Here is the link to my new venture!

https://www.facebook.com/bonnysbuddies/

New Venture

As the sun sets on my hope of entirely retiring, at least for a year or so, I introduce my new venture, Bonny's Buddies Dog Sitting Services!

The more I thought about finding another slave job, the more my heart quailed within me. So instead, whilst house sitting in Devon, I racked my brains as to what I could do that I actually enjoy. As I looked around the comfortable living room, it came to me: I enjoy doing this; looking after someone else's home and pet, in this case, Maisie the cat. I also love dog walking.

So I launched a Facebook page called Bonny's Buddies. I decided to make a virtue of having Bonny along as, if I got a house sitting job, I couldn't leave her behind! Within a couple of days I got the possibility of house sitting in Bath and looking after a dog and cat there for around a month. Within a week I had a confirmed job of dog walking 2 retrievers, 6 days a week in Tamworth, between October and January! I am hoping that now I have produced some advertising postcards (see above) I'll get some more local dog walking as well.

It is early days, but a really good start. It's quite exciting as well. I'm hoping to get enough work to keep the wolf from the door well into next year and then hopefully be able to go cruising as well. But it may be that I have to remain landlocked just for 2017. We shall see. Bonny of course is delighted to own her own business and is looking forward to making many new friends!

When I have worked out how to do it, I'll put a link on this blog to my Facebook page.

Last cliff top walk

Our time in Devon is just about up. Bonny and I went for a last cliff top walk from Bude. It was pretty windy but so beautiful!

I love the rocky coast here

Bonny found it pretty windy!

So we found a little shelter with Bude as a backdrop

What a lovely seaside town

Packing and cleaning day tomorrow and then back to the boat on Sunday. I hope it has survived the thunderous downpours of recent days!

Landlocked

I have been living on land for nearly three weeks now. Mostly at Bradworthy but I also spent a few days with my step mother, brother and his kids in Lymington in the New Forest. (I only go to beautiful places!)

It's been lovely to catch up with friends and relatives. It has also been a real novelty to live in a house with mains electricity and water, not to mention broadband! Bonny and I have also really enjoyed exploring all the varied walks in this stunningly beautiful part of the country.

However, as much as I love Devon, I am starting to miss the boat a little. Even though it can be hard work and it isn't nearly as comfortable as the house I am staying in, it is home. 

This winter is going to be particularly tough as CrT are closing Junction Lock at Fradley for two whole months which means no moving the boat for diesel or pump out. That means lots of hauling of barrels instead. Not only that but my retirement looks like it is going to be short lived. Due to an unexpected change in my plan, I may have to find a job for the coming year.

So I thought I would look back to the sunlit days of my cruise and share some more photos with you.

Bonny chilling by the boat

We had some stunning sunrises and sets

Top of the South Oxford

Oh and all those walks!

And just a few more...

It was hard work sometimes

With some big locks!

And we had to be careful, especially on the rivers

But I wouldn't have missed it for the world!