Marshian

I bought my first flat in London 11 years ago. I had a good deposit - 32.5% - and my (approx) £30k salary at the time serviced an interest-only mortgage. So a £100k salary should fund a reasonable home IF the lady concerned had a deposit. If not, maybe it was possible to finance the boat 100%, but no such mortgage was available? (Didn't see the programme, which might have covered the decision making reasons)

Stephen - my last comment was strictly 'tongue-in-cheek'. I'm never irate - I much prefer lowrate

Going Back to the OP, I was caught-out by auto renewal 2 weeks early back in February. I had licensed my boat for 3 months at a time up until then. As I was funded-up in February, I intended to get an annual license, but was auto-renewed for 3 months. (I too missed the link to opt-out, or maybe just wasn't expecting it to happen 2 weeks before expiry). If I'm not funded-up for subsequent renewals, I'll have to stick with the 3 month license, which will cost me £100 more over the course of a year. So not happy. On the subject of displaying a license, I don't always - as others have commented, most boats don't have printers. Last summer, moored on the N Oxford or Coventry (can't remember which) a CRT inspector knocked on my boat to enquire why my license wasn't displayed. Explaining as above, I offered to show him the emailed license on my laptop, which he declined as unnecessary. He did suggest a note in the license holder giving the license number. Maybe his handheld gadget couldn't get a signal? Maybe displaying a handwritten note of the license details is not a bad idea, if just to placate irate towpath walkers (Stephen?...)

That'll do nicely!

I accused you and Mr Smelly of talking us into a bad summer

It's Fringlish Shangri-lala land?

Mr Smelly; Nightwatch; j'accuse!

Well, I am unapologetically a fair weather boater. I plan to migrate north in the summer, bird-like, from the Canaries (appropriately!) back to my boat in Staffs. Probably sometime in May, weather permitting. Searching for reassurance about the warm, balmy summer to come, I chance upon this thread – rain, rain and maybe warmer rain . Part of my primitive belief system is that we will influence the weather by our confidence (or otherwise) in it, so please stop convincing it to rain! I have to state, categorically, that there will be a fine, warm summer this year. There will be enough rain (in the early hours on some days) to maintain water levels. No rising rivers and flood warnings. If not, those expressing views to the contrary must shoulder the blame for talking-up the rain!

Well, I am unapologetically a fair weather boater. I plan to migrate north in the summer, bird-like, from the Canaries back to my boat in Staffs. Probably sometime in May, weather permitting. Searching for reassurance about the warm, balmy summer to come, I chance upon this thread – rain, rain and maybe warmer rain . Part of my primitive belief system is that we will influence the weather by our confidence (or otherwise) in it, so please stop convincing it to rain! I have to state, categorically, that there will be a fine, warm summer this year. There will be enough rain (in the early hours on some days) to maintain water levels. No rising rivers and flood warnings. If not, those expressing views to the contrary must shoulder the blame for talking-up the rain!

Also a good crop for canalside farmers. They can sell the (fully grown) bikes to those dear chaps who race up and down the towpath on them

Yes, I abandoned London last year, to spend warm winters in the Canaries, and wet summers on my boat! But I go back as often as I can...

The full canals are a symptom of urban congestion, but London wouldn't be the same place without it. I think it's a case of I'll take it, and you'll leave it Ok, we can agree to not differ

True - I don't boat in London. My boat's a chance to get out of London to the sticks. I keep forgetting what those big, flat green things are - oh yes, that's it, fields... Nice to get away to the sticks, but I wouldn't want to live there