By Boat, Van, Canoe, Bicycle, motorbike, Car or on Foot!!!
Thanks for stopping by at the Chris and Shell website. This is a resource to keep you up to date with our plans and adventures, whether that be by Narrowboat, Van, Motorbike, bicycle or (some of our favourite) on foot. We are a couple who have chosen to live a minimal life, off - grid on board a 57 ft Narrowboat, Oddstruck Belle
We were married in 2019 and on our second honeymoon touring Hong Kong and Thailand, we decided that we needed to concentrate our efforts on living a more creative life. We have been documenting our life restoring our home and living in a tiny space on our YouTube channel Chris and Shell.
The journey of creating content regularly, has led us on a totally different path. And this has encouraged us to live a more artistic life. Shell is a Pattern Design graduate and Chris is a Fine Art graduate. Neither of us fulfilled that early passion for art and have bumped along in successful careers in accounts, marketing, retail management and Luxury car manufacture but have never felt fulfilled. So upon our return from Thailand we decided to put effort in this desire to regain our artistic skills and create!
The last few years have been some of our best and some of our worst. After three years in and around Northwich on the boat looking after Chris’ Mum. Chris took early retirement and beginning his dream job as an Ecologist. Shell has sunk her creative talents into becoming a successful linocut artist (@michellepickeringprints), whose work adorns the shop here.
Unfortunately juggling a new career and care for Mum, has seen us producing less content. And in October 2024, Marie, Chris’ Mum, sadly passed away.
As things were once again settling down into a routine, it became increasingly apparent that Shell’s parents were also beginning to struggle. Unfortunately Eddie, Shell’s Dad, had to go into a nursing home in early 2025, and that has left us ramping up the care for Shell’s Mum, Winnie.
So that brings us pretty much up to date. Although we are still struggling to find the time to create long format content, we do produce bits and pieces for our instagram, @thenarrowboatchronicles.
Part of the recent good news, was the acquisition of a 60’x20’ allotment space just down the road from our permanent mooring near Chester. And with the stress and strain of our current situation, the allotment does not only represent what we hope to be a food abundance. It also represents an area that we can sit and enjoy and reap the benefits of. We hope to create much more than just an allotment, but a refuge. A place for reflection and slowing down.