StoneHenge

Our water pump recently has been coming on, then running slower to stop (as normal) but then staying at that low rumble for ages before cutting off. It didn't do it before, and seems to improve with higher coltage (like when the generator is running), but seems to struggle a lot. Is this a sign that it is on its way out? How much is a decent water pump these days?

I do believe the boat in question passed us not that long agop. Don't remember them being particularly slow, but then we have so many speeders down here, you tend to forget who is who.......

I'm very late on this one due to being a busy bee, but I see the issue in two camps: 1) The OP didn't seem to have (I get the impression anyway) of either not much experience of rivers or no experience at all, and not having the relavant safty equipment, which is I don't doubt pretty essential. 2) The passing boat not raising the flag for help. Not stopping to help is one thing, not ringing to raise help is quite another and inexcusable unless the passing boat was also very inexperienced, had no anchor, no phone, no radio. Quite possible. Unlikely though, and either way, they could have raised the flag somewhere else with another boat such as the passing cruiser which did help. I'm glad no-one got hurt, which is the main thing. I have no river experience whatsoever, so I can't comment on the technicalities, but I would always stop to help if I could and have done before to help a lady who had fallen in and it was a right old windy day and we got stuck ourselves, but at least she was OK.

Well, it has been a while since I last frequented this lovely establishment, so I thought I had better come on and say hello. Good news is, I will have completed a whole six weeks of not smoking tomorrow so feeling pretty good about that. The one amazing thing about that is that since quitting I haven't got my yucky hacking nasty cough anymore. I expected to have a bad cough with my lungs starting to clear themselves, but I have just stopped coughing all together. No more morning coughing fit, none at work, at bedtime. Its just gone! I am waiting on my first cold because usually I get one I get a cough that goes on for weeks afterwards, so if I get my next cold sans the cough, I will have cracked it. So, we had planned to take a week off and abandon the boat for a bit, and go camping in Wales, but given the weather didn't look like it was going to be very exciting, we ditched the plan for a week in Blackpool instead. My god, was that a test for a recovering smoker! Everywhere you went there were smokers everywhere esp since the hotels and B&B's etc are all non smoking now too, so you had loads of people all piled outside the pubs, hotels, everywhere. I haven't been to Blackpool for about 5 years now, and they are currently putting in flood defenses which is taking years to do and looks bug ugly to me, but I guess the point is that it works, so looks are not always everything eh? The one thing that struck me was how flippin expensive everything seems to have got. Just to take the kids on one ride it would have cost us £12, which is just insane. We did do the tower though as it is a must do isn't it. I could watch the ballroom dancers all day it is so chilled out in the ballroom. The circus was quite good, and the same Mooky clown was there and he even seemed to be enjoying himself which was quite weird! We found a nice little beach just outside Blackpool which doubled as a dock, which boats big as ferry boats were coming into dock not more than 50 feet away from you sitting on the sand. Quite a spectacle to watch. I did miss the boat though, and the peace and tranquility of the water and the quietness. Blackpool is a buzz of hen and stag parties and people just wondering and wondering around all day and night, even int he rain! It was nice to get back home, but it was nice to have the break too. It was mega busy or the bank holiday weekend here on the Ashby. One long flow of boats all day long every day. REally mad. I have no idea where they all ended up as they seemed to be everywhere but only moving. Come night fall, I have no idea where they hid themselves! It will be busy as well next weekens when the Shackerstone festival gets going. We anticipate being treated to lots of working boats passing, which will be nice! Well, nothing much else to report I'm afraid, so i'll leave you in peace.

That tickled me. Love it. And yes, I have ended up spooning sugar ont he worktop instead of in my tea cup far too many times!

How did you know? That is amazing! We used to have the situation with folks (licensed and unlicensed) staying put in one place for long periods of time, but instead now because of the BW presence in the area, we now just have the BH shuffle. At least everyone is moving though!

Mine was also a house sale and the boat brought with the profits as are a few here. I'm 35 this year so not grey yet, but do feel very lucky we sold the house at the right time.

you got the whole no smoking thing licked, something has to go wrong. Well, let me just say folks, you would NOT have wanted to have been anywhere near me last Thursday. Maybe you wouldn't anyway, I don't know, but for sure last Thursday. Man I was the evil witch of the world I tell you. Not just evil, but seriously down as well. Every conceiveable emotion was running through me. They say smoking when you stop has the Icky 3's. That is day 3 will be naff, week 3 will be naff and month 3 will have you in a wobble before most people finally find peace at 4 months. So week 3 (or a day off completing week 3 anyway). Not sure what was born that morning, but I was out of it! I was working at home which was probably a good a thing xconsidering how awful I would have been at work! I was not good. I was shaking, anxious, irritable, depressed, angry, tearful, you name it, I was having it. Hubs did what most normal sensible men would have done. Backed off as far as possible. All I really wanted was a hug and some encouragement, but I probably wasn't actually saying it, more pleading with body language. Either way, I was in a mess. I thought day 3 was a bit yuck, this was worse, by 1000%!!!!! It is really hard to describe just how utterly lost I was feeling, and I can't even explain why. I have been fine most of the time through this, and then to have this hit me was so unexpected and I hated it, and I hated everyone, and I didn't talk the whole night I just cried and cried. I felt a little easier Friday morning, but only just, and by the evening I had come round and I had a real heart to heart with hubs and felt a million times better. But man that was evil. If you want to punish someone you really hate. Have them start smoking then stop them with no nicotine whatsoever. Leave them a couple of weeks and man they will be begging you for mercy. Still, some people sail through it. I don't believe they can be so smug about it though, not if you were a proper smoker, it is no darn fun at all. I was glad to get back into a less volatile mood Saturday and actually then had a really cool weekend. Which was good consering (the only uncool bit) was having to shop in toys r us for the nippers 3rd birthday present for this week. Oh my God! Do people really own small people who are that rude, disgusting and disruptive!!!! It wasn't just the kids going mad throwing things about, it was the parents of the kids buying so much tack it was unbelieveable. Here we were, two hours we spent in that store. TWO HOURS!!!!! It was madness, it was total madness. There were thousands of toys, but most of them were complete tosh. I mean, talk about poor quality at a cost. It was awful. I was so glad when we had finally made a decision. We got back to the boat after and we had to slob on the sofa for an hour or so to recover. I hate shopping! And this is int he middle of the year, we haven't even got to Christmas yet, and then it will be real BAD!!!! I might have to cancel Christmas therefore. sorry folks, I know you were all looking forward to it. You can still have the time off, you are just not allowed to go shopping!!!!! Anyhoo, not long before we have our holiday. Should be fun, and a bit different. We did the boat thing, now it is the camping thing! I really don't do four star luxury you know. Just keep your little pinkies crossed for some sun for me will you? I deserve some sun, and will be celebrating a whole month of bieng smober! I think I earned that!!!

I have to say I always find it funny as whenever we have visitors, they tend not to stay long. don't think they can handle the rocking (which I don't notice anymore in normal movement) and having a conversation down the boat rather than across from each other. Doesn't bother me, but bothers them. In my mother's case she doesn't do small spaces either so really doesn't help! Look on the bright side. You get all the hob knobbs to yourself!

Thanks, it wasn't a criticism of the person with the license, just wondered if there was more than one 08 colour going round as it got my attention is all. It was just a normal license thoug, not a gold one etc.

My license is 03/09 and is green. This years sporting 08 license is orange? However, I saw one that said 12/08 which was green as in the 09 colours. Anyone else got a green license for 08? Not seen one before, I thought they were all orange for 08, or maybe they mix and match?

Howdy, Well not much has happened really in stoney's world. I tend to just make a dash for water and then hide again this time of year. Not because I hate boats, it just gets so busy so I let the other folks put in the miles and I watch em go past. Yeah, of course there are some muppets, some have been going way fast. Sorry folks, but the Asbhy is narrow and shallow and the banks in some parts are badly corroding to the point where there is very little towpath to go along. Won't be long before someone has a fall at some sections. So I get a little annoyed when I see people who are obviously visitors from other places bombing down the canal. It's not a big open river or larger deeper canal. I mean, anyone with half a noodle would be checking their wash often enough to know that, but geez some people are either in a rush or completely stupid. Just not a big need for it. Doesn't make things any better, or is there some perverse kick out being the first one to the best pub moorings or something? Not sure, however, please just take it easy on the Ashby, it's not wide enough or deep enough for your speed. Anyway, besides that, stoney has completed over 2 weeks of not smoking. The hubs went back to it. He was not liking this quitting thing, and to be honest he didn't look well on it either, so he is smoking again, but I have resisted and hopefully this is me quit now. Let's hope so. Feels better. I mean week one was hell. They don't call it hell week for nothing, esp cold turkey. The withdrawal symptoms are very bad in some cases. The cravings can be really out there for getting you in a tizz, and the one thing I hated was brain fog. It's such a well known symptom of just having a foggy head and not being able to concentrate or think clearly or do anything reasonably constructive it has to be said. That and a severe lack of time perception. People sayging they have cravings lasting hours when they are only minutes, and sitting there thinking it must be nearly tea time, and it hasn't even struck ten in the morning yet. Those things really had me muddled most of the first week. Some of the second week was like that but the cravings did settle down and the fog cleared a little. I still don't think it's all gone yet, but better than it was. At leas the real physical stuff has all gone. Just breaking all the mental associations now which is better than I imagined it would be. Nothing else exciting to report though besides a water run, a few hours cruising, and me falling over in the middle of a field I was walked a gazillion times and spraining my foot pretty badly, but that is life. Its getting better slowly but surely. Oh and some little oik decided to let down our tyres, but again, life biting the old butt eh? Onwards and upwards I say!

I know, but it doesn't mean I have to like it. I do put up with it because there is little choice, but I just wish people would just slow a little. I'm not asking miracles here, but some people are going that fast even towards bridges and the amount of near misses I've seen is quite shocking. I just despair of general lack of manners full stop. If it's not dog poo, i's speeding, bad language, throwing rubbish and treating the place like a tip. Disgusting!

I've said it before and will keep saying. If you are really that selfish that you inflict damage to my boat, the banks of the canal and any person aboard my boat then you are a selfish low life idiot, but good. Especailly the low life twat who knocked the boat so hard from the speed they were going that I was almost toppled, having badly sprained my foot a few days before. Those of you who think that is clever should stay off the water, there is no excuse for it. And no, I do not need to get a life, i have one, a good one, that is being ruined by idiots who seem to be in a rush permanantly.

I hope you are right. And if you want to speed, please avoid the Ashby. The banks are delicate enough in some palces without all the low life pathetic so called boaters that were walloping down there this weekend. The bow wave and the wash were disgusting, and you should be ashamed of yourselves. You know who you are and you are sad, and very pathetic indeed. You have no idea of the consequences that your actions cause!

Hi Dan, Great site mate. I keep promising you pictures, and I will get them to you. I am 506932 (ex bp Pippa). It then became The Pearl, then Sploosh. I'll send you some pictures and our cruise log for March. Well done, it looks great!!!

Man, I knew it was bad last time, but I really thought the old bod may have been a bit kinder to me this time, especially since I have a better and more positive mental attitude than before. I am now on day four of not smoking and I think death would have felt better than I did yesterday. Friday was my quit day and it was tough, real tough, but I was on quite a high because I still had nicotine in my system and was able to nibble my way through the day without having a smoke at all. Saturday we went into town by train, trawled the shops and everywhere I went there were people smoking all over. I was going to do the gum, but didn't bother after hubby (who quite with me) said it was making his stomach bad. I don't need that thanks, so I just did the cold turkey thing. Anyway, finally found Twin Town which I have been after for ages as we had it on video and wanted it on DVD, so that was good. Had a nice greasey fry up at our fav cafe in Leicester and generally sloped about because we were both full of fluff, but you have to entertain a 2 year old come hell or high water and that is not easy when he has got you up every night for a week in the early hours and you are withdrawing from nicotine, but heck when he gives you that smile and hugs you, none of it matters anymore. Giving up just to see him have a better chance of seeing his mum watch him grow up, get married and have his own kids is incentive enough. However, it was still crap. My stomach was in knots and my head was numb, my body ached and cried at me, but I did not give in. Sunday was the worst day ever, but we compensated by going on a cruise. It was a bit rainy in parts, but I enjoyed it. Normally I sit outside int he bow (If i am not steering) and smoke my way through the journey and entertain the little one, but yesterday I just sat and enjoyed the view and felt pretty good about myself and are a large of pork scratchings instead, at 8.30 in the morning too! You know why we were so flippin early. I'll tell you why. Because of the arse who decided at 5.55am Sunday morning to chug past at great speed shouting at the top of his voice,. I won't name and shame, but let's just say if they sunk tomorrow, I and a lot of other people would be pleased about it because the arse of a man only uses the boat he has to party on, and there are usually beer bottles lolling about. He's a piece of sh*t, I don't mind telling you. Anyway he really ticked us off given that we had had little sleep as it was and then being woken up at 6am on a Sunday by this twat was more than I needed. I hope he sinks, I really do. So we thought we may as well go off on a cruise, pump out and get water as well, so we made a day of it. It was nice and very relaxing, if not busy. I am feeling more despodant every week with how busy it seems to be getting and how many seem to be coming on, but very few leaving. It really is one long line of moored boats these days, but man why do they all have to either speed or party? I know canals are fun too, but my weekends are my time to enjoy the canals properly and I have to put up with idiots who are drunk and speeding. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come because the canals will just be littered with unlicensed sail aways. Great! Well, yes, I am narked, and yes, not smoking is helpig that anger, but I am getting a bit fed up with all these flippin party animals. I wish they would go somewhere else. Deep breath....................................better. Still, all in all, it was a pleasant weekend and we enjoyed getting out and about. Day four is here, and it is tough going. I really did feel yesterday than my head would explode. That permnantly restless feeling is awful, and I will be very happy when that stops so I can finally start enjoying not smoking instead of feeling annoyed with it. Rant over!!!!!! You can all come out now

I'll dig out some pics for you Dan and my cruise log for the Warwicshire ring (which is on here somewhere!). It should be cool, can't wait to see it!

I feel dizzy just looking at that picture. I'd love to go across, but it would have to be a total non windy day and me with the back cabing doors shut around just in case I fainted. I do not do heights! After getting caught in bad weather going to the top of snowdon and having to hang on to the little monument there to stop from being blown off, I am not great with anything that hasn't got lots of fencing and things to hold onto!!

I agree with the other sentiments. Take your time, enjoy the experience, but just be on your guard when coming to bends, bridges, operating locks, and once you have the basics conquered with lots of practice you will be much more confident. Most of all, it is not a test. As others have said and we are all varying in experience, you never stop learning, but it should always be fun.