Tullz

Only on-line I'm afraid, but delivery is really swift Tullz nudges the cat's head off her keyboard - someone wants fed! That's if you eat them Gaggle! The blurb that's sent with the soapnuts says under no circumstances should you eat them. Ewwww... cat drool over my keys - luverly!

Ya right Christine it should be about an inch (just arrived back from a day in the cafe baking scones - about 100 of 'em) When writing out a reciped and without the dough in front of me, I tried to imagin the thickness - got it totally wrong, judging distances and height was never my strong point *grin* I use an egg in my stem ginger scones which are fab with ruhbarb jam - homemade of course

Unfortunately, I can't remember where abouts it was. I've spoken to Trisha and given her as much as I can remember. I was on holiday and only looking out for the original coloured Holly. We were going upstream (if that's the correct term going towards Foxton from hillmorton) and she was facing downstream. I can't be any clearer I'm afraid.

I don't wish to throw people off the scent and send you on a wild goose chase, but I'm sure I saw 'Blue Holly' on the first part of our trip out of Hlilmorton to Foxton and back. I can't be certain it was her but it does look very familliar. I thought at the time it was odd that she didn't have a name and was painted all blue, that looked kinda clean - freshly painted looking clean. We picked up our boat on 2nd April and reached Foxton on the 5th. Like I said, I'm not 100%. How many other boats are all blue and without a name? I saw many boats without proper signage, but all of them had notes in the windows with the name of the boat.

Both locks were manned when we went through last week and Carley at Watford was logging boats.

*huge smile* yes indeed he got it from me. What a sweet little lad he is too And grandad looked a tad jealous cos he didn't get any, my apologies to him

Watford Lockkeeper Scones 8oz plain flour and 1½ teasp baking powder or 8oz SR flour 1½oz butter pinch of salt ¼ pint milk soured with lemon juice 1½oz sugar grated rind of an orange extra flour four dusting METHOD: Sift flour, salt and baking powder into a bowl (I didn’t bother as there wasn’t a sieve on our boat – but I did take scales – don’t ask!). Rub in butter until it looks like breadcrumbs, add sugar and give it a quick stir. Add rind to milk and pour into flour mixture. With a flat bladed knife mix quickly until dough leaves the side of the bowl. Place onto a floured work surface and knead briefly. Flatten gently with your hand till about ½ inch thick. Use a glass if cutter isn’t available, dip in flour and proceed to stamp out circles of dough. If no baking sheet is around cover grill pan rack with foil and lightly dust with flour. Place rounds onto sheet and pop into a hot oven gas7 for about 10-15 mins. When they have risen and are golden and feel light rather than heavy, take out and cool. Serve with jam and cream; hand some over to lockkeepers along with a mug of tea or coffee. I made these for Terry and his mate at Watford Flight, who said no-one had ever made them scones before – which I find hard to believe!

I presume that the lockkeepers have details of Holly?

While on our boating jaunt, I couldn't help but notice that some live aborads have washing machines. This made me think about the soapnut shells that I use in my washing machine at home. www.inasaoupnutshell.com says on their blurb ' Enviromentally friendly, sustainably produced; bio-degradable and compostable.' It's much cheaper than washing powder and works best using cooler temps. I've not used regular stuff in almost a year and my clothes come out clean and soft. It's great for people with sensitive skin too.

Welcome back Ann Sounds very much like our trip except for the car breakdown. Met some very nice peeps and saw some fabulous boats, making us even more detrmined to get our own. Look forward to seeing the pics

Can I just say a huge thank you to the lads and lasses who man the locks at Watford and Foxton. On the way up Watford, Terry and his mate were really helpful and funny. By way of a bribe I made scones; started them at the bottom of the flight and delivered them at the pound at the top lock, complete with jam and cream. For your info Terry is alergic to nuts. Tel at Foxton reversed out our hired heap back from the locks and turned it for us - quid pro quo he got fresh made scones too. On the way back down Watford, Carley was really sweet, remembers NB Alnwick and will be keeping an eye out for you Graham - takes milk in her coffee, especially likes freshley brewed rather than instant and she's rather partial to chocolate and banana cake Hopefully she managed to get the dead badger out of the top lock So any of you going through say hi from me and imvho, they do a sterling job.

Can anyone recommend a good boat company on the Broads? Would rather go with word of mouth from someone here rather than taking pot luck off the net Ta very much

I agree with John Just arrived back home after a week on a NB; every now and agian I get broadsided by a wave As to addictive - well yes it is, I'm just about to book another week in July, this time on the Broads which don't have any locks. As to disabilities - we saw a guy on a NB in a wheelchair who was steering the boat as his crew were mooring. It did look as if it had a lift at the stern end. Dunno if it was a hire boat or private.

Well only a few hours to go till we're off - 22 restaurtant reviews now completed! All that's left to do is pack! Thanks very much to everyone who has given me advice, I really do appreciate your kindness and help. Once again, anyone who sees a 67ft NB weaving down (or is that up?) the GUC - leicester arm giz a wave and if we're moored near a pub, come in and shout 'All hail the beer hamster' and I'll know where ya from Ta very grand *hugs*

Sounds wonderful, bit like a liver strogonoff I'm rather partial to the odd bit of liver

Why doesn't that surprise me, Tomsk?