Woodstock

I wish we were, this is our first year owning a boat- but she's being painted- otherwise we'd have been out Christmas day. Have a lovely day- hope it stays dry.

We went from Bunbury and did the Llangollen- Lovely!! I've never done the Lancaster but I've seen lots of positives on this forum- Enjoy

Hi- We had a holiday with Anglo Welsh last year and they've sent us some vouchers for 2012 which we wont use. If anybody wants them and WILL USE them- let me know and I can pop them in the post. £125 off a week or £75 off a short break- they have various bases and we had a great holiday on the Llangollen last year- remember that heatwave in September!!!!!

Thick bleach applied with an old toothbrush and leave for 30mins, will kill it but may not remove the black staining. Wilko used to do a tube of something that you re-applied over existing grout- I tried it a while ago and it worked, but you do need to repeat

We're having our boat painted and the painter got the quote from Kegworth Marine, which is where his tunnel is- He did say last week that the guy who makes them is a perfectionist- so expecting a good job.. We'll get our boat back in about 5 weeks so will let you all know. I'll ask the painter for the phone number and put on the forum. He also reccomended a guy at Redhill Marina on the Soar who makes covers at reasonable prices- The materials arent what you'd expect when paying the £thousands that I've seen for some, but fit for purpose- I dont have any connection with these- just passing on reccomendations. Again- I can get the number for the guy doing covers if anyone needs it

Feel better now- think I was underestimating it- just sent you a mail with details- let me know if you need any more info. We're having the boat painted so it will be about 5 weeks before we get it back- but if anybody wants a photo or details let me know

Hi- I need a new front cratch board- top plank and covers are ok, so just the front board- I've been quoted £275 for hardwood frame and laminated glass- does this seem reasonable?

My partner was recently given a Beer Bell for his birthday- so next year he will probably say that- If he thinks I'm running up and down the boat at the sound of a bell like Pavlovs Dog, he'll be in the canal followed by his bell!!!

Hi Can someone explain to a technophobe how to upload a photo- I tried insert image??? and was asked for the http address?

It's been sold

Thank you all-Enjoyed your responses- we did nearly have a divorce moment when the fan belt snapped on the maiden voyage and the skin tank hose flew off and we then drifted sidewards down the Trent- we manged to moor onto the about to be erected longhorse bridge scaffolding. We're still smiling and enjoying it and glad to hear that you are too. Cheers- Jackie

Hi Everyone. It's easy at this time of year when it's grey and cold to get fed up and snappy- but I'm really excited- Here's why:- After a number of boating holidays- where we hated giving the boat back at 9am on the Saturday morning- we bought our first boat at the end of this summer.Unfortuantely, we arent in a position to liveaboard, but will be using her in Spring, Summer, Autumn and if we can in the winter This weekend we're taking her to Andy Cain to be painted- Dont worry-there's a tunnel!!!! Between Christmas and New Year is when I normally get the boat hire brochures and start booking next years hols- But this year- no brochures!!!!!. Instead I'll be playing with canal route planners for weekend routes, bank holiday weekend routes and the odd extended week or so- and the best bit:----We can start when we want (subject to work- unfortunately) and dont have to give her back at 9am on a Saturday. I think the Queens jubilee gives us an extended weekend in June I'll be dreaming of long hot sunny evenings with a large glass of white, the dog at my feet and the other half refilling my glass- Fantastic!!!! If the weather isnt good- the stove will be on, might be a similar sized glass of red instead and who cares??? When we get her back at the end of January, If the weather permits we'll be enjoying frosty and misty mornings and hot chocolate or mulled wine in the evening next to the stove We're extremely lucky to have a boat and be able to tootle off into the sunset whenever we like- let's all celebrate that!!! Finally- any suggestions for weekends and extended hols from Shardlow, Derbyshire including places to stop and explore and good pub lunches are greatly appreciated Ok enough from me- just wanted to share my daydreams

Sounds like a New Years Resolution to be nicer and not post anything that you wouldn't say to someone personally- and if you would say it- then maybe look at yourself Seriously, I'm a Newbie and I've had some excellent advice from members with more experience, but then occasionally you get some radical or harsh comment. I think people don't know when to end a thread either- the initial discussion goes off on a tangent and a load of waffle commences, again with the odd snipe and at best irrelevence. Since buying our first boat in August, the boaters we've met have generally been fantastic and helpful- only the odd encounter with someone who knows it all and deliberately wants others to be inferior. I think Boaters are a nice bunch- let's keep it that way

I'm sure I saw it advertised again a few weeks ago- from memory price was over £29K- forgot to add- I was tempted by the bed which looked great- made by the Queens bed maker- but not too sure about the flock wallpaper

Hi- I've noticed that there seems to be a dislike of pump out toilets- just noticed a newbie asking for general advice on buying a boat and the first advice was "dont get a pump out loo". We have a pump out loo with a decent size tank-the toilet is a manual pump jabsco which means it doesnt use a lot of water unless you want it to, I use a small amount of chemical in the loo and it has never smelt. We dont have to pump out very often- perhaps because of the size of the tank. So please- what are the reasons behind this fear of pump out loos- I'd sooner pump out once or twice a season than have to empty a cassette every couple of days. Is it if you liveaboard, -the cost of pumping out???

Quote= from "Wanted" I have to write risk assessments all of the time, not quite in the same circumstances but the best thing you can do is present the social worker with a good quality document that demonstrates that you have taken into account all of the possible risks and have made reosonable efforts to prevent incident. This is really good advice from "wanted"- to document the risk assesment- keep it simple, suggest that you use a notebook and split a page into 2- one side for Hazard (eg trapped fingers in drawers and cupboards), the other side for action- detail all the things you've done to remove the hazards- childproof cupboard catches etc and date when you did it. Look at each area,and think what could happen. If you havent completed something- put down what you'll do and the deadline and then date it when you've done it-Do that for each area, plus a page on rules that you have, eg You dont allow the little one on top of the boat or the stern or bow alone, life jacket on at all times when outside etc. It sounds like you're doing a fantastic job- but this will help prove it to your social worker- Good luck

Memories eh??-I didn't know you could still get them- I remember when we were kids we used to sit on ours and then it would spin across the kitchen- I'm sure they wont do that now-Enjoy

It would be good to see a few more boats on the Erewash and it would help to keep the weed down- we tried to get down earlier this year- but the weed was so thick

Shardlow marina Derbyshire, has a static park and a marina

Thanks everyone who suggested Andy Cain to paint our narrowboat- thoroughly nice guy and she's now booked in- just cant decide what colours.

Hi New to boating- Can anyone reccomend a good tv aerial and where to buy it. The boat came with a round plastic one which doesn't do anything- could be a salad drier for all it does. I've seen some that have a black box attached- what is this (signal strenghtener??) and do we need one- We have a white box (staus pack) that the aerial runs into- not sure if this is the same as the black box Thanks in advance for your advice

I've seen a guy on the T&M with chickens - ha has a small wooden cage on deck and then lets them roam the towpath when he's moored in the day- sounds great- imagine those eggs in the frying pan!!!!!!

Hi Had a good look this morning for best deals on antifreeze- it's 3 for 2 in Halfords- just bought 15litres,. It may be cheaper on internet- but I need to do it this week.- I dont work for Halfords- just thought I'd share the offer

I'm a newbie since buying our first boat in August- welcome!!!. This forum is great- I've raised a few questions and people are amazingly helpful and never make me think my questions are silly. Sounds like you'll have a fantastic Xmas- enjoy