Dartagnan

She tells me that all the different forces are poaching each other’s officers so transferring isn’t an issue but sadly for me she wants to live in London. She is seriously considering leaving the police and the stories she tells me I can fully understand why. Senior management are gutless and the cuts to their budgets has effectively made them impotent and as for being politically correct!

Correct, selling off the local authority housing for the purpose of gerrymandering has had dreadful consequences Correct, selling off the local authority housing for the purpose of gerrymandering has had dreadful consequences

Historically you are correct though that trend is reversing primarily I suspect through them watching the profit made from housing in the U.K. I do not know when but I genuinely believe social unrest is coming to the U.K. primarily through housing and wealth inequality issues. I am 60 years old so one those baby boomers who was fortunate enough to get on the property ladder in the mid 80’s (when interest rates on a mortgage were 15%!). My daughter returned to London and joined the Metropolitan police. There is absolutely no way she can afford to live in London on her salary due to the cost of housing, both purchasing or renting. Renting is more expensive than purchasing in London due to the size of the deposits required. Therefore, sadly, the bank of mum and Dad has to supplement her income in order that she can work! There are probably thousands in our situation. What happens when the baby boomer generation becomes extinct ? The hedge fund barons are buying huge swathes of property for rental purposes to cash in on the shortage thus further aggravating the situation. More and more residential REITs are coming to the financial markets if proof were needed for my thesis. It can only end in tears! Just in case people may question my political persuasion, I used to think Ghengis Khan was a communist though in later years I have relented a little!

I have just read the article and whilst I have no personal experience of the London boat scene I do with regard to the scandalous house/rent prices in London. It is a well written article and as I currently sit in a Starbucks in London I look around and genuinely wonder how those on the minimum wage can possibly live in London where they work. I recently passed a 2 bed flat which was our first purchase in London in the mid 80’s. It cost £55K and was a struggle then. It is now valued at £400K and I believe to rent they are about £1800pcm! How on earth can youngsters and those on minimum wage possibly afford that? How I wish I still owned that flat lol i can fully understand why the situation on the London canals has come about.

He was possibly not wearing his black beret with a red star or indeed the che Guevara t shirt given the publication lol

Thank you very much for those pubs on the Coventry. As a newbie I have watched loads of YouTube videos and the Coventry sounds very appealing. Win win.

Thank you all very much for taking the time to reply offering your suggestions and advice, I am very great full. I would have replied individually but currently I have a broken wrist so find typing awkward at the minute. Plenty of advice to mull over. Mac of Cygnet, thank you for providing links to your previous threads. I have previously read some of them whilst I wasn’t drinking and they left me longing for a pint and a bag of crisps! The time is now right for me to get in the act lol Halsey I would love to divulge details of the boat but I have had awfully bad luck this year so I don’t wish to jinx the purchase lol. I am due to complete in a couple of weeks. It is, with my limited knowledge, superb. As I await our goose lunch I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone on this forum a very happy Xmas and a healthy, prosperous New Year. Over the past few years I have gleefully hoovered up lots of advice and information from this forum which hopefully will stand us in good stead for when we venture onto the canals. Kind regards - Martin

I have just placed a deposit on our first ever NB. It’s not what I set out to purchase but to me it’s truly class. By the time the weather turns for the better I should be fit enough health wise to go cruising. having been practically teetotal for the 4 years since my stroke and subsequent cancer issues this year I have decided to get off the wagon and try some real ale in the canal side pubs. I have even purchased the 2018 camra good beer guide! The boat is currently moored in the south but we intend to do some extended cruising and I am seeking info from those in the know as to which canals have the best drinking pubs? The boat won’t fit the L&L canal and I don’t fancy doing the Rochdale at this time. Hopefully we will wonder far and wide but was hoping for some heads up so I can prioritise the most fruitful canals. many thanks - Martin

Thanks gents that’s very helpful.

Many thanks for the update. Sounds very good. just to clarify I am not looking for residential moorings as I will be spending time in NI and Kingston upon Thames when we are not out cruising

Give us a clue, where is this particular marina or is it a secret?

Bob thank you for the suggestion, will definitely have a look

Brilliant reply’s, thank you very much. I am so so pleased that I registered with this forum a few years ago. Fantastic source of opinions from experienced boaters sometimes with differing views but all food for genuine thought. Must say I like the idea of reciprocal mooring at different marinas. Sounds just what I want but th local facilities at Newark are also a huge draw. decisions decisions Many thanks - Martin

Thank you all for taking the time to respond. The replies are exactly what I was looking for. Newark sounds very good and we actually visited Newark a few years ago as I have relatives who live near Grantham. We liked Newark as it appeared to have a lovely town centre and market. I also like the thought of much cheaper moorings lol The suggestions re Wigrams turn are also very helpful as to access a few cruising routes which I am very interested in together with the good management. I can now have a look at the area and marinas via on line. one of the reasons for looking at marinas with secure car parking is that whilst off on our jollies I would need somewhere to leave the car though with all the connections Newark has perhaps I don’t need to have the car there. The comment regarding easy access mooring berths particularly for a newbie with a 70ft boat is particularly helpful to me lol

As I have previously mentioned I currently have some cognitive issues which includes difficulty making decisions as I often make them whilst forgetting pertinent facts therefore I am looking for a bit of assistance regarding marina moorings. I am hoping to purchase a NB in the very near future it is probably going to be a 70ft trad. Therefore I am considering which marina to choose if indeed we need one. We are hoping to do some extended cruising but I will need to return to NI for oncology reviews every four months so will need somewhere to leave the boat for a few days. In addition we would like to visit our daughter in Kingston upon Thames and for her to come and visit us whilst in the marina. I don’t want to moor in London as I presume the cost would be horrendous. I’m looking for a suitable marina which has good access to numerous canal routes with facilities ie showers and secure parking. I have absolutely no idea where would be good without being too expensive but someone mentioned Calcutt marina? We will not be liveaboard as we will spend some time at our daughters as well as at home in NI. Hence we wouldn’t wish to be moored at some place which is a million miles from London? I was hoping that those boaters with marina moorings experience might throw in some names for me to consider enabling me to research whilst taking notes so I don’t forget the pertinent facts lol TIA Martin

I enjoyed that. Off to find your you tube channel

Yes that’s what they suggested but I thought it was a sales come on. Having read your reply I will do a you suggest Many thanks

Many thanks for all your replies. I did do a compression response but it appears to have disappeared into the ether. sadly the boat fitted out by Anthony M is now sold. That’s happened with a few boats at Great Haywood. They tell me the duck is slow to update and I should use their website but that’s the same! Boats advertised for sale but when you enquire they are sold. i still like Alston though."

I am currently looking to purchase a NB (despite recent price hikes). I have certain requirements including a boatmans cabin and a boat that is suitable for long term cruising and is well fitted out. I think this realistically indicates I need a 62’ to 70’. I am aware of the limits re access to certain locations with a 70’ boat but I am content that I can live with that. i have seen two 70’ boats on the Great Heywoods website that I like the look of. Unfortunately I live in NI and the cost of ferry Travel is extortionate so I am doing as much research as possible to weed out ones are unsuitable before I travel to those with potential for purchase. i would be very grateful if those experienced boaters on the forum could review the adds and give me their comments. I am interested in any drawbacks of the said boats and what additions I would probably need to add for long term cruising. i am aware that the ‘Woolwich’ has probably head height constraints which until I see it I am not sure of to what extent. the other is fitted out by Anthony M. Despite my cognitive issues I do remember posts about him but on this occasion the boat is completed though I do recall Matty40s mentioning that he had examined one of his boats that was actually finished and he was not impressed apart from the joinery. The two boats for sale are: Having typed all othe above I appear to have problems adding links from the Great Haywood Boats website. The two boats I am enquiring about are Astron and Sheila Ann Mosby and displayed on the brokers website. Thank you- Martin