Narrow Focus

Book excerpt: Peace and tranquillity. For once nothing terrible is happening. After years of dodgy moorings, ankle-deep mud, exploding toilets and all the other normalities of liveaboard life, the Brownes now seem to have found the perfect spot in which to park Minerva, their aging narrowboat. Marie and family finally find the time to work on the outside of the boat and even take a holiday or two. It looks as though life has finally taken a turn toward ‘normal’. Not a chance. From the ballistic qualities of false nails, unintentionally turning oneself blue, why yoga and wet paint don’t mix and why happy family holidays are, at best, a lie, Marie examines the dangers of becoming too settled and what can happen if you take your eye off the ball.