@Richard - good/bad points about canal life;

An experienced friend of mine may have coined these aphorisms;

"You didn't buy a narrowboat; you bought a 15-tonne steel pet"

"We live like medieval kings - in winter, on top of the fire along with our pets; in summer, out and about round the country"

"Living on a boat is like having a part-time job on top of whatever else you're up to"