Bobbin

I agree with MJG. The photo of that poor lady was very upsetting. Also the fact that she may have to forgo her holiday because of this. We need much more control on the towpaths, if these speedsters will not slow down put a few speed bumps in..... May I add that continual use by these bikes are making ruts and we as licence payers are footing the bill for repairs!

Not very good in high winds, as the wind will get under it and it'll be ripped off.

DIDINFECTANT . New word for cleaning up after incontinent pets!

I can't understand why you smacked your rescue dog! So he had a wee on your rug, get a washable one nest time. Rug not dog. My rescue dog had an accident at home while I was out longer than expected. She did'nt greet me as usual when I came in, just went to the rug and sat looking at the wet mark. As to say look what I just did. So I got to work with didinfectant and gave it a good wash and scrub while she sat and watched me. Since then there have been no further puddles. To cheer up. Change your diet so your loo does'nt burp, touch up your blacking, learn to turn your boat without bow thrusters and take your dog out for walkies. There you go, job done and happiness returns....................................

A biscuit tin will be far too thin resulting in uneven distribution of heat result, hot spots = burnt. Better to get a cast iron pan with a lid or a griddle. You must remember to "season" cast iron cookwear by heating a little oil (3 or 4 drops) and sprinkling a little salt in and rubbing with some kitchen paper before cooking each time as food sticks to cast iron and this will prevent it. After washing it is also a good idea to just rub a little cooking oil around the pan as cast iron goes rusty very quickly. Happy cooking!

Fire cement, and yes it does crack after a while, mine lasted 4 years before it cracked, Just keep an eye on it dig the old out and replace. I used black cement and also applied fire paint for a good finish as the black cement dried slightly gray. When the new fire was fitted the fitter used sicilicone and it shrank very quickly, but I don't know what make that was.

I'm sure there are other things to be getting on with. It should give a working temperature guide on the tin. Why don't you wait until next year when it gets warmer. Painting bilges isn't a nice job anyway and doing it in winter burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Bilge cleaner a little warm water and mop up with a nappy, disposable nappy bag..................sorted!

Nice to know you are looking for a Mike Haywood. He made my boat and she has a Sabb Model G 10hp engine she is only 30ft So you will need more power than that. Just be aware that some have V hulls and cost more to take out for blacking. Hope you find what you are looking for................OOOOOOOOOOOOh uck I can't think of anything worse than sleeping over a bag of poo! Get a porta potty or a composting loo.

Hi Ditchcrawler. No broken arms, A black eye, Split lip rescuing a swan that had been shot in the face. A heck of a whack on the thigh from a notoriously bad tempered cob Ring No, HCI, some months after that I had to rescue him as a younger cob wanted to take over his female and almost drowned him ,I dragged him out and sat with him until he recovered, Gently returned him to the lake. Went to check on him a couple of hours later, no gratitude, he charged out of the water having a hissy fit hell bent on whacking me again! Sadly he was badly mauled by a dog a few years later and was rushed to Stapeley but he could'nt be saved and was put to sleep. Anyway I have lost count how many times I have been pecked or wingwhacked but it has all been worth it.

Sorry you saw a cygnet being drowned Bill, the fact that it was swimming low in the water is a sign of illness or injury. On occasions I have removed cygnets showing these symptoms and the adult swans just stand back and let me pick up the cygnets without putting up a fight. ON assesment at Staperely Grange wildlife hospital the cygnets have been found to be suffering from various problems. Glad to say after medical treatment most survive and can be returned to the wild. It takes quite an investment by the swans to bring up their family so they either go off and leave a sick cygnet to fend for its self or the better option kill it quickly so it doesn't suffer. About agressive swans they are a pest but we are invading their environment so we just have to put up with it !! Althougn I have been sent out by the Swan Rescue group I used to be a work with to try and stop the agressiveness sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't.......then I got a wing whack OUCH!!

I used Bilge cleaner in mine at double the advised strength and then mopped it up.

I'm at home nursing a badly dammaged cruciate ligament so can't make it to my boat as often as I used to. So I tried the chat room just to talk to other boaters, and was refused. It would be nice to know why.

It is upsetting to watch but the adult swan is telling his cygnets its time to leave the nest. Some times the cygnets are reluctant to go therefore we see this heavy handed behaviour. By now the cygnets will have learnt to fly and should be old enough to fend for themselves. (Are you sure it's the father of the cygnets. iI not you may be right and and the cygnets could be killed by a rival male) In this case you could entice the attacker away from the cygnets by FOOD!! The adult swans will soon be maiting again.Young cobs are not welcome around at this time as some may try to mate with their mothers. Some swans do allow the young pens to stay much longer as femails don't pose such a problem. The young swans are very reluctant to leave their home waters so we often witness this upsetting scene. It very seldom results in serious injury or death as the youngster takes the hint. Sometims hanging around at a distance for weeks. If you have ever been fortunate enough to see swans maiting you will know how loving and gentle the cob can be. Try to understand their world it's as complex as ours. I've looked after swans now for many years and they never fail to enchant me.

Hi Numpty, I'm with Nav & Gen, have been since I bought my boat 7 years ago. As I have carried out improvements and added value to my boat I have informed them and sent photos etc. They have added my improvements to the cover but have not increased the premium. So if you have a "fixer upper" you could do the same. just a thought..............