Moving on with things

RelievedSheff

A week is nowhere near long enough on the Broads. We have done two in the past and still needed longer. There is loads to see and do.

You don't need the most expensive boat either. They all float to the same places on the same water. Our favourite boat we hired was Viscount from Richardsons. An older boat but refitted recently. Would be a good layout for a family.

We are down that way with the van in July. Will be interesting to see the places we know so well by road instead of by water.

alt80

@RelievedSheff I started to write a reply last night after looking at the boat although the prospect of a longer stay was making me really anxious. Idea of taking time off and doing a bit less still makes me anxious though not for any reasonable explanation. Having read my post back from last night I know how it may have come across, I was actually talking about me trying to do 3 peoples jobs and keep everything going as if we're all there when staff take holidays. It's !!!!!! madness I just burn out very quickly these days, it's no good for me or anyone else. Some people I've met in recovery, couple of older people I know through business and some people on here mainly you and @getmore4less have really made me think there should be something more to life than business and spending money compulsively. Been thinking about the boat on and off all day today - I think I found the one, it looks nice, fairly basic which doesn't really concern me although not sure about the having to take the canopy on and off for every bridge if this is the right boat, that sounds like a pain. - are they all like that?

How are you finding it different exploring places by river or road - do you prefer one over the other?

RelievedSheff

alt80 said:

@RelievedSheff I started to write a reply last night after looking at the boat although the prospect of a longer stay was making me really anxious. Idea of taking time off and doing a bit less still makes me anxious though not for any reasonable explanation. Having read my post back from last night I know how it may have come across, I was actually talking about me trying to do 3 peoples jobs and keep everything going as if we're all there when staff take holidays. It's !!!!!! madness I just burn out very quickly these days, it's no good for me or anyone else. Some people I've met in recovery, couple of older people I know through business and some people on here mainly you and @getmore4less have really made me think there should be something more to life than business and spending money compulsively. Been thinking about the boat on and off all day today - I think I found the one, it looks nice, fairly basic which doesn't really concern me although not sure about the having to take the canopy on and off for every bridge if this is the right boat, that sounds like a pain. - are they all like that?

How are you finding it different exploring places by river or road - do you prefer one over the other?

You need a low boat if you want to explore all of the Broads. The centre cockpit types have a sliding roof. They are simple and quick to open up and close again. The low bridges are not that frequent so you don't need to drop the roof all that often. Some days not at all.

We loved the boat and we do miss it terribly. We had some great times onboard. But the van is so much easier to live with day to day and so much cheaper to run and maintain. 

I'm glad we had the boat. But I can't see us going back to that anytime soon. I think long term we will be travelling by road.

Judes123

Look on the ho zee suns website re boats..i used to live near norwich..there are quite a few boatyards on the broads…stalham( for bigger boats) day boats from wroxham etc. I haven’t been on one,but they always look in good condition as i walk past on the broadwalks

Judes123

Some great family pubs too

Iamouttheotherside

@alt80
I will probably get slated for saying this, but for us a weekend was long enough.  We have a very busy business also and yes it's great to switch off for 3 days solid, but after that realism does sink in and you need to be available. 

Also to consider, is your son, regardless of the size of boat you have space is still not as big as home and kids do need to run around even at home.  Also remember being on a boat is still a "working holiday" all mechanics have to be checked each day, water as necessary etc etc, so yes good to get out on the open waters and I remember sitting on our hired boat with a glass of wine at sunset with no phone signal in what felt like was the sea, being so relaxed, but 3 nights was enough.

Another good boating holiday, which was actually my ultimate favourite, was hiring a barge on the Mont and Brec canal, we did that in October, so the canals were high, the locks not too busy, the pubs had their open fires lit and the barge was toasty, again not sure if your son is old/strong enough as he would need to help you with the locks.  Does he like getting stuck in and helping dad? If so it's a great thing for you both to do as a team and your wife can supervise!

One piece of advice don't scrimp on the boat, its also your home for 3 days so comfort and warmth is key and obviously with the good old British weather remember some indoor games/cards etc.

Good to hear you planning this, 2 years ago if you had wrote this I would have thought someone had hacked your account!

Judes123

I agree re length of time spent on a boat….a long weekend should be plenty or your son will get bored ….especially if the weather isn’t good…many years ago i spent 5 days on a large boat with my ( then) in laws,a 5 yr old and a 6 yr old. I know your boy is slightly older ,but it was so boring for them after a couple of days,when the novelty wore off

alt80

This weekend we are going to have a look at giving to a couple more lend with care projects, just small amounts. I find them quite bittersweet really, they illustrate the absolute poverty so much of this world lives in. I'm definitely no left wing poster boy ha but it does seem like there's a lot wrong with this world sometimes. 

We are going to have the lowest spend month I have ever known this month. Some ways it's something to celebrate but in others I know it's because I'm not well. End of last week my mental health was at a really low ebb again, it seems to happen when I put work above sleep and try to push through regardless, like my body just told me it's had enough of doing things like that. Whilst I've been off the stuff for months now I've been left having to face effectively being awake three/ four days and nights straight to work is not in anyway normal, completely !!!!!! me and no good for my family. It's not been great facing up to how bad things were before either. 

@RelievedSheff does all sound a bit complicated, probably more so than it actually is tbf. 

I imagine you're finding the van more versatile generally? 

@Judes123 thank you for all your advice. It is something I would like to do though probably in the summer rather than any other time of year. Although weather not exactly guaranteed even then in the UK.

@Iamouttheotherside thank you. I understand, I struggle being away from my business for even a day although in the past year I had to be away from it for four weeks with absolute minimum contact. That was incredibly difficult and not something I ever want to go through again though not a holiday either. Was there no phone signal at all for 3 days?

You are right about my son also he's very active and idk how much he'd enjoy it after a day or two with that in mind. My parents used to take my sister and I to remote places for two weeks every year, always abroad where hardly anyone spoke English usually. Should have been a good opportunity but being a kid I hated it so can see that being couped up on a boat potentially he might have a different perspective. I don't know how he'd find helping, he likes coming to work with me sometimes but there are times I'm definitely not his favourite person. I don't blame him I've not exactly been dad of the year.

Never heard of the mont and brec canal I had guessed it was in France but found it's in Wales haha. It looks beautiful, I see why you say it's been one of your favourite holidays.  

2 years ago definitely wouldn't have been something I was planning ha. I recognised your name the other week, read your post about how addiction took everything from your friend. I'm !!!!!! terrified I'll end up like that and what that would do to my family. 

RelievedSheff

The van is definitely more versatile than the boat was.

That could always be another option for you. Hire a van for a short while and do a drive that you like the look of.

alt80

Somehow we are at the end of the second month of the year already. It's been mixed- I've had a few good days and some really difficult days. From last month:
Goals for February:

Financial: 

1. Clear minimum +£3.5k off cards - smashed it - cleared £4.1k in addition to minimum. As mentioned, not entirely pleased about this as whilst it's good for the pocket I am where I am in part because I've had some really bad days when I've either stayed at my office or couldn't get out of bed. Not good for my family at all. 

2. Keep to spending plan - spent less.

3. Update and monitor on a weekly basis - didn't do this.

Fitness: 

1. At least 8k steps a day - managed this most days so calling that a win. 

2. x2 sessions in the gym per week – nope, not close.

Health: 

1. x1 yoga session per week - ha, managed this once - couldn't stand the idea of getting away from my office every other week. 

2. Switch off work at 6pm weekdays and by 1pm on Saturdays. Hahaha managed this when we went to the coast and a couple of days over the whole month. Probably days I posted something on here, they tended to be my better days.

3. Stay in recovery - yes in the most basic sense of not touching the stuff. Had days when I've not been in a good place. Glad I have put a lot of distance between myself and the people I needed to as I know it helps absolutely nothing. 

4. Go to bed for midnight - managed this for probably about 1/8th of the month.

Talking to the pros about things still. My wife is no longer having individual therapy, she has done so well and I'm so proud of her. Doesn't help me rn her birthday is 6 and a bit weeks away and I can't give her something special. As I struggle with addiction I ensure she knows everything I spend / have etc. Tbh I try to avoid spending anything on myself these days but times like these it just makes me feel awful that I can't buy her a something special when she deserves something really nice. She's not even brought up her expectations of a lifestyle for a long time but these past few days I feel awful about not being able to buy anything she wants when she's stood by me even though I didn't deserve to have her. Not helpful I know.

My goals for March are going to remain the same as my goals for February.