We were very excited to receive the following email from the current owners of our very first narrowboat:
"16/3/08
Dear D & J,
A friend sent us a link to your blog of the 5 June 2007, showing your original boat L'Esprit de Liberte, moored at Wheelock - which our daughter, Clare, owned and was living on at the time!
She bought the boat from Nantwich marina at the end of 2005 when she (the boat not Clare) was in a very sad state. The previous owner had lived on board and seriously neglected her, resulting in Clare 'picking up a bargain'! It was very interesting reading about the genesis of the boat and your obvious passion for detail and quality.
As I mentioned, when Clare saw the boat it was in a very sorry state, but she saw through the grime and neglect and recognised the 'quality within', something which has been remarked upon by all who have subsequently seen the boat.
We have ourselves been narrow boating, via shared ownership, for a number of years and our other daughter lives on boat on the K&A, so we also recognised a boat with clearly a lot of thought given to the fit-out and finish.
Clare has now moved 'onto the bank' and we have taken over 'Spirit' and are continuing the job of returning her to her former glory. Most of the work is cosmetic, although, as you yourself remarked in the blog, the paintwork is still in excellent condition and the lace work returning from grey to white!
We are looking forward to exploring further a field with her and may at some point even visit her ‘home port’.
It is good to see that your business is doing well and that people recognise the superior quality of your craft.
Regards
David & Sandra"
It is wonderful to hear that she is still being cared for and appreciated by her current owners, and we were certainly very flattered by their kind comments. We have, naturally, invited David & Sandra to visit us whenever they are in the area - we would be very pleased to meet "Freebie's" new owners.
David & Jackie
