A couple living on an island in London have created ‘the UK’s first Santa sleigh boat’ – after revealing what life is like in their unique neighbourhood.
Sacha, 26, and Matt, 29, have been documenting their daily lives in South-West London, where they live in a one-bedroom bungalow on a small island.
It means they have to do “bonkers” things like take a boat to take the bins out or nip to the shops – but the couple love their quirky lifestyle.
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“We didn’t realise how much we would fall in love with living here,” Sacha, a content creator, told What’s The Jam.
“We live in a one bedroom bungalow, which has everything a ‘normal’ conventional house would have – with full fibre broadband, sewage systems, etc.
“But we have no bridge, meaning we have to use our small motorboat to get to and from our house.
“Obviously, this can make your average daily and household tasks just a lot harder – for example, taking your rubbish out, bringing home your food shopping, nipping to the shops.
“However, the pros completely outweigh the cons for us.
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“This type of lifestyle isn’t for everyone – it’s pretty bonkers – but while we are young, it makes every day such an adventure.
“The winter can be pretty testing, but we are completely spoiled in the summer because it’s so unbelievably serene and peaceful.
“We don’t know what the future holds – we might wake up one day and decide we have had enough, and want a change.
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“But for now, we love being here, and we are enjoying our little island home while we can.”
The couple are planning to make good use of their waterside location, by sailing down the Thames this week (13 December) on what they believe is the first sleigh-style boat.
The stunning boat features a red sleigh design, dressed up with lights and a herd of ‘reindeer’ pulling it along – plus Matt dressed as Father Christmas, of course.
The route will take them from Hampton Court Bridge at 3pm all the way past Kingston, and the circling back to arrive back by 5pm.
And it’s all for a good cause, with them raising funds for Teenage Cancer Trust along the way.
The couple have already raised £500 and are accepting donations on their JustGiving page.
Sacha said: “I knew I wanted to do something really fun and positive to create some magic for Christmas.
“My community has followed our journey since the beginning, and have been so supportive, I wanted to do something that I knew would make people smile, not to mention raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust.
“The response has been incredible.
“I’ve had parents messaging me saying how excited their children are to see Santa and the Sleigh Boat.
“For personal reasons, this cause means a lot to me.
“Nearly all of us know someone that has been affected by Cancer, so raising money for such a meaningful cause matters so much, especially during a season that is based around spending time with your loved ones.”
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