huami

Hi Jen, Your profile picture reminds me of my hair when I look in the mirror. 21 weeks since I had a haircut (but think of the money I have saved!). 34 locks were quite an initiation and then to realize that you have to turn around and do it all again! It certainly is a beautiful stretch of canal and I'm sure once a few boats start moving again the weed problem will get better. Have a great day, Neil

Hi Kevin, Lovely to read your reply and Yes, Yorkshire … where I was born hundreds of years ago in Scarborough. Unfortunately, they haven’t dug a canal to Scarborough yet but who knows? I thought it funny when you said “At the moment there is a problem with Selby lock having silted up, so you might not get out to York” … Hey, I have just swam through millions of litres of slimy green “Ambrosia Creamed Rice pudding” here in the Chesterfield canal. Four times cleaning the propeller in the weed hatch and lots of reverse thrust blow backs to be able to proceed another few meters. It’s amazing how nature reclaims the waterways within a few weeks. Have fun and I look forward to saying hello sometime. Neil

Hi Rob, You see what I mean! ... People just say "Hi Neil" ... It's amazing! I don't know how they know it's me! I hope you are well and having a great day now that we have been allowed out again.

Hi everyone (again!), It’s me, Neil (the Gay guy!) who registered on here as “Gayzingalone” and then disappeared a while back. The basic reason for my disappearance was a combination of losing my mobile (Yes, of course in the canal!), and the “Lock down” that prevented me trying to get everything sorted. Even little things like getting a replacement SIM card was a case of “Press 1 for this and 2 for that etc, etc. and eventually being disconnected and asked to call back later, and later, and later. After one journey before lock down to the “Narrowboat Pub” at Weedon I returned to Whilton Marina where I stayed for the duration before leaving there on Friday 29th May. My stay at Whilton was a time to do many things within and on my boat, re-painting, etc. and meeting a lot of new friends in the “Lockdown community”. We all stayed safe, yet were able to have some social distancing events like concerts on the water provided by some very talented musicians. I also re-named my boat to “huami” (think about it!) … Yes, it says “Who am I” and under the name as you will see in the attached photo’s is the text “It’s.me.Neil”. I was very fortunate being a complete “newbie” to have been invited to follow and travel with some very good friends who were my neighbours at the marina. It has been a steep learning curve yet in quite a short period of time I have managed to get through upwards of 100 locks, under bridges without demolishing them, navigated the River Trent (anchor and life jacket!), traveled the full length of the Chesterfield Canal (inclusive the obligatory photo of the bricked-up Norwood Tunnel entrance), and many more adventures. At the moment I am onboard having a week’s “holiday” as my traveling companions have left their boat next to mine near Shireoaks Marina on the Chesterfield and have returned home for a break. Next week they will return and we will continue our journey with a new direction of York where we will also hang about for a week or so. If I feel confident enough to ditch my “L Plates” I will possibly drift off alone and after conveying my appreciation for all their help I will leave them to get on with their life. We have all said we will be heading back to Whilton Marina when things get colder where we will hang around for the winter, and I will look forward to meeting them again. Since recently I have full mobile broadband on board with an amazing omnidirectional antenna which has given me more freedom to communicate so I look forward to saying hello again on this forum. Ideally, I would love to meet some (male! Hey, I’m gay!) traveling companion who might like to share some of the work and at the same time enjoy a free holiday. (He doesn’t have to be gay, just open minded!). The boat has plenty of sleeping accommodation and after this “Virus time” that has been very expensive for many people it might be a nice break for someone without costs. If anyone on this forum knows of anyone who might like to cruise along for a while, they are more than welcome to get in touch with me. So, I might like to change my forum name to “huami” (but I don’t know how!), and please if you see me in passing do say hello. It’s been amazing how many people have said “Hi Neil” ….

Well .... Tom from Malone Electrical Solar Services contacted me, we agreed on a fantastic system and it is already installed and working. I am so pleased with everything, the workmanship, the neatness of the installation, the price and (already with very little sun) the rendament. I decided on 2 x 275 watt Polycrystalline panels which should help with my energy needs for me alone. I also mentioned I was looking for a new mobile and a couple of members advised looking at the Samsung A90. Anyway I mentioned this to my boyfriend and he has bought one for me. I haven't got it yet but I will see him next week then hopefully I can start to make some decent photo's ..... so, once again thanks to this forum I managed to get Solar and a new phone! Thanks to everyone, stay safe ... neil

Hi everyone. Someone mentioned that I may have disappeared so I apologize for my silence but I'm still here and have been quite busy with many things. I have even managed to register for NHS and a doctor (always handy!). Tomorrow I am having solar fitted on my boat by Tom Malone with thanks for the recommendation to a valued member on here "Dyertribe". I have also been painting (half of the boat) but will have to wait for the other side until I turn the boat around. I also ordered and received a great vinyl letters boat sign with my new name "huami" (lower case lettering) from "Funkymonkey" Boat-names and I am very pleased with it. At the moment I don't have a decent camera on my phone but I am hoping to get the Samsung Galaxy 10+ very soon, in the meantime I will (try!) to post a photo with this post (if I can find out how to do it!). 12th and 13th (OMG it's a Friday!) (I'm not superstitious!) I will be taking the Helmsman's Course from "Willow Wren" and after that I look forward to passing and saying hello to anyone who would like to give me a wave .... or come and have a coffee! Now, before anyone says this is a duplicate post, I have reposted because I unfortunately posted in someone else’s thread and I do apologize. Now to try and post a photo (????) Thank you to everyone so far and I look forward to taking to the water, neil

Is it possible for someone from admin to move my post to my postings as I seem to have hijacked someone else's post (Sorry!)

Hi Lady G, (and everyone else), I apologize for my silence but I'm still here and have been quite busy with many things. I have even managed to register for NHS and a doctor (always handy!). Tomorrow I am having solar fitted on my boat by Tom Malone with thanks for the recommendation to a valued member on here "Dyertribe". I have also been painting (half of the boat) but will have to wait for the other side until I turn the boat around. I also ordered and received a great vinyl letters boat sign with my new name "huami" (lower case lettering) from "Funkymonkey" Boat-names and I am very pleased with it. At the moment I don't have a decent camera on my phone but I am hoping to get the Samsung Galaxy 10+ very soon, in the meantime I will (try!) to post a photo with this post (if I can find out how to do it!). 12th and 13th (OMG it's a Friday!) (I'm not superstitious!) I will be taking the Helmsman's Course from "Willow Wren" and after that I look forward to passing and saying hello to anyone who would like to give me a wave .... or come and have a coffee! Now to try and post a photo (????) Thank you to everyone so far and I look forward to taking to the water, neil

Thanks for the info I have just sent them a message in their website and it says they will get back to me within 48 hours. Thanks as always and have a lovely day. neil

I have had 8 of these in the past two days?

Hi Victor, I'm confused (Don't worry it happens often!). In your comments on "I changed my (pump-out) toilet for a new Thetford Cassette C260" and "Last week I had fitted carpet from front to back which makes walking about with bare feet a lot more comfortable", you remarked "Ooooooooo." followed by "Bad move!" ..... But is it Ooooooooo (Very nice?) or is it Ooooooooo (Not a good move? .... or is the "Bad move!" referring to the toilet or the carpet (or both in your opinion)? I'm quite confused! Anyway, I always love to hear other people’s opinions so thanks for your input. Great to hear from you. Have a lovely day neil

Hi Matty ... Thanks so much for your reply and I fully understand with how busy you are with everything.. Thanks also for your advice to look towards "Onboard Solar" and M&R and I will certainly look into both of them. Thanks again, neil

Hi WotEver, .... and thanks for the information. Unfortunately both firms (although they have a great selection and lots of good advice), they don't actually install the solar panels. So, I hope that someone can point me in the direction of a solar supplier that also is an installer? Thanks again ... neil

I think possibly I should go and buy some canal guides / maps or I won't know where I am going (or even where I have been). I love it that you can only turn a Narrowboat in specific places as that will save me a lot of problems! ... Let me explain! ... I walk along a street then eventually find the shop I wanted .... then I come out of the shop and turn the wrong way and end up thinking that I have seen most of these shops a while back! So, as I get older possibly my "Sat-Nav" stops working as it should? In the future I can just get back on the boat and set off (in the correct direction). (Isn't life wonderful!). Yesterday I changed my (pump-out) toilet for a new Thetford Cassette C260 series with porcelain bowl (and for the price I thought I could operate it and tell it to go an empty itself with my ipad ) ... but at least it has wheels on the cassette and a handle. Last week I had fitted carpet from front to back which makes walking about with bare feet a lot more comfortable. I also would like to go to the Crick Boat Show (in May) as I have seen it a few times on some of the bloggers sites and it looks very interesting. Also I might get some ideas about solar panels, as I'm not having much luck finding out about them yet. Anyway, I will continue scrubbing off the old name ready for painting and my new vinyl name letters to be attached... Everyone have a lovely day, keep warm and dry and I will update you again soon. Neil

Hi Guyz .... and a thousand apologies for disappearing for such a long time. I have actually been very busy with lots of administerial tasks. The one that was causing the most dramas was that I was waiting for the return of my new passport and the absence of which was calling no end of delays. One thing was that until I had all my official ID documentation (The passport office had my old passport and my still valid European passport!). This being I was unable to open a bank account or subscribe to a mobile and internet provider. Now after nearly three weeks of waiting I have both my passports back, have been able to open a bank account and next week I shall look to sign up with “Three” and at the same time buy a new mobile. I even managed to get a Senior Rail Card (£30) which gives me 33% discount on rail travel. I am still very complimentary about Whilton Marina who have been nothing but the perfect company from begin to end. I am now living “on board” and will be taking to the open waters from 1st March. I will then be going on a two day “Helmsman Course” after which I will attempt not to crash into any of you whilst I’m speeding along at a wonderful maximum of 4 mph. What else is new (or possibly I already mentioned it? ….. I’m getting old!) but my boat will be re-named “huami” (Who am I) and under the name I am going to put (in smaller text) “it’sme.neil”. As soon as I get a decent phone, I will upload some photo’s … but in the mean time I hope that everyone is well and keeping warm and dry.

Hi Richard, Thanks for the info and I will certainly get in touch with Matty as he has been mentioned before. Thanks Neil – NB huami

Just testing how to post an image ..... The colour is not what I will choose but the name and the basic design.

WoW! Thanks ...... It all sounds so painless. I hope that my boat will be just as easy! ha, ha! Neil – NB huami

So I don't need to host them somewhere? .... I can just choose from my own Google Photo's library on my laptop? Thanks Neil – NB huami

Hi all ... I have another question ... How can I place photo's into a posting? A couple of times people have asked can I show some photo's of the boat but I don't know where to start to post photo's. Any help would be appreciated ... Neil – NB huami

Hi Tim, Thanks so much for the offer of help or advice and I would love to be able to contact you if I do get into problems .... however, my first problem is "I don't know how to send a PM", possibly you can explain. Thanks again .. Neil – NB huami

No .... no problem (I hope!) .... just that I will need to get it fired up and working because after being years in Thailand it is to say the least a little cooler here! Neil – NB huami Hi mrsmelly .... Possibly very good advice and I am hoping that if I find a company to install solar for me they will also check that sort of thing (I hope!). Thanks as always, Neil – NB huami

Hi Kevin .... Hull was my birth place! Good advice to ask others with solar in the marina ... thanks, and I was pondering between the bronze and the next one up for the Canal rescue but I think I will take your advice and stick with the bronze. Thanks for the input ... Neil – NB huami

I have been quoted £115.00 so possibly even cheaper with the Taxi because 2 train tickets return are £68.00 then Taxi's and tube fairs ... Once in a while ...

Tomorrow (Wednesday 5th February) I am going to my new boat (huami) (New for me anyway!) and taking a rucksack full of cleaning materials to give the boat a once over so that when I return on Friday, helped by my friend, we will be able to unpack things and he can take the empty suitcases back to London. I decided it was a lot easier to get a taxi from London Chelsea to Whilton Marina and not so much more expensive that four journeys on the tube, two return train tickets (and two more taxi journeys at the Whilton end)) and a lot of carrying five heavy suitcases. Tomorrow I will also get the insurance, CRT license and the Canal Rescue policy sorted. The first thing I will want to get working is the heating but I have already inquired at the local Whilton Chandlers and they seem to have everything I will need. My next big project is to get Solar panels installed although I don’t think they will be able to contribute very much at the moment with the lack of sunshine. Please !! if anyone can advise me or recommend a company in the vicinity of Whilton Marina who can both supply and install a solar system I would be most grateful. As always thanks so much for your advice and suggestions. Neil – NB huami