Melders

uh oh ...... not a happy chappy with what was on offer then, eh, Paddy?

Thanks for the replies, me hearties .. arrr. Won't be going sarf to look for a boat - can't understand those cocker knee types. Now - has anyone got an apartment to rent in Liverpool - overlooking the Albert Dock ?

Can any peeps recommend marinas/brokers yards in the North West ( close to Liverpool in partick' ) where I'd find large quantities of narrowboats for sale for a bit of fender kicking over the coming winter weekends? A mention of where I'm most likely to find boats offered for sensible prices would be very much appreciated too. I thenkyou.

I've got this terrible worry about someone lurking on the roof of my imaginary boat in the early hours ... just waiting for me to send Mrs Melders out of the front or rear door to check what the spooky scratching noise is ...... so i'd have a little periscope hole made in the roof in the middle of the boat for this device........ .

Hiya.... one of our posters, Redstarafloat, has a section re' the construction of the huge new intricate section of canal at the Pier head, Liverpool, on his excellent website that may be of some worth or at least interest to you. http://www.towpathtreks.co.uk/LLC/liverpool_dock_link.html Might be worth you doing a bit of head hunting around the construction site. If you have any vacancies over there for Gongoozlers .... call me.

.... and please ignore those ( including some doctors ) who state that if a belt of CO doesn't kill you you'll be OK. Also you should beware of low level long term exposure to the bad stuff too. http://www.coheadquarters.com/ChronicCO/indexchronic2.htm As for those little stick on pads that change colour - the experts use them to idicate what peeps died of.

..... with a wee bit of a squeeze? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10...gas-just-5.html

Is there the possibility of scale build up on the surfaces of your calorifier? .... excellent insulator that stuff.

They love vinegar on the Readers Digest site - no mention of putting it on chips though. Everyday Problem-Solvers :- Vinegar: 175 Different Uses Extraordinary Uses for Baking Soda Ammonia: A Multi-Purpose Cleaning Agent http://www.rd.com/channel/cleaning/

May I add a rant about cats dumping wherever they like - especially my front and rear garden.... and at the side of my car on the drive. Also, what the hell do you cat owners actually feed your animals - the smell of cat poo is truly sickening, especially when you climb into your car with the crap coming off onto and into the carpet! I'm an animal lover - but a few buckets of ice cold water have been thrown onto many a moggie.

I was due to start visiting marinas to get an idea of what boats I can get for my money, but, for all the reasons you've mentioned, gary4Lw, I'm not even going to start thinking of looking at buying a used boat - never mind a new one - until next year some time, if at all. They're all very important and significant points you mentioned, but for me the main ones would be an increased lack of maintenance that looks to be on the cards..... and BW's total ignorance to boaters views.

Have you thought of skip/dumpster diving? .... or contact the skip suppliers and ask if you can take any wood off their hands for them, they only burn it.

I'm curious as to how many boat owners, either live aboard or not, are quite happy to never actually move their vessel. You know, just treat it as as their floating cottage in the country.

Yep .. brill , wasn't it! Repeated again on BBC4 tonight - 8.00pm.

I'm of the opinion that calm canal life, or at least a spell of it, can help some who are suffering from the astounding and shocking effects of the chemical inbalance that stress and anxiety can cause in the body and the old noggin. Also, it might be worth bearing in mind that in this modern life we now lead , many man made chemicals are getting into our bodies that really shouldn't be in the same room as us. As well as huge doses, minute amounts of nasty chemicals can have some very disturbing physical and mind altering effects on peeps..... including the boaters dreaded enemy - carbon monoxide! For many of those who are suffering from some forms of mental health hiccups - take heart, you're not a nutcase ....it / you can often be made better. It can just sometimes take time, with the help of experts - and understanding family and friends, in getting your/the 'chemical mix' back to normal tickover mode.

Thanks,Malc. I have had a couple of squints at your website , and intend to read a lot more as I get the time.

Thanks, everyone - very helpful posts. Keep 'em coming

I'm half expecting that to happen to me,Dave. I'm absolutely rubbish at haggling - the Missus is good and luvs bargaining people down - just for the hell of it sometimes. I'd prefer to go look at boats where the owner's stated 'no offers'.