Dr Bradley

I'd go if time permits. Wojtek, PM me.

I'd love to join in but it is a long way and my circumstances may change - would join in if possible at the time. Perhaps car share from the far north could be organised. My cricket team have a big camping do every year. The organising isn't as bad as might be thought. We use a regular campsite (attached to an exellent pub in Shropshire - nowhere near a canal though). It solves the toilet problem and the alcahol supply. Anything like that down there?

Some years ago I worked in a jobcentre and dealt with several applications for Housing Benefit from liveaboards. It is available for mooring fees but not the license fee, hire of boat or interest on purchase. I always felt it should logically cover the license fee as well as that seems very similar to ground rent. It is also possible to get council tax benefit if this is charged. The comment that it takes ages to process is perfectly correct but varies greatly between local authorities. It would only be viable for long term/permanent moorings. It can be applied for whatever your boat is like, and a narrowboat certainly qualifies. If someone is claiming another benefit then it can be applied for through the jobcentre (see directgov.gov.uk). If not apply to the LA housing office.

My parents, (who were proper ccr's at the time), lost their rudder.Thats a big bit of metal andthey nw where it fell off as they couldn't go far without it.I came to the rescue with my diving gear, spent 2 hours quatering the canal and foungd nowt.

If they were breasted up with a gap between them (perhaps well secured scaffoled poles - Have you ever seen how a cataraman is built?) then the double bow would appear to be effective - or perhaps three boats and be a trimaran. I think it was my first post on here that I asked how to make a narrowboat seaworthy. the answer is you can't, but if you wish to navigate the Humber, Ribble, Trent and Severn it is possible that you might meet worse conditions than in a placid channel crossing, and boats do this. How about the trip across the Wash shown by the Tuesday night club, or down the Thames to the Medway. The well deck would have to be covered/sealed and windows would have to be secure - see the other post on windows for security - it can be done. How about being pooped. The back deck would have to be secure. Not too much of a problem on a trad but difficult on a cruiser. The cost of modifications would probably be more than using a lorry to get to France, but the challenge and fun and risk taking just might make it worth doing. I would probably prefer to use a yacht, but since I'm putting my money into a canal boat, I can't afford a seaboat as well. As a self confessed adrenalin junky, I'm up for it - you only die once as Earth Bond would put it. Colin

Thanks for all your replies and reassurances. I will return to the source of this info and put them right.

I've heard that Liverpool Boats is for sale. Don't know the truth of this, and if it is true, the reason, but as I was intending to purchase from them it causes me to doubt that decision. Anyone heard anything?

The authorities say don't panic (good enough reason to panic I would think). There is no danger in eating the birds or their eggs. How come they need a special incinerator to get rid of the carcasses - why not give them to the poor. (If they did I'd suddenley decide I'm rich). Dr Bradleys Linctus, and plenty of it is prescribed.

In the 50th anneversary edition of New Scientist, they include the prophesis of many emminent scientist. One of the main themes is that in 50 years we (as a race) will have found a way around ageing and will be able to live much longer. Perhaps that will be long enough to be able to live forever. So, if you are young enough,or lucky enough, to expect to survive for another 50 years, perhaps you should be really worried about climate change. I don't suppose I'll be there but and good luck to those nwho expect to make it.

Oh. Shit!

Could it be converted to a liveaboard

Sowerby Bridge on the Rochdale an the Calder and Hebble ( with apologies to those longer the 60 feet.)

I'm going and if the bloke who looke at my house today comes up with the promised offer, I might even order a boat.

See Maffi's blog. As a canoeist, and I am going back several years, I found discarded gear all the time, sometimes with dead birds hanging from lost line and hooks - never will I forgive them.

In sydney, sat in a park, an Aussie came and starte talking. On discovering I was British (didn't take long) said "hey, do you know Grubber." Yes, we drink in the same small pub!"

Perhaps it's a waterways recovery group on the way to their latest project!

I've just read the email that Jon has sent to us all. The idea that moderators are being threatened appals me. I've been on this site for 6 months and have thourghly (how do I use the spell cheek?) enjoyed being a member. How many posts do we see that start "do you mean me?", the answer usually being "I'm not getting at anyone". I do not intend to have a go at a responce to anything I post, and I believe most posters are the same. If we were in the (non virtual) pub, we would recognise from body language how a comment was meant. When we make comments on this forum the body language is absent and although people use emoticons this does not substitute for face to face interaction. We must consider this when posting. Those people who have been getting uptight over electrical questions, which seems to be a particularly emotive issue, should not resort to insults. I, as a reasonbly incompetant electrition have found the information gleaned fascinating and educational, and am able to ignore the personal comments. Some people find it a great put off. Please blokes, (and it's never women) just think a little, and would you say the same thing face to face? Recently there has been much discussion after a posting by a putative film maker. Perhaps I missed what was originally said as it was quickly edited, but nothing I have seen justified the responce from the original poster, and then he would not accept apology and clarifiction. (By the way I'm a bearded hippy, with top shelf magazines such as CW and WW). Surely the original poster does not deserve our respect for the way he replied to posts which were meant as banter. I did notice one of the forum posters responding strongly on the Granny Buttons blog, but soon realised he had missinterpreted the meaning, apologies all round and everything ends in sweetnees and light. As a regular reader of the forum, and an occasional poster, I find the ridiclousness of "Fridaaaay" tremendous and congratulations to all who contribute. Living afloat gives me lots of ideas and things to investigate. Equipment illuminates and bamboozles in equal measure. Graham and Jo - I do read your blog with interest and once I get my sailaway will do my own. Minerva _ I don't care what avatar you use despite a previous post. John O, I met you at the Rochdale Canal Society meet in the summer, and am convinced most of your posts are tounge in cheek. The furry three _ keep up the fun. Great to all of you regulars and I hope to meet many of you once I get travelling - but keep the forum fun and informative - we'll soon crack 5000 members and 500,000 posts (Dhutch - stay out of that one!) Sorry to be so long winded, but it is now Fridaaaay. Colin

Not aimed at anyone in particular, just a general comment - sorry if I offended.

Dare I sugges a bow thruster. A novice can have diffucultiy in any coditons - don't come the old soldier who knows it all when the question is about dealing with conditions which people have not experienced.

OK John, I've done my research and the theory supports your statement that rapid cooling can occur over a matter of years - how ideas change if I don't keep up!

Greenhouse gases do not contribute (significantly) to holes in the ozone layer and have no (or little) effect on global warming. Yes we are just animals and have no overiding rights to dominate the planet, but we do - a product of intelligence supposedly, but how do we use that intelligence - you might like to read how its been done before on a small scale www.dieoff.org/page145.htm (How do I make it link?) Thought somehow you'd agree Carrie, but I cannot agree that there is nothing we can do. You are obviously trying to do something, many aren't but the optomist in me says it's worth a try - we may be fuked but lets not lie down and take it. That would be pink effalumps then.