Monday 4th December Day 135
This morning consists of boat jobs as we wait for our food delivery to arrive and the snow has turned mostly to sludge with the pretty much constant rain. But the toilet required emptying, the bin taking out and coal needs to be bought. We are getting through quite a bit as we have the stove on 24/7 in these temperatures as still in the minus overnight.
Our delivery arrives and we move the shopping from the trays into the bags with the rain pouring down so we are not really paying attention and when we get back to the boat. We realise they haven’t left the frozen stuff! Trying to get in touch with Tesco is hard work, on the email where it says ‘do you have a problem with your order’ the number is incorrect so I tried the Whatsapp service instead. I did try and ring the driver but he was on his was to the next drop off.
Shopping unloaded we decide to brave a walk even though it is chucking it down with rain because it’s nice just to get out and have a walk. We walk past the boat services, over the bridge and to Shugborough estate. It’s a fab walk and as we are walking back the driver rings back and he meets us at the marina to drop off our very important freezer items ((Peachy means chips))
We thaw out and dry out in the afternoon as I treat myself to a bit of jigsawing at the dinette whilst uploading videos to create some more vlogs.
Day done. x
Tuesday 5th December Day 136
Today looked like the better weather day so we packaged up our old coffee machine and with trepidation of turning up in Stafford via bus, wandering the streets and finding the postoffice only to find out they don’t take in Amazon parcels. This is part of boating life, the one nearest to us doesn’t accept returns like this. On the bus I think about filming a documentary about the life of an author, doomed forever to carry around her old coffee machine – a bit like that story where that guy took his fridge around America or whatever it was ((You’re so dramatic)) Anyway, we turn up, wait in a queue, quietly, with a frown when people are faffing about and despite standing in a queue are not actually ready when they get to the front. It reminded me of when we were in Heathrow waiting to check in to go to New Zealand via Singapore. That was a good queue story ((Only in your mind!)) Oh, I’ve just remembered my New Zealand book shot up the book charts the other day – hurrah! Yes, authors really do celebrate these things even if it’s only a few sales. I don’t think people know how much work goes into selling one copy when you’re not a known author. Anyway, that made me very happy.
((Just get to the point. Only you could string out a simple task as returning a box! Honestly it’s not as if you even need to make up extra words for your wordcount!)) okay, moody! We finally get to the front and they scanned it and took the box!! ((I’m out! If all your stories are like this it’s make no wonder it’s hard to sell your books!)) Rude!
Job done, I sell my soul to buy some cards to post xmas cards and then we are released from the drama of carrying a box around all day ((Dramatic)) It’s shopping done and back to the boat after we witness some shop lifters being taken away by the store security. I remember ((Fade to black and white…)) when I worked at The Works in Derby and I was supervising the shop on a busy Sunday on the run up to xmas and we had 3 shoplifters in one day – it was a nightmare. I was sitting upstairs in the storeroom with security, waiting for the police to turn up. When they finally came and they were walking out the back, I saw the guy taking hammers out the back of his trousers which he’d nicked from Woolworths and I’d been sitting up there all that time with him! I do not miss retail. ((or students or kids or….)) Alright, I’ve found my passion in life which is writing and now vlogging. I did enjoy those jobs most of the time and met some fab people I’m still friends with now so they had a purpose at the time.
Typically, in this country the public transport is suitably awful and the bus is delayed. I feel so sorry for people who have to rely on public transport for work. It’s utterly broken. ((moan, moan!)) just keeping it real.
I did walk ((What… instead of… flying/levitating?)) past the Library in Stafford which looks lovely so I might just have to pop in there for a day even if it does mean going by bus. At least the fare is only £2 each way.
Day done x
Wednesday 6th December Day 137
I had a fabulous writing day today. The characters are really fixed in my mind now, the plot is fully formed and as a result over the next few days I add over 5K to my novel! ((Well, I’m impressed Peachy. It’s about time!)) As you know if you’ve been reading the blogs, it’s been a bit like pulling teeth with this novel. I’ve thought I’ve made headway and then there has been another problem and the word count has been difficult. I’m naturally a fast writer who worries about editing later ((Or not editing at all if this blog is anything to go by!)) I normally cannot get the words down quick enough and can hear the characters in my head shouting hurry up. Faster. So, 1,000 words an hour or more is standard for me when working on a novel but this one has been hard.
I suppose I’ve had a lot of distractions with starting this new life, learning how to edit and vlog and be comfortable in front of the camera which has been a massive learning curve for me. The next stage is upgrading my website to a business account so I can start selling books directly but it’s an extra £156 per year and on top of the £120 I already pay to host/use my website and it’s not a cost I can justify at the moment, even if it will bring in more money. ((You need to crack on and promote your Patreon account – come on people, dig under your sofa’s, raid the piggy bank, cash in your jewels and sign up to Peachy’s account! Click here)) Erm, what’s with you being so helpful all of a sudden. I’m worried! ((If you get that fancy new shop page set up you can start selling my merchandise!)) erm, what?? Your merchandise? ((I don’t need to you the best thing about you is me so imagine my fans being able to buy Brackets Merchandise. I bet I will outsell your books!)) You’re on! You get me some Patreons. I will set up the page. I will put one of your items on and one of mine and the battle for glory will begin! ((ON IT! it starts at £3 per month don’t let me down! You also get to find out before everyone else about the boat travels… even though they will probably just go back on themselves! lol))
After writing jobs are done it’s off for a walk and the Shugborough/Great Haywood area is very flooded again. We go past the lock ‘add name’ ((Peachy forgot to add it. Give me strength it’s….. Haywood Lock)) under the bridge, along the canal and cross the first bridge, turn left ((Right!)) and into a lovely wooded area hugging the canal. It’s cold but feel autumnal as we crunch through the leaves and look at the extent of the floods across the canal at the Shugborough estate. We are having a great time until suddenly it comes to a dead end so we turn around and return to the boat. I could easily just sit at the dinette all day but it’s good to get some exercise in.
The book word count total is now: 53,004 ((Wow, I’m actually impressed!)) I know right, it feels like the end is in sight.
Day done. x
Thursday 7th December Day 138
I met a friend who I’ve not seen for years ((Is this another invisible friend??)) at the local café at 11.30 and we didn’t leave until kick out time at 5pm! We talked for that long. It was lovely to catch up after so many years ((I pity anyone sitting near you two!))
But, I did still do some work that day… I achieved 500 subscribers on my YouTube channel… hurrah. Which meant when I got home I made the vlog showing the tour of our boat live! You can watch it below… ((Don’t forget to like and subscribe!)) Really chuffed the channel is doing so well, I’ve come to really enjoy creating them and documenting what we are doing even if it does take a long time. The next goal to reach is 1,000 subscribers as at that point you can apply to make money from the vlogs!
That was it for Thursday, another day done. x
A tour of our narrowboat
Friday 8th December Day 139
Today was a warm and dry day so we decided it was time to get into the bow and start getting the boat jobs done now we’ve had some time settle into marina life and we have a long list to get through whilst we have the luxury of being hooked up to electric.
It’s a tough, hard job to grind all the paint off back to metal so we can then apply filler and rust treatment but it has to be done to protect the boat from further issues. Then it will get it painted, which is the exciting part. I think I mentioned we also need to touch up the areas which have worn since we painted it at Langley Mill in august. Now we don’t have to move the boat the paint won’t be scraped by the ropes so should set properly.
Sadly, the grinder didn’t make it and broke before the job could be finished so we’ve had to order a new one from Argos to collect tomorrow!
We decided to go for a little walk across the bridge where the river is properly flooded after the snow has melted and the heavy rain we’ve been having and along the path alongside Shugborough Estate. They are just setting up the light show and it looks very christmassy. I would love to go but we cannot afford to visit the actual light show. It was weird the first night as the light shows cast shards of light into the sky and we left the boat and were like what the heck! ((Did you think the aliens were coming to get you? Don’t worry, they would soon send you back))
Anyway, day done and hopefully we get another clear day on Sunday to do some more work and get the bow finished. x
Saturday 9th December 140
((Peachy has just been writing and scheduling her blog and then come on here to update this and realised she hasn’t filled in her blog since Monday! Lord have mercy at what nonsense you’ve read up to now. It will be even more made up than normal!)) Hey, it’s not my fault, I’ve done what I said I would do and had some constructive writing days, jobs on the boat and also had to fit in some Christmas shopping!
A friend came over today and we played zombicide and Everdale as the wind and rain picked up outside and boat rocked from side to side. I don’t know if I mentioned that earlier in the week, I tried to sort one of the leaks on the hatch and it seems to have worked – hurrah! ((Too much socialising and not enough ‘doing’ if you ask me!))
Short one today as after my friend left it was updating and faffing with my website and this blog! x
Sunday 10th December 141
Today was a mixture of washing day, writing and boat cleaning. I go upto the laundry room and the washing machine was empty. This is called a result people! I don’t know how many times when I lived at the marina in Newark we wandered up only to find them full. There were a lot more residential people there though and at this marina the only people living on their boats seem to be winter moorers like us.
Can you even call yourselves continuous cruisers if you’re in a marina for months? Well, if it means I get a cheaper licence fee next year then we might have to come in marinas. The increase they are planning to buy our canal and river licence is eyewatering over the next few years. The bubble has certainly burst for anyone thinking they will try this life as a cheap way to live. ((You know what that means people? Peachy has had a week of begging for money with her buy me a coffee/book promotions/Patreon and so on… imagine what she’s going to be like when the fees go up. I’m starting a petition to CRT to get the fees changed!)) Hey, I’m allowed to promote a few things on my own blog. Also, all the money I receive at the moment is going towards making my website into a business account, that way I can have direct links so people can buy signed copies of my book. ((Oh joy. We will look forward to that… not))
More writing was done today and I’m pulling together a list of places I need to visit when I go to Jersey. I said earlier in the week I’ve made some great headway with the book and now I’m starting to mess about with chapter layout, word counts and endings. As a reader I love/hate cliffhangers at the end of chapters as it means you have to turn the page and read the next one but as a writer I make sure that my chapters all lead the reader to do just that! There is nothing better than thinking you will read a couple of chapters before bed but then stay up until 2am reading ((Or falling asleep if they are reading yours! Don’t shoot the messenger; a friend of yours has admitted to falling asleep watching you vlog so it’s not a stretch to think the same about your books!)) Rude! Anyway I don’t mind to the vlog as they are supposed to be relaxing.
Right, can you believe another week done and before we know it, it will be Christmas! It’s been lovely to see so much more engagement with my subscribers ((Peachy means people talking to her)) on YouTube. I’m quite proud of how my little channel is doing. Oh, one thing… my mum said to me after watching one of them… ‘I won’t worry about my own memory after watching you’ ((Your mum is spot on their Peachy! People only watch it to feel better about themselves!))
Until next week… or tomorrow if you’re reading them daily. 😊 x
Here are any links mentioned throughout this weeks blog…
Coffee:
You can read my New Zealand Novel here
Patreon Account
A tour of our narrowboat
C.L. Peache 