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Absolutely. More of this sort of thing, definitely.

My folks were in town this weekend - they're both in their mid-late 50s, quite fit and active, but really wary of the potential hazards of London's roads.

A couple of days using Boris Bikes to get around between tourist hotspots (London Eye, Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, The Tower of London, Borough Market) has been an absolute revelation. The E-W highway along the Embankment and the segregated lane in Hyde Park were particular highlights.

The infrastructure as it stands is not without its flaws, but the fact that my mum can get around quite happily on two wheels without feeling endangered or intimidated by drivers is something London should be very proud of.

Personally I'm not always a fan of using seg lanes, and have posted commuting stories where drivers have used the existence of a lane to bully me, but it's really nice to be reminded how beneficial the lanes are for others.

10/10 Would trundle again.

Can't the creepy crawlies climb up those stilts then?

Was on this residential road with cars either side - he had to really squeeze past.

I must've been going quite close to 20 anyway - guarantee he was speeding as he flew over the bump.

In their Jonathan-Creek-style windmill house.

Regulation close-pass made marginally more bearable by the scraping noise as the driver accelerated over a speed bump.

I hope that caused lots of damage, cunt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98CWbGG2DJ0

a myriad of abuse from folks behind

Yeah, I once got similar from a bus driver who was adamant I should have kept going (he had to slam on his brakes).

I wasn't willing to risk my neck getting left hooked - whether I'm 'in the right' or not. The people behind can wait :)

I am in absolute agreement with all of this in theory.

Just be ready to stop when drivers get it wrong...

In my experience, if he's started turning and you have room to stop, I find it's better to just stop.

Who had "right of way" is largely academic at that point.

Huh... apologies for the jokiness of my comment.

Pirate funeral.

Hah, yes.

You're familiar with the expression though? Gesticulating while talking utter...

Proper lols at the taxi driver I encountered on Southwark Bridge Road today.

Southbound just after the bridge I took primary at that bit where the road narrows. He squeezes past anyway (not the worst close pass I've ever had, but close enough to make me yell out - evidently my primary wasn't assertive enough...).

Of course he gets caught at the red at the bottom of the hill, and his window's open, so I figure I'm probably due a barney with a taxi driver. Pointed out it hadn't actually gained him any time.

Cue the usual stuff about "[us] lot" blocking his way and that I should move over to the side of the road. I fought the standard losing battle - and tried to explain that a) I am not an "us lot" I am a "me" and b) I get to chose when it's safe to let him pass because he's safe in his nice big metal cab and I'm exposed and squishy and somebody's son. The give and take's not symmetrical, mate.

That was all well and good, and he very kindly let me out to pass the bus in the stop on the other side of the junction , but really let himself down when we got to the lights just past the garage and he rolled the front 3/4 of his vehicle into the ASL looooong after the red light (no hands on the wheel - testiculating wildly)...so that he could complain to me and the group of riders patiently waiting there about the bane of RLJers...

"Um... you mean the offence you just committed by crossing the white line after the light changed?"

Lols.

Funny one on Brixton Hill this morning. A lady and a gent riding together, possibly a couple. He's on some SS thing and she's got a hybrid - seemed like he was the regular cycle commuter and he was trying to get her involved. Fair play!

So I'm trackstanding at the red* , and they come to a stop next to me. After a few seconds, he misjudges the light change and starts rolling, which both she and I instinctively copy. I do half a pedal rotation before realising the lights aren't really changing, so since I'm now on my weak trackstanding side I unclip and put my foot down. Realising his mistake, he puts his foot on the floor too.

However, she continues to roll out into the junction anyway, apparently oblivious to his shouts of 'No, no...no!". She just fully committed to the error and rode straight through.

Woops... don't base your decisions on the road on what other people seem to be doing, kids!

*Getting better at this... but still do it in the 'wrong' direction with respect to the road camber.

That's a beautiful boat. I've posted that instagram link in the family whatsapp group and they've gone nuts for it...

I love a rainy commute. Completely unprepared - aforementioned khaki chinos are now pretty ruined - but it's exhilarating really. Throwing yourself in and not caring about being wet really works.

Drivers remarkably good tonight, unlike most rainy evenings.

10/10 Is that all you've got, rain gods?

Set off early this morning - good job I did. Was also unprepared, but got through the doors at work before the worst hit.

Wouldn't usually mind, but khaki chinos were not my finest choice of trouser.

Weirdly I got into work this morning and, apropos of nothing, the topic of conversation was the 2-bed yacht that my colleague rents near Limehouse!

Suspect his lifestyle is quite different to what we're discussing here...

If, having considered all the aforementioned pros and (very sensible) cons to all this, I find myself still wanting to do it, is finding and buying a boat with a mooring license a viable 'dip my toe in the water for a year' trial solution?

Mooring in a convenient London location would (cost-wise) basically be like paying rent for another year.

If I hate it, I sell up and go back into the rental market, safe in the knowledge that I won't be trying it again.

If I love it, I do the Continuous Cruising thing after a year of cushy marina life.

Suppose it's risky if the boat doesn't sell/sinks and suddenly I've blown the capital I spend on the boat. Also appreciate finding a suitable residential mooring could be difficult.

Overwhelming response - this is a lot to mull over. Thanks all.

M&D are coming to visit at the beginning of September. They were deliberating over hotels, but @So_Gewürzt_it_hurtz raises an excellent point. I've only briefly visited narrow boats for a few hours - I've suggested we rent a boat for the weekend and see what it's like.

your mum is crazy in a good way.

She is - I love her for it.

I see you've reached the full-bonkers stage of house hunting.

Seems that way, doesn't it? Useful to have @ioreka around for a dose of realism :)

Thanks so much this is really useful. I wouldn't do this lightly - I was the voice of caution against Mum's Rosie and Jim idealism. If I do end up doing it it'll be after some serious research.

Will read and digest today. :)

So Mum's become enamoured with the idea of me living on a houseboat. She's heard good things and wants to do the Rosie and Jim thing when she comes to visit.

On a scale of 1-10, how nuts is the following plan?
1) Buy a houseboat instead of a 1-bed flat, for a fraction of the price, while I'm young, single and foolish.
2) Have more of a fraction of my income to save, rather than paying a large mortgage.
3) In 5 years time have a bunch of cash/investments/whatever the boat sells for to spend on a nice place, but not as much equity.

Do houseboats appreciate or depreciate in value? What are the other costs? How the fuck do you finance a houseboat - surely you can't get a regular mortgage.

Just considering this feels nuts...