Saturday 31 January 2015

Anton's Blog - 200 Posts and 10k Page Views!

Retirement - Anton's Blog

Having retired at Easter 2011, I started the Blog a year later in 2012 in order for our family and friends to see what we were up to on our travels.
Now almost three years later, the Blog is going strong and I enjoy posting the photos of our activities and interests.

To mark the occasion of reaching 200 Post and topping a modest 10,000 Page Views, this post has a few photos over the last three years.
Thank you for all readers and followers of the Blog - many from overseas, particularly USA.
I hope you continue to find it interesting.

Looking back since we retired, it's not that we have dramatically altered our life-style.
We've lived on the boat now for 11 years minus a few years in a rented terraced cottage whilst I refitted the galley and saloon!
What we have been able to do is enjoy longer periods cruising in the boat, camping in the West Country and enjoying our leisure activities such as walking and crafting mid-week.

Here is a selection of photos over the last few years to reflect these interests:


 
A view of our boat at Ellesmere Port lower dock - taken from my first blog post

Happy days camping on the Isles of Scilly - here on a boat trip

Taken last year at the Stratford River Festival - in our boating best clothes! 
My love of the hills features in the Blog - here in the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland at last year's Mountain Marathon

Stratford upon Avon again - this time near Xmas for our Wedding Anniversary treat to the Royal Shakespeare Company and a weekend mini-break

There are always jobs to do on the boat - here changing our vintage engine's oil for it's annual service, it takes 25L of the SAE 30 !

I love being out in the open - here walking with the Audlem Ramblers on top of the Wrekin in Shropshire

Another hobby is playing the cornet with the Rode Hall Silver Band in South Cheshire - here playing in a Congleton Church for the Christmas Service.
Our Conductor is very welcoming, allowing me to fit back in after my travels away!

Our son and granddaughter on the Mid Hants Railway

 
Traditional flowers for our traditional boat
 
Off cruising - here heading into Barnton Tunnel on the Trent and Mersey Canal - note the exhaust chimney is down!

Chris crafting - you have to make the most of the small space living on a boat!

On one of our longer cruises - heading over the amazing Barton Swing Bridge on the Bridgewater Canal looking north
 
 We were able to buy a Motorhome on retiring - such fun!

We enjoy camping - here on the Island of St.Martin's in the Isles of Scilly

Happy days exploring St.Martin's

Looking down at our 'private beach' on St.Martin's - we love it so much we are going back this year for a month!
 
A happy boater - this time looking out for the seals
 
Ah! Here they are - waiting to say hello to the trip boats
 
A lovely place to moor and live

Pulling our boat out for it's bi-annual hull blacking 

Boats seem to feature in my Blog - one way or another!
Here on the little ferry back from St.Michael's Mount in Cornwall - on holiday with our son and granddaughter

When in Rome - or in this case St.Ives, Cornwall - enjoying a local Cornish pasty!
 
All smiles as we have just finished the Brecon Beacons Mountain Marathon
 
Here finishing the 2014 Cheviot Hills Mountain Marathon - with out best result yet!
 
My love of heritage steam railways (and diesel) features in the blog - here on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
 
Dressed up for the Pullman Dinner at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
 
Dressed in our Boaters Sunday Best!

As 'normal' sixty year olds - on a steam train again!
 
With Chris' sister and our daughter
 
On our berth at the Overwater Marina
 
 
Boatman's fire lit - cosy inside!
 
Winter aboard!
 
Here's to another 200 Blogs - happy reading!
 
Anton's Blog
nb Song of the Waterways
 
nb
 
 
 
 
 

 



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