Clodi

We used to burn ours in the Rayburn on the smallholding but it had a tall chimney and no near neighbours so I can't tell you how its smoke smelt

Thank you everyone for your comments. On the boat I already have an external aerial for the 'mi-fi' ( incidentally the Vodafone mi-fi works a treat in Ireland) so it's no bother adding an external FM/DAB aerial on the boat. It's really hard to find a portable radio with an aerial socket. Ocean FM is the local station in Ireland& it's great for keeping abreast of relevant information . It has to be portable so it can be used in the workshop, polytunnel etc. The cottage is pretty much 'off-grid' definitely no TV so the radio is pretty important.

I'm looking to buy a portable radio (DAB) for use on my boat but also on the west coast of Ireland. Mobile phone signal is patchy so use of the mobile is not really an option. I used to rate Roberts radios but looking at the reviews of the current offering it looks as if their quality has gone the ay of most things and is rather hit and miss. Has anyone got any recent experience of purchasing a portable radio without spending a fortune?

Mike, with the greatest of genuine respect I would suggest that once this really terrible situation subsides, then will be the time for the inquests and hopefully lessons will learned. I really hope that this can be the shove that we in the western world need to make us all realise that the awful inequalities and undervaluing of all key jobs (including food preparation) are taken into account and hopefully a fairer more considerate society will emerge Sorry for your loss

I think everyone understands the logistical problems BUT I have personally been involved in pandemic planning and I regret to say that in my opinion our government has been forced by irresponsible reporting verging on scaremongering.

https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-03-22/coronavirus-outbreak-nobel-laureate There's an awful lot of reading out there Mike https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/23/grandmother-95-becomes-oldest-person-italy-recover-coronavirus/?WT.mc_id=e_DM1223974&WT.tsrc=email&etype=Edi_FPM_New_ES&utmsource=email&utm_medium=Edi_FPM_New_ES20200323&utm_campaign=DM1223974

I think all virus are dangerous BUT this current virus shouldn't mean the end of the world as we know it.

Signs went up all over the place, even where I walk the dog. I wonder if they realise the real damage they are doing to local economy over a virus with a death rate of 84 people in a million! Far lower than 'normal' flu. I despair.

Where we live at the moment villages on the coast are getting their pitchforks out. The world has gone mad.

I'd love to be able to rent a boat out. don't want to cruise anywhere just park the family.

Yes, trouble is lots of agencies shutting down. All these checks for money laundering is one of the reasons our house sale has taken so long. I know quite a few boaters have a property they rely on letting out for an income. In the ideal world someone would have a caravan they could let out. I'm thinking I may buy one and just park up somewhere. By the time I get evicted I'd have finished the work anyway😁

Barbridge Area, Rental accommodation needed Does anyone have or know of any rental accommodation within easy distance of Barbridge? anything considered We have sold our house & our narrowboat is not yet ready . WE need a short term rental for 3 adults whilst I stay aboard get the work done. Typically it never rains but it pours & 2 of our children have decided to come 'home' from university just as we've sold up. To make matters worse our oldest son is asthmatic and has been told to self-isolate. We are in the process of purchasing another property but the cur