Knowledge of the cut shines through this enjoyable tale

A BOAT, a partner and a dog. What more could one ask for? Maybe a baby?

Author Roger Distill has all these in his latest book Out of the Sunrise which draws on his experience as a boater to produce an enjoyable tale.

Fiction it may be – this is his first non-factual publication – but most boaters will consider some of the story weaving to have been fact, albeit with the names changed.

Rescue dog Billy plays an important role in the novel and all narrowboaters with dogs will agree with the ups and downs of having a dog on board.

In fact, Billy jumped off the boat on the wrong side in the very first chapter; hands up dog lovers who have experienced such a wet drama.

However this did set the scene for a comfortable, humorous read so obviously based on Roger’s knowledge of the cut. This knowledge was ably covered in his first two books published two years ago.

Narrowboat Bert takes the couple Adam and Claire on a variety of adventures and I must admit to having a smile on my face throughout large parts of the book.

The frustration of trying to prop open the door of an Elsan disposal unit, unsuccessfully, is something most boaters will have experienced.

But the book has its serious moments with relationships, pregnancy and marriage falling into this bracket.

I was hoping the couple would continue to live on the boat after the baby was born but they didn’t.

Still it is fiction and I had to keep reminding myself of that.

Out of the Sunrise by Roger Distill is exclusively available digitally, price £2.50 (Kindle) from Amazon, www.amazon. co.uk