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huami

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Posts posted by huami

  1. Hi Guyz .... At the end of 2019 I joined this forum knowing that I would be returning to the UK after many years living abroad and I have managed to gain lots of very valuable information thanks to your help.
    The day has now arrived for my return, and Saturday 25th January I will be visiting a few marinas concentrated in the vicinity of Whilton Marina. I have registered with a few of them and have been able to keep up to date with what is on offer at the moment.
    I also may have overcome one of the hurdles I was facing, that of having a registered address to open a bank account. It seems (I await to confirm) that with the HMRC (who pay my state pension) letter that was sent to my (friends) postal address I will be able to open my own bank account.
    I will also need (from day one!) a telephone provider and a new UK telephone number. Is there any particular provider that is better for cruisers of the canal network? A couple of times I have seen mention of "three" and of course I would also need internet availability on the boat. 
    Once again, I would like to thank you all for your help and advice in the past and I look forward to your further help when I arrive.
    Whilton will be my first point of call on the early morning of Saturday 25th January so if you see a strange (suntanned) face looking around the boats or (I've heard they do a good breakfast!) in the cafe please do say hello and let me buy you a coffee (or tea!).

    Neil
     

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  2. Hi Aunti Sam, it’s great to know that there will be other new boaters joining me this year.
    I joined this forum only a couple of months ago as I am a retiree returning to the UK after many years of living abroad.

    At the moment I am still in Thailand (34 degrees) and as everyone keeps telling me it is a bit (ha, ha!) cooler in the UK. Yes, I do know as I was born in Scarborough 66 years ago.
    My dates are very soon and I hope to find something already this month!

    I will be a single-handed continuous cruiser as my partner needs to work in London but with 21st century communication that has not been a problem, and who knows?, I also might meet someone along the way who might like to join me and share some lock duties whilst having a free holiday?

    Anyway, I would like to wish you and your partner (and all other members of this forum) the very best 2020.

    Welcome ...
    Neil
     

  3. 16 hours ago, cheshire~rose said:

    I will also add; if you decide to go with vinyl and want the colour of the letters  to match a colour of the paint on the boat, perhaps some stripes or lines you have for example. You should choose your vinyl colour first and match the paint to it as not all paint shades are available in vinyl. Of course it doesn't end there because the pigment in the paint will oxidise at a different rate to the pigment in the vinyl so it's probably better to avoid any attempt at a match. 

    Thanks so much for your comprehensive information .... 
    Have a Great 2020

    Neil

  4. 11 hours ago, nicknorman said:

    I rather get the feeling that the OP will prefer vinyl. So just to mention that not all vinyl companies are equal. Some take monochrome vinyl and cut to shape - if a multi-coloured design is required, they cut the different coloured pieces and apply them on top/adjacent to create the desired design. Better vinyl companies have a colour printer than can apply a multi-coloured design to a single piece of vinyl. That gives a better and more robust result.

    Ah, ha,  ...  A mind reader!, but very true! I do believe that vinyl may be better for me as I am not looking for the florets, castles etc.
    Thank you for pointing out the difference in the vinyl companies and I will certainly keep my eyes open for a better quality.

    As always, thanks again and have a great 2020.
    Neil

    11 hours ago, deckhand said:

    For vinyl , on our second boat, we had a Company called Lime Turtle, Iain Arnold did a smashing job on the signs for our shop boat. He's based in Burton on Trent, and can be found on Linked in or Facebook. 

    Thanks for the information. I am not having any success finding "Lime Turtle" and I wonder if you have any other contact details?
    Have a Great 2020!
    Neil

  5. 17 minutes ago, David Schweizer said:

    Dave Moore of this parish is excellent if you want traditional style. He doesn’t do “frogs and wine glasses” however. 

    It looks very nice but I don't think it is what I am looking for.

    Also thanks to Mark99

    Thanks guyz
    Neil

    3 hours ago, LadyG said:

    Thanks LadyG, that was the one I was looking for! I had seen some of their work but couldn't find the website (or remember the name!).
    Neil

  6. 5 minutes ago, nicknorman said:

    Vinyl is cheap and effective. But signwriting gives a different and much more classic look. The difference is very noticeable. I suppose to some extent it depends on the type of boat you go for. If a modern looking one with no nods to history or tradition, might as well use vinyl. If something with a more classical look to it, vinyl will look out of place.

     

    Our sign-writing was done by a chap called Kevin Reagan, I think it cost about £700 in 2011 but it is a large area, expertly executed in several colours. Transforms a boat.

    Hi Nick, Thanks for the reply. I'm not a traditionalist although I luv history. I will await replies from both traditionalists and  modernists and eventually make my own decision. 
    Thanks again ... Neil

  7. Signwriting - Who did it? - Where - How much?

    This forum and you guyz certainly came up trumps with some great information in reply to my "Navigation - Apps or Maps?" ... Thanks to all of you.
    Just a couple more weeks and I hope to find a suitable boat (possibly around Braunston, Whilton area?)
    I did a forum search for "signwriting" but didn't find any "recent" advice. I would luv to hear of your experience regarding getting the name you wanted on your boat - "Who did it? - Where - How much?".
    In my previous businesses (not in the UK) I used a lot of "vinyl stick on" and in general I was very pleased with the results.

     Looking forward to your invaluable comments ...

     Thanks again.

    Neil

  8. 1 hour ago, Kendorr said:

    If you want to go with an app, I, like many others, use 'open canalmap'.

     

    Nicholson's and canalplan for general planning and navigation, then the app to zoom in when looking for a good place to moor up, it does also show many of the current closures and identified problems.

     

     

    Hi Kendorr,
    That sounds like quite a good piece of advise. At the moment I am trying lots of options so I am sure I will find the right one in the end (after wasting a lot of money!)

    Have a great day and thanks for your contribution ...

    Neil

    1 hour ago, Athy said:

    When we started boating in the 1990s we bought a mixture of guide books, but we are now fully Pearsonised. Michael Pearson's guides are accurate, informative, clearly-mapped and boater-friendly, and he updates them fairly frequently.

    Of course, no guide book can tell you that the pub in Little Bloggett closed down last week. Having no experience of "apps", as we don't have a computer on board, I can't comment on them.

    Hi Athy,
    Sorry to hear that the pub closed down in "Little Blogget", but thanks for your invaluable information.

    Have a great day
    Neil

  9. Hi Guyz .... Everything in life is a learning curve but listening to advice from others is invaluable. I'm taking all your comments "on board" and value all your suggestions. It's going to "fun"(?) making lots of mistakes along the way but I am really looking forward to chatting to and meeting others as my journey progresses. Here in Thailand that is something I have very much missed, just saying hello, saying "Hi how are you today"? 

    Thanks again .... Neil

  10. 2 minutes ago, The Dreamer said:

    Rivers, canals, locks and bridges tend not to move, close down or change their opening hours!  Maps all the way for navigation.  Google all the way for “find the nearest pub”, “supermarkets near me” or “locate the nearest boatyard”.

    Hi Dreamer,
    So a combination of both, but which "app" should I have for keeping up-to-date with closures and stoppages? 

    Have a great day .... Neil

  11. 2 minutes ago, Graham Davis said:

    Map books in a waterproof case; the batteries don't go flat!
    I prefer Nicholson's but other publishers are available.

    Hi Graham, A lot of truth in what you say but how "up-to-date" are the map books? Could the answer be a combination of both?

    Have a great day ... Neil

  12. Hi Guyz ..... Just a few more weeks and I will be back to where life started 66 years ago.
    I haven't stopped gathering information since I decided to buy a Narrowboat, much with thanks to members of this forum, and YouTube video's.


    Navigation! .... That's the big question. Should I go 21st century and buy some "apps" for my mobile or iPad, or should I rely on the paper ring bound guides (that I fear may not be 100% "up-to-date")?

    I would appreciate any advice, and I am sure your experience would be of great value. I'm not only looking for maps, but more for what there is to do and see along the towpath.


    Thanking you all in anticipation,    Neil

  13. Hi Guyz and thanks for all the comments, they really are appreciated. 

     

    I don't have any "rush" to buy but at the same time I don't like hanging around.

     

    At the moment I seem to be set for London to Rugby or London to Long Buckby. 

     

    I have been checking out Whilton Marina on line and they seem to have quite a choice.

    Thanks to BEngo For {For accommodation in the Rugby area try the Barley Mow at Newbold.  Canal side and we were well looked after when we stayed there.  Rugby is a good station to get to, and is fairly convenient for all the midlands marinas.}

     

    At the moment everything is "planning" and trying to get a short list together although I might be too soon and many that are now available may have already gone in a months time.

     

    Anyway ... As usual .. Thanks again and please keep it coming!

    Neil
     

  14. 1 hour ago, p6rob said:

    As well as Apollo Duck, one of the best places to start looking at lots of boats is Whilton Marina. Their website has lots of boats to browse, so you've got an idea before you get there, once there you can get the keys to three boats at a time and they'll leave you to look around. That's a good way to get an idea of what's on offer and more importantly what aspects of a boat appeal, eg stern type, layout, round or square windows. Whether you buy from there or not is up to you.

    Hi ....  and thanks for the information.

     

    Can you tell me if RUGBY would be the correct train station to get off to go to Whilton Marina?

     

    Thanks

  15. A short while ago I joined this group and was so impressed with the helpful responses I received.
    Now the time has arrived that I'm in the final planning stages and on Monday and Tuesday 27/28th January I will be starting my search for a live aboard narrow boat.
    I'm not looking for a large boat as I will be siglehanded and I'm hoping to find something for about 40000.oo.
    I could really do with some advice as I am arriving from Thailand in the weekend and will be staying with a friend in London. I will need to travel by train but to where?
    Someone recommended heading for Rugby then hiring a car and using Google maps to try to find some marinas that have boats for sale.
    I may also have to find somewhere to stay on the Monday night (B and B).

    Thanks again in advance and any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

     

    Neil

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  16. On 27/11/2019 at 14:44, fergyguy said:

    Hi Neil it’s scary as I know only too well as there’s so much to learn and being surrounded by other boaters who have a knowledge of what they are doing can be a little intimidating. From what I have learned so far most ( not all) boaters are friendly helpful folk and like us were total novices at the start of their lives afloat. Keep in touch and maybe one day we will bump ( not literally) into each other on the cut. Kind regards Martin 

    Hi Martin .... Well, you should have had your first few days aboard your new boat! ....

    So what are your first impressions?

     

    I still have to arrive in the UK but I now have my flight booked for 23rd January. Then it's off to start searching in the marinas. I have been advised to head by train from London to possibly Rugby ....  then hire a car for a couple of days, find an overnight bed and breakfast and take a look around the marinas.

    As I'm going to be single handed I am not looking for a stretch limousine and I'm hoping to stay around the 40k-45k price range.

     

    I hope your first few days have been a success and I look forward to following your posts.

     

    Neil

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  17. On 26/11/2019 at 06:07, fergyguy said:

    Today I’ve taken the plunge and bank transferred the deposit on my soon to be boat home At Last I should hopefully be moving off land after 63 years and starting a new chapter in my life afloat.

    Hi "fergyguy" Congratulations with your new boat!

    My planned "first day aboard" should be sometime towards the end of January or the first week of February. At the moment I am still in Thailand but my return flight (to the UK) is booked for 23rd January.
    I'm still very nervous about the first few days because the concentration of Marinas is in an area that I have never been to (I was born in Scarborough).. At the moment it is train from London where my friend lives to (possibly Rugby?) then possibly hire a car or take taxis? Then look around and come to a decision.

     

    I will keep updating my progress as it happens but I imagine there will be a few hiccup's  on the way.

     

    Anyway, lots of success with your new venture and I look forward to seeing you somewhere on the network.

     

    Have a great day

    Neil

  18. 3 hours ago, Mike Tee said:

    Assuming you have an account in Thailand, would your present manager be willing to give you a letter of introduction explaining your circumstances - also, they may already have an ‘arrangement’ with a UK bank that would help.

    Hi Mike .... 

    Thanks for your comment and it something I will certainly try. Who knows? ... It could help.

    Have a great day

    Neil

  19. 13 minutes ago, LadyG said:

    I think when I changed my address, one bank seemed slightly wary, but my marina allows us to use their office address, which does not mention "marina". I did not mention BOAT.

    There are one or two boat-mail businesses which give you a real address. They also scan or forward mail to you.

    To receive mail, you can use poste restante post offices.

    I think you are best with at least two bank accounts.    They will send the plastic cards to your address, often without warning.

     

    Hi LadyG ....  Thanks for the information ..

    Have a lovely day

    Neil

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