THOSE of us who live in houses can find ourselves pushed for space over Christmas, but imagine what I’d be like if you lived on a seven-foot-wide narrowboat.  

That’s the reality for Gerry and Sandy Coleman, who often moor up at Middlewich.

The couple sold their house in Guildford, Surrey, in 2011 and joined the UK’s 35,000-strong itinerant boating community, knowns as ‘continuous cruisers’.

These boaters don’t have permanent moorings in marinas but use public ones instead, which can be in pretty remote locations.

Northwich Guardian: If we need to walk off a big feast, we’ve got great access to the countryside”If we need to walk off a big feast, we’ve got great access to the countryside” (Image: Gerry Coleman)

What’s more, as they’re only allowed to moor up for two weeks at a time, it means they’re almost constantly on the move.

If you rely on being able to run to your local Tesco Express on Christmas Day when you run out of cranberry sauce, you might ask how people like Gerry and Sandy cope. 

You may wonder what they do for space when their children come to stay, or how they deal with Christmas dinner in a tiny galley kitchen. 

“When it comes to dealing with limited space, it really is a case of practice makes perfect,” said 68-year-old Gerry.

Northwich Guardian: Gerry's friend and fellow continuous cruiser, Phil Cudworth, takes Christmas as an opportunity to earn some extra cashGerry's friend and fellow continuous cruiser, Phil Cudworth, takes Christmas as an opportunity to earn some extra cash (Image: Gerry Coleman)

“Usually, it’s not a problem. Our daughter comes for Christmas, with her two dogs, but the boat has a double cabin, and the dining table turns into a bed, just like in a caravan.

“The cooker’s a little bit smaller than you’d have in a house, but not by a great deal.

“We manage pretty well.

“We’ve also got a range cooker on board, which burns wood and coal, and has a small oven in it.

“We usually hook up with boater friends for Christmas itself, which means if we do run out of something, someone else is bound to have it.   

“We can also share some of the cooking.

“And if we need to walk off a big feast, we’ve got great access to the countryside.”

But can you fit a Christmas tree on a narrowboat?

Gerry added: “We don’t tend to have a tree, but we do have a pretty big wreath on the front of the boat.

“My wife, Sandy, makes it from plants like hawthorn and holly, which grow in abundance along the canals.  

“It’s a great year for berries this year.

“I don’t think there’s anything I miss about living in a house, but my wife does miss a full-size bath occasionally.

"Personally, I wouldn't swap it for the world."