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Program is what you use on a computer ('forced' upon us by the Americans, unfortunately, who use that spelling routinely). Programme is the English spelling. To me, 'Program' implies a different pronunciation, as well as offending my sensibilities (as an old fart from a generation wot were tort to spel proper) Tim

Indeed, I wouldn't swop my Paloma for all the beer in Hertfordshire.

This thread that was on here a short while agoMy linkGives a good reason to have 2 co alarms whatever the boat size

The BSS have produced a leaflet with advice on avoiding CO poisoning, including advice on the number and placement of CO alarms, it can be found here. It's sensible that you've recognised that you may have an issue with CO and are taking steps to exclude it as a potential problem. Do bear in mind that headaches are one of the most common non-specific symptoms that people report (pretty much any drug trial will receive plenty of reports of headaches and nausea, even from those subjects who've taken nothing more noxious than sugar pills), and that there are plenty of other causes. If you can exclude CO as a cause (by checking any appliance that could be leaking CO and getting another alarm or alarms like you said you're going to), it's perfectly possible that there's another reason for them.

Whilst it is quite reasonable to be concerned about some of the pre-prepared answers to questions, I think it is fair to say that these didn't in the end play a huge part in the discussions that actually took place at the meeting. I agree that the answers to some of those questions look highly suspect, and for that reason I didn't hold out the highest expectations of the meeting. All I can say is that at the meeting itself Sally Ash managed to seem much more prepared to engage with the boaters present, and to listen to what they actually had to say. Several had warned us beforehand that they didn't see this as her usual style, but I have to say that on the day I couldn't fault her. They were very prepared to admit they haven't got things right in the past, and seemed genuinely enthusiastic to try and do better. Trust me, we gave as good as we got when some of the more contentious stuff was discussed, such as the differing impacts on an area, and the residents and businesses in it, when comparing (say) the hire boat trade, and the needs of private boaters. People like John ("Cotswoldman") made very strong points about live-aboard boaters doing as much (or more) for local economies and canal-side businesses as those who sometimes seem to get listened to more. I don't think I'm someone who is easily fooled by someone putting on an act, or trying to just use the words that they think I want to hear, and I am prepared to take how Sally and her colleagues engaged us in the meeting itself at face value. Give this dialogue a chance - this independent initiative in my view is already making more progress in trying to change attitudes than your elected representatives appear to be.

Unless this happened quickly perhaps overnight it beats me that another boater or the marina staff had not seen poor Tree's boat in trouble, possibly held down by too tight mooring ropes. They have plenty of small boats there which could be used to go and sort out any boats that look in trouble, indeed a marina like that which is prone to flooding over like that should have a small powerful launch handy to go out and deal with these problems, after all they're quick enough to chase up their customers mooring fees.