Just looking...

Back in the days when we had Helyn and dreamed of owning a narrow boat we loved going to brokers and looking over boats - this wasn't just idle tyre kicking, but serious research, getting an idea of what was available, what we liked, and what constituted a sensible price (as I said to Jim just now, there are no stupid boats, only stupid prices. Obviously this is not strictly speaking true; there are a great many very stupid boats, but this was said entirely in the context of old boats). The experience stood us in good stead, I think, because both our narrow boat purchases turned out to be a good choice on the basis of a relatively quick examination.

Now, however, this innocent practice has escalated. We have begun window shopping old boats. There is an inexorable sense of inevitability about where this would lead - except for the (perhaps merciful) fact that Jim and I are unlikely to agree on either what sort of boat or what condition... Nonetheless we had a super day out yesterday visiting the Warwickshire Flyboat Company. I'd never been there before and it was lovely, and the owner was very pleasant and helpful even though we obviously weren't immediate buyers. Jim was primarily interested in having a look at Ian, and even got wooden boat guru Carl to come along as well, while I took the opportunity to have a good look at Bicester (what else?)