Grace and Favour

I thought they ate all of the dog?

It is dreams of such pecuniary hardship that drives us to abandon life on Terra Firma, and seek a more liquid subsistence next year . . . . . . Please keep up the good work . . . the mental salivations are motivational!

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If I may join in?? . . . Dried lentils (red) are absolutely fine . . . the larger green / brown lentils also work well, but need a little longer to to cook . . . Always fry the onions before adding them . . (this caramelises the sugars and improves the flavour) A wee bit of Garlic to taste is also good, and, if you're anything like me (sorry - - - but I'm a serious chilli-head!!) - a really good belt of fresh chopped chillies in there adds a certain piquancy too!

Hi there, As I've said on the 'Welcome to new members' thread . . . I'm new here, and will be new to boating . . . Missus and I are currently researching all the options before we buy a boat for next year as a (full-time) live-aboard . . Money is tight (and if we listen to the portents of doom, is likely to get tighter) so I really don't know whether we should mortgage our soul and buy new, or get a used boat & change / refurbish as we go along . . But, if I may pick your brains on the first question . . . we'll be looking for a 10' / 11' wideboat I suspect So far, we have only looked at one 'builder' - Amber (Evesham) . . and, listened to all the sales patter (etc etc etc), and clearly we simply must look at other operations too . . . I hear that Amber have had an interesting (!) past, but have, as yet, no idea if they are good / bad / indifferent representatives of their market . . . Could anyone please advise us whom else we should go and visit to gain a good and representative impression of canal craft qualities and prices? (Interesting, Amber now use a steel spec of 14:6:5:4 . . . which seems heavier than many others - - is this to applauded, or does it indicate problems elsewhere (though obviously fuel consumption shall be higher . . . . . )

I'm a noob . . so apologies for what may appear a facile question . . . . . Is there anyone at the august establishment (?) known as BW that would be able to provide an answer to the question ????? Should we ask them?

Morning all . . . . I would have thought that the likely time / cost / disruption necessary to retro-fit these new windows into the existing hull, with a reasonable likelihood that the finish may be 'impaired' would warrant the exercise impractical. Surely, you are more likely to get a much better (and more cost effective) result by asking the window manufacturer to buy back the windows at a 50% discount, ordering new ones from him (with a cardboard template as your guide ) and then be safe in the knowledge that the job is perfect . . If the manufacturer agrees to this, you will have a job that's cost you an extra £300 or so . . but at least will have the finish you deserve . . . . . (and to create 32 extra infills, welding, repainting / filling etc could still cost more than that!!!!)

Many thanks for your welcome Roger . . . . . . much appreciated

Hi I'm David, (& dear heart is Josi), in our 50's, and have taken the decision to sell up home & join the waterlogged of Great Britain . . . (maybe waterlogged is a little too appropriate as I look out of my window watching the heavens open . . . ) We've holidayed in narrowboats previously, and have come to the conclusion that is where we wish to spend the rest of our able life . . We realise we have an enormous amount to learn, but are eagerly anticipating the enjoyment of that, for we'll make sure we've a fair idea of the benefits and pitfalls before we buy our boat . . . and we look forward to trawling (pun intended) through the forum to benefit from the doubtless many years of experience, joy and misfortune of others . . . . I look forward to joining in chaps!

Hi Roger, I'm a new member, both of this forum, and a member to be of the boating fraternity . . . my wife and I have made the decision to live on our waterways in about a year, and I'm keen to carry out judicious and effective research before we buy a boat. As one currently ensconced 'twixt bricks and mortar, power is something that's easy to take as a given, and I appreciate that power on a boat takes on an whole new set of parameters, and is something I am keen to understand - - fully. I guess I'm pleased to have not yet caught up with what appears to have been a long-running and inconclusive debate . . . but I look forward to the distillation of such knowledge . . Suffice to say, although I am not yet competent (either in knowledge, nor experience) in these dark arts, I am keen to join in, if I may, and will gladly absorb all such wisdom and habit . . . . (and promise not to be contentious until I think I know what I'm talking about!)