Here we are at the end of July and I like many am planning my summer cruise.
This is the time when I actually get to see the canals in their rich summer colours, I enjoy the spotting of wild flowers and always hope to spot something I have not seen before.
So whilst I am packing I include the Wild flower, butterfly & insect identification books most years I am lucky and identify something.
I will be travelling up the South Stratford to Birmingham a section which is new to me and reading my Pearson's guide it sounds as if I will not be disappointed.

Anyone attending the Crick boat show will know how busy this event can be with ever more people wishing to move to a life afloat.
The canals are a continuing place to go for peace for our busy minds and exercise for our often sedentary bodies.
The appeal seems to be growing again as we search for an escape for the pot holed congested roads and the constant mental pressures of our land based lives.
I was very pleased to meet many people searching to take their first steps on the boating ladder doing extensive research before investing in a boat.

Here comes the sun!
But oh dear, it has been followed by every season in a day.
As we go into May we enjoy longer cruising days and a cascade of colours including my favourite the numerous tones of green.
This is a lovely time to enjoy the quiet canals as the temperature begins to warm and we start to shead our winter woolies.
I always look forward to my spring cruise it is one of the magical times to be on the cut.

What a very strange winter we have experienced, now with Easter fast receding we are still in the grip of yet further storms.
This is bank holiday Monday and our cruisers have experienced everything from horizontal snow and gale force winds to sunshine and showers.
With April in view the clocks have sprung forward and boating days have lengthened so we can all look forward to experiencing the real beauty of the spring buds bursting and life renewing, which is such a boost after the long grey autumn and winter.

March has seen all of our boats starting the cruising season.
This winter has seen the most storms of recent years.
Although the season has been mild battening down the hatches has taken on a true meaning to us all.
A few boats had ice to contend with but this was quickly followed by a thaw and did not cause much of a problem.
Ownashare are now busy preparing for the show season which starts at Nantwich on the 19th March.
I hope to talk to many potential new owners their.

Our shared boat is now in the final stages of a kitchen refit and we are all waiting to start the season cooking in a lovely new space.
The previous galley boasted a cooker that worked on gas 9 only a fridge that had seen better days and a job that you could not fit more than two pans on or it melted the control knobs!
Well I will post pictures when it is finished.

January is a very quiet cruising month and some owners say this is one of the very best months to enjoy the scenery and peace of the waterways.
My own shared boat is undergoing a major refurbishment on her galley and all of her owners are really looking forward to enjoying this during 2016.
But for now it is preparing for our trips for the this year from our new base at Stratford on Avon this is always exciting to be cruising new waters I will update you on our adventures later in the year.

How quickly December has arrived.
The very mild autumn has recently altered with the quick icy blast to remind us that it is really winter.
Most of our boats are now moored up for the winter with just a few braving the wind to cruise on quiet waters.
This time of year can be very restful with an escape into the back waters of the canal system to escape the busy run up to Christmas.
If anyone is enjoying Christmas aboard I wish you a very peaceful holiday.

The autumn colour has truly been amazing this year.
Fantastic yellows, pink and red tones have made the scenery worth braving the damp wet weather that has arrived in te last few weeks.
All of our boats are out cruising the waterways and our owners soaking up the English autumn.
This is also the time that the owners meet up for lunch and a chat about their boats.
For me, I love meeting friends of many years and new owners who have newly joined the boating groups at these meetings.
Enjoy the cosy evenings aboard until I chat again in Dec.

Autumn has officially arrived and it has been such a wonderful September for the company.
Ownashare has welcomed 8 new families to our boat syndicates and it is at this time of year that we have our annual meetings with our syndicates and catch up with established and new friends.
Ownashare pride ourselves on our personal care of the boats and her owners and all of the staff enjoy catching up with all the news of our owners after the meetings.