Monday 15th July 2019



The early part of the morning was taken up shopping for an afternoon tea for Mark and Jan who, after their weekend of singing in Bath Abbey, joined us at 10:30. After a drink in the pub in whose car park they left their car, we adjourned to the boat.

We had a lovely lunch, and much chat, before they left at 5pm. As always, we are grateful when people make the effort to come out and see us.

We spent an interesting evening talking with the guy off what we consider the tinky boat behind us, and his kids, and were given a good insight into what would be considered their “alternative” lifestyle. We had previously helped them to moor up, passed the time of day with them and bought the kids some sweets in the morning. Dad is a labourer and mum picks up menial work in the evenings. They live on a 1977 built, 45 foot, Springer boat that is in a neglected condition. The kids, an elder girl and two younger brothers, sleep in three-high bunk beds and are “home schooled”. In what condition they are being educated can only be guessed at. They have been schooling their children themselves for 5 years and are supposed to have checks on them and the children’s progress every 3 months. An inspector has never yet visited them. The kids were well balanced and knowledgeable, but while the parents may well feel comfortable living “off-grid” surely they owe it to their children to make sure they are socialised.

The living conditions for the 11-year-old girl especially, and their obvious delight at being giving a can of coke each, an exceptionally rare treat for them, left us quite disturbed.



Weather: hot again.


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