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Some years ago I went into a craft shop for some materials I needed for a project. I mooched around the shop but couldn't find what I wanted so I went up to an 'assistant' and asked : "can you tell me where I can get felt ?" I was ejected from the shop !!

Move the boat. Change moorings Buy a chain saw Buy an air rifle Buy a generator

It was worth the hassle it’s so quiet in Gloucester Docks.

I employ an agent. I should add, they are close to useless.

I don't wish to hijack the thread but I do feel I ought to stand up on behalf of us poor beleaguered good tenants. I had to move 8 in times in 15 years due to short tenancies and ended up having to settle in the only long term tenancy I could find which involved living with a 50 year old fuse box, a leaking roof and no heating. I managed to land a housing association property with an assured tenancy and finally felt safe for the first time in 8 years. It's not the same as having my own house which as I mentioned I also had once - but it's a world away from the hell of private rentals - which as far as I'm concerned should be for students and pre-marital couples only. No human can achieve anything in life without secure housing and adequate food. Anything any government can do to ensure healthy and stable living conditions for it's citizens is fine by me.

It's been suggested to rent out the house rather than sell it. I'd caution against this. We live in times where buy to let landlords are seen as the lowest of the low. The current government has already legislated in several ways to reduce the profitability of renting out houses. Expect the future to include such things as mandatory costly registration schemes, forced expensive upgrades to meet 'green' targets. Also likely are a further boost of tenant's rights vs those of a landlord. Corbyn has already hinted at the possibility of 'right to buy' at discounts by established tenants. I foresee higher rates of capital gains tax for those selling buy to let properties. I speak as the owner of 3 houses that I rent out. One is on the market, another will go up for sale in the next financial year.

Makes Tim & Pru look almost professional.

I haven't tried this but I'm fairly sure that a duck, if offered a slice of bread and a lettuce leaf, would choose the bread. Even if you showed him the link that said the lettuce was more nourishing for ducks. Mebbe Dr Bob could try this experiment and post up the results?

There are places you can go and look at boats without wasting the sellers time, Wilton will give you the keys to half a dozen to look at alone

The thing is, when you are running your engine 8 hours at the weekend and annoying the feck out of everyone witin 100 yards, us lithium users simply don't need to. Our batts charge in less than half the time yours do, and never need fully charging anyway. Less noise, less annoying your neighbours, less fuel, less engine wear, less servicing. That is the beginning and the end of why lithiums are good thing, really.

Did you ring Pete after I gave you his number?

Second song:

She says you was ok, but you looked like you had the swellies when visiting wellies.Too long on the bar.

Cheers Rusty. I shall start with those two for starters !

Another TV boating thingy: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0009hyp/gareth-edwards-great-welsh-adventure-series-1-episode-1 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0009hyr

I did, and at least you got it out the way in the first post!

I think we all know that - but if you look at the 'electricians' website anyone would be fooled Overplating New engines fitted Solar fitted Boat hire All electrical installations etc etc etc

sounds pretty bad, but I guess most tenants are good and honest. Are you a private landlord(not employing letting agency), because that requires a lot of involvement.

I didnt know Mike was simple!

If you go to popular tourist destinations like Windsor in summer the river looks like some sort of bread soup. The ducks and swans are all overfed and there are too many of them. I don't feed wildlife on principal - they're meant to be wild animals. If you feed them they become semi-domesticated.

I'm just glad I never bought a boat.

That's fair enough but as a novice you ought to buy something that will sell easily should things not work out as you hope. A 60 foot trad wouldn't be my choice. Go and have a chat with brokers, - most of them will tell you cruiser stern boats 57 foot and under are easiest to sell, with the "reverse" layout being in vogue at the moment. Avoid anything that looks DIY, however attractive it seems, and don't fall for something with an unusual internal layout. Doesn't really matter what engine it has unless it's something really odd. If you take to the life then after a few years you will develop your own idea of the perfect boat - believe me, however much you think you know what you want, you don't.

Great news, well done. The ideal length for a centre rope is inches shorter than the distance between where you tie it on to the boat and your prop.

I think selling your house to buy your first narrowboat is a bit risky thing to do, would rather buy a cheaper narrow boat and put house on rental market.