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A quick rundown of events, yesterday afternoon when it became obvious that we were going over we went through the moorings releasing boats and putting them on long lines, only one sank due to being chained down! We had to cut loads of lines because people insist on using crap polyprop rope which the then knot so that it cant be undone, they also have centerlines on why? the river broke its bank opposite me it was also over the locks at Rotherham so we had a very substantial current running past us. At about 2 ish in the morning we hit the top and were floating well over the bank, I had a scaffolding pole tied to the rear stantion on the boat and a step ladder at the bow, both these stopped the boat going onto the bank, at 5 ish I went out as the water was receding Carolyne a neighbour came out as well [we did this in 2007 as well] and started pushing boat of the bank back into the canal, it was freezing and to be honest foolhardy as the bank was full of debris! At about half 6 we had all the boats sorted out and retired to have a shower as we were filthy and stank [sewage station up river from us] now its a glorious day washing machine is on mug of tea and breakfast gone, and all is well in my world.

Excuse me sir, could I tell you about Canal & River Trust and what we are doing in the area at the moment.......

Platform 4 at Rotherham station....

We are boaters and thats what we are supposed to do, look after each other and their boats. I always think our moorings are still stuck in the fifties

Nah, far too modern for Northern. This is their Rotherham train replacement boat service. Excellent green credentials, oar powered by their unfortunate passengers, so extra profit for the owners. Unfortunately, it is broken and being repaired, so the service is cancelled.

My bare shell was delivered by the buolder to a marina about 6 miles from home in May 1996. I got it for therapy after my wife died. It was a budget hull (Eastward Engineering). I had absolutlely no experience of narrowboats though I had had several smallish yachts and a fair amount of sailing experience. I was a reasonable diy'er and a lifelong office worker. It was the best thing I could have done in the circumstances. One day I might finish it !!!. Think Triggers broom. Cost? No idea and it matters less. If i sold it tomorrow it doesn't owe me one penny. Sitting on it as i type this . Every day i'm on it i look around and think " i built this" Apologies for typing/spelling but ths tablet has a mind of it's own. Frank

When fully charged, the positive plate is lead dioxide (PbO2), characterised by its chocolate brown colour, and the negative plate is lead (Pb), characterised by its leaden grey colour. When fully discharged, both plates become lead sulphate (PbSO4) and become a leaden grey colour.

Exactly Laurie. Most dissenters appear to be those who don't need one, but to those who do I'm sure they're a God send. If it helps to extend folks cruising lives or makes lock wheeling bearable for those who otherwise might struggle, I'm all for it.

Was passing Guildford, so stopped to see what is happening. Unfortunately didn't have a a camera with me. There is a team from River & Canal Services on site, with a large crane in the adjacent offside car park lifting in ton bags of stones. I think the original plan was to create a coffer dam in the river to isolate the collapse and create a dry worksite, but apparently the flow was too strong. They now appear to have wedged the former footbridge across the gap,and are placing the bags against the bridge directly in the gap, so they are held there by the force of the water. Once the dam is in place and sealed the navigation can be rewatered, so avoiding any problems from clay drying out or banks collapsing. (There are two other weirs / sluices between the collapse and the lock to take the flow, and if necessary they could partially open the lock sluices). Once rewatered then at some later stage (currently indeterminate) they can get a barge in adjacent to the collapse, to start putting in steel pilings for a new weir, and reinstate the towpath.

It will be 10 years in December and my fitout is nowhere near finished, though habitable and useable. Why has it taken so long? 1. Travel time to boat. Takes a day out of every visit. 2. Getting materials to boat. Rarely been in a position to have vehicle adjacent to boat. Recently acquired a van, would have saved so much time. 3. Family. They just take up so much time. 4. As 3. 5. Difficulty of getting materials. Everything to do with boats is often in discrete elements and not perfect. The stove I bought has a slight tendency to run away, the flue smelt bad when it got hot, and the chimney was crap and lasted just 2 years. The UFO vents took 11 screws, don't have collars and ceiling fitting supplied, and can drip condensation. Boards are normally available as 8ft x 4ft which is exactly wrong for most boat work. Waste pipework: Hull fittings are not naturally matched to hose and sink fittings. And so on. 6. Maintenance. Just keeping what you have already done in good condition takes a lot of time, particularly paintwork/blacking. 7. Changes of plan. The longer you take, the more likely you are to decide you want something different. Stove installed, and taken out. Built for 2, changed to 4, then modified for 4 plus children. Alde boiler installed and removed. Calorifier installed and removed. 8. Weather. Whenever you need to do something outside, the weather will be too cold, too hot, too wet, or too something else. However, since my main enjoyment is the fittingout itself, none of this has bothered me.

I was taught the metric system at school and I'm 56. My 62 year old brother says the same. I can cope with either but prefer metric as it's simple and straightforward. I bought a guide to woodworking with a router and the paragraphs showing how to calculate offsets when you're using a 3/16" bit on a curve of radius 1 5/8" with a baseplate of width 3 7/8" is insane. Move onto a consistent and logical system for heaven's sake. This is such a dull argument. People who suggest there's something "better" about imperial are just showing how unwilling they are to change their minds and move with the times; thisgs were better in them olden days. No they weren't. And when you have people of 56 and 62 who understand the metric system, how old do you have to be to make the utterly tedious claim that you don't understand? People choose not to understand as though it makes them look clever in some way. It doesn't. It makes them look daft, hidebound and reactionary.

You also need to consider if you are going to build it to the RCD directive, with all its associated paperwork or not. If you don't, then you can't legally sell it for five years. Your circumstances may change in that time and not having the option to sell could be an issue. Jen

Those personal Qs are not there to have a point for you - they're for them to be able to say they have x many (insert name of minority group here) to help them reach or prove they meet their diversity targets. There's funding in that.

Do you feel 'life is better by water' ?

A couple of photo's here on Song of the Paddle https://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=57298&p=677613&hilit=wey#p677613

You could always consider buying a boat ! We were at the boat (on its new moorings on the Welsh coast) for the last couple of weeks and was speaking with a friend who lives close by. He suggested that in view of the weather forecast and the possibility of flooding, if we needed it he could find us a bed for a couple of nights. I said that was most kind, but in the event of a flood, being on the boat, would maybe be the best place to be. He answered, "Hmmm - yes, you are probably right"

Here is a natty little device that will allow you to cruise thru' Bristol, London, or anywhere that is banning the use of Diesel engines. 3-Weetabix to the mile !! https://boatworld.co.uk/boats/outboard-motors/ron-marks-free-wheeling-outboard?filter=65,63

The same is common with mathermatics (actually with arithmetic) people who would be offended if you suggested that they had trouble reading, are happy to say that they don't understand "maths".

Which probably also highlights that they can't read writing...!

If you decide to remove the slider it's very easy, guick and safe to do. Wind down on the greaser to make sure there's grease in the gland & stern tube Remove the 4 nuts on studs Slide the slider out to give access and clearance. You may ffind that some form wooden levers help. Measure using chosen method, Replace slider and nuts Adjust as appropriate

Hi, Paula! My wife and I rented a 26' narrowboat for a short break (3 nights) this past September. The Kennett &Avon Canal Boat Hire is a small, family-run business. They have 3 boats (we hired the smallest), the last time I looked, so they do not have their own marina. They have a mooring in Bathampton. Richard and Sue Warren run the business. Richard provided instruction and went with us through the first lock out of Bathampton. He was willing to spend as much time with us as we needed. Truth be told, as the pilot I probably should have taken him up on the offer and worked through a few more procedures! Don't be afraid to ask Richard to go over anything in the training a second time. We found Richard to be friendly, supportive, and reputable. My seamanship will not be heralded in the pubs along the canal, but we had a grand time, all the same! Upon arrival back in Bathhampton, Richard was even nice enough to give us a lift back into Bath. In summary, we had no problems involved with renting or returning the boat. We'd have no problems working with them again. Richard will advise you to make your major potty trips at pubs along the way. Very good advice. Even then, I also advise making at least one stop at an Elsan point, going and returning, to empty the cassette toilet. You definitely do not want to wait too long! One final tip: It's not how far you go, it's how much you take the time to enjoy the trip! George

What he said - probably. I had a similar problem on a several years old Honda EU20i. Pete Power advised that it would be the low oil sensor activating, and said that the oil has to be full to overflowing. I filled it so that it was full with the machine leaning very slightly away from me, and let it run out when level. This solved the problem.

Of course - since m and mm are the international standard, and have been for quite a long time, you'd expect the French to have their own variant (on the basis that they invented it anyway) and the British to continue with believing that we are still in the Imperial age.

Footage of the parade filmed from Scorpio's engine 'ole

so - back to this ratchet windlass! I wonder if its any better than my carbon fibre one? (That should do the trick! )