I don’t usually deface books or magazines, but the other day I did – out of desperation.
I should apologise to Motor Boat Monthly Magazine. But the magazine in question was several years old, ten I think, and it had been read several times, by us both – AND, they went out of print last year (according to Wikipedia).
Instead of throwing out the magazine we became inspired. Most people, who live the nomadic life (especially on boats) learn this knack, everything has at least two uses. We certainly had a use for the stiff folds of paper.
Saving your sanity
So, what can you make with an old Motor Boat Magazine, coloured tape, paper, scissors and string?
You can make something to save your sanity – that’s what!
Freedom at a price
Mooring on the French canals is a wonderful freedom. At many places, most times, you can stop for the night or even a day or two.
Currently, shade is our top priority. Fortunately, we have found great shady spots, safe depths and tied up safely on a straight stretch. (Why oh why do so many boats tie up on a blind bend?)
Slow down
It’s here, tied blissfully to a quiet spot we are hounded by hire boats that insist on racing alongside with total disregard of the ‘rules of the road’ – you must pass all moored vessels at no more than 3 kms/hr.
What happens?
As the water is sucked and pushed alongside a speeding boats’ hull, we shift forwards then backwards and our mooring pegs, that have been driven into the bank, are literally pulled out.
When we see a boat approach and ask them to slow – most do. Some look at us as if we are mad!
So, we made a sign, that’s reinforced with Motor Boats Monthly magazine. It is nowhere near big enough, it’s a little amateurish (hastily cobbled together in desperation and fear of being set adrift!), but it’s a start. I am already planning Mark 2.
What creative ideas have you developed to improve your life on the road?
Moving to South Africa with her husband and young girls was a challenge Valerie Poore tackled with endearing humility and humour. Their time there is a picture story created through vivid prose.
As she recalls the unique culture and charming characters I was taken on a journey where I could experience the countryside and feel her frustrations while enduring the tough challenges that a new culture brings.
This is beautifully written with down to earth, honest style.
I’ve read other books from Valerie Poore and I shall be reading more. This lady is smart, courageous, warm and funny – and this book will put a smile on your face.
Here’s a lady with enormous human spirit and a knack to laugh at herself.
Told with searing honesty, Kathryn takes you on a journey of love, loss, heartache, joy and redemption. Her most intimate decisions are shared, discussed, analysed and carried out with equal measures of humour, sadness, fear and validation.
Although at times I felt a tiny bit uncomfortable with her self-justification for some of those decisions – I still couldn’t wait to settle down each evening to be carried along with her sentiments and emotions. I wanted to see which one of life’s challenges would knock her flat next – and how she’d stand up and slap it right back!
These ‘life-lessons’ are experienced by us all, but Kathryn makes it a fun ride that’s all wrapped in the chaos of two lunatic, adorable dogs.
If you are a similar age and you like an entertaining read on handling the lumps and bumps of life that is loaded with sentiment – this book is for you.
I would have loved to have more written dialogue between Kathryn and her dynamic friends, to really hear how they carried her through the difficult times – but that’s just a personal perspective and takes nothing away from a great read!
A cheeky smirk played on my lips when I read the new message,
“From Wednesday you are our Calendar Girl!”
I’m giggling again now, as I can imagine your eyes scanning down to find the Calendar Girl shot – whether excitedly or in horror!
You must banish all of these visions dear reader, as the reference to me being Calendar Girl, is my photography! But do not despair – read on…. there are ‘exciting’ shots to follow!
Sweet Flower Cottage
This was taken on the Canal du Centre, France, as we puttered by on our 1920s Dutch barge – which is our current home, project, and escapade.
Maybe this (below) is what you’d expect as a Calendar Girl!
Admittedly, I am a few years older now, maybe a little softer in places and definitely sporting more grey hairs – I’ve earned every single one of them!
If you want to know why or how I’ve earned my grey highlights, laughter lines, and a life that is extraordinary, take a look at my sailing and horse-riding memoirs (Amazon link WITH excerpts):
And just for being good sports and reading to the end of my post – here’s another recent picture that had Noel rolling his eyes! Well, a Calendar Girl has to have a beauty regime!
In the Rhone River, France, clay ‘beauty’ treatment (aka ‘playing in mud!’)
To find out more about this, you’ll have to start reading our travel blog
Do you have any grey-hair making moments on your travels you’d like to share?
I was excited to receive a review copy of Jackie Parry’s new story “A Standard Journey.” I read and thoroughly enjoyed her previous book “Of Foreign Build,” and this highly anticipated adventure is the next offering from this remarkable writer.
A Standard Journey is set in Australia and takes the reader, by horseback, through The Bicentennial National (BNT) recreational trail. As with her previous book Jackie’s plans were never going to be straight forward.
Accompanied by her husband, Noel, she began the journey burdened down with gear, food and a dream to see this part of her adopted country by horseback.
Along the way they met unique individuals, forged friendships, gained knowledge and suffered bruises. Through her writing Jackie Parry opens up a window to the emotional and stressful life of the adventure that lay ahead of them.
Jackie Parry’s writing is, as always, professional and honest. Her free spirit…
I’ve been uncovered and exposed. I’ve been cajoled, poked, pushed and pulled.
It’s been a roller-coaster couple of days.
“Dig deep,” she said, “search your soul….”
For twenty-four hours I was worrying and fretting; how was I going to do this?
Then…. I GOT it!
Opening Up
My heart opened, my words flowed and my goodness it was cathartic. It was a relief, liberating, and on a par with a two-day marathon counselling session.
I laughed, I cried, I did both at once!
Even I understand myself better now.
The Beginning
It started last year (or seventeen years ago, depending how far you delve into my psyche!) In 2013, Noel and I rescued five horses and trekked part of the Bicentennial National Trail.
Jackie’s on Charlie taking the picture, so you can see part of Ned. Noel and his three behind.
The Story
I’ve written the story, and the editors (at Narrative Ink Editing LCC) said, “This was an absolute joy to read! It’s such a unique story. The characters are funny and kind and endearing. This book at times had me laughing out loud, but it is serious too…. Some of your descriptive passages were absolutely breathtaking. At times I felt like I was right there on the trail with them all.”
Noel on Stevie, leading Spirit and Dom (Dom’s trying to roll)
A Whole New Level
Now, together, we’ve taken the story to another level. Fears, accomplishments and my very soul weaves through the book; so not only will you laugh, cry, and be shocked, you will ride the trail with Noel and I, and you will also cling to the emotional roller coaster with me.
Jackie on Charlie, holding Ned, and from r to l Spirit, Dom and Stevie
Jackie on Charlie and leading Ned
(l to r) Stevie, Spirit, Dom, Charlie, Ned
For more about our current escapades, take a look here.
We’re still buried in the bowels of our little ship – renovating away, only popping up for air when we need feeding.
Below are galley progress-pictures from a month or so back (where has the time gone?). Some people liked the painted cupboards, but we changed them for several reasons:
1) The photos looked so much better than the real thing.
2) My eyes couldn’t stand all the hectic patterns and clashing of colours, stripes and frills (frilly net-curtains, red curtains, striped curtains, and the stencilled flowers on the sky-hatch windows) – something had to give!
3) I like fresh, simple decor that creates the feeling of space.
4) We didn’t like them!
Getting ready to sand
Some of the paint was very thick (dobbed on!), I was glad we had the electric sander!
I couldn’t wait to lighten this lot up!
First coat – there were five coats in total!
Sitting on the stove top!
Much better! (Ignore the timber door on the right, we currently have a vagrant door just sitting there in the way!)
That’s better on the eyes!
This one?
Or, this one?
Currently, we are finishing off the front cabin and that is the end of the renovations for now.
Photos appearing soon-ish!
Reality
Few authors make ‘good’ money – that’s the reality. For me, my sales graph provides great pleasure as it snakes across the page continually placing “Of Foreign Build” in the top ten rankings (and often at No. 1). Yes, I am quietly satisfied with my achievements. The reviews say it all.
Marketing can be just as hard as writing a book!
If people don’t know that your book exists, they aren’t going to buy it! This has become the little mantra in my head that keeps me going. Marketing costs money and time – lots and lots and lots of time!
FREE! ‘Give your book away for free’ is the advice these days. I am uncomfortable with this for several reasons:
1) How many other industries do people slog away for years and produce a product that people expect you to give them?
2) My work has value!
We experienced the world
I won’t disregard all my options, maybe by my twentieth book I’ll consider a freebie to the masses. I have held (and will hold) many giveaway competitions, but they’ve all been within my control – so far. Keep an eye on my website and sign up here to be the first to know about freebies.
Promotions are important
I do understand that due to the vast choice readers have, it’s important to promote, and I am really excited about this promotion!
We made beautiful friendships
My Promotion
This week (7th March – 14th March) I am reducing the Kindle version of “Of Foreign Build” to 99 cents/pence (for the UK and USA).
That’s just 99 cents or pence for over 400 pages of:
Adventure
Fear
Love
Storms
Pirates
Finding out why my husband worked in a brothel!
Whale-smash!
Abduction
Redemption… … a nine-year odyssey
Experience the world right now from the eyes of a corporate girl that morphed into a sea-gypsy woman!
All for 99 cents / pence. Not convinced yet? Read an excerpt here.
** New Release ** May 2015 *** A Standard Journey ***
**5 horses, 2 people and a tent **
50% of proceeds going to help rescue more horses! Details here.
Last week someone wrote derogatory comments about us on a forum.
What happened?
A few months back, two complete strangers told us we were not qualified to offer our new boat training service. They’d garnered this lofty view from our personal website and holiday snaps! Politely we explained our professional qualifications and experience on email, even though we didn’t have to.
It seems that wasn’t enough. So last week they voiced their concerns publicly. Others didn’t like our strong ‘come-back’. I wonder how many times they’d let someone do this to them before retaliating – twice was enough for us!
The blind
What these people didn’t see was the reams of private supportive messages that clogged our email. People who wouldn’t write publicly as they didn’t want to be ‘next’ on the target list (some had, disturbingly, already been there).
In droves, people said that this is exactly why they didn’t partake in this site any more.
The result?
Well, they say, there is no such thing as bad press and now having been on the end of it – I can attest to that!
People with fantastic websites are now linking our websites to theirs – providing us with tonnes of free advertising
Enquiries are up
Book sales have spiked
With over 300 hits on both our websites in just a few hours, Google algorithms love this – it’s a great boost!
Apology
We asked for an apology. A few people on the forum have apologised privately. The instigator has not, but that’s okay. Not because of the extra business, sales and wonderful new connections and friends we’ve made – it’s okay because they’ve shown their true colours.
In summary
I wouldn’t want to wish this experience on anyone. Initially we felt alone and bullied. But the enormous private (and some public) support was a soothing balm and a real eye-opener.
It makes you think
During our years of teaching commercial maritime and working internationally on all kinds of boats (yes, barges on canals too – sigh). We’ve learned a lot:
A broad experience is imperative – it’s about having the ability to adapt to every situation
Claiming that one-niche experience is a complete experience, is a dangerous mistake
We don’t know everything, only a fool would admit that!
You never stop learning, once you think you know it all you are a danger
We all have knowledge to impart
Win an Ebook
Our website was criticised too – here it is www.bargetraining.com tell us what you think – CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is always welcome. A free ebook (choice out of three) goes to the most crazy, funny amusing or helpful comment.
Website WIP – but here’s more info:
We’ll list a few more details on our website soon – it is a Work In Progress – but in the meantime here are a few more high-lights of our experience:
As well as the European Canals (on our boats, on commercial boats, on other people’s boat – recreationally and commercially) we have also traversed the following inland waterways/canals and rivers (and hundred’s of associated locks):
New York State Canal System
The Canadian Heritage Canals
Lake Okeechobee Waterway
Trent Severn Watery
Rideau Canal
Erie Canal
Potomac
St Lawrence Canal
Sanitary Canal
St Lawrence Seaway
The Mississippi River
The Ohio River
The Illinois River
TenTombigee
Cumberland River
Tennessee River
Lake Okeechobee Waterway
Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway
Hudson River
The Great Lakes
Missouri River
The Nile
Rivers in PNG, Borneo, Australia, Ecuador, Panama, Asia, Morocco… and on it goes…
Here’s some pics – these are mostly holiday and travel snaps, most of our professional pictures are stored away at home in Australia.
If you want more information about us just drop us a line, telephone us, call around for a chat – the kettle’s always on.
Living on board a compact ten metre boat is not for the faint-hearted!
Cruising is not all about calm seas, wind propulsion and dolphins at sunset. For a start moving from land to boat is confusing, frustrating and tough! You have to sell or store all of your belongings and live without ninety percent of what you usually live with!
Here’s more cruising realities you may not be aware of:
Flexibility is a must. Even with a large engine room you’ll have to learn to bend yourself into a pretzel.
Once in the engine room, you’ll learn how to perform miracles to unscrew, twist, replace…
The top of the mast sways a lot, even at anchor in dead flat water.
Bruises accumulate. The vice in the workshop bit me every time (until I told him to stop!)
Finding free WiFi on anchor is incredibly exciting.
It’s possible to live cheaply on board (read Cruisers’ AA to find out what I am talking about).
While preparing your boat for oceans, riding your bicycle sixty-seventy miles a week while balancing the equivalent of a small truck load, will become perfectly normal.
Movies, concerts and shows are replaced by slowly swinging on anchor, devouring the three-sixty-degree moving vista, and watching the sunset.
Barbados!
Just a couple more knots of wind can make the difference between a peaceful sleep and a fitful one.
Resourcefulness becomes your middle name.
It is a fantastic relief to be cut off from emails and phonecalls (which is how we cruised).
You will never have enough rags on board.
The laptop and camera become cherished items, to constantly capture those memories that fade with wine, oops, time!
Life on board is hard work, but immensely satisfying.
Jackie Parry - author 
