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Thanks - I appreciate your reasoning to narrowboat life.

Delightful chat. Looking forward to more. 👍😀

So the £ 1,300 mooring fee is basically Council Tax. Fair. Irritates me that New Islington Marina requires payments to CRT. Flat owners around the marina pay £ 200 pa for the marina. Covers £ 66k caretaking, £60k insurance, cameras etc. No idea where the mooring fees go for that area. Not to us.

Ramble on

Having been brought up in Southall in the 1960’s and 1970’s the Grand Union Canal and Paddington Arm was my footpath. Interesting to hear your description of how you find the area today. Oh what has happened to all the pubs I frequented in Southall and Greenford! 😢

An excellent review of some of the areas around London and the scummers who target good folk going about their business.

thank you for that, we have been considering for some time this possibility, but only rent, and do not own a house, also really you can only live on a boat if you are physically able to. if you have mobility issues, then probably not, ? also, are you moored in a marina or constantly cruising? as they are very different situations and are things to consider. thanks again.

yeah, but let's debunk the "green" energy myth about solar whilst you're about it. Convenient and maybe even "essential" they may be in use cases such as yours, but take a look at the materials used in their manufacture and how they are attained, and then what's left at the end of life, of both the panels and batteries, hardly "green". I'm just waiting for cold fusion mini-nuclear! : )

What about post and deliveries? and claiming benefits can you claim benefits and have a bank account and all that without a static address? I don't think I could ever do it, I could never afford a boat in the first place.

Ye luks lovely. But what happens in strong wind? Do river authorities tell you go after few days? Where do you get water supply? Bathing?, bog? Electricity? Leaks? Faults? Boiler Plumbing?

Ohhh yesss😂😂😂😂😂

I was going to say that you were being very diplomatic… until I got to about a third of the way through 😊. Maybe need to hem those curtains!

African-American sculptor Edmonia Lewis and Crimean War nurse Mary Seacole are buried in the Kensal Rise cememteries.

I don't know London or these areas, but I do like your videos!

you do seem to enjoy your life ... good on you

Is it cold in the winter living on a boat?

"just pretend you're staying there" 😂

Thank you, I will avoid Grand Union Paddington Arm. Not my kind of thing at all.

I love the way you do your talks …..x

I used to live in Hanwell and loved it. I missed the west London vibe sometimes. It always amazes me how you're never more than a few minutes walk from a canal in central London.

Great Video only just found your channel refreshingly different than most others on CZcams.

It's a pity that the few selfish ones possibly spoil it for the many (as usual!). The moving and mooring really should be enforced. Still loving your videos and dreaming of doing the same!

Another great video. Thank you. Maybe you could do some about your photography too, eventually. Keep them coming.

I retired when I was 50 and I love the concept of living on a narrowboat but know full well that my wife and I would kill each other if we were confined within a 57' x 7' space. Separate boats perhaps?

I think you have just shot yourself in the foot Alistair! Great explanation, everyone will be moving onto boats 😁. The other huge advantage of being on a boat rather than in a waterside building is that when the water level rises so does the boat, so….. no soggy bottoms.

I would love to try this one day (it will never happen, but I can dream). Growing up, my Gran lived in Govilon (South Wales) and the canal was a minute or two from her cottage. I'd spend hours walking along the canal, watching the boats & feeling very jealous as I saw ridiculously cheerful people wave & say "hello" or "good morning" etc to me as they went by. I recently started following you on Twitter & seeing your pics on there, I admit to still being very jealous. Hats off to you.

Where can I find a narrowboat to rent for one or two months that costs around £200-£300 per month?

I've learned over the years that most people have been conditioned into living in their own little bubble and are incapable of thinking outside the box. When I was planning to take early retirement and move to a cottage in the country most of my coworkers thought I was crazy. "You'll have less money", "You'll be staring at the four walls" etc etc. It's been seven years of "living the life" and I've never once wanted more money or stared at the four walls. I have learned new skills and developed more interests though, and some of those people are dead now while others are still self conditioned slaves to the system.

Will be doing it later this year, can’t wait!

We are in the process of selling up in London and relocating to Wales for (early) retirement. I agree, you have to make it happen but so many people are frightened of change, even the smallest changes. This has been our dream for a long time so we’re going for it. Currently live by Hampton Court so very close to where you are now. Enjoy!

Love your b/w pics 👍🌈

I remember little Ronnie !!!….great stuff …xx

Yeh just live it … I re listened … xx

Love it, well said (I live on, and work from, a narrowboat too). Then again, I'm impressed how you can relax with all those clocks next to you! ;-)

I can only put it down to stress or work addiction. And yes, stress addiction is a real thing. I know, right?! There are a few old boys in my work that could have retired five years ago, they all have enough savings to manage, but they still come to work three days a week because, in their words, they just like to work. I'm the complete opposite. I'm working now to retire early. I'd live on soup and ships biscuits for the rest of my life if it meant not having to work it away! Some people are just unable to sit back and enjoy life, and I find that quite sad. I can't wait to get out of the rat race and move onto my own little metal tube and enjoy the nature right on my doorstep.

Choices are so hard for people to realise they have … life is not set in concrete… well done you great stuff … some friends of mine are just selling their house to buy a boat soo exciting xx

Couldn't agree more! Ok, my own situation is different. However, in my own way, I have never been happier, now out of the rat race.

Financial freedom is actually not having money tied to a house, it’s the cash you have about you that allows you to be free. Breaking free from the system!

lets remind the enemy,s within & out,, we are still here!

Thank you! David from Cruising the Cut is the best of all the wonderful boating bloggers. I've watched them all. Pumpout is definitely the best loo system!

Great to see another video from you. I am one of the silly ones who pays far too much every month for electricity. You are right - the solar and batteries seem so much more sensible!

Give that man an Oscar! Well done! Subscribed

That was interesting and entertaining. More videos would be wonderful.

Watching from Canada and saw the link in your post on X. I do follow your 'tweets' and you've posted some beautiful photographs. Love your sense of humor saw when I saw this video I immediately came here. Yup, till the end and in fact, if I had one critic it would be I wish you'd done a longer video. I see these boats on some British shows and also in some photos and have been fascinated and curious about them. I think for me I would feel a sense of freedom living as you do. I fell in love with your country, the countryside in particular and many of the folks I follow on Twitter/X are in Britain. I do love the old, historic and the beauty that is so much of what I see. Thank you Alastair and I wish you all the best!

I am one of those bored people 🙋 and I watched it till the bitter end 😄 Now Iam not bored anymore. I liked it just as much as your X-account.

If you're only allowed to Moor somewhere for a maximum or 7 or 14 days, is there a minimum time before you're allowed to return to that mooring?

Good show, Sir 👍🏻

Glad to see you back on CZcams!

Wonderful! I watched every minute of this video and was fascinated. I'm in the process of downsizing and am now sorely tempted by narrow boat life! Please make more videos like this and maybe include a quick tour of your boat. Thank you!

Enjoyed this Alastair. I follow you on X. Would love a video tour of the boat sometime. Looking forward to the next video. 😊