One thing we haven't written too much about is Life aboard Liberty, and what the boat is actually like. So, here goes (you'll need to refer to the new album photos too).

First the details... Liberty was born in Holland in 1994, conceived by Aquanaut, and, we think, weighs a healthy 17 tonnes. Or maybe 10 tonnes. Or more likely somewhere in between, and anyway the actual tonnage at any one time would depend on whether the fuel tanks (total 600 litres) and the water tanks (ditto, or rather d't'eau) were full. Plus how many bottles of wine we had aboard. Either way, she's heavy and doesn't scream to a stop just because you throw the engine into reverse.

Length is 11.4 metres, width (beam to those who sail) 3.75 metres. The air draft - meaning the height above waterline (important to know so you don't knock the top off the boat when going under low bridges) - is about 2.3 metres, and the draft (below the waterline (important to know so you don't grind to a halt in shallow canals) - is 1.2 metres. Still with us? Good.

The engine is a Yanmar diesel packing 115 hp (meaning, in the old days of horse-drawn boats, there would be 115 of them vying for space on the tow path as they pulled us along...), and this drives a single propeller (important because when you have two props you are in danger of fouling the inside one on some canals where it can be very shallow near the bank).

But what of comfort? I hear you ask. Okay, let's take a tour inside...

As you descend the three steps from the flybridge you enter the lounge, or saloon as it tends to be called by us matelots. This, as you'll see from the photos, contains a U-shaped couch-type affair with coffee table in the middle. The whole shebang can be converted into a surprisingly comfortable double bed if required - we know cos we've tried it. Under the squabs there's ample storage - in fact every spare space on the boat is given over to storage, no matter how small or oddly-shaped. Clever.

Also in the saloon is a TV, DVD player, storage for DVDs (and wine!) and the interior steering position with wheel and full instrumentation including depth gauge, compass, rudder position etc etc. Everything is labelled in Dutch, but you don't need to be a linguistic genius to work out what "Kompas" or "Hoorn" mean, though we had to switch on the "Ruitenwisser" in order to discover it means windscreen wiper.

To our surprise, the table lamp between the saloon and the galley (kitchen, for landlubbers) features a lamp shade with one of Captain Cook's maps of New Zealand... not something we brought with us, but it helped us decide that Liberty was the boat for us.

If an army marches in its stomach, then a navy swims on it, and we have a well-equipped galley to ensure little chance of mutiny, or scurvy for that matter. Like so many of us, it is small but perfectly formed, and includes a fridge, gas hob. Microwave-grill, toaster, jug, coffee maker etc. The previous owners left most things and we haven't had to buy much really. There isn't an oven, but in the month or so we've been on board we haven't needed one, though we are on the lookout for a slow cooker. (We've actually got one; it's called "Mike")

Adjoining the galley is what we call The Bond Lounge, a second dinette that is circular and, as previously mentioned in these blogs, looks like something a Bond villain should have on his super yacht. Surprisingly this too converts to a bed (un lit ronde) though we haven't got round to trying it yet. (Ha! "Round to trying it"! Oh never mind...)

The bed that we do use is in the aft cabin (at the back) and is a very comfortable double. Because you can get around it, it's known in boat terms as an island bed, far more convenient than something that is squashed up against a wall. Like the rest of the boat, the cabin (or "stateroom" as we call it!) has multiple storage compartments hidden away all over the place to augment the two built-in wardrobes.

Next to the stateroom, and so almost qualifying as an en suite, is the bathroom, which though small contains a proper shower, toilet and handbasin with cupboards. The toilet is, like on many boats, a manual pump-type - easy once you're used to it. Don't ask where the waste goes... this is France, and they don't take the same environmental care of their waterways as the UK (so there's your answer).

That's the inside. Up top is the flybridge, basically a second control area where most of the instruments are duplicated, including the controls for the lovely wonderful bow and stern thrusters, which make manoeuverimg into and out of moorings so easy (but that doesn't mean I don't occasionally make a dog's breakfast out of it).

On the aft deck immediately behind the up-top steering is enough room for a table and chairs, along with lockers containing ropes, hoeses and other parerphernalia necessary for mooring, cleaning etc. The whole area is covered by a Bimini canvas top which means we can sit out even in the rain, or steer from up there even if the weather is unpleasant.

And here we end our tour. The Management has decided that tipping of tour guides is permitted. Thank you for coming on board Liberty today, we wish you a bon journee. (Please exit by the gift shop)