Leni

Sorry, but I just don't get that bit at all! In what way is it 'good news' for them?

£5k? That's nothing! Try this for a big one! https://www.crtmoori...ils.php?id=4246

The ones which slip under the mattress are supposed to be 'tip-over-proof', as the weight of the mattress plus child on them 'anchors' them. You could use two overlapping slightly to be sure they were long enough to reach the entire length of the bed, and if you want to make them really secure fit a couple of fire-guard or stair gate type hooks and clips at each end to stop him forcing his way out from behind them! Mind you, experience has taught me that a really determined toddler will find a way out of almost any 'secure' cot or child bed!

They do. We saw quite a few of them on the M40 yesterday morning!

http://www.amazon.co...s/baby/60288031 Amazon seem to sell lots of this sort,which tuck under the mattress.

OK, this prompts me to stick my head above the parapet again. (Why do I do it? Why? I know I'll probably live to regret it! ) I admit it. Put the cuffs on. I am not what you call a "genuine CC'er". I want a mooring. CRT know that, because of my circumstances, I need a mooring. When I first registered my boat just over a year ago they said to me, "Until you find a home mooring, I'm afraid we'll have to put you down as a CCer. Is that OK?" and I said I realised that that was how it had to be done. So yes, I'm one of the 31%, and I hope that answers your question. I want a mooring, which I cannot have (yet) because none is currently available where I need (and I realise this word will also open another can of worms! ) my boat to be, therefore I am not what you call a 'genuine' CCer, I am a reluctant CCer. OK, you can start to pass the popcorn.

Maybe the title of this thread should be changed to "Scumbag people spoiling the reputation of others"!

Yes, I also got a survey, which I filled in to the best of my ability although there were several questions I couldn't answer, for example those about 'During the past year', since the boat hadn't been in the water for a full year at that time!

Could it be that some people are aware that some liveaboard folk are sensitive to 'gongoozlers' being too inquisitive, so they over-compensate with an 'eyes forward when passing moored boats' policy to avoid accusations of nosing into a boat which is someone's home? ETA cross posted with Jo, who makes the same point.

Last month my son fitted the water heater and re-tiled the shower room. This month he's building and fitting a double bed frame. I've ordered the foam for the mattress. That's the extent of my job (plus nodding and smiling approvingly ) Sadly the exterior didn't get any attention this summer as was planned, because the interior took much longer than expected! (Isn't that always the way? ) Still, the boat's coming on well, and there's always next year! I think she's probably doubled in value already by what my son's done over the year since we bought her! Onwards and upwards!

Very good point, Mac! Thank you for that.

Do you mean the one in the link Grace & Favour posted above? http://www.wildeye.c...s/firewood.html I thought that was quite useful. The only thing which confused me is that it says Yew logs heat well. I was told you shouldn't ever burn Yew because it's poisonous and the smoke and fumes given off are poisonous, too. Does anyone know if this is true or not?

Oh boy, yes! I have two Burmese and two Bengals at home (one of the Bengals is a blue-eyed Snow Spotted like your Milton, Oarfish and the other is a Blue Marbled) and the Bengals shout and yell all day long! Plus they're totally mental! I have no idea why anybody would 'invent' such a crazy breed! (OK, they are beautiful, and we fell in love with them when we first saw them, but if we had known what they were like .... ) Sorry, they don't live on, or even visit the boat, so ....

Since I asked where was the thread on Boater Cats and was challenged to start one, here goes! My son and his family have two female half-Siamese (but coal black!) kittens, who were born on November 5th last year. One of them lives on the boat with my son whenever he is there and the other lives with his wife and kids, but visits the boat occasionally. Their names are Muppet - the kids' kitten - and Noodles - son's kitten. (The kids chose both their names, so least said ... ) Noodles hadn't been a boat cat for very long before she had her first 'dip'. Unfortunately, she chose to fall in while my son was listening to a CD on headphones, so he had no idea how long she was swimming up and down beside the boat, looking for a way to get out, before he took off the headphones and heard her yelling loudly - as Siamese do! She was certainly exhausted by the time he pulled her out! Luckily, she seemed no worse for the experience when she had recovered her strength, and she has (so far) avoided falling in again. Anyway, here's a couple of pictures. Noodles the boat Cat Muppet visits the boat Noodles likes cuddles So, now I've started things off, let's see some more Boater Cats please!

Where's the Boater Cats thread?

http://www.bbc.co.uk...yshire-19868963

The way I look at it is this; many of the people who volunteer on the canals, in whatever capacity, are also licence holders. Presumably they don't say, "I've paid my licence fee, why should CRT expect me to contribute more by volunteering as well?" I'm not physically able to volunteer, so although I am a licence holder (AND a 'Friend' of CRT) I made a donation to this appeal.

I know. Sorry, it was meant to be a pune or play on words

Cwch isn't Welsh for boat, it's Welsh for a cuddle

It's not a 'Contrived Tenancy' if it's rented at a commercial rate and a proper contract is drawn up and signed.

Yes, you can get Housing Benefit for living on a narrowboat. As others have said, getting a residential mooring is likely to be more difficult than getting the Housing Benefit! As for self-employed working, have you got any qualifications in plumbing, etc? If not, I would say your first move is to get at least an NVQ. It's probably best to concentrate on one particular skill, like the plumbing, but it will be useful to be able to also do more general property repairs. You might also consider getting your gran to buy the boat and you renting it from her, getting Housing Benefit to pay the rent. This is legal. Good luck! I wish you success in your plan and hope you manage to build up a good business.

Ah! But if you have a mortgage, the Bank technically 'owns' your house, (or a big chunk of it ) and every month you have to pay them a big chunk of your wages! We may never manage to pay them off the way things are going at the moment, so actually paying for the house is an on-going drain on the old finances, never mind the 'running costs'. So on costs per month, he boat wins every time!

Can't see how you work that one out!

Knew son wanted another boat (he last owned one several years ago, before he had kids). Saw one on ebay, thought it looked good, made an offer, was accepted, survey (yes, survey ) confirmed it really was as good as it looked, cash handed over, no problems, no searching!