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Showing content with the highest reputation on 12/07/16 in all areas

  1. What a lovely morning I had. Mrs Rendelf went to work early, and I have a day off, but without much in the way of sleep. Back to bed I went. As I started to wake mid-morning, I was filled with a dreamy contentment. The dopplering thumping of joggers. The trill of birdsong. The quack-swoosh-splosh of ducks. Broken conversations of dog-walkers. Silence, perforated by Drum-rolls of fast cyclists / creaking-tinkerbells of slow cyclists. Light rain on the roof. The chirps of tits, either side of me. Distant diesel engines in the lock. The bed rises and falls as the lock is emptied, followed by more snippets of inane conversations. Crows. The wind rustles the trees, pigeons call. Helicopter. This is Hobbiton; we are lucky. The boat rocks gently, encasing me in comfort. Then the words, "Peter!" Peter, what are you doing!" from the towpath. A dog called Peter? I think lazily. "Peter!! In, no, in!" clear as a bell in my fuzzy mind - the lady is less than a meter from my bed. Then, a jarring bang, a shudder, and the entire waking-cocoon-in-the-shire thing lurches to starboard as Peter drives his hire boat the length of ours, shouting "it IS in, is IS!!" Still unsure what 'it' was, I got up and made coffee. Sitting on the deck, I was amused by the ducks who assume I am a duck feeder, and by Peter banging pegs in, next to the lock bollards and against the piling. Even though we are currently three or four empty boat lengths from the lock, on a wide, straight section, perhaps I'll start the engine and move a little further along - that way I can use the powertools. It's a good life! One of my favourites is listening to the sounds outside in different places. What sort of sounds can you hear where you are?
    2 points
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  7. http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-55071220.html?utm_content=v2-ealertspropertyimage&utm_medium=email&utm_source=emailupdates&utm_campaign=emailupdates7day&utm_term=buying&sc_id=11947693&onetime_FromEmail=true#sharePopup I'd love to go and view this just to hear the estate agents sales patter.
    1 point
  8. Trouble is that as one of the " do as you are told" and " abide by the rules" boating types, I just get on with life, enjoy what comes along and try to understand just why anyone ( be it BW or CRT ) really thinks that such extreme regulation is necessary. I could see that Cosgrove would be a popular spot to stop, ( to walk the old course to Stratford, or the Great Ouse in either direction, or the great network of paths and cycle all the bridleways ) but is there really suffficient cause to be SO restrictive ! Funnily enough our home mooring happens to be right near to Foxton, and I have seen how the restrictive signs have affected the atmosphere there, especially out of season, when there really is no real pressure on mooring space. Just how CRT get a sensible balance I just do not know, but surely it ought to be based upon careful assessments. I am beginning to think I should just work on the selfish basis of "I'm allright Jack" and being close to 70 now play the "old codger, didn't understand/notice the sign" scam, It seems to work for all the shuttle back and forwards in a tiny area brigade. Never mind. I hope the Buckingham Canal Society does well without my support. Cheers. Mick
    1 point
  9. Go slower so the ducks can keep up.
    1 point
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  11. Very simple solution and saves you digging around in electrics(or paying someone) to fit one. I would be more concerned that we are all responding to a talking boat.
    1 point
  12. When wind and rain is forecast and to locate the leak exactly squirt some washing up liquid on the outside of the frame. When the rain and wind arrives a stream of pretty bubbles will be blown through the gap into the boat for you to run about and pop.
    1 point
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  17. No tax/MOT, do need occasional oiling. Fits in top of your boat
    1 point
  18. Thank you Cuthound. I'm stealing your post and putting it in my 'Boat Book' The course is a very good idea and for what it offers is very cheap. The only engine i ever worked on was a CZ motorbike and that only involved kicking or praying
    1 point
  19. As others have said, if i had a choice i would take a summer mooring and CC in the winter! What area are you wanting to spend the winter?
    1 point
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  23. Of course, we only have your word for the fact you did Martin Rog
    1 point
  24. Oh blimey; it's dark in here intit? Some of this is irrelevant to your question but I'm putting it out there as it will inform discussions going forward (for that read I should have read all your post first and I'm too lazy to edit). First thing to say is that we may need your postcode to determine whether you are compelled to claim UC; unless you've already completed the online claim form in which case welcome to the World of Pain (oh... you have; sorry). We also need to know whether you've got a home mooring. Deviating from the definition of "Houseboat" in the '71 British Waterways Act a narrowboat is a houseboat for the purposes of UC/Housing Benefit. Don't be surprised if the Work Coach you see at your interview has a problem with that. If you've not got a mooring then you are homeless for the pursposes of Section 136 of the Housing Act '96 and if you aren't in a "full service" area then you will be excluded from claiming. If you've got a mooring and satisfy the gateway conditions (as long as your arm) and are NOT in a full service area you will need to claim UC. Sadly I see that you have a mooring so it's looking increasingly likely that you'll be one of the first boating UC claimants (I know of one other). In a full service area everyone has to claim UC Do bear in mind that with UC you will not see a payment for the first 6 or 7 weeks of your claim. If you get a new job before week 5 you will not be entitled to any benefit. Your licence, insurance and BSC (spread over 4 years) should be aggregated into the total housing costs amount. UC is the shitstorm to end all shitstorms; it doesn't have any finished IT and there is a lot of ad hoc bullshit going on. You can find me at Benefits for Boaters (Liveaboards) where I am admin should you wish to discuss. I might not spot comments on here.
    1 point
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  28. I must live a sheltered life as I have only found the volunteers to be great helpers. Doing the Droitwitch this year it was particularly helpful to have volunteers who knew all about use of side ponds .
    1 point
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  32. Back in the early 70's, I was on holiday in Salcombe. It was about 10.30 pm when we noticed a man fall off a floating pontoon into the sea. We were on the land at the time and quickly started our 17 ft launch (it started first time). Andrew steered the boat towards the spot where he fell in, with me on the front giving him directions. I couldn't see any body with my torch, then I noticed ripples in the water and got Andrew to move the boat to the centre of the ripples. There was no one there, I plunged my hand down into the water as far as it would go and grabbed a wooly thing and pulled it up with all my mite . Up popped a man gasping for air. It took Andrew and my self ages to get him into our boat as being wet he weighed so much. We got him back to shore and he fully recovered.
    1 point
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  36. Yes i can see it now ; 1 pair of trainers never worn by a zombie - will swop for any food or decent axe.
    1 point
  37. I have to admit the when coming to a flight going in the same direction as the last boat where they have left all the gates pen does get me annoyed. Especially if it's going downhill and there are 2 bottom gates. Because I don't step over the bottom gates with only 1 closed (not having long enough legs and being a it of a coward) I have to walk up and down the lockside twice before I can even start to fill the lock. So I say leave all gates closed when you leave the lock. The only exception for us is when we've closed the gate then notice it's opened again when we've left. You can only lean against it for so long so they get left open, but that's a rarity, so if it's on a whole flight I know someones just been lazy. Sue
    1 point
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