HappyBunny

Mmmm banter breakfasts .......

Hmmm ... where there's a will, there's a way ...... I spent much time considering how to deal with this issue ..... considered turntables, hi-abs etc etc etc .... even got hold of an old hospital bed (they take a fair weight, go up and down and turn) ..... looked at fat bottomed cruiser sterns ..... but in the end found a boat with a big front deck in my price range .... and a willing man, a boat builder no less, with a grinder ..... and accepted that i would need to downsize a bit and, despite the prophets of doom predicting a replay of the Zeebrugge disaster ,,,,, I am now living happily ever after with my little ke100 on board and my big girls bikes littered around the country for when I need to go really really fast or show off on my Strumpet (T140 chop) .... I might get something a little bigger now my wrists are a bit better ... but the KE is sweet ... and always draws a crowd of admirers as they were many peoples first bike So the sides lift out, the bike wheels off, sometimes need a short plank, she is light enough to push along the towpath to a bridge (because you must NEVER EVER ride on the towpath) ... and I was amazed at just how much fun a girl can have on such a teeny weeny motorsickle, never having ridden anything so small before .... have had a bag of coal on the back and given my more lightweight friends a "backy" ..... and OF COURSE you MUST drain the fuel out of the tank and store it PROPERLY .... I keep her well lashed down on deck .... because I am like that it required the re-routing of my gas line .... but have just got my BSC renewed, so no probs there, notified my insurers .... AND it has the added bonus of making it much easier for me to get my stall set up when I am trading from the boat .... no more climbing over the sides with boxes of stuff .... happy days best of luck... and let us know how you get on

Well said

Yes ... it appeared that way .... i had meant to snip just the lone female boater bit, and multiquote some remarks from others ... apologies if you felt I was ascribing any remarks to you that you blatantly have not made, that was not my intention. Message me if you are interested in the single handed womens group we are all nice We must all fight any fight that we feel worthy of fighting for .... whether we do it as individuals, by forming groups, by joining existing groups and getting them on board with us, is up to each of us to decide as individuals .... but (and this is in NO WAY directed at you personally) there is no point in expecting others to fight for what we believe in or want personally ....

yes, and Warwick and Leamington Spa seem to turn their backs on the canal .... But agreed, Birmingham is fabulous ... I am so looking forward to next weekend and also very grateful to all the people who have made it happen.

I am a member of a single handed female boater group, it is mainly a social group, not a lobbying group, because there is nothing to lobby for. I am also a member of RBOA as I feel that they represent and support me on many issues I face as a residential boat owner. I am/will be a member of the ACC as it will support me and lobby for me on issues i face as a continuous cruiser. And i am a member of the Roving Canal Traders group ..... I am also a member of the Tufty club and the Triumph Owner's club I am not a member of the Pomeranian Dog Owners Society because i don't own one .... I don't feel it is exclusive ... it is just not relevant to me. Other boater groups and forums exist and I follow their activities with interest .... I have no problem with single issue lobbying groups, they can be powerful, and broader based groups also serve many functions. There are clearly some strong feelings here, and many people feel the need for a broader, general boaters' organisation to represent their interests. This could be set up, if the negative feelings are put aside and people use that energy to feed into existing groups or create new ones. We are all, ultimately responsible for our own emotional responses to situations ... and we can feel aggrieved and cross, or we can move on and do something positive. For my own part, I feel no sense of having been duped or conned, but I do feel that a number of individuals have spent a lot of time and energy forming a organisation that will be of tremendous value to me and others, and that has evolved out of discussion and meetings.

agreed ... when it comes to narrowboats .... size doesn't matter ... apart from where you want to travel and how much space you need internally good luck

Hmm thanks for that link .... he seems very reasonably priced Tipton is great ... I'm tied up here as we speak, ready to trade at the canal festival. The town has useful shops and the pub is lovely .... there is also a beer festival here this weekend Many people told me not to risk going through Birmingham ever .... bandit country, they said, you won't come out alive .... but I have really enjoyed every minute of my cruising on the BCN ... it is marvelous ... all the contrasts, the remote feel, wild nature reserves and the industrial heritage .... and Birmingham city centre ... amazing .... and have been helped with locks by local people throughout, shutting gates for me etc. And crystal clear water on the curly wyrely .... massive fish ..... Anglesey basin is definitely in my Top Five places to moor. and despite what people say, I have only had to go down the weed hatch once

Not only is the stove on .... the thermal long johns are too .... and will remain on until spring has sprung

Big thanks to RLWP for getting me moving again so quickly Your help was much appreciated ..... it was a miserable afternoon .... and that boat that came down the locks in the dark late last night crashed straight into me ... Yes, of course I did .... gave him a complete rebuild, while i waited for the lock to fill, and he is running sweet now .... oh, you meant RLWP

Hmmm i could do with a good boot up the gluteus maximus at the moment Just call me Jake ..... seriously, it is the worst bit about advancing years ..... all the spare parts you have to find and put on in the mornings .... after getting McAlpines in to winch you out of bed Careless talk costs lives Richard ....... ooooh I spy another opportunity for a bit of blatant self promotion

yes .... chimney scraped and new rope on the doors .... and a few sticks burnt last night .... i love winter

Mmmm .... I want it all and I want it NOW .... I would like to eat in the pub on the Saturday evening .... ham,egg and chips methinks and well done for taking on the onerous task of going to the pub to get the menus

something strange afoot in these parts .... don't stray off the towpath .... another two boats have broken down since I ground to a halt .... literally on the bottom .... big thanks to NB Alatea (or an anagram of those letters) for pulling me out of the silt ..... It's a cracking spot to be stuck for a few days .... though tinterweb connection not great but thanks everyone ... and Richard ... please do not reveal anymore intimate details of your visit ... the contents of my spare parts cupboard are classified .... my cover could be blown so easily .... "loose lips sink ships" and all that

And me ....

...... Excellent ... though I am somewhat "dentally challenged" these days ..... so just put mine in a glass of steradent now

me too ..... and I like practising my ninja moves to get through the webs in the morning to make a brew ....

I love stickers I stick them everywhere ......

excellent

done ... and thanks John, Lucy and Steve and everyone else for your hard work

hmmm just an excuse for a blat on your bike I'm game for that weekend ..... (so they shot her ...)