SarahB

As if I'd go anywhere without it!

And I've just been to test the cider at the Swan to make sure it is ok for visitors. It is So who exactly is coming to the summer banter/fish pie competition? Liam - are you venturing this way? Fuzzy? ? What about you? What about all the IWA-ers - come and play at the Swan... there's fish pie and everything (might have been to buy some fish so I can do a trial run just in case and all that) Sx

I'm exceptionally jealous!

Heh I always knew being a short arse would come in handy one day! My ceilings are miles away I'm sure

You must! I've polished the engine room to an inch of its life!

Ahh but I was planning on doing post banter breakfast for everyone...

I'm a definite! Anyway it's my boats first proper banter so I'm hoping lots of new people show up! Beeeeeer and no w@rk yay

Cheers Keith - yet again I haven't taken the busted bulb in anywhere. I'll do it tomorrow and they have no joy I'll emaily measurements over to that place - £2.25 a bulb?? Tis not cheap although I can't complain as they are definitely more than 2 years old already.... Thanks for the link. S

Bon's just about to do some beautiful windows for my stable doors - sorry Bones but my doors came with the boat so no idea where they're from. I do know a good place for oak stuff though - I'm just having some rustic shelves made and hopefully soon I'll be ordering some more stuff from them. www.simplyrustic.oak.co.uk has the contact number - I emailed them to start with and they've been so helpful and friendly.

I'm on 24v too (well not me exactly) I've done ok for bulbs up until recently. For some reason the bulbs in my bedroom as a strange size (I think they are bus rather than truck bulbs) which is a complete nightmare. Luckily I have two lights in the bedroom as one of them has been out for the majority of this year. I must remember to take it with me next time I head anywhere sensible. And I must remember to stock up so I don't have to go through this again when the other bulb goes

I think a dedicated banter section is a great idea Can our Leicester/Lough post be moved there??

And beware of the half eaten rats and mice! I'm not going to forget those stories in a hurry...

I'd love to but considering its 4 days before my exam I should really be a grown up and decline...

I'm another liveaboard and happy to help. I'll also be at the Lough banter or around before then...

Yay! Glad to see you're out on on travels again and I look forward to hearing about your adventures again this year Sarahx

The best bit about being a boatie is just being you. You end up with all sorts of friends that you probably wouldn't even bump into on dry land, you automatically have boatiness in common and then you realise that there are some really interesting, funny, well travelled, different people that are just great to have as friends. There was a guy Rob (hi if you happen to read this and get in touch because I've no idea where you are now! TR - have you heard from him at all?) who was in the merchant navy, I reckon he was in his 60s (sorry if you're reading this and you're not) and he had some amazing stories of his travels and was just someone who'd I'd happily choose to spend time with chatting over a cuppa and a smoke. In fact even when I moved away I'd make a point of driving past the marina to see if he was in, jump over the fence and knock on the boat demanding tea Alys and Colin - in their early 70s, met in the RAF, live on their boat all summer, regularily travel to Sweden, have grandchildren coming up to my age and kinda adopted me into their family. I've not seen them for over a year but we keep in touch and I'm hoping to take a drive down to Cambridgeshire this weekend to pop in for a cup of tea. They are the most caring, considerate couple I've ever met. Suddenly age really doesn't matter when it comes to friends! Boatlife can be anything you want it to be. That's the joy and pleasure of living on a boat.

Congrats Soulgirl Yay another female boater (who doesn't do shopping) to add to the ever growing list. It's a great life. You'll have a fab time

I'd love to get rid of my fixed seating as its not comfortable for long term sitting. Its the storage I'd miss out on though. I have very limited storage to start with and I'm not sure I can throw much more away Hm maybe I should seriously investigate two comfy chairs and then some sort of boxy storage/double up as a table for when I'm studying type thing.

Hi Mickey! Welcome to the mad world/house

Hm I have some of those - no idea where they came from though. I reckon a car parts place might stock them? I need to get to Parkers this week to try and source my silly 24v bulbs (non standard size, think it's from a bus!) so I'll ask there and if they do have some I'll get you some before the banter if you like? S

Actually "marina" is far too posh a name It was actually a working boat yard with moorings. I was allowed to be there full time and there were different mooring fees for those that weren't. Although I guess that still doesn't answer the question to whether it had resi planning permission...

If I get Thursday off and you finish early enough - fancy giving me a hand through Barrow Deep? I'm far too much of a wuss to even contemplate that on my own but wouldn't mind having a mini solo adventure before my official lock hand turns up?