Welcome to the new independent country of Stockland! Not to be confused with Scotland, Stockland is in London, where we now live, so make sure your passport is up to date. (It's actually Stockwell, but more on that in a moment...)

It's been quite some time since I posted here, that's true, but our voyages on Liberty this summer were brief and spanned no more than three weeks - the only time Liz could get off from work to spend on the boat. Sadly, as a result of not having enough quality time, we have put Liberty up for sale, but hope to buy a narrowboat in England, so our boating days aren't over yet!

Meanwhile, I still have the blog-writing itch, and will be recording London adventures on a new blog called The Tightly-Furled Umbrella. Google it. I will save Off Exploring for those further-afield adventures that (hopefully) will see Liz and me making more forays into Europe, waving the EU flag as we go.

But for now we are in Stockwell, sarf London, postcode SW9, which stands for 'Sirens Wailing Nine'. At least nine, sometimes 20 per day, more if you count night-time. However, I have decided that since everyone else is clamouring for independence - Catalonia, the SNP, not to mention Britain and Brexit - I see no reason why Stockwell shouldn't also aim for home rule and become Stockland. I aim to be its ruler, as I have little else to do.

Facing ageism at every turn I have been unable to find work, so am wanting to do a lot more writing and blogging, plus I am also easing my way back into stand-up comedy after an absence of at least four years. Exciting and terrifying times ahead!

Anyway, must dash, I have a country to run.

See you under the umbrella ;-)