Fiona G

Hi Charles : Believe we stopped at Polesworth on the way back down from Barton Turns last July. Moored right at the bottom of a pub garden, with only one other boat. Thought it'd be really crowded, but it wasn't. Nothing fancy - no kitch canalia, but very friendly landlady and locals, good, cheap basic food and a pool table. Will check in the log book and/or map book when we go to the boat at the weekend, and let you know the name/exact location. Fiona G

I agree, Janet. The thought that occurred to me having seen the photo of the newly painted boat is this. Surely at this time of year, if a boat is painted out of doors, the paint will 'bloom' at night, as it is still getting cold. This happened to us in Sept/October last year. This leads me to believe that the boat may well have been painted under cover. If so, where? What do you all think? Fiona

We'll be at our mooring at Winkwell (between Hemel and Berkhamsted) over the weekend and will make sure everyone knows the situation and keeps an eye out - especially those who liveaboard, and those in the canalside pub - The Three Horseshoes. If we get the chance, we'll walk up and down as far as we can. This is only 4 or 5 miles from St. Albans, so you are right, I think wherever the sightings have been, this has to be a potential hot spot. I have also sent the pic to a friend who lives in a flat overlooking Apsley Lock Marina in Hemel, and he is keeping an eye out there too. Fiona

Cheers - you learn something new every day! F

Tea-leaf? Sorry don't get that one. Fiona

Maybe his family / friends are in on it? A quote from the local paper said 'A woman at Mr. King's address... did not wish to comment on his disappearance' (April 12th Herts Advertiser). It would be a remarkable feat if he were on his own. Surely he has to have some accomplices? One can only speculate, which may or may not be helpful. It's a question of trying to get inside his mind to see where he would go and what he might do. But that's not really possible unless one knows his motivation. Fiona

We bought a cheap one from Wilkinsons, but had to take it back cos it leaked! The next one we bought was from a camping shop in St Albans. Again cheap - only 9.99. It holds 4 mugs worth of water. Very good stainless steel. Fiona

Hi guys We bought a 5 year old ex-shared ownership which we had surveyed at a cost of about £500. The guy took the whole day and we had a complete booklet at the end of it with hints, tips, photos, diagrams and everything, with a code for stuff that needed doing urgently vs stuff that could wait, vs ongoing maintenance, from small to large items. On top of all that, he spent the last hour of the survey explaining things to us in great detail. Having said that, we have since had unexpected expense (gearbox and heater issues) that we couldn't really expect him to find without dismantling it all. We thought he was great value for money. It has also helped that my partner is handy and could do a lot of stuff himself. We brought her home (Herts) from near Litchfield ourselves, but made sure we did a Helmsman's Certificate day course first. Well worth the few quid, and it gave us the confidence to spend those 9 blissful days as relative newcomers to Narrowboating. However, we still learn something from everyone we meet on the canals, and it makes cruising a real pleasure. Everyone is always exceptionally willing to help newcomers. So go for it!! If you enjoy it half as much as I have over the past 9 months, you'll have a ball! Fiona

Thanks, Janet. I agree with your proposed 'happy' ending, even though we are just starting to rent out our own boat! We are not yet retired and love the idea of sharing her when we cannot use her (as well as recouping some costs, of course!). So far, we have only rented to friends and acquaintances, but it certainly makes you think! However, I am sure that by far the majority of people are honest and that, if it is a theft, it is a very isolated incident. Now I know why our insurance insists we hang onto the passport or driving licence of any renters whilst they are out on the boat.... We and our friends have been overwhelmed by the friendliness of the boating fraternity since our purchase last July. My great aunt and grandmother lived for a while on the 'barges' earlier last century, so it's in my blood. Looking forward to more interesting chats, and I shall investigate all the other topics on the site. Fiona

Hello, another newbie here. We're based near Hemel on the GUC and have just come back from 4 days going north, then down the Aylesbury Arm at Marsworth. This is a reasonably isolated (and beautiful) stretch until you get to the town, but therefore other boats are all the more memorable. However, I guess many boaters don't necessarily have TV or computers or have access to the news, so perhaps she is out there after all, and visible, but the people who see her just don't know she is missing. It was only by means of a chance chat at Marsworth with a gongoozler that we knew about it whilst we were afloat. Coincidentally, however, it is on the front page of the local paper as the chap comes from St. Albans (just down the road). Or am I being optimistic and naive about the waterways grapevine?