JJay

It was "Waterworld"

We use both. Back-to-back in a zipped A4 transparent wallet for waterproof-ness. Nicholsons for keeping an eye on the route and upcoming locks etc, Pearsons for history and quirky information. Note to OP - as far as I'm aware (I only have an old edition by me) Pearsons Oxford & GU plus South Midlands will do fine for the Leicester Ring. "Birmingham & Heart of England" is a Nicholsons, no?

This may be of interest: http://www.amsterdamboatclub.com/

This might be useful http://www.stratforward.co.uk/busking

It is Bridge 58

Ours came from http://www.greensofbournemouth.com . Good mattress covers too!

That's good to know. What make is your cat flap please?

Sorry, not convinced! Heard too many sad stories, even of the "quick release" type. Also, if they lose their collar they're not able to operate the catflap! But It's your decision and I wish you and your new arrivals all the best.

From what we were told at "Pets at Home", microchip catflaps are far from reliable. A pity, as our mog is currently being freaked out by visits from an interloper. Collars for cats are potentially dangerous and we won't consider one. Ideas, anyone?

We were well dischuffed to get an "amber" warning letter on only our second "day" (actually less than 24 hours after our first "welcome" leaflet) on the 2-day moorings at Foxton. "You need to leave tomorrow" it said. I resent CRT resources being wasted on telling me to do what I was going to do anyway (actually we were leaving that same day). As for volunteer mooring wardens "talking to boaters" - well, we were on board at the time, we saw them, they saw us, but they made no attempt at contact. It was only when I left the boat an hour later to get some milk that I found the "warning letter" left on the stern locker. At no time during our 26 hour stay were there more than 3 boats in this "mooring zone".. We have written to CRT expressing our view that these arrangements are not only unnecessary, but over-restrictive, over-complex, over-zealously enforced and damaging to local businesses (this latter point having been confirmed to us by none other than a CRT employee!),

Not so! So often have we seen the "other half" of a trad helmsman either standing on the steps with little more than the top of their head peeking over the hatch - or worse, standing outside on the gunnel, clinging on for dear life. Where's the pleasure? Our semi-trad deck offers some protection from the weather but has room for helmsman plus 2-3 others, offers locker storage for the mucky stuff you wouldn't want in your cabin, and with a suitable covering you can work on your engine in the dry. Takes up far less space than a cruiser stern thus you get more useable space inside the boat. Best of both in our view.

Just received from Waterscape: Visitor Mooring at Upton Upon Severn, River Severn Tuesday 14 May 2013 - Monday 17 June 2013 UPDATE (17 June 2013): Updated 17th June 2013 Please be advised that this restriction is no longer in place. The Trip boat is no longer using the visitor moorings Result!

We felt like you until we found ourselves in the middle of Rowington Folk Club, but it turned out to be one of the best evenings we've spent in ages!

Rowington Folk Club meet at the Cape of Good Hope, Warwick on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. They will make you very welcome!

Has anyone contacted the local press? This one I imagine http://malverngazette.co.uk

That would be Evesham Marina.

Don't want to take this off topic, but can anyone tell me how to avoid standing on the counter to steer without getting severe shoulder-ache within about 5 minutes? We've both tried, we really have, but the counter is the most comfortable position for both of us. (The other hand is always holding the boat) Is it us? Is it the tiller height/length? Or what? All advice gratefully received. (It's another semi-trad, BTW)

Thanks for that - if the newer one is the same it should just fit! No sign of it in any shops I'm afraid (wondering if it's being discontinued) though on sale "web only" at a fairly reasonable price from a few places inc Currys Been there, done that. That's why I want a washer

Is there anyone out there with a Zanussi ZWC1301 who could tell me what the depth measurement is at the base? The depth is given as 51.5 cm on various suppliers' websites but I'm assuming that's the overall depth - ie including the slight overhang on the control panel and the usual overhang at the rear to accommodate pipes etc. Our available floorspace is limited but if the depth at the base is a few cm less it could fit. I've emailed Zanussi but to no avail (in fact the model doesn't appear on their website at all, which is strange) If some kind person could take a tape measure to their machine I'd be ever so grateful

Oops

Yes! We had a close(ish) encounter near Bridge 80 on the N Oxford last Sunday. Couldn't make up our minds if it really was him, or a lookalike. Glad to have the sighting confirmed. My OH shares his name, so BJ met BJ.

Southam Tesco is not vast but is much bigger than an Express and is very well stocked. Has a bakery and butcher. Very friendly staff too!