wrigglefingers
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Posts posted by wrigglefingers
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Spot of garlic butter? On toast? Mushroom stroganoff is pretty mind-blowing.
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No, they're a racingist, or mor elegantly, a speedist.
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The bit of London I come from is notorious for the cheeriness of the denizens. Sarf of the River is different.
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I lived on my boat for ten years before moving back to the bank. I did feel slightly rootless at times, but mostly enjoyed meeting new people either when I had a home mooring or when I was wandering around the system. It was very lonely at times, especially once my daughter had left for university. I didn't feel that I was less of a responsible person or that living on a boat was a cheap alternative although weirdly, I did feel that I belonged to the waterways far more when I was out for the summer, than when I holed up in the basin for winter, and I certainly felt I belonged far more than when I lived in a rented house. It is a matter of pride for me, I think.
I do love being on the water, and, in truth, I wouldn't have moved back to the bank if it hadn't been for severe problems with my knee, which was making living on a boat increasingly difficult. I suppose I've been forced to face my own increasing decrepitude in a way and having seen so many single people get isolated and become a 'problem' as they've got older on their boats, decided to do something about it before it became a problem for anyone else. As it is, I have to have major surgery on my knee and leg this summer which means my daughter will need to come and look after me for a while and I'm upset that will disrupt her life and rob me of my independence for a while. Still, hopefully next year, I'll be back on the water ... The life gets in your blood somehow ...
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First rate idea, Bizzard ...
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There was a huge resurgence of interest in Hammond organs in the early 90s, Clint Boon played one along with the equally interesting Farfisa organ, as did Nick Coombes as occasional member of Supergrass in their live incarnation, The Charlatans remain largely Hammond-driven through originally Rob Collins and subsequently, Tony Rogers. Doug Oates aka Jim Moray occasionally plays one live, but tends to rely on it being recorded and looped for performance, in fairness, they're horribly temperamental when faced with a soggy field.
As for being moved, I have no problem with it at all, but I am mystified by the need to moor in rows together in obscure places too.
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It's a matter of preference, but I would not have the bottom done, for starters given the thickness of the baseplate, any corrosion would take a long time to work through. Second, the bottom plate is often scoured at various points as you grind along shallow lengths of cut/go over detritus etc. Third, grit-blasting is eye-wateringly expensive and the baseplate is a big area hence doubling the price, so why waste the money? Finally, not all of the baseplate would get done as the boat has to be supported somewhere. Save your money for the next session of two-packing.
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With respect, Graham, with respect, otherwise, I shall set Viola y Gath on you ....Any warnings about Miss Fingers, Alan, and how to behave near her considering she's trying my local one night next week?
I've no idea why that's sideways. There is a cat in there somewhere.
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The question came up when a journalist wrote about letting out space on her narrowboat in London as way of generating extra income through AirBnB. She was rapidly reminded by CRT that this wasn't within her power to do without incurring additional cost and responsibilities. So, yes, it does have an impact on your licence, BSC and your insurance.
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Yes, absolutely everyone loses. You can't divide the despair and the act it causes, and the despair that is propagated by it.I feel sorry for the drivers but also for the person who felt there was no other option for them but to do what they did. To describe it as selfish shows an ignorance of the subject, too many people are so quick to jump on the 'oh they are so selfish' bandwagon without thinking of the circumstances that must have pertained to bring the person to such a point.
Selfish my rear end, absolute despair and horror yes.
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I can only go on the drivers I know, from ATW, DBS and TPE. They all say they have had an excellent response from management.
I note you are just over the mountain from me!
I am ... Meet for beer some time at The Star or Angel?
I'm not sure who he drove for, he lives in Caterham and did trains to Brighton and South Coast cities. I know he reported that the company was in a lot of turmoil at the time, and his treatment by them resulted in a large compensation payout. I know he now trains (!) for London Midlands. He posted a picture from the cab on the line to Bedford on New Years Day, on a training run, and it was the first time he'd been able to get in a cab for well over two years.
He seems to be doing well, but like most drivers, it's all he ever wanted to do since he was a nipper and the thought of not being able to do it again was destroying him. He said he took the first one okay, he remembers being told on his first few weeks that it would happen and so, he said, he was prepared for it, in a way. The second one was hard though, he said the man left a baby in a pram on the platform and just stepped off. Ceri said he couldn't stop talking about the baby for months and months.
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From talking to drivers they now get excellent counselling services if they want it. Most will get taken off driving immediately and can take leave if they want it. Most do! I know of one driver in Yorkshire who had 3 in 6 months and reckons the next one will probably finish him.
The public also forget about the track workers who have to inspect the track after any "jumper" and recover as much body parts as possible. Luckily now the actual picking-up is generally done by a specialist company, but in the past the MOM (Mobile Operations Manager) had a big plastic bag! Even the signallers are offered counselling if it occurs in their section.
The MOM's I know say it is amazing how quickly the foxes emerge!!
I'm sorry to tell you this but in my experience, it now varies from train company to company. My cousin's husband, who is a senior driver, has had two. The first was well handled, the second less so, to the point that he was put on capability procedures only seven days after the incident; the company refused to give access to counselling as he'd had it before. Prior to that, he'd worked for 27 years with only one period of absence (caused by the first suicide) of over 3 days. He had a nervous breakdown and needed considerable support and some time to recover. He now trains new drivers for a different company, misses the driving but says he couldn't cope with another one.
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Have I got to stop being rude to Jill now, then?
You must be mad you guys, but well done for being prepared to do it!
That's Miss Fingers to you, now ....
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Thanks folks, we're looking forward to it!
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Well, whatever diesel bug is, it's certainly be true that a good service, change of filters and fresh fuel in a quantity that reduces the proportion of muck at the bottom of the tank would help.
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Nick and BillS ...
The post was voluntary and they didn't appoint. Perhaps it does say something about him but the point remains that the impression the content of some of the forum reflects badly on all of us. Particularly when the content drives someone who is essentially a good person to use immoderate language and another relatively sane person to flounce off, beyond exasperation. Just because the playground is as you like it, it doesn't mean it isn't beyond adaption. Perhaps an adaption that means that it's less like the way you'd like it to be.
Nick, I'm not banning free speech, although I think some self-moderation even in ordinary threads might come in handy, I'm saying that this is a boating forum and the subjects should reflect that. If you want to discuss incendiary political opinions there are other, more appropriate places to do it.
It's that simple really. Challenge yourself, be helpful and nice to others, see how well the day swings along. Don't mistake verbal and keyboard aggression for intelligent debate.
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I'm back ... Sorry to have flounced, just utterly incensed by what I was reading ...
I applied to work for a small charity in Wales. As part of the recruitment process, I was asked about my online presence and whilst I could've said it's none of your business, I didn't, and gave my online name, because I realise that they'd find it easily enough if they went looking. It was fine except one of the trustees challenged me about the content of this forum, which he thought disgraceful, and I didn't get the post as a consequence. Now, it would be easy to dismiss him as a tree-hugger but he wasn't, he was of the old-fashioned, courteous but robust demeanour and I liked him very much. I don't think he would be easily outraged but he thought that my membership of place where opinions such as those cited were allowed to flourish was unacceptable. He felt, and I agree, that that reflects badly on all of us.
Rob Wanted knows that I disagree profoundly with his choice of terminology, but he is right to challenge, and that the heart of the problem is language used and not-so veiled aggression towards other people. A boating forum is not the right place to be expressing that. I have explained before that I do not post here anywhere near as often as I used to do, because I feel unsafe in what used to be my safe place in a very unpleasant personal world. I do not see that I am happy with that world when it contains places I am told to ignore; it's not just your playground, it's mine too and I'd like it to be a safe place to play. I don't want to be insulted by someone who has a different view on the suitability of pump-outs, I do like to be questioned why I think the suitcase solution is better. I particularly don't want to be told I think that because I'm an old fat woman (as happened once ....).
Richard made the point that there are, for many reasons, people who have experienced issues around mental health who purposefully choose to join a boating world. That involves this forum. If they are met with aggression and hostility expressed on a range of subjects, particularly misogyny and a fear of 'difference', how does that leave us? What have we become? What if folk can't just 'look away'? Would you want to be contributor at a distance to further distress? I think not. You may think that that's fluffy bunnyish, and maybe it is, but I'd like to think that most people have had their own struggles and wouldn't want to contribute to another's continuing distress.
Personally, I don't think there's a place for discussing politics or religion here. This is a boating forum that originally sought to be a source of support to people who liked boats. It needs to return to that for time being, with perhaps a review at some point in the future.
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I've been watching this thread and others with increasing horror. I have no desire to be associated with the views of racists and co-travellers.
I have a choice, so therefore I am withdrawing my ongoing funding of the forum. I have no desire to be supporting views that seek to legitimate abusive, racist or sexist behaviour. Despite considerable complaint to the forum mods about this, no action is ever taken against Southern Star and his co-travellers, no matter how offensive they are. It is not enough to to state that this is a free forum where all may express their views freely, because it's becoming increasingly clear that that's not the case. You may punish Wanted for expressing his views in a way that, personally, I dislike, but not to punish the person who provoked that? Not right, not fair and unacceptable.
The deterioration and propagation of intolerant and abusive attitudes been happening for some time and I have gradually withdrawn from forum life. I am sad about that but it is as it is. There are other places where I keep up with my boating friends in a more congenial and pleasant atmosphere. I have been an advocate for the forum for many years but this is the end for me.
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I'm teaching not far from there next week in Winschoten. That'll be all the German students stuffed, they were planning to come by train. ....
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Amen to that Brother, Amen ...
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I did have my account frozen when I first used it to process payment for fleece. One phone call to an exceedingly pleasant and helpful man at PayPal later and all was resolved and I had access to my money. They have to run certain rules and checks to comply with the law as they are now deemed to be a retail bank. No, it's not a cheap or free way to transfer money, but it is incredibly simple and stress-free.
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I don't know about Bitcoin, other than I am kicking myself for not buying any when I first heard about it, but I do know that PayPal actually works out cheaper for me to accept payments than using Visa and MasterCard for tiny amounts at fleece shows. Moreover, the more you take in transactions means that your fees are significantly reduced. I actually prefer PayPal because my payments to them are clear, to dealing with Llloyds in which they are not.
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No it wasn't John Orentas although he was a major contributor on the old site. It was http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showuser=1 aka Jon.
Jon passed the site over to Dan when it became clear that it was taking up too much time, he was getting married and there was a hint that it was in conflict with his duties as a policeman due to some of the opinions that were being expressed.
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I remember a few years back when the site was in the red some one collected real paper money in brown envelopes and paid it to Dan anonymously for us. Probably 5 years ago.
'Twas me in December 2010. And pleased to do it. It ended up being me because I was working in Uttoxeter which is Dan's home town. And a fine home town it is too.
We had a whipround at one of the Gnosall Easter banters the year it snowed (2013) and everyone except me and Stuart got flu (spot the teachers with multiple exposure to the virus-ridden swamps that are children) and donated the ill-gotten gains from the Pub Quiz too.
More fodder for the forum curmudgeons.... Tip your hat, say hello and smile...
in General Boating
Posted
Butter churned by Viking Shieldmaidens?