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Folk are losing it mighty fast, I've noticed and becoming pretty boring. The reason in my opinion is the constant peering at screens, television, smart bloomin phone, computers, lap tops and eye pad things. Apart from all the unsightly major horrific fizzical alterations which over time evolution will cause and happen to humans like one huge square eye ball in the centre. I've mentioned all that before on here so I won't go into it again here. Lack of reading books is the problem, especially unillustrated fiction where one has to use the imagination to picture the stories and scenes in ones mind eye. Peering at pictures on screens requires no imagination, its done for you. Imagination can be a soother and life saver in a way too in, like in times of stress or depression. To lie back with eyes closed imagining all manner of scenes, activitives, funny situations ect ect, pretending, dreaming is wonderful The imagination needs to be culitivated, excersised regularly to keep it in fine fettle to prevent you from becoming a total screen watching bore. Panic, I've lost me Eye pod thingy!!!

I'm really not a fan of buying something cheap for use in emergencies. That's exactly the time when you need a good radio which will both transmit and receive loud and clear. If that's your primary purpose for it, invest in something you trust. You can still do that with a budget of around a hundred quid. If it's for more general use, you'll find that on the inland waterways it's rare you'll get an answer anyway, both because of range restrictions due to geography and because not many other boaters are monitoring VHF. Even when calling ahead to manned locks there are times when VHF goes unheard (depending on the river, of course). If you're at sea or on bigger rivers (the Thames, say) then VHF is valuable if not mandatory, but again you're now in territory where you need clear, reliable equipment. Additionally, not wishing to teach Granny to suck eggs, are you aware you'll need training and a licence if you have such a radio aboard, even if it's in a drawer for emergencies?

Its supposed to be good for arthritis and rhuematism. Although the folk looked worse when they emerged from them.

Harrogate! you could go there to bathe and save water.

Not so much dreadful as much as a dream that could become a nightmare. Do it, by all means, but be sure you know that it will cost as much as bricks and mortar (either rented or owned), and will become all consuming. There is always a job to do, or a gas bottle to be changed, or a loo to be emptied, a water tank to be filled and so it goes on and I guess more so if you haven’t got a partner to share the load. Nevertheless, we wouldn’t have it any other way, and maybe you won’t either ?

Fan seized Bob? just a thought, but hope its something really simple and cheap mate

Just a thought. Check the fluid level in your central heating system. Ours had a slight leak over this year. I had also neglected to run the Ebby once a month as I usually do. When I tried to run it in November it had a hissy fit and refused to work. After a reasonably expensive trip to Carwoods https://www.carwood.co.uk/ it is now working well. I found the leak and topped up the system.

One at a time is possibly the best way. Assuming that the engine alignment is correct before you start, undo the nut on top of the first engine bracket and count the number of turns you undo it, this is important. Then undo the bolts holding the mount to the bearer. Then carefully jack up the engine no more than you need to slip out the old mount and place in the new one, having set the lower nut on the new mount at the same height as on the old. Repeat for all 4 mounts, paying attention to the heights of the old nuts and setting the new mounts nuts at those heights. When tightening up the two nuts on the studs, hold a spanner on the lower nut and gently tighten down the top nut. Does that make sense?

Went up to the boat yesterday (150 miles round trip.) To re-install one flexible fuel line. It leaked at the point where the pipe is crimped to the sprigot. Annoyinng but not the end of the world. From the boat I ordered a replacement from ASAP Supplies at 2 pm to be delivered by 1st class post. Their hours of business yesterday were 9am to 3pm. It arrived this morning at 10.15 am. ? Given the time of year I was expecting it towards the end of next week. Back to the boat tomorrow to fit it and bleed the system. Both ASAP and the Royal Mail ......Thanks

Put this sign in the window: The next boat along has much more booze and much fancier gadgets inside. The owners are away till next weekend!

I found a brass lucas headlamp at Stanley Ferry, now installed with led light inside it. A good while back I found a slightly bridge battered pulpit rail, fettled it with a Warrington pattern persuader, it just fitted the holes in the Dawncraft bow where one had been removed.

I wouldn't bother, whatever you do, if someone wants to get in they will do, and the harder you make it the more damage will be done getting in. The more secure you make it the more obvious it is that there is something of value inside. Put everything ';away' out of sight when you leave the boat, a nice phone, computer, etc etc left on the table are an open invitation to try and get in. A simple padlock will deter the opportunist, and leaving the curtains open will show them there is nothing worth breaking in for.

I would add that it isn't always as straightforward as signwriter versus vinyl. You get a lot more than just a name on your boat when you use a signwriter. I had used signwriters in the past for works vehicles and had been impressed when the discussion with the individual about what I wanted had ended up with them making suggestions I had never even considered and ended up looking far better than my original idea would ever have done. A signwriter is a professional with an artistic flair who can often visualise the finished article far better than many of us can. We used Robert Naghi for our previous boat (he painted the entire boat so I can't suggest how much the signwriting was) He painted it under a motorway bridge. We both had the same idea of the name being on the rear panel of the boat like it had been before: This is before he painted it and the name and scroll further forward are in vinyl: When he saw the boat he said he felt the name would look much better filling the panel on the side. We had never considered that and it felt like a very bold change but, knowing how I had put my trust in signwriters before we went with it and he was so right! He did all the Celtic scrollwork and rope patterns on the deckboard and on the hatch too. Even 5 years later people were saying how good our boat looked and we would happily use him for signwriting again. Roll forward a few years and we got this chap who is also known as "Signy Steve" to do Python's signwriting: After doing loads of research into what the specifics of the font size and colours should be I got in touch with him and he said oh yes, I have done a few before and just got on and did it in that way that signwriters make it all look so infuriatingly easy I can certainly recommend him Next on our list is to get Delhi repainted next year. She is booked in with Dan at "Lost Art" who has come very highly recommended to us. https://www.facebook.com/pg/LostArtPainters/photos/?ref=page_internal There are a lot of very good signwriters out there but one of the problems you may encounter is that those who do full boat repaints that are good - like Andy Russell for example, tend to have a very long waiting list. They may be able to slot in a quick signwriting job but probably prefer to work their way through their 2 year plus waiting list. We were fortunate to get a slot with Dan because although he has been producing some great quality work for a long time through a boatyard he was working for he has only releatively recently started out on his own and has not yet built up a long waiting list.

Dave Moore of this parish is excellent if you want traditional style. He doesn’t do “frogs and wine glasses” however.

Install more solar and LifeMgPo4 batteries is the answer and keep all the comfy stuff that make a boat a home and nice place to be

Changed mine this week, its easy just lift at the left edge near vertical then jiggle the riddler conection out and replace similar method. The last one has lasted four winters. As others say just empty the ash container often as if its full it burns an oil int grate. Oh and I use my riddler four or five times a day plus a poker there is no reason not to use it people who reckon not to use it are on drugs

So I think what we're saying is (look away now, Heffalump) it's crap, inappropriate and possibly illegal?