Capt Ahab

I am about to install a table and noticed the new Sequoia "bayonet" system as an alternative to Desmo - they sound very firm and dont need holes cut into the floor. http://www.midlandchandlers.co.uk/store/category/midland%20chandlers/cabin%20and%20deck/cabin%20fittings/table%20desmo%20legs.aspx Has anyone used them - are they any good?

You are missing the influencing aspect which comes across very clearly in the Trust's Governance document - and the simile only works for us ditch crawlers!

There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding about the role of the Council. First, its not an executive body which makes decisions about the day to day running of the trust. If you think that's what its for you will be very disappointed. It is a key part of the governance of the charity, the body which appoints (or removes) the Trustees - who are the real activists in the organisation. There has to be a way to removing the decision making Trustees if they are heading for disaster in the eyes of all users. But the Council's influence goes beyond its appointment role. It also considers the major issues of the day bringing in comment from a very broad spectrum of interested parties (which includes boaters) and has an opportunity to influence strategic directions. The snag is that this "power" is via influence rather by than power endowed within the role. Maybe you can think of the Council as the anchor on your boat - a somewhat passive bit of kit which you keep handy but you will be very happy if you never have cause to deploy it in anger.

Thats the way it works in the commercial world - with the benefit of established relationships as much influence is usually achieved outside formal meetings as inside. I have a good depth of relevant experience, a decent brain, am pretty eloquent and have every intention of using all three to shift the debate where possible.

Robert - I sit on a lot of senior committees in my day job and in my experience getting a ticket to the table is only the start. Its what you do with the seat that really matters. Each seat has an opportunity to influence the debate and therefore influence outcomes. This particular committee is mostly about governance, holding the Trustees to account and holding an ultimate power of veto if things are going seriously wrong. That said, the seat also gives you access to the day to day decision makers its in this consultative role one can actually have the greatest influence. I am passionate about the Inaland Waterways as a whole and about the business dimension in particular, so my particular interest is to ensure that the needs of the commercial boating business community are considered fully against a backdrop of the needs of other user groups.

I would like to say thank you to all the Business Boaters that cast their vote in my direction. I will endeavour to do all I can to ensure that the needs of Business Boaters are represented on the Council. Andy

I had the same message as a candidate in the Boating Business constituency.

I do the same on our butty but sadly there is no hook on the cruiser. Instead I attach it to the hand rail.

I am facing the same problem but with proper blue water hose. In the past it was slid over 10mm tap tails and jubilee clipped so my solution to fit onto the 15mm tails of the new taps is to leave the 10mm pipe in place and then compression joint the 10mm pipe it to a 15mm to 10mm reducing joint - £3.50 for 2 at Wickes.

I dont think you need to introduce and forced ventilation to the bilge. I lifted the floorboards in our 12 years old boat today in the main cabin and the bitumen coated base plate beneath the slabs showed no evidence of any historic condensation. I would cut an access hatch as far back as possible to let you mop out any spilled water (we had a few problems with a holding tank but the less said about that the better!) but this all dried out within a few weeks of the spill.

I need to reduce a standard sized waste water pipe from a sink to a much smaller flexible hose attached to my skin fitting. I am sure I saw a post which pointed int he direction of a product available from Plumbase but I cant find it now I need it. Can anyone remember the post and point me in the right direction. Whilst we are on the subject of boat plumbing I also need to connect some standard 15mm tap tails to the hot and cold water hoses - whats the best product for the task?

There is a pump out on weekdays at Aldridge marina, just beyond Brownhills - near us too. Mind you - no diesel out here in the boonies!

For fruit it would be Pears, Apples, Plums and Damsons. For local apples look here: http://www.middlewoodtrust.co.uk/fruit-trees.html And for other local fruit look here: http://www.salamandersoft.co.uk/ebwildlife/localFruit.html Its a start... Andy

I seem to remember something like this setting a huge dump alight on the Black Country a couple of years ago.

It did make a mess - thicker packing cord did the trick. Half a turn it is now.

The iron hold section of The Jam Butty is about 7mm thick (thinned to 6mm in the exposed areas). Not bad for 100 years of neglect!

Actually there is another candidate standing from the last election..... me! This time round I have moved to the Business Boating constituency and my manifesto plus a video is available on the election web page. If there are any business voters out there please take a look. Andy Tidy

The W&E seems to be getting more traffic these days and long may it continue or my boats will be stranded at Longwood!

I would agree that this is the most beneficial scheme

If you want my honest opinion about which route could open first I would put my money on the Bradley link not because I would expect to see a lot of boats but more because the driving force is the regeneration of the area with a living canal as the catalyst.This would bring the money needed to reinstate a route with very few significant obstacles.

A second pound is nearly in water on Tamworth Road, plans are progressing to get through the Lichfield Cruising Club section, there is movement to get under the railway as part of a housing development scheme and then there is the new footpath section next to the M6 Toll aqueduct. Not bad for what was expected to be a quiet few years!

Its really interesting to see that although the route will be open to navigation, the boating aspect isnt the driving force behind the plan. The real benefit will be to enhance a large area of land which is sort of stuck in a post industrial time warp. The reintroduction of a living canal would create a much more diverse wildlife corridor as well encouraging residential development. An additional boating route would be a bonus but the traffic volume expectations are realistically low. With progress happening on the L&H, the Selly Oak Arm about to be put into water and now this there is a lot of interesting restoration work happening in the region.

You dont have to register with environmental health everywhere you go - just at your "main" base. For our business we got our five stars from Birmingham for our home, Stafford gave us the same for the boar when it was based at Calf Heath and we are now registered with Walsall where we live and moor. Selling coffee beans would be very low risk and they may take some time to come and inspect you. As for registering with CRT we use the local business manager (Peter Moor for the midlands). He approved the application and authorises the issuing of a roving traders license which costs a bit more then a private one - about £60 extra for a motor. The butty comes in with a 50% discount if its unpowered.

My head says Nicholson but by heart is with Pearson. Mostly my heart wins......

Ray - I am afraid the Aprilla Fuels story is a complete fabrication from start to finish, created after a few too many bevies one New Years night. Re Smethwick Great Reservoir - I found the map in the heritage centre and its clear that it sat on the other side of the road from Victoria Park. There is no sign of the dam so I guess it was spread over the bed of the reservoir before the housing was built around 1900.