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Hi Jason, I'm afraid that I missed the shenanigans when the forum was (rightly and wrongly) telling you that you must be mad. Rightly because your project was a hopeless case, and wrongly because given your circumstances it was absolutely the right thing to do to pursue the hopeless case. The reason that I missed it, is the reason that I am exempt from your restrictions on what people can say, namely that I had recently lost my Wife to Cancer after 17 years together, and wasn't following the forum as avidly as usual. Time doesn't heal. Time cannot make your life what it was before. Time can and does slowly carry away the worst of the grief, and enable you to go on with your life and to build a new life within the new reality. The point to make is that whether the hand that we are dealt in life is good or bad, it is what we have. It is the new reality, and we can only try to make the best of it. When Bev died in August 2017, this wasn't our first trip on this particular roller coaster. We'd been there before in 2010 when her son was killed in Afghanistan, and in 2000 when her first husband took his own life. Bev and I had the pleasure of owning a boat for 15 years, and making many happy memories, but the happiest memory is the last one where she overcame kidney problems for long enough to join us on one final trip to Ellesmere Port before the Cancer took hold and she had to leave part way through for what proved to be a final spell in hospital. I'm not in the same situation as you, as I have a job, I'm not ill, and whilst I don't have children of my own, I do have a stepdaughter, son-in-law and two grandsons. I count my blessings there. I also make sure that I get out of the house. Friendship won't find you. You must find it. Go looking for things that you can do out of the house. I also have every intention of continuing to boat. Bev and I enjoyed it together. It sounds like you an Paola did too for the limited time you shared it. If that is still a dream for you, then go for it. If it is a dream that isn't constrained by the timescales of a terminal prognosis, do try to do it sensibly :-) Anyway, I know that I'm not the first to offer, but if you fancy a trip out for a widowers' cruise, I'm not a million miles for SoT and I would certainly try to make you welcome for a mix of sad tales and forced merriment. Dave

A lot of you thought I was crazy and wasting money last year on the boat Kathleen, after all we got only 48 hours on the water at a cost of £4500, a boat we sold for £750, last year both me and Paola knew things were getting worse, the money didn't mean anything, we were desperate to have one last bit of fun and for Paola to do things she never had before, Paola had never been on a boat, we had never owned a boat and it was worth it. To actually own a boat even though it fell apart, it mattered, to travel those few miles of the Trent and onto the canal it mattered, the people we met while broken down, the community, it all mattered. As I said in my last post here, things were getting worse, her kidneys failed and we went on dialysis, dealt with it all at home, no problem, I was trained on all the medical stuff and we got on with life, walks and pushing the wheelchair became less frequent, Paola was hurting more often and more fatigued. All was going well or so we thought, dialysis was tweaked and things were beginning to look up unfortunately it was not meant to be, seems whatever had killed off her kidneys so quickly was also damaging her heart. Day after her 2 monthly appointment she had acid reflux and nausea seems a woman can have a heart attack without any of the normal signs, its called a silent heart attack, she ended up in the coronary care unit. Here is the story of what happened. https://imgur.com/gallery/JSggx0v Now the universe seems to have a sense of humour because, 7 days after she died (20th November) I was diagnosed with bowel cancer, I went into hospital on the 3rd January to have part of my bowels removed an I am back home now, I go to see the team to find out the prognosis and how much chemo I will need. Life has little meaning for me now, Paola was my world and please unless you have personally had this kind of loss do not say "time heals" or any of the other platitudes, I have no family, no friends, no children, no career, I have probably had 1 visitor to the house since November 20th that was not to do with my illness or the funeral. I spent 21 amazing years with Paola, 18 hours a day not one hour away from each other as her carer, no respite, no pub visits or time away, we were a couple in the truest sense of the word, I may just never get over this. Why is this in the boat section, because that time spent on here planning, that time spent making friends and on the water was the most special time me and Paola had, that 48 hours was worth millions not £4500, not one second of it was a waste and the memory of her sitting on the back of the boat taking pictures as I piloted us up the river will never leave me. Don't listen to anyone who tells you its not worth it, don't let anyone tell you not to experience now because me and Paola were just a normal couple of students when we met, we had plans and dreams, you could lose everything tomorrow and ask yourself what would you regret? what didn't you do? what did you put off till next year?

Thank you, just taking one day at a time, the cancer sort of sidelined the grieving process, I am still sort of going through the motions, I may end up taking you all up on the kind offers once I am in a better place mentally and physically.

So sorry to hear this. I can't even begin to imagine what you are going through right now. But if you ever fancy taking a break from it all you are welcome to come and join us for a few hours on Naughty-Cal.

There have been many topics, that require an electrical meter to obtain reading that can help solve the problems. Here I am putting up photos of meters I have, hopefully to show the differences, to enable a useful one to be obtained. 1. Probably the best type. This does volts, amps, and ohms. The clamp at the top reads DC amps. Many cheaper types do not, and for boating purposes are not good. 2. A more general type, useful for volts and ohms, less useful for amps. This is shown set up for measuring volts, to a max of 20 volts DC. 3. A more expensive version. Again set to read volts DC. 4. Almost useless type, no accurate reading can be done. 5. Bulb and wire. Can be useful, if no meter is available. Give a yes/no answer to "Do I have power here?" 6. "AVO" types need knowledge to set up correctly, and need careful reading. The "Windsor" is looking for a new home, which will give it care and attention, to fix it's ills. (some parts appear not to be working) Yes the sharp eyed will have spotted the last one was made in the USSR in 1971! Hope this has shown some of the differences in meter types. Bod

I can only echo what Dave Mayall has so meaningfully said. I lost my first wife to cancer in 1998, age 47. I was left with three children aged 10, 12 and 18 so I had to carry on for their sake. Be gentle with yourself and have courage to face the future. Inadequate though it may seem, best wishes.

Why thank you Thebiscuits...that made me feel LOADS better! ?

A very hard read this one, I hope things get better, and like Rachael you are welcome to a trip on my boat as well. You are right you have to live each day as if its your last and dont regret those decisions, good luck with the future

Alan, Ebay are currently looking at the users selling... I've also spoken to the police and currently getting all the info on the boat so I can prosecute.

plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose

So very sorry to hear your story, and reading others with a similar experience. For what it's worth, our thoughts are with you. One day at a time....

What, the Paddington Arm?

and of course it's had the "london whiteout" done to it. Since we have march of the widebeams can I propose the following months... January of the fishermen February of the canoes April of the paddleboarders May of the ducks etc etc

I am so sorry to read your sad news about Paola and also about your bowel cancer diagnosis; others have responded so much more eloquently than I can so I will just add my name to their good wishes. It is sometimes surprising when tragedies and setbacks like this occur how many others have had similar stories and their individual stories can sometimes help to get through the worries. In my own case, I too was diagnosed with bowel cancer a at the end of 2016 and after having the operation to remove part of the large intestine, I am now entering my third year of monitoring with everything good so far! However, life is sometimes very cruel and late last year my wife had a brush with breast cancer, resulting in an operation and course of radiation. She is now well on the road to a full recovery and both of us just get on with enjoying life. Best wishes for the future. Howard

I would rather have a cheap Aldi one that doesn't work than a super duper £120 one that doesn't work.

You are (both)in my thoughts and prayers.

Nah, just a badly designed system (although possibly not installed by Peter, so we will not blame him just yet!) My boat used to need a pump running all the time the stove was alight. It was the smell of burning pipe insulation the first time we lit the stove that alerted us to this flaw. That and the emergency dump of pressurised steam directly into the bath ... Stove repositioned and a full replumbing of the system to scrap all the 15mm pipes and now it thermosyphons like a good 'un - apart from the calorifier that needs a pump running to heat the water because of it's position. That is mostly used if Mrs Biscuit gets a bit carried away with fuelling the stove to cool the cabin a bit without opening the doors to waste the hot.

The big announcement. Team Tawny Owl will not be taking part in the challenge this year. This is because Richard and I are now the organisers, so it might be a bit of a conflict of interest! Tug was intending to tale over the organisation from John and Roy, but due to a change in personal circumstances he is no longer able to, so last Friday Richard and I were asked if we could step in and get things organised for this year. We are just getting our heads round what needs to be done and how to go about it, so for the moment, if you'd like to take part please email bcnschallenge@gmail.com, and I'll get the entry forms out to you as soon as I've finalised all the details. Sue

See section 3 of the attached Pdf C&RT Moorings Policy.pdf

Wow. I didn't realise you were THAT old. I doubt anyone else here has done the Runcorn locks. Were they good?

Was this an early example of "Smart Meters - do they kill people?"

In the past, the idea was that on line moorings would be removed as new marinas appeared. That quid pro quo seems to have been forgotten. George

My sincere condolences, although I understand that mere words will not make you feel better. If you ever fancy at trip on a narrowboat in the South Staffordshire area just send me a pm.

One of the problems with aluminium is that as it isn't as strong as steel, unless it's stiffened (compared to a steel one) it'll likely distort & leak, particularly when you tighten up the weed hatch clamp. Making a aluminium copy of your existing one (to the same dimensions etc.) would probably not work. It'll probably need a thicker top plate/lid plus more cross bracing on the underside of it.

The neck and back are also almost as strong as arms. With a strap around the neck to supplement a rope to pull with the arms, both attached to that handle. I used to shift engines about like it. not any more though.

That's what happens when you bring your GU ways to the BCN.

That's good to hear and I knew it was happening but there are normally two each year and together with the 24 Hour Challenge they are a key part of the BCNS annual programme yet they don't appear on the BCNS website. Bizarrely though the website has been updated to show model railway society meetings in the clubhouse in the events diary. As a member, donor, active volunteer and participant I find that a little strange but I am aware of changes in personnel in both the leadership of the Society and of the major events. These have resulted in a loss of continuity hence my comment. Long term the Society - or at least the big events - may not survive on word of mouth alone. An Explorer cruise isn't for me at the present time. As for the weed issue I have completed three 24 hour challenges in a boat without a weed hatch and had no major issues. Obviously it requires being defensive through bridges, around floating vegetation and other debris but have never had more than 3 or 4 goes with the shaft in any one day. You can - and at some point will - pick up some plastic or an item of clothing but that's true even of the heavily used bits of the BCN. Part of the trick is not to faff around worrying about the prop at the slightest hint of trouble. The shallow water and debris can often make it appear that there is something significant around the prop when there isn't. My prop wash always looks disturbed compared to how it is normally when on the BCN. Will also add after seeing your latest post that I think initially you might be best served attacking anything snagged around the prop with the shaft rather than bother with the weed hatch. It's often quick and easy to at least get the main body of stuff off the prop. You get to know where to aim with practice. JP

Very, very sorry to hear this. I know the efforts you put into the dream and although you never made it to Newark to take a trip on my boat you did at least for a short time 'have the dream'. All the best for the future and hoping you get a full recovery from the C. Alan

I agree with all of you what has made me even more in agreement is the fact that a lot of you that have commented on this topic have given me sound advice with the build of the boat in line with safety and the right way to do things with other topics, I take your comments more seriously than EU bureaucracy that have no idea in my opinion what is safe on a boat or what is the right way to build them only canal boat builders and people with knowledge of these sorts of boats really know, they probably have never even been on a canal boat they are more likely to sit on their million pound yachts at the weekend sipping champagne and laughing at us peasants with their wages !

But it does (can be used to) generate some electrickery to run a very useful fan.

Stern gear replacement will cost in the region of £2,000, if you add on the cash needed to install a stove it pushes the price up considerably.

The CC'er way to use electronic prescriptions: Go to the pharmacy you want to use near where you are, and ask them not your GP to register themselves as your preferred pharmacy for the e-prescription. Wait 48 hours. Order your prescription online as usual, and it will be sent to the new pharmacy within a further 48 hours for you to collect. It is quite important that you allow time for the systems to update - 2 days for the pharmacy to become your new one, and another 2 days for the prescription to come through. It is vitally important that you check which pharmacy the prescription is going to before pressing the submit button, or you might need to go back to where you were last month. (Don't ask me how I know this!)

Think "Outside the Box"

Bank Newton on the Leeds & liverpool. Scenery is unsurpassed. Rog

That's a very good point - Island time makes boatyard time look rushed and frenetic. Maybe we should get @Laurie.Booth to suggest a two lock, one mile route for a 3 week trip ...