Mac of Cygnet

I've walked further uphill than that to check out pubs. The Sair Inn is a prime example, often mentioned here - it even brings us back on topic!

This surely must be a first in the thousands of battery topics on CWDF.

Coming back to Sprotburgh, there is (or was) another pub up in the village with its own cricket pitch. I remember one Sunday evening sitting on the verandah watching the cricket to the sound of church bells, supping beer at £1.50 a pint (A Sam Smiths pub, so very cheap, and a few years ago). Paradise.

Those moorings are the only ones in 30 years boating where I have been set adrift while on board (in the middle of the night). Which goes to show that a one-off experience should not damn a place. I too loved the HNC when I was fit and gung-ho enough to enjoy a challenge. The comments from the OP were from the time of my earlier trips on the canal, and I don't recognise some of his complaints, although parts were tough. It appeared to, on average, get rather easier over the years and transits (5 with crew, 7 singlehanded), both because of genuine improvements and increasing knowledge and better techniques. It is a great pity that some of the genuine improvements seem to be being reversed.

This from the original post. Perhaps the OP could find out exactly what this means - it would certainly clarify things.

Looks like I experienced the best days of the HNC. There were some restrictions on the Marsden flight the first couple of times (2007 and 2008) and of course you had to be pulled through the tunnel by electric tug, but for most of my time I just went where and when I liked. There were closures and obstacles and other problems of course, but I never planned so it didn't matter. I did it in less than 5 days once singlehanded. Another time I took a month over it, not because I was stuck, but because I liked the HNC so much. And left my boat for a week at a time both on the East and West. With the various restrictions that seem to be in place now, I don't think it would have been my usual route South and back over the years.

My son, finding his stove couldn't stay in all night like mine, heard there was a 'secret screw' that would allow him to shut it down completely. So he phoned the manufacturers, and they cheerfully told him where it was and how to do it!

In late Feb/early March?

As no-one has said they've reported it, I've done so.

Perhaps you should have come here, then: (Scottish Borders 21 per sq. km) Population mid-2011 Population density (pop per sq. km) mid-2021 England 53,107,000 434 Wales 3,064,000 150 Northern Ireland 1,814,000 141 Scotland 5,300,000 70

I would think all of them are still relevant. I've moored at lots of other places on the HNC, too, but my boat was only 27ft.

Could you link to the post from 10 years ago? I've probably moored on all of them over the years (and a lot more, especially on the HNC).

Well I've never graduated to 3G, having only dumbphones (3, actually) so I presume they will continue to work (but not here, where nothing does).

Brilliant! I didn't think I'd watch it to the end when I saw how long it was, but it was laugh-out-loud several times. And cringeworthy at the same time.

Well I didn't like to say anything given the cries of woe about the closure in the link, but I agree that the Linfit beers were variable to say the least. If they can get in other local alternatives it would be great. Like Osset Brewery.......... mmmmmmmm

The pub isn't closing, just the tiny brewery. It's quite a haul up the hill from mooring at the lock near the Titanic Mill. A beautiful little old-fashioned pub. The parlour is very similar to our living room 70 years ago.

So what caused the explosion? I remember once while camping trying to cook potatoes in petrol, which had been stored (not by me) in a similar container to the water. We were very, very fortunate to notice in time.

My mind has just boggled. From the link: It is theorized that the size of their spiny penises with bristled tips may have evolved in response to competitive pressure in these highly promiscuous birds, removing sperm from previous matings in the manner of a bottle brush. Although most male birds have no penis,[6] ducks have a long corkscrew penis, and the females have a long corkscrew vagina, which spirals in the opposite direction.[7] The males often try to force copulation, but the complex mating geometry allows the females to retain control—most forced copulations do not result in successful fertilization.[8]

Well, that wasn't entirely successful. Didn't hold together well - certainly couldn't have tossed it. And a peculiar greyish-yellow colour. And the taste was only redeemed by the home made strawberry jam. Thank you, Raymond Blanc. I hope RobM's daughter had more success.

Just come across a totally new pancake recipe involving no flour or milk - just mashed banana and egg. Going to try it tonight.

So what is the stuff on one side of polythene repair tape - used it to repair polytunnels for years?