I arrived on mainland Britain in 2000, to do charitable voluntary work outdoors, initially training young people in my favoured environment on a Brixham Trawler Over several years, I meandered through several different charities in the outdoor, with varied and various roles including ...
forestry volunteering
outdoor training
plotting rights-of-way
In 2007, by offering my time to a Canal Charity I found Inland Waterways. I came to Burnt Mill, to 'add specific expertise' to a skilled gang of old codgers volunteering on Fridays to nurture a fleet of purpose-built canal boats which were used to bring out 'less able' people for a day afloat, using volunteer crew.
I was invited to 'familiarisation' on Thursdays so as to be able to man the boat on Weds ... if needed.
Soon I was at Canalability three days a week. Then I was invited to "build on experience" and train as a First Mate. It was only when they started measuring me for a skipper's hat that I had to call a halt and scarper.
Life is too short.
England is maintained by volunteers and without volunteers inland waterways would not exist.
I paid my moral debt by putting in volunteer hours to balance the training they enabled, and what an experience. I got first-class training and common-sense grounding along with canal competence.
Little did I realize then how well this would serve me. Canal boating is totally different to sea-sailing and it would take five years to dawn on me just how different.
2007 is recalled or forgotten for two other important events: the collapse of Northern Rock and my realisation that money is worthless
2008, as far as I recall, was the year my wife suggested I wave goodbye to the tide ... It was also the year the Icelandic economy collapsed and focused perceptive people on the total worthlessness of money as an asset. Savings could vaporize overnight ... and in many cases did ... It was put to me that acquiring a canal boat might make sense
It would bring me in off the sea, protect my funeral plans and allow me to discover the secrets of a hidden England
I now knew about ditches, dykes, rivers and locks and knew I could write about them if I wished!
forestry volunteering
outdoor training
plotting rights-of-way
In 2007, by offering my time to a Canal Charity I found Inland Waterways. I came to Burnt Mill, to 'add specific expertise' to a skilled gang of old codgers volunteering on Fridays to nurture a fleet of purpose-built canal boats which were used to bring out 'less able' people for a day afloat, using volunteer crew.
I was invited to 'familiarisation' on Thursdays so as to be able to man the boat on Weds ... if needed.
Soon I was at Canalability three days a week. Then I was invited to "build on experience" and train as a First Mate. It was only when they started measuring me for a skipper's hat that I had to call a halt and scarper.
Life is too short.
England is maintained by volunteers and without volunteers inland waterways would not exist.
I paid my moral debt by putting in volunteer hours to balance the training they enabled, and what an experience. I got first-class training and common-sense grounding along with canal competence.
Little did I realize then how well this would serve me. Canal boating is totally different to sea-sailing and it would take five years to dawn on me just how different.
2007 is recalled or forgotten for two other important events: the collapse of Northern Rock and my realisation that money is worthless
2008, as far as I recall, was the year my wife suggested I wave goodbye to the tide ... It was also the year the Icelandic economy collapsed and focused perceptive people on the total worthlessness of money as an asset. Savings could vaporize overnight ... and in many cases did ... It was put to me that acquiring a canal boat might make sense
It would bring me in off the sea, protect my funeral plans and allow me to discover the secrets of a hidden England
I now knew about ditches, dykes, rivers and locks and knew I could write about them if I wished!
