Last week I was traveling about on a canal barge with my friends Caleb, Dave, Jo, and their friend Mandy. I didn't know Mandy when we set sail but the week allowed for a lot of time to talk and she was a lot of fun to spend time with. It's a shame she lives half way down the country really, it's going to be a lot more difficult to stay in touch but given that I'm likely to move half way around the world at any given notice, I don't suppose it could be any better.

I also found time to sit back and read a book. Seriously. I read a novel. I felt a bit anti-social while doing it sometimes, but people generally seemed happy to read in the long lazy afternoons, while Dave drove in the rain. Speaking of driving, I did a fair ammount of it but was blessed with beautiful sunshine for the vast majority. It seemed as soon as Dave releaved me, the clouds rushed towards us and the heavens opened on the poor man.

The bunks were too short, and even too narrow, so I slept in the lounge bit after the first night, which conveniently moved me away from the Engine and water pump, moving me away from rude awakenings and replacing it with the sweet smell of the girls making coffee.

It was a very relaxing experience, if one you might only choose too endulge in every blue moon.

 

If you're considering or going on such a trip in the near future, here is my advise:

 

- Do pack Navy hats (remember a special one for the skipper) or of course, pirate outfits if you prefer. I deeply regretted not having any to hand.
- The reverse gear is you friend. Don't be shy to smack into reverse if you're worried about collision. Reverse fast and hard - it won't do any harm so no loss if you were over reacting, but it will infinately soften or stop any impact.
- Steer in extremes. Hard to Port, hard to Starboard. The barge pivots on it's centre, so your nose has to be well beyond the line you're aiming for before you straighten up. Ok... To be honest you can steer effectively with lots of small adjustments too, but it's more fun to make big movements and yell 'HARD TO PORT!' all the time :-D
- Take some form of Rosie and Jim memorabilia. It's just the thing to do.
- Chill dude.
- Don't throw essential equipment over the side. Sounds obvious I know but... you'd be surprised.
- Take a sense of humour. The thing that makes it most fun is that none of you really know what you're doing, and will get a lot of things wrong. If you don't laugh (and be laughed at), you'll cry.
- Wear suncream.
- Take waterproofs.

 

I did a lions share of the laughing I think, though Jo and Mandy had some 'can't breathe laughing' moments that I can't much compete with.

The shower was seperated by a thin transparent curtain, and on the whole we banned through passage of the cabin while it was in use. It just so coinscided two or three times that someone (*cough* Jo *cough*) just 'had' to get through and couldn't go over or around the cabin while I was showering, but hey, she's only human, I know I'd do the same in her position ;-P

 

Since getting home I've played WoW, watched SG-1, and watched Ally McBeal.

 

As I write this, I'm on my way to an inteview. I'll let you know how it goes in another blog post...

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Phil

Long time no blog - I know, I know.

 

I've been on the move, checking on only occasionally with the online world, and this will probably continue a little while longer as next week I take a Barge Holiday with some uni friends.

This last weekend, I was taken to a place called 'Cumbria', which for those who aren't aware of such things is land even further north than Manchester.  You travel backwards in time as you travel up the M6, and to my surprise, this effect continues further up.  So far back is Cumbria that they don't even have mobile coverage accross the region.  No phone signal, GPRS, or 3G, and though in desperate hope I tried, I found not a single wifi network register as I walked by houses in the nearby village.

 

The local greeting to strangers in the pub was 'Are you gay?  What about that one?  And you?'.  The tone suggested the man was not enquiring as to persue a meaningful relationship, and as the man was build like a short pile of bricks, I'm rather glad he didn't require me to verbally pass his entry test, but it would seem I appear straight from casual observation alone.

To be fair to the village, most locals after him were friendly.

 

The challenge of the weekend was the Mountain Helvellyn, third heighest in England.  Though the walk is not long, the climb is pretty steep and rocky at times (course it'd have to be steep to not be along walk while still being so high).  It was a good weekend, and this mountain adequately excused me from the 20 minute run I should have been doing instead acording to my 'Get Fit' regime, which I believe may actually kill me before the end.

 

I'm sure you're all most curious about my job fronteir and yes, there's is much news to come on this, but before I go blogging it I'd like everything to be signed off, so patience :)

 

In other news, I'm considering switching from Marksman...

 

 

Back to Beastmaster...

 

 

Two different skill trees of the Hunter Class, at heart I'm very much more a beast master.  Marksmen can contribute more damage for the team but can't stand the heat in close quarters, while Beastmasters are, along with their pet, tougher and have abilities that help them stand in the enemies way and tie up the hostile party while only doing moderate damage themselves.

 

To an extent you can mix and match, and there's a 3rd tree to consider as well: Survival.

 

It's a complicated decision.

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Phil