156 Visiting the Floating Christmas Market on the canals in Birmingham 

The coffee boat is absolutely the BEST idea in human history!

No idea why, but the tuneless choir at the end actually brought a tear to my eye

Being admin on the narrow boat owners group we were having this conversation only the other day about the poor turn out for boat traders markets, and the conclusion we arrived at is that they really aren't well adcertised, with many markets that our members mentioned not even being heard of. In an age of social media I'm wondering if the organisers of these events are really exploiting a terrific tool as the internet to let wannabe customers the chance to hear of them?

Thanks for the wonderful video, David. When you were talking about the smell of the stove, I was able to remind me to the time of my great-aunt (when I was a child), who always had the stove on in her living room and I now have again that smell in my nose. A wonderful memory that you have evoked for me.

The choir at the end were such a lovely treat. Thank you

Merry Christmas! 🎄

What a great place to visit! It did look like they were practicing for lockdown though. Sad to think it probably won’t happen this year. I hope those traders are getting through this.

The metal artists are insanely talented. Very impressed with their work.

How sad it’s so slow for them...we have to get back to our artists and craft workers...we need to keep heritage alive

The trader selling the wire work has the best attitude .. You don't have to be rich you just have to be HAPPY

Oh the choir was just so lovely. I’m so glad that you just happened to be in the right place at the right time ❤

Well, if it ends with a tea and a pastry, it's always a good day!!! Cheers!

Love the acerbic dry humour, suspect it goes whooshing by many viewers. Brilliant.

I really enjoyed that you got off the boat and showed us that shopping area. Great fun watching the artist explain their work.... Thanks........

Hi David Yes you are spoiling us with the quality of your videos. Really enjoyable interesting stuff. The Sound was excellent and the usual outstanding camera work noted. Thanks Jo

Come along chaps let's get David to the 50k as a Christmas present for all those lovely vlogs we've been treated too. Merry Christmas David hoping for a fire chat in the New Year.🎅🍹🎄

Thanks for adding the choir at the end it made it extra special

Txs for putting a link to those traders, is some amazing craftmanship there.

I’ve never put much thought into how journalists do their work, but you really do have a gift for telling a story. This was a really well done, and interesting video.

The singing at the end was great.

All they needed was one coach! One coach of lovely tourists and they'd have been made for the month.

This is one of the most enjoyable things I've ever seen on RU-vid. I wish I was there.

That little water taxi was adorable. And a great idea.

all ways a joy dave your vlogs are great .it is a escape for us stuck in the grind .thanks again ,

Loved watching the canal market. My husband and I are street vendors, peddling our handmade trinkets in Alaska-made from porcupine quills(sort of like a hedgehog, but NOT!) Summer is the busiest, but I have expanded my winter trade by selling wholesale to the many other gift shops throughout Alaska. It was too bad the weather maybe kept shoppers away, but it also could be advertising-if an event coordinator hasn't plugged the event on local radio, social media, or newspaper-no one knows it's happening...anyway great Fun!! to watch...and would have shopped had I been there!

Have thoroughly enjoyed your vlogs this year, Merry Christmas and happy New Year.

I agree ..what a fun walk and look through.. such a nice community..the narrow boat community

My grandfather lived in Holliday St next to Gas St and as a kid of 5 -7 yrs old I'd wander around there and go through the small doorway into the Basin. It was like going through the looking glass, a hidden world away from the bustle of Broad St. I bet you don't see many little kids roaming around there on their own these days..

Today I learned that The Sutton Coldfield Tuneless Choir exists! The name alone sounds like a Two Ronnies sketch

Love the coffee boat - happily partake.

Lovely as usual. Your vlogs have a relaxing effect without beeing boringly slow. I wish you and your dearest a merry christmas.

I've watched every video since #1 and this is my favorite, so far! My preference are the cruising videos with a lot of landscape and wildlife views but when you can provide quality like this, I'm a happy camper. The musical bonus was a surprise, but a worthwhile conclusion to the vlog. Moving on and trying to catch up with 2021.

Another fantastic vlog David. I love the way you edit them, adding those little details like incidental music that really add so much, and give them a professional quality. Merry Christmas and keep up the good work 😀👍

I had no idea england had canals like Venice and Amsterdam until i found your videos, thanks for sharing your life, im loving the videos!!

A unexpected vlog and enjoyed so much! Thank again David. Always enjoy watching your channel. Merry Christmas!

Really unique stores and gifts... handmade items are so unique

The metal worker was brilliant. The Ro was fabulous. Did it pick up in the afternoon. Hope you had time for a G&T. 🇦🇺👍👍✨✨

Thanks for the Vlog David and Happy holidays and all that.......but I must admit I am bewildered by the other comments when I read "fantastic Market"......I'm sorry but its the saddest market I've ever seen!!!, wet and damp and thats just the demeanor of the squeeze box player at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="480">08:00</a>!!! it felt so sad seeing deserted paths winding around creative traders. All I can say is that online buying is killing not just the high street!!!

It was nice to see a different themed video. We like cruising the Birmingham canals.

Thanks for the bonus choir. It really lifted my mood!

Not enough advertising I never heard of this floating market before. It only I want to buy narrow boat and started to view your vlogs I found out about this 😮

Quite a quirky surprise. Wasn't expecting another canal vlog from the master; not now that the close season is hurtling over the horizon. Thank You.. And... Oh my....What do we find? Empty towpaths...deserted trade-boats! What a sad old lot we are ...and only a few days before Christmas eh? A deeply poignant video...gentle and unassuming .. twas sad that this event in dear old Brum looked so much like a soggy damp squib...Nice folk indeed...but flompy somehow. Not much energy or pzzaz...It needed a knees up band, or a folk rock group...or....heaven help us "Morris Men"...please ! something to cheer it all up. Three cheers for the one elderly chap on the music front...he was at least trying. ( Not your fault it was so ...er quiet and grey...but sad nevertheless ) I found myself comparing the atmosphere in the whole video to the vitality, noise, bustle and gluhwein of those German and Austrian Christmas markets...and really wanted to give everyone in Brum a big hug...and like Nanny ..say something enthusiastic like...."Now come on, let's get whizzy now ..no more doldrums!" Oh why, Oh why do us Brits not push out the boats more ( a pun for the punster ? )..I do hope the boat-folk made a few bob from the events, but it didn't look likely, did it ?.....And then the bonus...that genuinely fab tuneless choir...it's really a brilliant idea...after all what do all those folk who don't get into the school choir do ...If they still want to sing?.... As we did...er ..they do... But then, why, Oh why choose such a sad sad song? Oh dear, Oh my...deeply binding in Marsh Street isn't it. (Come back Kenneth Williams we all need livening up... ) Love your coverage of course. Your TV training still works, one sees! And even your colour and interview and filmic magic to brighten it all up was great...but ... Oh well. Tomorrow is another day. Thank You for your absolutely fabulous sound and image wizardry by wet waterways or on dry land throughout this year Happy Hols to thee ( and your exhausted navigatoress from the Welsh hills and your secret grey moggy..... ) We at home here are certainly looking forward to an even more exciting 2019 from you...our own most cherished ...Dark Sith Lord of the Cut! ... and Jedi Master of The Van... Kindest wishes always .. ...from just another of your lowly thralled subscribers .. Onward. ..as they say in Brum !

Such interesting people! Thank you for making the season brighter.

This was A rather nice video seeing all the traders and hearing some about them thank you.

Great video, David. Thanks!

Hello from Northern Kentucky USA I’ve been watching your vlogs for a long while now And I have just watched a documentary on the canals And one of the things I learned is the toe path you’re always speaking about I guess I was under the impression that the toe path meant toe as in on your foot Instead of the actual meaning Tow as in a boat being towed Lol Just thought it was a funny that I’d share

David, one of my favorite Christmas time activities is visiting the Christmas markets. I've been to ones in France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and of course London, to name a few. I never imagined them doing one on narrowboats, but this is so cool. I've recently become a fan of your videos. You're a fantastic storyteller and bring so much wit to your videos, with your whimsical commentary. Thanks for producing this video and bringing attention to these artist and traders.

great video, very warming and interesting there are so many traders making a living on the canals which is great to see :-) thank you.

Happy to see the Gin mill....Fun times floating around the traders of the market...

Thank you David for the newest video. Loved the choir at the end. Please have a marvelous Holiday Season.

Dave was real feel good vlog, thanks 🙏🏻

A big thank you for all your lovely videos. Happy Holidays.

Love the Keane carolers at the end. Thank you for another great video.

Lovely little video David. Brightened my day, cheers.

That was a very enjoyable video... singers at the end were just a perfect ending. Thank you for sharing this with us

Fanatic much appreciation and thank you for sharing. Take care and be safe

I was so glad to see a new blog was up. The laid-back demeanor is the remedy for a overly busy morning. There was the requisite animals; a dog, ducks and wildlife. (The giraffe may not count but the whimsy also is welcome!) Thank you very much for creating these vlogs.

Your timing is just perfect

Such a beautiful vlog 👍👍👍👍👍. Love the ending really great great singers.

Thanks David for that film it gives us who live in other places a look into canal life see you in the new year kind regards John

That was really good,thank you. I've been to Gas Street Basin, happened to come across it a few years ago while wandering around Birmingham. ilona

Wow looks real,y interesting. Some great old history there to.

Finally the iconic Canal ballot on Concertina , i have been waiting so long Thank Him for me and thank you

Thanks. This was great. I lived in Birmingham for awhile, love it and always will 😄.

Really enjoyed this video. Love the cruising vids but the occasional sojourn into the areas of events on and around the canals are also very entertaining.

we loved this programme cheers merry christmas.

That's so good. Thanks for sharing. I will be living afloat from April. Ideas for a sustainable life.

That was so nice. Thanks for sharing.

Some great shots as always, lovely memories of meeting up with Robbie, Lou, and some other lovely boater fans earlier this year thanks for sharing and Happy Christmas!

I would love to visit Birmingham. My ancestors came from there. Alas, at 85, and stuck with a lockdown I think I will be staying in OZ.

That market is really neat. I wish I could have been there and walked around! So thanks for making this video as it's the next best thing.

Really enjoyed this well done Mr Cc

Happy solstice, looking forward to the new travels,thanks for sharing. Cheers

That choir is the Sutton Coldfield Tuneless Choir, run boy my mum!

Two great British traditions together - market trading and canal boats.

Thats just great to watch regards paul

Great video and happy to see my welding trade used for the arts with enthusiasm not just for profit. You should've gotten that sweet V.W. bus shirt too! AND A COFFEE BOAT to boot! I would've had a grand time. Thanks for sharing this and wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Great to see how passionate the Traders are. I´d step in that floating coffee right now. But..... not a single Heron. ;) Thanks for your Vlogs. Merry Christmas to you.

Been watching your Chanel for awhile. Your so interesting and informative, we have nothing to compare in California. Thank You Teri

Spectacular vlog.

Loved the choir at the end.

Great vlog David , many thanks . Wishing you a merry Christmas and new year .

gday from Ausralia, how i miss the canals,my father had a small 4 berth boat and when ever we got the chance we would go of somewhere,alas we came to oz,no canals,i was in there uk sept. and oct. this year ,now and again we got a glimse of a narrow boat or canal, it looked so nice,after 50 years in oz,i still miss the canal life!

Merry Christmas David and thank you for a wonderful year of videos to make us smile.

Merry Christmas David and a happy Vlogging New Year. Thanks for showing us the canals of the U.K, I always have something to look forward to thanks to you and Captain Gary and Colin Jacques and The Tiller People. Many thanks to you all. Best Wishes.

Well done, enjoy the shopping. Cheers

I loved this as Birmingham is my home town and well used to being close to a canal. Such a pity the market was so quiet though.

Loved the ending ❤️

Very nice. Loved the music at the end. 😊

Nice to to see old bham again keep it up

Thank you for another great vlog, David, and Happy Christmas!

Great marked, fantastick video !!!

Wow what an interesting video. Thoroughly enjoyed meeting some of the traders. We visited a floating market at Stoke Bruerne, not as many traders as Birmingham, but we loved it.

I finally saw all of your videos up to this point today. I feel like I accomplished something great. I enjoy your videos and your humor. I have learned a lot about narrow boats with your help. I bought a couple of the maps and guides so I can see where you were. I would like to try narrow boating some day. I would definitely try before I would buy. I hope to get on a narrow boat tour when I can schedule it. I have been on family boats and large cruise ships. I recently took a Danube River cruise from Budapest, Hungary to Nuremberg, Germany. I have been on quite a few boats. I was in the United States Navy for 8 years and served all of my time on land without seeing a ship. I have made up for it since. I continue to look forward to your upcoming videos.

A pity this was so poorly patronized, similiar events in summer would draw bigger crowds, surely . . . Keep up the good work David, and all the best for the Christmas season, enjoy.

Beautiful video, such sweetness abounds in Birmingham 💜🎁💙 Merry Christmas to you and those you love.

Brilliant Video

Merry Christmas David. Thank you for your great videos done on your boat and from your van.

Thanks for the choir David, that was certainly a Christmas bonus. I lived in Sutton Coldfield from 1958 to 1961. All the best for Christmas and I look forward to your 2019 cruising season.

Very nice. This is what your TV reporting must have been like. ITV's loss, our gain! Merry Christmas