Proudly launching our Paddington Programme! The Performers and films are (almost all) booked and the BOX OFFICE is NOW OPEN at:

https://barge-fiodra.eventcube.io/

With only 20 seats per show you are going to have to move quickly. Book your tickets NOW and be smug when you share the event.

Our marathon procedure writing session and kitchen deep clean paid off last week with the award of a level 5 Food Hygiene Rating from Dacorum Borough Council.

All credit to their food safety inspectors for plodding through the towpath mud and making it up the gangplank. Their inspection was professional, friendly and full of good advice on best practice for small businesses. They did, however, have trouble deciding which category of food business we fitted into. They finally decided we were best classed as a  Function Room!

We are now eager to put our clean pots and pans (and oven) to work cooking up delicious biscuits, popcorn and veggie fayre. Come taste it in Paddington Basin in March.

STOP PRESS – Nov 13

Due to the closure of the Bell Weir lock on the River Thames we will now be unable to reach Berkhamsted in time for the market. This is a huge disappointment for me and the artists. The Market is going ahead without us so please support it.

Ceramics by jolaspytkowska.artweb.com

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I am very excited to hear we have bagged a place at this years Berkhamsted Christmas Floating Market on December 9-10. We will be meeting up with around ten other trading boats to present a range of gifts all sold from boats.

In our Saloon Gallery we will be presenting some beautiful ceramics from artists like Jola Spytkowska and drawings and cards from the illustrator Tim Edwards. More artists  to be announced soon.

We will also be baking up, in our Galley, some fabulous festive biscotti to go with a warming cup of Glühwein

Put this one in your diary now!

After our sojourn on the Thames we have turned West and are heading for Bristol on the Kennet and Avon Canal. What a difference.. shallow waters, real towpaths and lock after lock.

The Canal and River Trust (CRT) have approved our Roving Trader Licence now – hooray! We have had our “commercial” Boat Safety Scheme survey and I am busy writing our Fire Safety Assessment and making the changes needed to make the boat safe for visitors. We look forward to starting activities before the end of September. YOu can follow us here or on our Facebook page @bargefiodra.

Here are some snaps of our progress on the Thames. The church is St Mary Magdalene at Boveney, known as the Bargees Church because of its closeness to the river and an old wharf. We aim to be in Oxford next week.. taking it slow.

FIODRA hit the water, very gently, thanks to Tom and his team at P&S at Bridgewater Boats, in Croxley on Saturday July 22. After checks and refuelling we headed off the same day down to Rickmansworth on our way to the Thames. She is a fine big boat. I am coming to terms with the space and size after life in narrowboats.

Fiodra is now making her way overland from Poland. Just received these photos from Peter at Viking Canal Boats. It’s the first time I have been able to see the whole boat exterior painted. Drive carefully you truckers.