StarUKKiwi

We have just secured a mooring up at Macclesfield Marine Centre and Kevin, the guy who runs it, says he has two 70 foot moorings coming up next to one another as the owners are moving to the Midlands and possibly another mooring of 57 foot. The e-mail address is kevin@freedomboats.co.uk Brook Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United KIngdom SK11 7AWNice place [/url]

LOL; did you know it only came to be Altrincham because someone mistook the g for a c! The canal owned by the Manchester Ship Canal Company - and they have spent money tidying up the Sale area - we live near Broadheath Bridge and whilst the towpath is only hard core, it's not too bad - however, teh Towpath after the Bay Malton Bridge is awful, until you get to Dunham Massey and then it's lovely again - with regards morrisons and ASda - the council planning committee were told to refuse it due to te proximity to Sal, not seen the local news to know if they did get approved

Thanks Kim and I like your signature - indeed, that is why we are doing this now - because we would regret it otherwise!

Dare one ask? What delights have you avoided or found?

LOL - I have had major giggles reading this - indeed, it is grim up in the North - they talk with funny accents, they are helpful and the canals are full of ducks - indeed no place to come to visit!

Hi - I have had a lovely read on this thread - we are about to embark on our new life in Macclesfield on Gracie - we should have moved aboard in May ( House selling can be a pain); however, we are about to exchnage contracts - have agreed a price and date to collect Gracie fro Chester and bring herr upto Macclesfield. Bit about us - I was born in Derby, brought up in New Zealand and have lived in Altrincham for 30 years next to the Bridgewater Canal. Since deciding to live a float, I have discovered that my Great Grandfather Josiah (what a name) Preston was born on a narrowboat in Middlewich and that his father owned a fleet of narrowboats in Middlewich and hope, one day, to move down there on the canal. I remarried 5 years ago to a Marple Lad, who also grew up next to the Canal and has always wanted to live on a boat - we have a blog "The State of Gracie" and are hoping (when I am not at work, to explore all the canals we haven't seen yet

Oh thanks for the ideas - we are moving onto our boat mid-August and I have herbs and tomatoes already potted - as well as flowers - I now know what to use the bread crates my daughter got me for - also, you can line them with newspaper an keep that damp so as to keep the plantpots moist - we'll be around the Manchester area as well - currently live near the Navigation Hotel & Old Packet House currently

cool

Hi - we are going to be joining those who live their lives on boats very shortly (hopefully before Easter); we have bought our boat, she's a cruiser style narrow boat on the Shropshire Union (Chester Canal) at present - haven't a mooring yet as the people were going to give their mooring up have decided to buy a bigger boat! We hope to get one in the Mid/North Cheshire area. Does anyone know of anywhere that's going - I have beenn watching the BW (CRT) site, but nothing as yet.

ROFLMAO

Ah I see - I thought it might be something like that but i couldn;t find it on the board - thanks for letting me know!

Hi - I used the message ayatem to pm someone and they have messaged me; however, it says I cannot use the messaging system - is this because of something i need to fo or is it a bug?

Our two adore swimming

We would! fascinating reading everyone - thanks everyone for teh information

Oh I would keep Aotearoa "Land of the Long White Cloud"! I have read this thread with great ingterest as my husband and I (no, we're not royalty) have decided to sell up and buy a boat to live on with our two dogs (Labradors) and two cats - we live in North Cheshire/Greater manchester at present and are hoping to buy a cruiser style nb (price range £30k). We want a mortgage free life and are selling the house and "investing" the equity, my husband can't work and I earn just over £230pw, but obviously need to go to work (near Stockport) four days pw. We think we can survive with travel etc. WE will pronbably need to be on a mooring or in a marina to start off with. We have been looking online at Venetian Marina's website and the sister one in Northampton, plus loads of others adn I now have the names of three more - we aren't far from Lymm either so are ging there to look. We realise this isn't a "cheap option" but a better quality of life option and as my husband hasn't been well, we are hoping the less stressful way of ife will be better for him. Also, i am planning on compressing hours to work a four day week, which will give us much needed time together and the social life will be better. Will keep reading this forum and chhecking out al the pros and cons (Although I think there are more pros than cons from my perspective!)