We awoke on our first morning to find the boats covered in three inches of snow, which made for wonderful photographs, but far from ideal conditions in which to start our first cruise of the season, but Duke and Duchess guests are made are strong stuff and soon we were heading up the 21 locks at Hattonas if it were a beautiful spring day.

The weather has thankfully improved since then to the delight of guests and crew alike not to mention little Ben who never likes getting his paws wet if he can help it.

The Duke is dead, long live the Duke!!

No, not a morbid announcement, but exciting news of the future. 2009 will see the replacement of our present motor boat Duke - fingers crossed, who was it that said the only boat builder to finish a boat on time was Noah???

Duke was built in 1998 and although still going strong, but was not built specifically as an Hotelboat, but adapted into one over the following years and although I have been very happy with it, I have always had a secret yearning to design my own boat, so last winter whilst at Braunston I got talking to Roger Farrington, who is considered by many to be one of the best shell builders around, and the outcome of our chat, was an order for a new boat. When he has completed the shell, it will be moved next door to Wharf House Narrowboats,  who are going to do the fitting out for me.

The new Duke, as well as containing the kitchen and dining area, will have a twin and a single cabin, both of which will be en-suite. The early Hotelboats carried anything up to 12 passengers and sometimes only had one loo, but as we glide through the 21st century, those days are long gone, and from customer feed back, en-suites are now considered as a must have standard. Some present boats do not offer all en-suites, or any en-suites at all, but it is my intention to try and offer every guest an en-suite facility.

Father Christmas bought me a very nice Yamaha Digital Keyboard, which despite a bit of head scratching from the boatfitter, will be fitted in the new Duke, but have no fear, musical evenings will only be by mutual agreement!

I am afraid that we have had make a small increase in prices for 2009, but we have done our best to keep them as small as possible-our main cost increases for 2009 will be for fuel - Diesel, gas and oil which is affecting everyone at the present moment.

As well as the new Duke, and following on from the wonderful response shown in the new routes we added this season, 2009 will also see new waters being explored and I hope to include cruises on the River Wey and also featuring will be our first and very overdue cruise up the Lee and Stort to Ware, Hertford and Bishops Stortford, plus many of our 'old favourites' which always seem different each time we do them.

But back to this season, we had a superb day travelling the Anderton Lift and cruising on the beautiful River Weaver, seeing Cormarants and Buzzards and moored for lunch by a field of baby lambs - aaaaah! We again ploughed our way to Llangollen although to be fair to British Waterways, it is a much easier canal to boat on than it ever was, and were rewarded by the almost obligatory sun and marvellous scenery.

We enjoyed our three weekends in Chester, which included 'compulsory' crew haircuts and even the skipper was cajoled into having one although it will have to last until we get to Newbury before it is attacked again!

We are now floating around the Caldon Canal which is always a firm winner with crew and guests alike ad then we head slowly back to Warwick before we head of into unknown waters and head for East Anglia. I last cruised the Nene, Middle Levels and River Ouse in 1972 whilst my family were attending the National Rally in Ely and remember what a fun route is was, so I personally am really looking forward to seeing if I can remember any of it! I do remember however, being allowed to sit with Dr Arthur Wills, whilst he played the organ for evensong in the Cathedral at Ely.

For those of you who are joining us this season, we look forward to welcoming you onboard, for those who will be joining us in 2009, we hope the new boat will come up to all expectations.

Take a look at our routes for 2009 and if there is anything you fancy, please either telephone or email me to discuss availability and a booking.

Best wishes,

David Owen