debbifiggy

I've seen Swallow about for the last 3 or so years. Definitely still a steamer although looking like a modern cruiser stern holiday nb except for the big funnel. She was at Ricky last year (must fun with the steam whistle) and I bet she'll be there last year. If you want to see her come and visit the fest, you don't need an invite just turn up on the towpath! D

Lovely, very nice. Shame it wouldn't qualify for the historic boat thing being a major steel top conversion rather than an under canvas cunning conversion that makes it sorta look like the real dogs doodahs. I'd buy it if I was in the market. All these boats have such fascinating histories. D

Recommend Trading Standards and Citizens Advice. Best of luck and am really sorry you are having such a horrible time. Hope you get it sorted to your satisfaction sooner rather than later. D

Tried to get hold of both the BW finance lot and the Yorkshire office today (both at Fearns Wharf, Leeds) but no doings as the office had been evacuated and all workers sent home or to other offices due to the flooding on the River Aire. Hope everyone up there ok and boats secure and safe. Thinking of all of you across the country who are dealing with flood conditions. Fingers crossed for everything coming through safely. D

I kinow it's slightly off topic but yes we've tried as my friend is one of us and has been liveaboard for years. She is really going to miss the boat and we've talked about it. Still, one saving grace, the boyfriend is another biker ... so all is not lost. D

Must have been a very nice boat. Most of the people I know who are trying to sell their boats are struggling. One has been trying to sell his boat for over 2 years but it is a top end boat and there aren't that many people out there who want to pay house type money for a narrowboat. The others are all expected to get less (possibly much less than the asking price). Anyone fancy a nice 50 footer, ideal liveaboard? One careful lady owner. Think it's going for £24k last time I walked past. Only selling due to change in circumstances in that she's fallen for a landlubber. D

Yep, one of my friends is selling his boat that he bought for £18k 5 years ago for just £3k as he can't afford boating and a land life as well. He was liveaboard, think the boat is about 35 ft long, steel narrowboat and very nice little bachelor pad or one double and 2 single berth holiday boat. I also know of another steel nb just under 60ft that was valued at £14k just over twelve months ago that has just been revalued at £3k and it hasn't even sunk! Bottoms definitely dropped out of the boat market. D

Doesn't take too long to do the Wolverhampton flight, even with a crew of 2 so don't let that put you off. Think it took us a bit over 2 hours in the pouring rain last summer but we were lucky to have a lot of locks with us and it was very early in the morning with no other traffic. It's certainly easier than Hatton :-) D

Think the trading/store/workshop/coalboat type craft business licence costs the same as a normal licence as they give you a big discount on the normal business licence rate if your turnover is less than about £50,000 a year which is probably most of us on the cut. Info up on the waterscape website under boat licensing. It's further down the page than the normal licence. HTH D

But only if the craft has sunk or is causing an obstruction AFAIK.Don't know if it can be applied to a licenced boat that is hogging a visitor mooring but I do believe that BW have a right to move any boat if they wish. D Does that include the 2 non working weeks over Christmas and New Year when the world and his wife (including BW) were all on their jolly hols? D

So sorry to hear your news. You will meet again over the Rainbow Bridge into the summerlands. Enjoy the memories of all your happy times together. D

Congratulations you jammy whatsit. Very pleased for you. You can ask for a Gold licence but they will only let you have the BW bit free and you will have to pay the EA portion but that shouldn't be more than a couple of hundred quid and will give you great cruising all year as if I recall correctly you are well positioned to take good advantage of Thames cruising. Enjoy! Hope you have a lot of good cruising this year. D

I have heard that in some regions such as SE and London that's no longer true. I'm sure there is or was at least one BW mooring warden on this forum who can confirm this.

Squirrel original with boat and still fine att 20 years old with regular TLC each autumn before the season starts. Taybright at £6.20 per 25kg, use 1 metric ton per year. Not possible to fit separate tank for red diesel once derogation ends so unless have ability to produce biodiesel will end up like everyone else paying £1.10 pert litre of diesel whether used for fuel, electricity generation or propulsion. Anyone know what the cost works out for gas central heating on a boat? Bet that is quite a lot now 13kg bottles are over £20 a go. D

And extra dhal for dinner with wholemeal chappati D Why does the aftermath of a fire smell like burnt sour bacon? Hope you sort it.

If you've paid and they've fully processed your application you are licensed whether or not you have received the discs. Any BW bod checking their computer system would be able to see this. It's a different bylaw you are breaking by not displaying but as that's currently not your fault nobody can have a go. Hope the discs arrive in the post for you soon. D

Boating can be very physical and I would have a game plan for what you do when you can't manage it anymore which sadly sounds like sooner rather than later. Benefits are possible but it's getting harder and they definitely don't pay it all leaving many to top up on licence and mooring where necessary (and sometimes ending up in a financial pickle). It's also being argued that if you are fit enough to travel on a boat you are fit enough to work. The cost of boating is rising rapidly, diesel, licence etc. Fair play if you want to attempt it but it could all very easily end in tears without some very careful planning. BW are getting much better at chasing people who owe them money or don't comply with the rules ... I'm just trying to be honest. A decision based on real information and experience will allow you to make a real choice and hopefully avoid any big mistakes. Best of luck. D

Have you tried changing your deoderant? Seriously, mobile marine services are very useful and there are quite a few good people around (Ed Boden comes to mind)and the prices vary. Best of luck in your new venture. D

But what about the whole price of diesel issue? It's much more expensive than coal for a start ... separate tanks for red and white and then a whole heap of other stuff like a lot of diesel stoves apparently are not too great on bio diesel. Hopefully some more clued up people on this forum will chip in here. Sod the dust and the sheer effort sometimes but there's nothing to beat a Morso Squirrel burning Taybright. That's my opinion anyhow. D

I sincerely hope that I don't develop a beard. It's bad enough being mistaken for a bloke when you go to pay for your petrol if you've only raised your visor. D

Just a flesh wound then My tiger has a tendancy to roll over and let you tickle his tummy ... some guard cat heh? D

Think Apsley is a BWML marina. Am pretty sure they charge by length not area. Very limited wide beam berths (which applies to most places). Think there might be some nice berths at Brentford and also Engineers Wharf on the Paddington Arm (both very handy for summer hols Thames cruising). AFAIK all mooring contracts are for 12 months. 6 months gives you no right of return as someone else may have taken your berth. Offside moorings between Denham and Leighton Buzzard???? Like rocking horse poo.... You might get lucky but there are a lot of people looking for the same thing. A lot of private ones have long waiting lists. BW don't do waiting lists but put them out to tender at www.waterscape.com HTH, D

Buy Richard Mabey's classic 70's book "Food for Free". Fantastic stuff! D

I tend to agree, would love to know more about the circumstances, history and current planning situation. D

Oooooohhh, where's me corset and me stockings. Anyone know how to put one of those fancy wave things in my hair and can I use beetroot juice for lippy as I don't think I've got any left (well certainly no bold reds or bricks or fushia type colours, might have nude or gold glimmer lipgloss somewhere ... oh, and the cat's made a nest in my stocking/tights bag and there's lots of 'oles, certainly not fishnet, more cat's cradle. ... ho hum). Where's that bottle gone????? D