Living the dream on a 47" Narrowboat:

bast · 24 August 2011 at 8:43PM

Thank you Kissjenn it is peaceful, its challenging but hey we are here to be challenged

Today Mr Heron sat and watched me making a brew this morning... I would have to have a huge mortgage to see that beauty near me... I also love watching the deer around at the moment... Mr B would have done this years ago,but, you cant go back only forwards... this is a beginning for us.... Next year try around May, it was the nicest month for boating... In the meantime I will check your diary out and keep in touch, hope you dont mind

x

bast · 24 August 2011 at 8:46PM

I will post some pics , need Mr B to help me last year in the snow she looked amazing, and we took some pics..... bit of a wreck but we love her

:)

bast · 25 August 2011 at 7:30PM

woke up this morning to a horse staring through the window at me, which sounds bliss, but its not... This is the second time they have been wandering along the tow path, having escaped from mad bobs zoo... They are easily spooked, its scary walking behind them, they could hurt someone and I worry they might harm themselves...

The guy who owns them lives behind us in a static caravan, he has loads of land, and feels for some reason he needs to own all manner of farm animals. The fact he does not work, does not look after them, and smokes a lot of waccy baccy is worrying... I have been told he is a little dodgy, I wont go into details. Its the second time they have been loose and I think i mentioned last time, a group of walkers asked why we didnt tether our horses up, when they wernt pulling the boat... umm that would be, because we have an engine and they arent ours...

But have to admit sometimes it is funny when one of his animals escape.. A while ago I had been sitting contemplating life on the deck, beautiful sunny evening, went to get another glass of wine, came back up, and saw this strange creature slightly in the distance.. Thought it was a black lab, then realised it was far too different to be a dog.. I honestly thought it was a wild black boar, and wondered for a moment whether there was some crazy scheme going on, on the leeds liverpool canal to populate the forest area with boars.. No it was Bob`s Bella the black pig. She had escaped and was busy trotting along the tow path, I left her to it.... I have now met Bella, she is mean, crazy, funny and very intelligent and strong.. I would not mess with her she is scary !!!:)

bast · 25 August 2011 at 8:30PM

Even though we we have put 371 on the card, due to brakes on the car, and the meal we had out this month, due to daughter leaving the country.. We are now living very well, and within our means..Just not paying hardly anything off the debt. Paid for the meal today so, that is gone ... Just got to start picking away at the 371 ... Intend to hit the M and S card first as it has the highest interest.. Will over pay this on the 1st of September...

Wordsmith · 27 August 2011 at 11:46AM

A while ago I had been sitting contemplating life on the deck, beautiful sunny evening, went to get another glass of wine, came back up, and saw this strange creature slightly in the distance.. Thought it was a black lab, then realised it was far too different to be a dog.. I honestly thought it was a wild black boar, and wondered for a moment whether there was some crazy scheme going on, on the leeds liverpool canal to populate the forest area with boars.. No it was Bob`s Bella the black pig.

Another glass of wine? And still the penny didn't drop?

On one of my trips back from the UK I came of the overnight ferry and drove across Ireland. I was sitting in a traffice queue about half a mile outside Limerick city when I saw a pig trotting up the path. I thought sleep deprivation and lack of coffee was making me see things, then I realised that it was OK, I was in Ireland.

Hope all is well with you.

bast · 27 August 2011 at 3:03PM

That`s funny Wordsmith, never been to Ireland, but would love to go, fancy the laid back way of life, or is it really like that

I am fine thank you, hope you are okay too?x

bast · 27 August 2011 at 3:11PM

Today, we were going to chug down to Wigan, but the weather looked rocky, so my husband asked did I want to go shopping. Normally that would mean spend loads, put it on a credit card and worry about that another day. But today we went into Blackburn, and no clothes were brought

.. The new market is amazing .. They have this Asian stall, which has every exotic fruit and veg imaginable at dirt cheap prices... So for the first time today we are trying Indian onions, and Fengugreek . We are going to do some washing in the twin tub, hang that out on our portable line,

Whilst having an afternoon cooking...

Below is the best chili I have ever tasted, we brought some steak mince at the market, and actually saw him mince the steak, lovely....

2 medium onions
1 clove of garlic
olive oil
2 level teaspoons chilli powder
1 fresh red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
1 heaped teaspoon ground cumin (or crushed cumin seeds)
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
455gr/1 lb chuck steak, minced, or best minced beef
200gr/7oz sun-dried tomatoes in oil
2 x 400gr/14oz tins of tomatoes
1/2 stick of cinnamon
2 x 400gr/14oz tins of red kidney beans, drained

To cook this I use a metal pan or casserole with a lid, which you can use on the hob and in the oven. If you are going to use the oven method (see below) then preheat the oven to 150C/300F/gas 2.

Blitz the onions and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped, then fry in a little olive oil until soft. Add the chilli powder, fresh chilli, cumin and a little seasoning. Then add the minced chuck steak or beef and continue to cook, stirring until it has browned. Blitz the sun-dried tomatoes in the food processor with enough oil from the jar to loosen into a paste. Add these to the beef with the tomatoes, cinnamon stick and a wineglass of water. Season a little more if need be.
Bring to the boil, cover with greaseproof paper and the lid, then either turn the heat down to simmer and cook for 1 1/2 hours or transfer the pan to the oven for about 1 1/2 hours. Add the tinned kidney beans 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time - they are already cooked and only need warming up.

This always tastes better if you cook it the day before (to give the flavours time to develop), so it's really handy if you've got friends coming round and don't want to be stuck in the kitchen. Just take it out of the fridge and warm it up - serve it with lots of fresh crusty bread, a nice tossed salad, and a big blob of natural yoghurt or guacamole.

Enjoy. From Jamie Oliver and very cheap...

candygirl · 28 August 2011 at 9:28AM

Oooh I will have to try Blackburn market hun.We haven't been since it's been done up:)Do you moor anywhere near Preston?:D:D

bast · 28 August 2011 at 8:53PM

ahhh Preston know it really well, We have a house we rent near chorley, the boat is at Finnington Bridge, middle of nowhere..... but have car able to travel..:D

bast · 28 August 2011 at 8:59PM

Only able to go down to Wheelton today, but desperately needed water, did the loo, always a delight, chugged back to fish n chips and a couple of glasses of white wine.. does life get better than that..:) If you are near Blackburn though do try the new market... the meat is amazing on the stalls as is the fresh fish and veg...:) @ Candy girl if you get a chance try Cuerden Valley farmers market... its getting bigger and better.. was on today, but had chores, My son and his girlfriend went and its got a lot bigger... I love farmers markets..