarie you are a natural public relations person. This looked like such a fun weekend. Lots of wonderful new friends for you both.

[@aceshigh7722]

Lovely to meet you at last, glad you decided to come to our local boat festival for your first time. Thanks for the 11 day blog on your journey there, it was really entertaining. Hope to see you both again at Parkhead festival just up the cut towards Stourbridge on the 29th-30th September. All the best and KEEP BLOGGING.

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

We really feel like we chose the right festival to start with. Thanks for being so welcoming

[@mikesiokalo3454]

this is an oldy but a goodie!

[@heatherjones4034]

What a wonderful day😀

[@markbulla1851]

It looks like the rain held off - congratulations! Thanks, as always for the enjoyable vlog!

[@jerriecook6908]

Loved the whole video, but Alice was the best part! She looks so darn Regal at the end of the video!👑🐈

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Well she is Queen Alice after all.

[@scottfw7169]

Good to see Alice feeling normal again, or feeling whatever it is that counts as Alice's version of normal.

[@ianmason8713]

Passed by your boat a couple of times on Saturday, but you where always busy talking to people (I hope they bought some artwork) and I did not want to cut in. So I asked Annamarie if I could take a photo and said thanks for the vlogs. I hope that you had a successful show and enjoyed the Black Country.

[@JONATHANGW]

What a great festival, well done for supporting it and thank you for sharing your time with us.

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

You’re welcome

[@elrbli]

Thanks for showing us around the festival! Alice made me laugh when she was afraid to come out, but still took time to take a little roll on the tow path😀🐈.

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

That was my favourite bit as well.

[@bex82uk]

That festival looks amazing, I love those holders you used to display your art on the side of the boat. Really nice interviews with other stall owners. Glad Munchie eventually came down from the tree ;) ~Bex

[@richardlaundon]

Wonderful to meet you both and so pleased the weather was kind for the whole weekend. I am pretty sure this will become a regular event on your calendar. A good journey to take from there would be over to Stourbridge through Kidderminster. You go past Merry Hill shopping complex and up a few flights. The journey takes you on the Dudley 2 and 1 canals, Stourbridge and Staff & Worcs

[@mentaltrucker]

great to see you both at the festival, glad we came , had a great day saturday .... you are lovely both of you . keep the vlogs coming ...

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Thanks

[@clive.r1414]

Enjoyed meeting you both! It was a good day with so much going on! Best wishes where ever you head to!

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Lovely to meet you too. Thanks for making the trip. Glad you had a good day.

[@petebartlett2229]

Great video and was fantastic to meet you both. Now I can share this and show my friends my out of my comfort zone achievement!! Our paintings are going to be framed and we absolutely love them,especially the 3 cats in the sunset. Thank you again.

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Thanks Pete. Lovely to meet you too. Glad you like the paintings. We are happy they have gone to a good home!

[@RoniBWN]

Thank u for not stopping me smile for this video.. i couldnt stop smiling😀😀😀😊 its very lovely video.. its very interesting to see from different culture community, me on behalf of all Sailing Catamaran, Thank you so much for making smile all the way.. its lovely to see.. ur cat make me say Awwweeee😍😍😍 i love all ur work Anna, love u both..

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Thanks for watching.

[@AnthonyChew]

Such a fun day and a great community! Sad to see the cats in a state of shock over the amount of people all of a sudden, but I am amazed at how quickly and efficiently you're able to setup a little stall and hang up your work for sale by the boat! A different type of floating market.

[@100Noddy]

Thank you for sharing your journey. Was hoping to get a closer view of your paintings. A missed opportunity to show off your talent.

[@indigoglyph]

It was great fun, meeting you both again. Looking forward to the rainbow-coloured NBE badges! Would definitely recommend the Black Country Museum, while you’re there.

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Great to see you too.

[@paulroberts5677]

So glad you had a good time. Well done both. The cats look in excellent condition too.

[@jonnyjones5201]

I love that kingfisher painting.

[@grahamBearman1]

Aww, no more Bumble Hole! Obvious that you enjoyed yourselves and I hope the trading was successful, best wishes and looking forward to your next adventure!!!! Cheers Girls.

[@mjallenuk]

So glad you had such a smashing time both ... admittedly the cats didn't look as impressed but then I guess you can't please everyone all of the time. Had to laugh as I spotted the print that I bought, the lass we bought jam from and even the mug I had from Julie's boat. Shamefully we couldn't get near the Brew Boat but then I guess that's good news for them! Again so lovely to meet you both in person. What I didn't know is that my lad Ben watches you on You Tube separately to ourselves. We found out on the way home which did make us smile.

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

So great to meet you and your family.

[@AMYTHEST54]

Love this vlog this was great thanku again xoxo

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Thank you so much!!

[@paddygrice2512]

Great Video and Great to have you along for the weekend - Hope to see you next year - Dates are 14th - 15th September 2019.

[@sherrionboardsunflower97]

Yay! I got to watch this as soon as you posted it (I was staying at friends so had internet access) The festival looked brilliant! So glad you enjoyed it !

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Ahhh other peoples interest is the best! Hope everything is going well on your new floating home!

[@crichmo5375]

Always love your videos, another great one.

[@robertlampman9853]

Great show girls and I love the cats.

[@carriea4868]

Glad to see it went well for you. Last year we came up that way from Stourbridge which is a lovely town and canal. We had a fairly quiet mooring close to the town which should suit the cats and the Bonded Warehouse is a picturesque end to that canal.

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Thanks for the suggestion.

[@mikenicholls4861]

We enjoyed our trip to the Black Country. Great to see you there. 😃

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

So great to see you both.

[@pootle2768]

The festival looked really good fun! Sue and I wished we could’ve come along. Everyone seemed so happy and friendly! X

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Maybe another time you’ll come along. X

[@matthewgriffiths8423]

As I live in Dudley, I go to this every year. Great weekend

[@aditrols]

It was great to meet you both. Isabelle spotted instantly her moment on the video! My suggestion would be to head over to Kath's homeland, the Llangollen is beautiful in the autumn.

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Lovely to meet you guys too. Llangollen is on the list!

[@julienorton1067]

Hello there NB'S 🙋🏼‍♀️. What a brilliant video and festival. Ruby loved seeing the doggos... 🐩🐕. And Alice and Munchie, they dealt quite well with the situation , didn't they? All them stalls, yessss! That would have been my best day ever... I hope you done so well with your stall. Thanks so much for sharing, I hope you manage to come up on Leeds-Liverpool canal one day. Ruby would love to meet her heroes.... Alice & Munchie🐱🐈😉😃. Safe journey ...🤗💕🐶🐾

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

We will make it to the L&L one day. Alice and Munchy did very well. They aren't liking the wind today though!

[@AndyB59]

I am so sad I couldn't make it.It looks like such a friendly festival and you looked like you were having a ball, plugging peoples' businesses and making friends. Looking forward to your next journey xx

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

We definitely made some new friends.

[@wsatnutter9674]

looked brilliant what a fantastic vlog I could feel the amazing vibes and karma from here well done to you and all the other traders

[@MrAndrewPorter]

Great presentation thank you. 👍

[@marianjacobs5597]

Lovely post it all looked very festive and I hope you sold many, many pictures.

[@Andy_U]

Hiya. Was so great to meet you both and to be told by Kath that Annamarie is the one that does EVERYTHING on the boat! Was that a tongue I saw in your cheek, Kath? As a non-boater (so far) I had a great time at the Festival, though I left for home early on the Sunday morning 'cos I HATE the M6. Other non-boaters out there, you've got to go next year. The food's good, the real beer and cider tent is good and there's even a COCKTAILS wagon! Also, the cider sold by the Towpath Tipples boat to take home will take away the use of your legs! Trust me. Oh, and you can get there easily from Dudley by bus! Didn't get to meet the cats, Boo, but I got my photo with you and I GOT MY BADGE! Yaay. I'm hoping for some Alice and Munchy artwork in the future. I think you should head for the Llangollen and/or meet up with Sort Of Interesting next. Ok, time to stop waffling on. All the best to you.

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

I think I said Annamarie does everything with the videos..... Glad you enjoyed the festival. Was lovely to meet you too.

[@AllyCH10]

Fully recommend heading through Wolverhampton and up to the Shroppie! By far our favourite canal we've been on, it's just so beautiful! The only downside was finding spots to moor that didn't have the shelf or weren't short term visitor moorings. Audlem a good place to trade if you can get on the mooring spots by the Shroppie Fly on a weekend though. - HS

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Thanks for the information. We will take a look at the route tomorrow.

[@FilmNfool]

wonderful art work ladies

[@eUsernet]

Great post - glad you had a good time, it looks awesome. 🤗😎

[@Thegonepotties]

Lovely video, love the cats 💜

[@sylviapage8572]

That looked great. I should have come but I’m getting our boat ready to go onto brokerage. We’ve run out of space for Anna’s art so we’ve decided to buy a bigger boat. We love this boat but with three dogs it’s just too small. Anyway we’re excited about the decision and now have a much clearer idea of what we want. I hope you sold lots. I looked online but think some of your stock must be for trade fairs only so I’ll look again soon. Thanks for sharing your journey and the fair, I really enjoyed it.

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

New boat already!! How exciting. Will you move marina as well? Annamarie is working on some new paintings so there will be some new originals and prints soon. Hopefully in time for Christmas.

[@pondus5002]

What a great video, love it !!!

[@anthonybelcher8569]

You should put up more blogs .l enjoy your videos,

[@RustyManisduckman]

Looks like you ladies had a great time. I know now what i would love in a perfect world. I would love a lock keepers house out in the country. Now i only have to convince my wife to leave the grandkids and move across the ocean. Lol. Will be waiting to see where ya all off to next.

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Good luck 😉

[@RustyManisduckman]

@@TheNarrowboatExperience lol would need more than luck. But a man can dream. I could help out with the locks when i wanted. Would be fun. But to be honest i couldn't leave my grandsons either.

[@nesleinf]

There's so much to say about this video: You're cats are amazing :-)

[@andyward8336]

You could go up onto the Staffordshire & worcestershire canal and visit Wightwick Manor NT , bridge 56 moorings on the right under bridge . they have a fantastic art gallery . One houndred yards from the cut up Wightwick bonk .

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Thanks for the suggestion, we will look into it.

[@suetaylor5186]

You must do the Bonded Warehouse in Stourbridge xxx

[@maxboonkittypoison]

I have this burning question: Have You Sold Annything?? Thanks this is an amazing video/flog Thank You both. Have a great weekeind & greetings,, Kitty.

[@SandraWalshkiwicruiser]

Hi Kath and Annamarie, wow! You two are incredible. We adore your boundless energy and enthusiasm, and your excitement for the Inland Waterways. It was awesome to meet you both, welcome to our family lol! Two new adopted daughters (sadly yes, we are old enough though we're definitely doing our utmost to grow down rather than up!). Thanks for all the mentions and the links, and the views of our website. we've also got a blog (one day we may even have a V-log if I can persuade Barry to sign up to one), which tells tales of our adventures aboard NB Areandare - www.nbareandare.com. Hope to see you both again very soon. Tipton and Parkhead festivals are being held the next two consecutive weekends, maybe we'll see you there ... Have heaps of fun. Arohanui Barry and Sandra x ;-)

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

You and Barry from www.thehomebrewboat.co.uk were just so kind to us- perfect neighbours. Your blog is superb.

[@Falney]

"What are you responsible for" My response? "I'm supervising."

[@derrickfelix503]

Wales, Kath you look marvellous, Hope it was not much of a different experience.A visit booking for next year may be? Cheers.

[@clivekibbler4578]

i enjoyed this film

[@celticwanderer6407]

looked a great festival , have to check it out this year 2019, have you ladies done any of the canals though manchester

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

No but we’d like to

[@tfrancis2454]

If you are still in the Back Country there is another boat festival this weekend in Tipton 21-23rd. very close to where you are

[@rossharrison5918]

Also park head the week after

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Yes we heard about that one. Not sure yet if we will visit. We won’t be trading though

[@chriscross9505]

Lovely video showing a lovely community. Well done Cath for fighting the urge to hide up a tree with Alice 👏 . . if only we could see ourselves as others see us, we would more often than not be extremely pleasantly surprised. (why did you gals get given so much free booze tho? 🤔😂)

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

I only wanted the filming to stop, the rest of the festival was lovely!

[@johnbelcher7955]

Really pleased you had a good time hope the sales went well, all the best!

[@ladygardener100]

Those cats ae so brave. Good vlog/series btw.

[@flumpaustin1994]

Looked great there! The Caldon Canal (a branch of the Trent & Mersey Canal) is stunning and as far as I now, no stoppages at the moment. Bosley locks are closed on The Macclesfield to conserve water on the summit.. they should open at the end of October. Middlewhich branch of the Shropshire Onion still has a breach :( I am heading to The lower Macc. How about Anderton Boat Lift and The River Weaver? :)

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Thanks for taking the time to make these suggestions we will add them to our discussion.

[@Al-yx7ut]

enjoyed x

[@micheleoftheoaks5506]

It looks like there were so many friendly people there. Makes me want to go to the UK just to go to that festival next year. Anna, how many mugs did you accidentally break?

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

It was a great festival.

[@theonetempus]

Will you go through the Dudley tunnel? I bet you two could leg it for a while, that would be cool to see...

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Maybe on the electric trip boat.

[@canbonly1970]

I am watching this in arrears (2022) and guessing the 2019 turn out was kind of sparse.

[@sarahfoster3624]

So was it worth it financially? Hoping you sold loads of stuff!

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

we had so many followers turn up and it was great to meet them And luckily they were so supportive of my artwork.

[@richardperkins5678]

if you are coming back through bournville i'll give you some of my jam

[@andrewnorrab7809]

I will be visiting Bumble Hole on the 13th of next month with the Dudley Canal Trust trip boat. But you will be long gone by then 😢 .

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Yes we will be long gone by then. Enjoy your trip.

[@sylviapage8572]

Not sure what happened, I thought the comment for you went on the Minimal List’s comments! Glad you got it though. Yes we’re getting another boat a 57/58 foot any stern! We love Ventnor and really want to stay here but they only have 1 pontoon available for a boat the size we want and we’d have to keep our current pontoon to reserve that so it seems a bit complicated when we don’t have a bigger boat yet. We have seen a boat we love but it’s complicated as my son is in our London flat and we need to sell that to buy it. He was thinking about buying the flat but he’s decided he wants something in a better area! I don’t blame him as he can afford to do that where we couldn’t! I’m really excited though and hopefully we’ll get a great boat and be lucky enough to stay here at Ventnor. As Ivan (my husband) said, we could go to Wigrams or Calcutt and go on a waiting list for Ventnor. Life’s good 😁 and looking forward to buying more artwork for a new boat.

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Wigrams turn is really friendly so don’t stress too much you’ll get what you want eventually. Best of luck with the new boat shopping and house sale.

[@vvmmuu]

Come to Melbourne Australia! We don't have any canals but we have a brown river you can go up and down called the Yarra. Think of the nice places you could stop off at on the way like Venice, they've got canals! ;-) Just joking. ALL the best

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

I want to go to Melbourne for all the wrong reasons..... Maybe one day!

[@matthewgriffiths8423]

Hope you brought some Pork Scratchings from the lady seller :)

[@steveparkes1266]

We had a great time at the festival and it was lovely to meet you both, we're very happy with our picture we purchased as well. Hopefully see you soon at the next canal festival 👍x

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Great to meet you too. Thanks for making the trip.

[@miketipping1583]

Dudley canal tunnel to the Black country museum!

[@colinstobbart599]

Hi saw you at the festival but you were talking to people so said nothing. A quick question where did you get the splash back wall? If you can remember that far back?

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

B and Q

[@garrypeaks770]

Looked a great day if they had something like that nr Aylesbury I would go fab

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

There was an Alyesbury floating market a few weeks ago. I think it was the first one. I think it was linked with a non boat related festival. We would have loved to have gone but its in the wrong direction for us at the moment.

[@garrypeaks770]

The Narrowboat Experience thank hopefully next time keep up the fabulous videos after traveling to work in west London it’s great to watch thank you garry

[@tiggasmum]

Ah I really wish I could have come along, but I had tickets to go on the Falkirk wheel, I couldn’t believe it was the same weekend, if you have the chance to ever do the wheel, I would highly recommend it, can you go all the way to Scotland by canal? I am not sure if the whole of uk is connected?

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

That's a shame you were already booked, would have been nice to meet up. I'm sure there will be other opportunities in the future. Falkirk Wheel is on my list. We can't get there by boat unless the boat takes a trip on the back of a lorry.

[@tiggasmum]

The Narrowboat Experience I had a feeling that was the case, boat on the back of a lorry, that made me giggle, gonna definitely do Bumble hole next year if I don’t get a chance to do one of your other events before :)

[@stevar11]

my last order was from the brew boat nice to see who sold my booze lol

[@neil62h1]

see you had good time. Watch out for the shropshire union northwich this stops the usual trip on four counties ring. if you come this way give us a shout. (nr mercia marina}

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Thank you

[@suetaylor5186]

BLACK COUNTRY MUSEUM xxx

[@johnbrace4719]

Think it's liverpool and Leeds canal streight into town marina

[@johnbrace4719]

Come to liverpool its great

[@TheAmpair]

Please tell us - did you enjoy it (or is it all the free booze that caused the incessant smiles)? Only a tiny bit more smiling and the dentist could stand behind you to work. ;-)

[@psychoticfox1965]

Daft question perhaps, but do you need any specific licences to trade from a narrowboat

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Yes you have to apply to CRT to be able to trade.

[@psychoticfox1965]

thankyou

[@robertoler3795]

do you sale your art online?

[@TheNarrowboatExperience]

Sure do. www.artbyannamarie.com

[@jonnyjones5201]

Metallica enter the sandman 😀