LIVING THE BEST LIFE WITH THE MULLERS
Alice Griffin meets a liveaboard family who, having home-schooled all their children, are now also nurturing their own home-grown produce.
A FLIPPANT conversation at the Bristol Boat Show was Bx Muller’s first introduction to the world of living afloat.
Twenty-one years and three children later, Bx and family are a firm fixture on the Grand Union Canal. “Being newly married, I said to one of the Sea Otter exhibitors that it would be great to have a boat, but obviously I needed a house first. He laughed and said ‘people do live on boats, you know’ and a whole new world opened up to me.”
Despite never having been on a narrowboat or canal before, six months after this conversation Bx and her husband Gordon placed a deposit on a Liverpool boat’s build slot. Their 45ft traditional,
Aldebaran, remains their home to this day.
I asked Bx what it is she loves most about living on water: “It connects us with more people and opportunities than you could ever expect and it also allows us to observe and know the passing of time through the weather and seasons. We feel a part of everything.”
This outlook ties in perfectly with the Mullers’ philosophy on raising their family, which is centred on learning and life going hand-in-hand. All their children – ranging in age from nine to 17 – are home-educated and have been since birth.
Bx tells me: “In the beginning I wanted to give my son more time to be a child, more time to play and explore the world before formal education and so we decided to delay school until age seven.”
It was during this time that Bx began to ponder that if, as an adult, she could study for a BSc – what was stopping her children from doing whatever they wanted, when they wanted? “At that point we made a commitment to home education and didn’t consider school ever again.”
The Mullers’ approach to education is based around opening a door on to the world for their children. “We take into account each child's innate personality and talents and offer opportunities for growth.” Talking to their kids, helping them find resources to support interests and keeping an eye on opportunities through the local and national home education community, are all important.
Bx told me: “I trust that they will be able to learn what they need to when the need arises and that frees me from the pressure of expectation, allowing me to be astonished by them.”
Greater freedom to move on the water is an added bonus of home education, so after several years putting down roots on a British Waterways towpath mooring, and following the birth of their second son, the Mullers decided to continuously cruise. Bx tells me: “This was an amazing experience. Gordon worked less hours and we were able to spend lots of time with our new baby and his older sibling.”
This was to be their way of life for 10 years, during which time they welcomed a third child. Now, however, they find themselves back on a towpath mooring. “Reluctantly, last year we decided to take a permanent mooring when our eldest reached 17 and his life began to diverge from ours. He needed a base from which to travel to work, college and extend his social circle.”
This reluctant next step has brought unexpected growth though, with the addition of a local allotment. “My middle child loves nature and growing things, covering our roof with plants and flowers!
“When we moved to our new mooring we decided to prioritise finding a space where he could expand this passion.”
Having received some of the bounty on my recent visit to the Mullers’ boat, I can personally vouch for this being a project that is developing well and perishables are certainly welcomed as space is short on board.
The Mullers appear to enjoy the challenge, though, of continued awareness of their usage. “Living on a narrowboat we can’t accumulate huge amounts of stuff and we have to consider our environmental impact – understanding that water and electricity are not infinite resources.”
With all the distractions, busyness and exhaustion of modern life, the Mullers’ approach – centred on freedom, connection and simplicity – could certainly appeal to many.
“Living simply gives me peace, space to breathe and time to waste,” says Bx and her absorption in the present moment, appreciating what and who is available within the local community, is inspiring. When I ask about plans for the future, Bx’s reply of: “I’m living my best life now, so I don’t need to look too far forward,” feels characteristically comforting.
Instagram: @bxmuller
Alice Griffin is a writer and long-time wanderer, currently spending time in the mountains of Central Portugal. Instagram: alice_is_in_wanderland www.alicegriffin.co.uk