lampini

We are off up the freshly dredged Ashby this weekend, admittedly we are slightly shallower drafted than a lot... will report back! 😁

Prolly prefer that to one of my tongue-lashings 😂 It IS such idiot misinformation that creates conflict tho..

If that's the sound it makes, then maybe! 😶

Probly because of muppets like the one "running" their soshul meeja.. I just gave him a good telling-off! 😂

That's the only thing I would change about our 57ft trad - I want an engine room and a back cabin! Our engine is a bugger to access, and we do have need of an office + music space and occasional visitor accommodation - trad back cabin and engine room would be ideal, also for clothes drying and tool storage. Especially with a lovely boatman stove with an oven.. a girl can dream!

May I ask - is 60ft an essential if you're solo-ing? If you do need a marina break any time, more money! Also blacking etc.. Also - mud can be a real grind by February.. some winters are worse than others, but not something to be overlooked. One winter I had little shortened luggage straps round me wellies cos the mud was so bad it would try to suck them off - as it were 😂 It can really get you down if it's still bad in May 😂

I disagree, as do a lot of economists. This guy explains it the best imho.. https://youtu.be/luobN4xGOdA?si=BvXBogbIxtMStwur

It can be a right slog to be sure; although actually right now it’s at its best cos of all the wet stuff coming from the sky! I recon we’re nearly on-wire, as it were.. As our cruising area is pretty restricted right now due to family stuff, we do see it as our duty to visit the very end at least once per year; also - the top 5 miles are lovely 😊 we were once accompanied by a kingfisher for a couple of miles, flitting between trees..

Indeed, this sort of info is all available on t’internet for those with eyes to see - also needs the will to read it! Wasn't there a thread on here a few years ago listing the so called qualifications of those in mid/upper management?

I found the channel but the videos have gone so I imagine it is a copyright issue 😢 I was looking forward to it as I have the book on my bookshelf..

The OH and I were discussing whether folks have got angrier or if he just notices more since the pandemic. Being a fact-driven curious soul, I googled it! Turns out that people do research this stuff as it pertains to abuse of call centre staff.. seems instances of serious abuse have definitely risen - bus drivers say so too.. The OH has to do the occasional foray into customer service for his job, some folks really do phone up just to berate a stranger over the phone 😂

You make a decent enough point; but I’d still rather have some folks with more of an engineering background than the current crop of desk-sh*ggers - sorry - OVER PAID desk sh*ggers! This lot got straight on the corporate revolving-door grift when they came out of Management Skool and have been doing it ever since. Also, from what I’ve been reading recently - the EA lost a lot of very competent people in the last few years.. I was going to say - on the Ashby if de-watered they’d barely increase the headroom by 6 inches 😂

I think some would like it to be.. imho it’s utterly unrealistic to expect anything other than a continued increase in economically motivated liveaboards - unless of course someone waves a magic wand over the housing crisis of course.. On the other hand, it looks like the drop in funding is going to make summer cruising a pretty challenging “playground”!

Oh, I have missed your quips .. 😁

😂 Give ‘im a chance, squire - I’ve only been back 5 minutes!

I recon 3) may have some merit after a small adjustment.. 3. Sack CRT management and bring in "some other experienced in canal engineering” management WHO ARE NOT BEING PAID THE EARTH WITH MASSIVE BONUSES come in which must be by default, automatically CHEAPER!

Coronavirus and boating update Hello Jane, Following the most recent announcement from the Prime Minister regarding the UK’s response to the coronavirus crisis, we are asking leisure boaters to stop all non-essential travel. As a result, and to help those who live-aboard (along with those who would need to travel to their boat in order to move it) we are suspending the requirement to move every 14 days. The suspension will be kept under review in line with revised government guidance, applying initially until 14 April. We ask everyone to be considerate and make sure at least a minimal amount of essential movement is maintained to keep vital boater facilities and services accessible to those that need them. We will continue to maintain boater facilities and pump out cards are available from our online shop. (We will be urgently reviewing the implications for face-to-face sale of pump out cards and facilities keys from our public offices). Please click here for the latest updates to our Frequently Asked Questions and up to date advice on where to get support. Colleagues whose roles are critical to the safe management of the waterways, for example those managing water levels, those carrying out statutory inspections of canal structures, ensuring essential facilities for boaters are available etc will continue their day to day work. We will be doing whatever we can to support our customers and protect the waterways so we can return to enjoying them fully when the crisis is over. We will keep the situation under active review and update you in line with changing circumstances and guidance. If you subscribe to Boaters' Update you already received this email yesterday evening but technical difficulties prevented us from adding all boat licence holders that we have a valid email address for. These have now been added so we apologise if you're receiving this email for the second time. Thank you for your patience and forbearance and please stay safe during these unprecedented times. Richard Parry Chief Executive Canal & River Trust

I have the broads one and the Midlands one, bought ages ago and have had exactly the same problem! May give RCR a ring tomorrow and add a little bit of pressure to fix them, they have been pretty useful tbh... And anyway - I paid out for them and I jolly well expect them to work! ? Glad it’s not just me...

Exactamundo! (As the Fonz would say...) ?

Quite right too! take one of those plastic hula hoops available at most pound shops, split in the obvious place. Make sure plastic is warm (leave inside, near ISH the wood burner or lean against a radiator to maximise flexibility). Fit to inside of porthole. Wrap with fabric of your choice - et voila! For extra thermal quality use the hoop as a template and cut a circle of that silver thermal stuff (pound shop windscreen ice cover stuff I had spare..) I used some mega-big wooden buttons to cover the untidy bit where all the material gathers together in the middle.. rather proud of them!

Wow - 27 pages of bile and vitriol; folks need to get a life. So what if SH made a boo boo, I suppose nobody on here ever has. Sorry, but this all smells like bullying to me...

They did! We got to cruise.. the guy at Beta Marine was really helpful and it did indeed arrive the next day.. with a lovely beta float on a keyring. ?????

Think so - but all I have left is the remains pictured in #1 ? ordered one anyway... ??

Looks like we SHALL go to the ball after all.. ???