Keeping Afloat - Up a French canal without a paddle

Keeping Afloat-Up a French Canal without a paddle is one of those rare books that brings reality to the fore when we talk or think about dream vocations. There are very few of us that have not wanted to get away from it all,live the good life.sail round the world or grow grapes in somwhere in the European sun. This book brings home literally, the reality of trying to make a holiday business work,warts, hard work,lack of money and all. Its a really good enjoyable read that takes through all the twists and turns of running and renting out a holiday barge on the French canals. If you are planning to move to France you should pick up this book,it will reward you,with hard gained knowledge.Good fun and a first hand insight..... Editor

Keeping Afloat-Up a French Canal without a paddle

An Englishman establishing a business in France during the 1970s was considered eccentric and full of problems.

When
that business is also expected to float on water and attract fee-paying
passengers, the difficulties encountered were usually enough to quench
even the most enthusiastic of spirits.

Keeping
Afloat, recently published by Loose Chippings, is the story of just
such an enterprise, which John Liley sought to get going. His idea was
to take a converted barge across the channel and thence to the depths
of Burgundy and there to offer cabins for journeys on the Canal du
Nivernais.

That
such an exploit would be fraught with problems was to be expected, but
the manner in which he overcame them has provided Mr Liley with the
material for an extremely funny account of the obstacles he encountered.

Keeping Afloat has already attracted acclaim from enthusiasts such as Nick Wall of Canal Boat Magazine who says "

He goes on to say it really is wonderful and he'd recommend it to anyone.
Told
in an amusing way and attractively presented with a bright cover, the
book should appeal to a wide readership beyond canal and boating
enthusiasts, by whom it will no doubt be eagerly purchased and avidly
read - oh and given to their friends as well.

Arthur Cunynghame

Loose Chippings Books
The Paddocks
Back Ends

Chipping Campden

Gloucestershire,

GL55 6AU
 
01386 840435

[email protected] www.loosechippings.org Keeping Afloat - Up a French canal without a paddle
Trade Paperback. 212 pages. 228 x 155mm
ISBN 978-0-9554217-5-4
RRP £8.99