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Why do more people now feel it’s ok to have music blaring from a radio on their rear hatch? I personally prefer listening to the bird song. Yesterday afternoon we were moored (with a dozen or so boats) at Audlem in the sunshine. A boat came through the bottom lock and from 100m away I could hear radio coverage of the Ryder’s Cup. As I wanted to watch the BBC highlights that night, I had to resort to sticking my fingers in my ears, while politely asking him to turn it down. Whether it’s opera, 80’s pop, sport or heavy metal please don’t force it on other boaters. Please buy yourself some headphones and allow us to enjoy the peace.

Another good reason for us not to visit London. Simply selfish and inconsiderate behaviour.

Oddly enough I find steering with just the engine noise, watching the world go by, an almost cathartic experience.

I followed a bloke trough Harecastle Tunnel earlier this year with loud music blaring from his boat. I could hear nothing but his music, probably the same for the rest of the convoy. We had no chance of him hearing any request to turn it down and similarly no chance of hearing anyone's horn or cries for help. It's simply not ok to justify doing something either unsociable or dangerous just by saying you'll stop if anyone asks.

I quite like The Three Degrees. Like MHS I like the natural tranquility of the cut.

I gave dad's (max Sinclair) collection of 2 1/4 slides except his Droitwich ones to Laurence, as dad had the same opinion about the BWB CRT (what ever their name is at the time) and considered someone like Laurence or Hugh Potter would use them and not just put them in a store hope they go to a good home with LHP collection and are put to a good use. RIP LH and Dad On another note spent today at a ceremony to acknowledge dad saving a narrow gauge which has been restored and back in steam, one of 13 he saved

I am beginning to think a campaign where everybody as soon as they hear loud music puts their finger on the horn until the boat is well past might be a good idea.

No xmas = Turkish delight!

Seeing a Shag always makes me Swallow. I will defo get my coat now. ...No, no more bird jokes!!

Fair point, but if I lose £20 I lose £20 and that's it. Lose a contactless card it can be multiple £20's, £10's, etc. Glad I'm not the only one who prefers using cash. If the TSB tries to send me a contactless card they'll get it back in bits after I move my account elsewhere.

Now we know you are just jealous of those of us with proper engines...and we don’t blast anything as we have cutters on the pipe....perhaps one day you will buy a boat with soul.

Maglev ???

See, you've just done it again: everything about what?

Corrected for you

For comparison purposes, here is a filter taken from my 2LW today. The engine has done 3000 hrs since a complete rebuild. The filter has done 200 hours. The filter element is dry to the touch, and smells faintly of engine oil. I cannot see any visible smoke or fumes coming from the breather filter when the engine is running.

Dr Bob can you name any of the wildfowl in general terms that you have some sort of feeling for?

It means more than one method, solid fuel to me would be my last choice as it needs too much attention, good for when your onboard but really poor for general background heating when your not around. Drip fed diesel does both and is a lot cleaner.

I've been tempted to do that very thing in response to some barmpot's radio blaring out, and occasionally next door's dog barking interminably round midnight.. But then, of course, you just add to the irritation of all the other neighbours who aren't being a nuisance (though how they could find a trombone anything but soothing I have no idea). The last place I lived backed on to a terrace, where more or less every one of about 15 houses had some kind of music radio on, all different, all loud, all in their gardens. I do, however, as everyone who knows me is aware, possess a soul of infinite patience, so i just sigh . But people with ghettoblasters on the boat hatch, or the new idea which seems to be catching on of having giant speakers just inside the back door get right on my nadgers. And as for those bloody single cylinder engines banging away...

Departing Amsterdam, destination Sweden. Kiel Canal tomorrow morning.

Only if you keep your racist views to yourself, and do not commit any act which is motivated by your racist views.

i remember a copper doing some yoofs in a car for public broadcasting without a licence.

Most ball race type have grease nipples, some sealed for life ones don't. Some plain bearings have grease nipples but most don't and the best way to grease those is to heat up heavy grease in a pot until fluid then pour it on and it will weedle its way in and remain there as it cools and thickens again.

Its not an offence to be racist Doc so dont bother about it ?

My previous narrowboat had 15 mil bottom. The extra weight meant we had no ballast just some engineering bricks for trim and the floor was low enabling a slightly lower roof line than most of my previous boats. I doubt the boat was going to last longer than others as my old 1981 colecraft is still going strong with little repairs to the hull and its a 6 mil bottom and sides.

I’m loving the pictures...please keep them coming....especially if you manage to visit the oily parts of the ship...I think I’d be happiest in the engine room! I must admit a cargo ship is much more my idea of a cruise than one of those white monstrosities with thousands of people on it. Quite jealous!

The two things are completely different. I have been on several TUI cruises and they are excellent value for money, however I have always been more interested in the ship and the sailing aspect rather than the latest Broadway production or water slide. The girlfriend, on the other hand, enjoys the cruise ships but I don't think she would enjoy being on a cargo ship. Sailing on a cargo ship is more of an experience, and a price comparison with a cruise liner is irrelevant. Just docking in Amsterdam.

I had some drawings on order from Laurence when he sadly passed. Wherever his collections end up I hope they will be as accessible as possible, as otherwise, as mentioned they become just another dusty box. I totally agree with Sarah and Pete that they should be with like minded people not just "on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying ‘Beware of the Leopard"......to quote......

Yes I completely agree. I've met a number of new boaters who relied on diesel as their main form of beating through winter but most types just aren't reliable enough. The drip fed diesel heaters seem to be the most reliable but if you're living aboard through winter you need something that can't really go wrong and that I'm afraid means a solid fuel stove.

I thought the post had been reported to the mods as the suggestion was the boat was full of Immigrants That aside,my thoughts are that the white ducks are in fact somebody's pets, possibly Indian Runners or Aylesbury,s or American Peking. Fowl are always locked up at night for protection from predators and I suspect the mallard wandered in with others while the 2 left outside were norty stop outs. Often when locking up my chickens one or two of my ducks would go in with them, the same applies in reverse when locking up my ducks. If you have genuine concerns about the birds welfare then a call to the RSPCA is the correct thing to do. Do NOT call the RSPB as this sort of issue is not in their remit. Phil

To be fair, it's ages since the poor sod sold his boat and he's been stuck in a bloomin' tin tent all that time. He must have had hard times from, or be bored to death with, his Caravanworld colleagues to make him come here and take issue with Dr Bob. So, with that in mind and as he's an old ex-boater, we should make allowances. Caravaning - it could happen to any of us, you know.

That comment alarms me somewhat because it indicates you might be unaware of the inherent hazards of using LPG on boats. If that's the case here's why: Most houses use natural gas which has the same density as air so small gas leaks can dissipate and will escape through vents, open windows, cracks in doors, etc. Bigger natural gas leaks which don't dissipate can of course still cause explosions. LPG is denser and heavier than the air so leaking gas will sink. In houses and caravans that usually means it will find its way outside eventually, but on a boat that won't happen. On a boat even small LPG leaks will sink and accumulate in the bilges. In purely practical terms gas makes a lot of sense for cooking on boats, but we do need to be aware of what we are doing and in terms of safety it's not the same as having gas in a house.

It’s not really called the Burgess Arm, of course, just for starters, though I’m sure the shade of Mrs Burgess is well pleased! It’s Lord Vernon’s Wharf, the Braidbar yard and it seemingly hadn’t occurred to the project manager that dewatering a working boatyard might just be a problem... The plan as I last heard it was to put stop planks in at Bridge 15 and a dam across from in front of the Trading Post to the wall opposite, where the GRP cruiser is usually moored. There will need to be another dam across 14A to keep the water in the arm so’s Braidbar can carry on working. BEngo, it’s not a “modern marina”, the arm is an old coal wharf and Victoria Pit is a long stretch of lay-by moorings stretching from 14 to nearly up to 15.

I have a Humble dryer.

I would like to say that we're running out of things to replace, but my Mummy taught me not to lie!

Chop-You got to stop breaking things lol-if you replace much more you are going to have a brand new boat! ?