Larentia

Vodka...

Last night I had a normal pizza (Tesco again but half price at £1.80 or something!) cooked really well again, said 10-11 mins on box but was done in half that. Scoffed with some red wine followed by Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace (again!) and some cider - also from Tesco, 18 cans of Magners for a tenner thank you very much!

I cooked a pizza last week in mine, first one for ages, total indulgence as it was a £4 (on offer) Tesco's 'finest' and it was super darn fine. Way better than the electric (no gas in the village) oven I had when I was renting. Not had one since though potential treat this weekend is probable

Thanks Mark, I only just read your reply, will do. Life sometimes gets busy and when that happens I go offline. I stop using the Internet for a while too

To update properly after your super helpful comments everything has returned to a state of being just fine, I found what you guys wrote easy to follow and way better than what I was reading through. Alan, I do have the exact same switch as you posted and am following your instructions! Happy and extremely thankful :)

Hi guys, thank you all for your comments and advice as they all really help. Sometimes it's better to know what to do first and then I can go understand what I'm doing and why, afterwards

I'm confused. I've read loads, possibly too much and am puzzled... I have an inverter (battery?), domestic batteries and a Victron Multiplus (and an engine battery). I've been told when cruising to leave all red battery switches on (the big ones) - no problem with that, everything is fine. If I want to charge my mobile when I've stopped the engine, I also turn a big white switch which sits under the Multiplus to 'on' and it works - my phone charges. I then turn the big white switch off unless I want to use 240v (?) for something else (unlikely). I don't know if this is right or wrong but it works. I also have a Multicontrol which is 'on' 'off' or 'charger only' which is turned off most of the time. This I'm fairly sure I turn to 'on' to charge phone as above. I don't know if this is right or wrong. So my first question is am I doing anything right or everything wrong?!? I'm presently moored in a marina en-route to Berkshire and when I was hooked up to the shoreline I was helped by someone and he turned my inverter battery switch to off and moved the Mulitcontrol to 'on'. As far as I can remember, the big white switch was turned to 'on' also. So I dried my hair last night with a hairdryer (a sin I know and I will go to hell) and red lights went on the Multicontrol to say 'low power' and 'overload' so I moved the switch to 'charger only' and it worked again (my hairdryer). I'm worried that I'm doing things wrong and not doing my batteries any good at all and would really appreciate some help. I have, as I said, read lots, have manuals etc. but I really struggle with them, as if they're written in a different language. I understand the principles of electricity but guess as I am more creative than anything, this could explain my frustrations and lack of understanding. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I'm more than a little lost. I have searched loads but nothing seems specific to my questions. Thank you all for your patience!

Hi Mike, appreciate your comments/concerns but I need to get to grips with this new life which I love and having a mooring with no moving-on issues for a while suits me. I still have lots to learn about my boat. I'm not tied to a single place of work as I travel across the South East but Tingdene suits me and the staff there are very friendly.

Thanks for your thoughts & advice. I had asked Rugby Boats if there was an anchor on board and checked my survey and both said no. So I moved on to Marimpa last Friday and was having a good sort out and I found one on board already plus a couple of grappling hooks. They're not easy to miss but it was tucked away. Will had it to hand and ready when I get on the Thames which will be longer than planned as I broke down yesterday, presently awaiting parts plus man to fit!

I'll be joining the Thames at Oxford and going to the T&K at Reading and will then spend the rest of this year on the Thames due to the non pro-rata thing that goes on with licensing. I'm convinced that I should have a danforth anchor (ready to deploy from the front and not stern) but I don't know what length chain or what an ideal weight would be. My surveyor suggested 20-25kg, so which should it be? And how long should the chain be? I've read that the rope should be as long as my boat which is 57ft. I'm quite tall and reasonably strong so I think I could cope with 25k but guess the best thing would be to go lift some? Is there anywhere along the Oxford that will sell them? I've searched a fair bit with a dodgy Internet connection from Belgium and this is the closest thread I could find. So many questions... grateful for any answers from you lovely people

Thank you Mark, really useful thread, link much appreciated

Thanks bottle, I'll allow an extra couple of days, possibly 3 if I can get up even earlier. As for the Oxford to Reading thread, have tried several searches with no luck. I'll stick with my Nicholson's and ask along the way of any especially good pubs!

I'll shortly be setting sail on my first long cruise from Stowe Hill Marina to the Thames & Kennet Marina, wondering if my estimate of about 6 or 7 days is right? I'm not in a hurry, sooo want to enjoy this Going via Oxford. Any ideas, do's/dont's/must do's along the route welcome as would be good places to moor, drink, eat, stop etc. Thank you

I did that too, about 6 years ago, cried and then didn't get it cut for over 2 years. It will be ok, just let it grow

Made me laugh out loud, thank you :)

I'm having my hair dyed later today. Nothing too extravagant, just toning down my natural colour which is a bit too golden for my liking and covering the odd grey hair. I'm also having it trimmed. Feel free to judge me.... twice.

K&A is so lovely, seeing my boat over the weekend, taking my stuff up before I set sail. Looks like the sun will shine for you on Saturday.

If I knew how to post the image in a bigger size I would... Saying that, it would be a bit off topic and pointless... so I'm back to just being happy about my boat

I was photographing something else but I turned the camera face down because I do little things like that sometimes just because.

Yes, yes & yes! ☺️

Yes, it's me though happy to say I'm not a borrower, actually the opposite at 6ft tall. I'm a photographer, use a big monopod to do elevated photography... and take awesome selfies sometimes just because!

I'll be at the Thames & Kennet by about 18/19 July, suits me really well for this year at least and the guys in the office are so friendly and helpful.

Yes, Southern Star, that's the one

Many emotions experienced over the past week but I know I made the right choice for so many reasons. Teeny bit anxious to take ownership but have to wait a couple of weeks because of prior commitments but then I get 11 days on my own to bring her down to Berks from Northants. Peace time! Congrats Judgejim too :)