Bakiri

31/05/2026

Asked my friend and silversmith extraordinaire, Jayne from Blodau A***n to visit my canal boat. Jayne runs workshops on her beautiful boat Nellie Neffyn. In fact it wasn't long after attending one of her workshops that fate sent a canal boat my way and of course, I had to buy it! Anyway today she gave me some great ideas of ways to improve my boat. I am going to be absolutely honest I do love my 30' narrow boat and I was glad that Jayne thought it had potential because this is how I feel about it. So, soon, the exciting process of renovating/redecorating this boat is going to start. Fortunately Jayne knows someone who does sign writing canal style and is going to put me in touch. After her exterior has been painted we will get her name painted on the side. It is always good to take advice from someone who has been through the experience.

28/05/2026

Well that's it only a few more hours and I will be leaving Vietnam. Sadly I did not get to see Maeme but I will book a holiday to Thailand soon to see her. I will come back to Vietnam but will choose a holiday in Da Nang as my base and travel from there, Ho Chi Minh City is vast and 15 million people live here so its not the best place to use as a base. A coastal resort with beaches and palm trees would be better, with a visit to Ho Chi Minh for 2 or 3 days. The people here are kind and friendly but few speak English so Google Translate has been a great help.

25/05/2026

So here I am back in SE Asia. I love it here but I think people here are a bit friendlier. We are staying on the coast in Vung Tau - like Hua Hin and Cha Am 20 years ago. Hotel same too lol! Probably not your average Europeans cup of tea but better than Phuket, Phi Phi and Pattaya. I really like the quiet vibe - but I prefer places where the people of that country go to rather than the tourist spots. Coffee costs abput 15p and its good.

18/05/2026

Well that's it D Day has arrived or should it be V day? Going to be leaving in a couple of hours for a nice long wait at the airport. Duty free here I come!

12/05/2026

12/05/2026

The year is fast speeding its way into its mid range and its unbelievable how fast it's gone. Back in February it seemed a good idea to book a 10 day holiday to South East Asia with a female friend - I was smarting from the lack of interest my husband showed to my 70th birthday i.e.none! In just 6 days we (my friend and I) will be boarding a China Southern flight to Guizhou then on to Ho Chi Minh city and also visiting Siam Reep and Bangkok - a full on 10 day adventure with a dinner cruise on the Mekong River in the pipeline, a visit to the tunnels used by VC soldiers, then magical Anghor Wat and not forgetting Bkk's Chatuchak Market. I can't wait to get back to South East Asia!

12/05/2026

So according to my daughter I am going through my mid life crisis at 70! We bought a little boat which she thinks is incredibly insane, believe me had we bought a caravan she would not have thought that! Anyway we have done tent camping and caravaning and to be honest, cruising up the canal is far more relaxing than being stuck in a Bank.Holiday traffic jam on the M4! We have been talking about getting a boat for a few years but obviously not to the children - who are adults now anyway. Every year my daughter and her family take a camping and caravan trip away. And it is nice for us to do something relaxing too, we don't go out much - our days of going to the local seem behind us. So we bought a small boat with the intention of going larger in a couple of years.
Well, stranger things happen and we were offered a large narrowboat at an incredibly good price. So we decided to go for it! It needs work but that would still make the boat a bargain. We had intended to repaint the Dandy internally and reupholster - and we probably will still do that but ultimately the Dandy will be going up for sale. We possibly wont start on the internal of the narrowboat until after the work has been done on it. Yes it might seem crazy but to be honest - it could be a very nice boat with some TLC and imagination. It's just happened a little quicker than anticipated

12/05/2026

So I am often asked how I chose the name "Bakiri' I have a friend from the Balkans and I asked him for a suggestiom as the name I picked was too long and not very 'catchy'. He told me that in the Balkans 'Bakiri' traditionally meant Coppersmith but was now used to refer to any metalsmith or jeweller. Apparently it stems from the Persian/Arabic word Bakr which means Copper. Not to be mistaken for Bakari which is a Swahili word meaning one who will suceed. Sadly my own son managed to confuse it when he had cards printed out for me but hey ho!!

03/05/2026

Hurrah!

Today’s Artisan Market, with 49 arts and crafts and food exhibitors is at Abergavenny Market Hall, 10-4, free entry… we look forward to welcoming you!