Mrs Panda

Thanks for the info, I have just joined up. Many thanks Mrs Panda

Have been looking for a brass panda for the last few years to be made into a tiller pin. Wanted it as a present to give Mr Panda. Even thought about trying to get one cast. If anyone sees one or can help in any way I would be very grateful. many thanks Mrs Panda

Hi Just heard that the lock is clear now. Mrs Panda

Thanks for the info - have just signed. Mrs Panda

So were finally packed and ready to go early tomorrow morning (sat) Just wanted to say if any one sees us next week, please come and say hello. Or if were moving wave. Would luv to catch up with any one in the area..... Thanks again for all the replies and help that we have had. Mrs Panda

Will do, I don't need much of an excuse to go to a pub/restaurant! Just ask Mr Panda - especially if he's paying Afterwards can I say to them I am a food and drink critic for the forum!!! (Rum Ice cream of course for yourself and brandy flavour for me!) I''ll pay for yer drinks (rum only) (Quote) - maybe I can get a liking to rum....mmm Will report back Mrs Panda

No the tubes are not there, but that would have been a good idea, as it's not so easy to moor up the bow. My husband usually stands on the pointy bit and throws the rope to me to put round the pin. Or he tries to lassoo the pin while standing by the T stud!!! hoping the boat does not drift out in the process. Thanks for all the pronouciations of the area - confused, I will be!!!! If any one sees us from next Sat 9th, say hi. It is a family boat so others use it. You will know us 'cause we have two dogs. Mrs Panda

Many thanks Captain Haddock, I got the feeling that you are rather partial to rum It's exactly what we were looking for. - Mr Panda fell off the sofa laughing when he got to Sainsbutty. Will take pic if we see any boats at the Shady Oak and will report back! We will be in the same area at the end of August going from Venitian marina to Llangollen and back, don't know if we pass you on that route, haven't looked that up yet, but maybe we can exchange a barrel of rum if you are around then. Mrs Panda

In a week we will be taking Ellesmere to Ellesmere Port. Starting at The Venetian Marina - Cholmondeston to obviously Ellesmere Port. Would be very grateful if anyone would give us tips on where best to moor, and good pubs that sell real ale if poss!!! any shops for provisions etc.... Oh and does anyone know how to pronounce Cholmondeston... Many thanks Mrs Panda

We got there rather later that expected - 150 miles in 2 and 1/2 hours then the last 3 miles in 1 and 1/4 hours!!!!!!! Went to beer tent by food hall and lurked a little, then realised there was another tent. So made it over there and lurked there trying to see anyone that may be - um - looking forum like. Didn't quite know what to do, so Mr Panda and I decided to look around show and finally caught up with Baldock. Sorry we didn't chat with anyone, it sounds as if you had a great time. Must arrange a secret code next time so we all know each other! (carnation in lapel) Had a great time and spent lots of money , (not on a new boat!) Glad we didn't go today as the weather here is poo! Maybe we'll meet another time. Mrs Panda

However, It would be good to meet up, so I expect we may have to visit this beer tent. I take it from that statement we are going to the show!!! If the beer tent has 20 plus barrels of real ale Mr Panda will be in his element ( and I can leave him there and he won't notice how much I am spending!). It looks like we will be staying over if we can sort out some accommodation. As I think I will be rolling Mr Panda home!!!! Look out Crick here we come....... Mrs Panda

Hi everyone, Would luv to go to a show and could not go to cavalcade and this weekend we are driving from Bournemouth to Scarborough to bring back my eldest step son from Uni so can't get to Ricky. Will be bribeing Mr Panda to take me to Crick. If he plays ball it would be great if we could meet up with other members and have a drink together. But the main question is... does the beer tent sell real ale? as I could use that as blackmail Which is the best day to come or is it best to stay over? Mrs Panda

Were you the fella that has spoken to my father in law on the phone and recommended Denham deep boats. He is excellent - what service!!! If you are we are all eternally thankful to you. We have been trying to sort this problem out all winter and 2 days at Denham and we have been told it runs like a dream! Myself and Mr Panda will be going up to her Friday eve for the weekend so we will see for ourselves. It will be such a relief as this has been getting worse over the last 4 years and no one has been able to help us. Many, many thanks May be see you at the weekend Mrs Panda

Could we all club together, buy a hulk, give someone a weeks headstart and and a few gallons of paint & then we could play hunt the boat? I have been following this thread with interest, first thing when I got home was to check on any new updates about Holly, But living in Bournemouth not being able to help at all with her search. Well done to everyone on the site, everyone worked as a team and we got a good result. Beers all round! On a much lighter note - I had the same thought the other day, (not envolving the media, just this forum) if someone gave us clues to a boat, where she started from, how much fuel etc we could have a boat treasure hunt! or "spot the boat competition". We would get to know the canal system, and it would be much more fun than just reading maps. Mrs Panda

Great mirror carp - well done! good condition, a day he will always remember. My best out of the cut has been 17lbs and I nicked that one under the nose of Mr Panda. (he's not forgiven me for that - yet) Watched the grand national and saw the boats, I wondered if there was anyone from here, on those boats. Glad you had a good fun day. Mrs Panda

Hi Janet, The day was good, really hot could not have asked for better. Stopped at the pub called the coy carp which could not cope with the amount of people that was there, but our food was good, and so was the wine. Boat is not so good...... the amount of comments we had about the smoke was quite embarrassing. We have been given some more ideas from various people at the locks we went through. Family conference tomorrow night as to what to do next! (it's a family boat) We are hoping to moor for the summer around the Venetian Marina, Cholmondeston. Which is on the Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch) - that's if they sort the engine out in time! Mrs Panda

Hope I have put this in the right section - sorry if not. Finally we have been told our Lister engine is fit for cruising and not going to billow out black smoke behind us!!!! I know if a lister engine does not smoke there is something wrong but this was seriously taking the micheal...... Tomorrow we are going to take her on a pub run with the family to test her. This is 3 weeks before she is due to move north for the summer. So i'm hoping like hell that things will finally be sorted, as this has been getting steadly worse over the last few years and no one could give us an reason. From Uxbridge - 4 locks up about 2 1/2 hours there and a pub lunch and back. Can't wait to be back on the water again even if it is just for one day. Bring on the suntan oil and break out the beer and wine - Grand Union here I come! Mrs Panda

We had ours done couple of years ago. You need to remove as much as you possibly can. When we finally got the boat back the inside was covered every where with a film of black soot. It took ages to wipe every thing down. We left some crockery in the cupboards thinking that was safe with the doors closed, but even that was covered with the black stuff. Also when they took the boat out of the water she must have twisted a little, because things don't quite fit now e.g the bathroom doors. Mrs Panda

I shall remember this bartering system to use in the future. Seemed to work very well. must brush up on my baking skills going through locks! Must agree with you, the lock keepers at both Watford and Foxton were brilliant and very informative and homourous when we went through a couple of years ago, there and back. We spent ages talking to them especially at Foxton. In fact we got to know them so well the lock keeper at Watford asked if he could use our services while we were waiting to go down through the top lock. He used our boat as a tug to get his BW boat which was tied up under a tree. Did not mind (in fact it was quite fun) until I was pulling her out after tying them together and realised I had no way of stopping my boat only by putting her in reverse and a huge hunk of steel coming towards me with no breaks!!!!!! Mrs Panda