A WOMAN who lives on a 20ft micro narrowboat said she’s terrified it might tip over, but revealed a hidden compartment that keeps her safe.
Kat, known as Gentil Lentil’s Green Life on YouTube, shared an insight with her viewers about what it’s like to live on a small boat.
The content creator explained that she fears storms could tip over her 20ft micro narrowboat.
Fortunately, in the video, she revealed two compartments designed to help prevent it from tipping.
One of the compartments, located beneath her bed, contains a water pump that removes excess water from the bottom of the hull.
These are found on most boats and are an essential piece of equipment.
The other compartment holds weights, an anchor and extension leads which help keep the boat stable.
However, the YouTuber demonstrated how she can easily convert her living room into a bedroom, creating more space in the boat.
In the video, viewers can see her using two wooden slats placed between the two sofas on either side of the boat.
Once fitted, she adds three large cushions that serve as a mattress, followed by blankets and duvets to complete the bed conversion.
The content creator’s video has received hundreds of comments from viewers praising her transformation skills.
One user wrote: “That looks insanely cosy.”
“I wish I had thought about arranging the bed differently when I love in a two-berth caravan that is very much like your home,” commented another.
While a third said: “I love your narrow boat. I could happily live there.”
It comes after an artist shared what it’s like to live off-grid in a canal boat where she can save £600 a month.
Shannon Lane, 29, ditched her room in Clapham for a 30ft narrowboat which she cruises in with her pug, Gilbert.
She decided to move on the water after learning her landlord was raising the price of her rent to £1,000 a month.
The freelance artist and video producer took out a loan to buy a £24,000 narrowboat and now spends just £300 a month paying it off.
Ever since Shanon moved, her mental health has improved and she no longer suffers from “bad anxiety and depression”.
Nonetheless, the transition from bricks to a floating home takes adjusting to.
The Narrowboat community is a “tight-knit” community where everyone gets to know their neighbours.
Shanon regularly has neighbours introduce themselves whenever she “moors up” to a different spot.
However, she is always on the move because she doesn’t pay a mooring fee.
She told MailOnline: “It’s important to keep the canal system moving because it makes space for other boaters to enjoy different parts of the canal.”
Constantly being on the move could deter people when considering a life on water but it offers a chance to explore areas of London that would have previously been unaffordable.
Shannon can cruise up to Regents Park or Little Venice and pays a fraction of those living in houses there.
A major downside to living on water is the unglamorous job of emptying the toilet.
The video producer claimed the worst thing to do is leave it too late as the smell can be unpleasant.
She has a cassette toilet on her boat and has to wheel the sliding cartridge to a communal disposal area.
“You can imagine the smell,” Shanon added.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN has lost his place in the Man Utd starting XI – just days after appearing to make a dressing room admission.
The Danish midfielder made his fourth successive start for the Red Devils in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with FC Twente.
Eriksen netted in the first half, his third goal in four games across all competitions.
But he has been sent back to the bench for today’s visit of Tottenham to Old Trafford.
Following the draw against Twente, Eriksen gave a divisive interview with TNT Sports.
He suggested the Dutch side had “wanted it more” after staging a second half comeback at Old Trafford.
Eriksen said: “I think we are mostly disappointed as a team.
“I think, obviously we wanted more but in the end it was far from good enough.
“Being said also in the changing room they looked like they wanted it more than us and that can’t be right.”
“Everyone is looking at themselves, for most.
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“Everyone is a professional footballer, they know what to do and know what can’t happen.
“In a game like today, obviously we don’t lose but it feels like a loss and that is something that at home against Twente can’t happen.”
The interview didn’t go down well with some sections of the Utd support.
One raged on X: “They’ve said in the changing room that FC Twente wanted it more? Not good. Not good at all.”
Another said: “How can you be saying this?”
Ten Hag had been equally scathing of his players after they surrendered the lead in midweek.
He fumed: “I think every team has this in a season, when you play 60 games, sure there will be games where you are not happy with the performance, not happy when the opponent wants it more.”
A BUDGET retailer with 750 stores is set to close a beloved branch in hours – but it’s not all bad news for shoppers.
Customers were saddened to learn their B&M will be pulling the shutters down in Cockhedge Shopping Centre, Warrington, tomorrow.
But, bargain hunters will be pleased to hear the site, located off the A49 near Cockhedge roundabout, is being re-vamped.
A B&M spokesperson confirmed the store is closing to make way for a “bigger and better” one.
The new and improved branch can be found at a former Wilko location in Warrington’s Golden Square Shopping Centre.
Staff welcomed customers in on Saturday, two days before the Cockhedge Shopping Centre store is set to close.
The handy schedule meant locals haven’t been temporarily left without a shop in the area.
A B&M spokesman said: “We wanted a bigger and better store for our customers, giving them even more big, branded products.
“We hope customers are going to be delighted with their new store, and we are really excited to get the doors open very soon.
“We are feeling extremely positive about the creation of more jobs or local people, and we hope customers are going to be delighted with their new store.”
It’s not the first time B&M has shut older stores in favour of opening bigger stores at newer sites.
In June, the discounter closed its store at Units 51-52 in the Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre in Oldham.
However, just days later, it was replaced by a bigger shop at Units 9-10 in the same retail complex.
It comes as the discount retailer announced in January it would be opening 17 new sites in 2024.
The industry giant currently has around 700 stores but has a long-term target of 950 sites.
Back in May 2023, B&M announced plans to open 30 new stores in the UK over the past year, including some relocations of older sites.
However, the retailer is taking things a step further this year with several former Wilko stores in its hands to play with.
B&M bought up 51 Wiko sites in a £13million deal in September 2023 when the beloved retailer fell into administration.
To open some new sites B&M has had to restructure its portfolio and this has meant some stores have closed.
The retailer has closed ten of its stores since February 2023.
The B&M barcode scanner app allows you to find discounted items before staff have even reduced them.
The scanner can be found on the B&M Stores mobile app, which you can download for free on your smartphone from the App Store or Google Play.
Once you’ve dowloaded the app, click the “scan” button at the bottom of your homepage.
This will bring up the camera on your smartphone, which you’ll need to use to scan barcodes.
When you’ve found a product you want, simply point your smartphone camera toward its barcode.
The app will then automatically bring up the price – this is when you’ll know if it is reduced or not.
Bargain hunters say some items come up as £1, 50p or even 10p through the app.
Shoppers should also keep an eye out for products with a white reduction sticker on.
This means they will have a certain amount slashed off the price shown on the label.
Shop for products at the end of the season.
Get friendly with staff too.
They’ll be able to tell you when the sales will hit, or if there are bargains out the back – so you get the best bits.
SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain…
Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with.
Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks.
Sales are when you can pick up a real steal.
Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on.
Sign up to mailing lists and you’ll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too.
When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use vouchercodes.co.uk and myvouchercodes.co.uk are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer.
Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. Trolley.co.uk app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping.
Bargain hunters can also use B&M’s scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out.
And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you’ll get some of your money back or a discount on the item.
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