A couple ditched their high-flying jobs to live on a narrowboat with their one-year-old - before buying another and running a cafe from it. <br /><br />Joanna and Victor Gould, both 34, left their corporate jobs in favour of ''living life on their own terms'' and travelling the country in their humble narrowboat.<br /><br />The couple - who met in April 2015 - were working as freelance TV editors in London racking up 80-hour weeks, but swapped their corporate jobs to for a slower pace of life on the water.<br /><br />The high-flying pair were raking in a combined salary of just over £150k compared to the £25k their new role brings in - but despite the drop in finances they say they've "never been happier". <br /><br />After purchasing a canal boat in 2015 - with renovations costing £30k - they decided to give up their old lives to start afresh.<br /><br />They waited just over a year for the barge to be fully renovated, before moving in to start their new life in April 2017. <br /><br />They spend their days roaming up and down the canals between Croydon and Nottinghamshire with their main base in Cheshire.<br /><br />The couple - who previously rented in Hackney, East London - bought a second boat and now run a cafe from it, which opens seasonally from 10am until 3pm.<br /><br />Joanna and Victor take it in turns to take care of their tot, William, while the other serves up teas, coffees and cakes.<br /><br />Joanna said: "Our life now, compared to the city, is so much better. <br /><br />After six months of dating, in October 2015 the pair moved in together in a flat they rented in Hackney, East London, whilst the narrowboat was being renovated.<br /><br />A year and a half and £30k later, in April 2017 - and after two years of dating- the pair finally moved onto the narrowboat, called Zero.<br /><br />At first, they stuck at their TV jobs, taking a two-hour commute from Otford, Kent, to Old Street, East London, every day.<br /><br />The pair left their freelance gigs in December 2019 ''just before covid hit'' and haven't looked back.<br /><br />They were able to put their editing skills to use when starting their YouTube channel in April 2020 - which details the practicalities of life on a boat and the cities they visit.<br /><br />In April 2021, the pair renovated a second boat which they opened as a cafe, called Holly The Cafe Boat.<br /><br />Victor said: "It means we're able to give back to the communities that we travel to through barista coffee and conversations with locals.<br /><br />The couple have now visited over 50 location - stopping at them for two weeks at a time, with Hampton, South West London and Oxford being firm favourites.<br /><br />As well as Macclesfield, Cheshire and Coventry, West Midlands.<br /><br />The pair now boast over 44k YouTube subscribers and nearly 10k Instagram with followers all across the country.<br /><br />Their little boy, William, is a firm favourite with their online fans.<br /><br />Joanna and Victor can be found @hollythecafeboat on both Instagram and YouTube.
