cherswud

My mistake - I thought I made a sensible suggestion, but realised that was not the case on receiving Alan's reply which was helpful and pointed out the related safety issues - and all made sense. However being reprimanded in that manner, even with the patronising sop of 'well intentioned', feels rather OTT and off-putting. Still, I've learnt my lesson ... I'd only just started looking at this forum again tonight. Now I remember why I stopped - not because I was bollocked, but because I got tired of reading it happening to others. Cheers, M

OK, thanks, Considering myself very firmly told off.

Alan, Can you please clarify for me then why gas lockers have holes just above the water line? I thought that was to allow any leaking gas to escape from low down as gas is heavier than air. Cheers, Marilyn

It needs ventilation holes low down - are they present in the model shown (on the bottom, around on the side or rear that are not visible in the photo)? Given it's for a pretty heavy gas bottle, does it need to be more securely braced to prevent movement (more than the bolt at the top)?

I've just looked at this, and I am concerned that you are all taking a very wasteful approach, labour-wise and time-wise, to preparing mulled wine. It behoves you, as people of frugality, to be sparing with your time and effort, as well as your dosh. And you know that buying and preparing in bulk is much more economical. So, given you are going to adulterate the wine with additives anyway, buy a chateau cardboard to make mulled wine out of. Invite friends around. Make sure you have a couple (no more than 2 should be required) of empty wine bottles with screwcaps (almost all NZ wine has screw caps and most NZ wine is of a good to high standard - plug for home country - so buy an NZ wine or two). Make the mulled wine with chateau cardboard, consume some with friends, decant remainder into previously emptied NZ screwtop wine bottles (this step does require some pre-planning, but I am sure you will manage!), and invite friends to return on the morrow. Repeat till all mulled wine is gone. And then start again. That should make winter appear to pass rather rapidly.

My plan to boat there has been abandoned and we'll either do public transport for the adventure, or hire a car and drive. That all depends of course on whether I can get a mortgage to pay for the entrance fees to the place itself ...

Thank you - that sounds like a plan! And maybe one we can accomplish with two grandsons in tow ... Not so sure about the coracle though - I rather like being able to steer craft without going in circles! Cheers, Marilyn

Thanks, Dave. Looks like it's going to be a car trip again! Maybe we can get nb Waka Huia within cooee on another waterway and then hire and drive. Shame though - I was getting quite excited about it. Cheers, Marilyn

Hi there, fellow NZer, We used to hire lots (about 16 or 17 times from 1990 to 2013) and about 14 of those times we hired from Black Prince. They do have boats with armchairs - usually in the ones with no dinette double in the saloon. We hired from Black Prince because they have several bases, the boats are all good and well-maintained. Not fancy, but everything works. And they give a discount for repeat hires. A couple of months ago, a friend who'd been with us on a boat back in 2007 rang to book, told them she had done so and had the discount voucher (they'd given one to everyone who was on board when we took the boat back), and they not only gave her a discount on the boat she was hiring but also on the one another group of friends was hiring at the same time. Good business people who know the value of customer service. We've hired from them several times from Napton, a few times from Acton Bridge and Stoke on Trent, and from Chirk. Cheers, Marilyn