Debby

Yes, we've had those before. It all goes round in circles, especially at this time of year.

No, that's not what I said, and I see no particular nastiness to newbies at the moment. This forum goes through phases. Someone complains about bullying or rudeness, everyone gets all over protective, demands that the forum needs to be changed, people who don't want it to change get upset. Then it all gets forgotten, things calm down and the forum goes back to being the mainly calm, friendly, helpful and pleasant place it's been for years. In most cases the person who made all the noise about how dreadful the forum is realises that it isn't that bad, and ends up staying. That's pretty much what I was trying to say, but you said it better!

I have been a member of this forum since 2007, longer than Nick Norman and Ian D, but not as long as Tony. Every year we seem to have one of these threads , accusing people of being nasty to newbies, or someone complaining about the way the forum is run, that there aren't any posts about boat builds, that people with too many posts should stop posting, it's killing the forum, newbies won't stay. Amazingly the forum keeps going, new members do stay - not all of them obviously - and a fair few of the older members who were here when I joined have gone. It will settle down, it usually does when the weather improves and people can go boating. This forum is very useful - it saved us making a huge mistake and buying a boat - and it can be extremely entertaining, particularly those who take themselves far too seriously. I rarely post these days, and rarely even log in which means I can avoid even seeing the politics section. Quite simply, no one forces you to be here. If you don't like it the way it is, and has been for many years, you are free to leave.

It works extremely well in every Aldi I've been in, and I shop in Aldi every week. The idea is to avoid long queues at the checkouts caused by people packing bags there. At the start of Covid, people with cars were asked to take their trolleys to their cars and pack there, leaving more space at the packing shelf for non car drivers. That was what a lot of people were doing before Covid, and are continuing to do.

The batteries in the bow referred to in that post were the two batteries that used to be for the bow thruster. LadyG found those difficult to access, which is why she needed help to replace them. Having found those batteries in the bow, I don't think anyone would have expected to find two more tucked away in an even more inaccessible place.

In this case she is listening to her electrician. He found these batteries, he has disconnected them from the system, he is happy to leave them in place as ballast. Her business, not anyone else's.

It makes sense to LadyG. That's all that matters. The batteries, which were not the original bow thruster batteries, have been completely disconnected now, but are remaining in place as ballast.

Lovely. Hopefully some progress will now be made. Thanks Joe.

That's why she and Tony have been talking, and why Joe's information will be so useful. I don't blame her.

What happened in the past happened. No ifs, buts, whys etc will change that. The important thing is that between the new electrician, Tony and Joe there's a chance of things getting sorted now. But important information is likely to get overlooked if people keep asking questions on this thread about the past. .

Hopefully it'll all help Kev if he turns up on Wednesday! I'm sure you're not blocked, Joe! If you are, LadyG is still able to read your post now she knows it's here. A friendly electrician is supposed to be visiting the boat on Wednesday, so hopefully the information will be useful to him. Debby

Tony and Joe, I have messaged LadyG about Joe's post. Hopefully she'll read it shortly.

Oh good, sounds like it hasn't changed! I'm glad you got there in the end, and I hope you'll go back again.

Hope you like it! It always used to be what we would call a proper pub, but we're living in strange times at the moment, and places aren't quite what they used to be.

If you're walking along Sunderland Street (past the Treacle Tap) to go up to the Puss in Boots, turn left when you're opposite the station and go to the Waters Green Tavern. It's open now, and according to their last post on Facebook, they had two possibly interesting beers on.

The Waters Green, up the road opposite the station, used to be good, but we haven't been there for a few years. According to Google it opens at 5pm.

Coconut by Harry Nilsson. From the album Nilsson Schmilsson. Released in 1971.

Our vet told us that the treatment Eartha is on should give her an extra year. But we don't know when from... As for Cleo, she's too lazy to catch a cold, bless her. They were 7 months when we got them, they'd been dumped at the vets. Cats have been known to live till they're 30, so you could have yours for plenty of years yet!

Sorry, one of ours was just trying to drink out of my water glass... I hadn't had cats since I was a kid, and my first one ran away to live in a pigsty with a feral cat. After that I always had dogs, but Dave talked me into taking on two rescue kittens. Twelve years later, we couldn't imagine life without them.

Oh no! I'm so very sorry to hear that. We would probably have lost one of ours if we didn't have such a fantastic vet. She's cost us a small fortune, but she's worth it. I don't know how we'd cope if we lose her.

I thought you were a cat person! Problems?

I have never considered you as part of the Grumpy Old Man group! Far from it. Your choice, Rusty. But I can't go far from home as I have a cat who needs regular medication. Sorry, but I have a life. This forum is s very minor part of it. Debby - Grumpy Old Woman

Well yes, but there seems to have been a dramatic outbreak of Grumpy Old Man Syndrome, which is very infectious. A shame, but I'm afraid I no longer get any pleasure from this forum, and I've enjoyed my summer break from it. I think I'll extend it to an autumn break. I only came back because I was told that the result of a vote would get rid of the Political posts from VNC!

Absolutely. The "mischief makers" are long term members who used to be reasonable, and on occasion, interested. No longer. They seem to get pleasure from being rude and insulting to anyone who doesn't agree with them, no matter what the topic is. It's changing - for the worst. But this "change" has suddenly happened, with no notification. The only change was supposed to be to the Political section.