jampot

I have to say a Huge Thank You to CART. We are continuous cruisers and on January 14 my husband died on the towpath in Birmingham whilst out walking our dog. We were moored on 14 days moorings and had been there about one week. When CART were informed, I was told that we could stay there as long as necessary together with our friends on their boat who were moored behind me. I know CART often get the stick from boaters, so I felt I had to post this. Again, thank you CART.

we bought one of those umbrella holder gadgets (Brolleymate, I believe it is called) as the man selling them was using one for a rotary whirlygig drier. I must admit I was a bit unbelieving but he assured me they had never had a problem. First time out, yes - what happened? One half of my washing ended up in the canal as the gadget turned around despite having clips to hold it in place. So what we have done is get a hole drilled through the gadget in line with the hole on the swan neck where the tiller pin goes through. With a tiller pin in place there is just no way the gadget can turn and it works perfectly!

hi. We have just been over to the Barbridge Inn for a lunchtime pint and bite to eat. We did have a pint but no food as way OTT pricewise for a lunchtime. £10 for a burger!!! I don't think so, not at lunchtime - maybe in the evening. To be honest, it must be about 2 years since we were last here but we cannot see where they have spent all this money on the refurbishment or else it had gone done hill rapidly in 2 years! We won't be calling here again unless they (a) let dogs in to the bar area and ( alter their lunchtime prices!

Our boat was fitted out by Kingfisher Narrowboats at Trent Lock (just through the first lock literally as you turn off the Trent to go up the Erewash Canal). We were highly delighted throughout the build (and at the end!) and Jandai was handed over April 1, 2009 exactly on the date promised. We have been continuously cruising now for 16 months and still very delighted with everything including after sales service which is outstanding. see them at www.kingfishernarrowboats.co.uk Good luck with your search!

brilliant idea, we think ..... read just now on BBC West Midlands site (tried to post the link but didn't want to play!) Offenders are to be set a range of tasks aimed at improving canal towpaths across the West Midlands. People sentenced to community pay back tasks will embark on a number of jobs including painting locks, cutting back vegetation and removing litter. The work will take place on canals in Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Stafford. British Waterways said it had run similar schemes before but this was the start of a 12-month agreement. Previous work between British Waterways and probation trusts had taken place on an ad-hoc basis but this partnership had a more co-ordinated approach, a spokesman said. If successful, the programme could be rolled out to other areas of the country

on the odd occasion we need mail (eg, boat licence, replacement credit cards, Christmas cards from family!) we just ask at the nearest post office and my sister (whose address we use for such things) just posts our mail there. We have never been refused and it is free. Some ask for id (eg, passport, credit card) and some don't bother as they say something like "now that you have come in person to ask, we will recognise you". I always go in person to the PO to ask first as it just seems polite to do so and this way it has always worked for us. cheers, Janice

we have a portable DAB radio - have been continuously cruising for last year - T & M, Shroppie, Leeds & Liverpool, Birmingham, Llangollen, GU, Oxford, Stratford - and I could count on one hand number of times we haven't got a connection. We don't have any extension aerials, just the one it came with. cheers, Janice

thank you - this really helps cheers, Janice

hello Please does anyone know where the sani station is at Preston Brook on the T & M ? According to Nicholson's there is one but on the way up we couldn't see it. We are now on the way south currently on the Bridgewater but this looks like our next water/Elsam/rubbish point so would be grateful if someone could describe exactly where it is please! cheers, Janice

hi recommend Kingfisher narrowboats (John and Mick Day) at Trent Lock who either do it for you or you can go for the DIY option (they have a dry dock). cheers, Janice

we moved to be continuous cruisers in March 2010 so are just enjoying our first winter!! Always been his dream having hired narrowboats for years and when we met, the dream just somehow infected me !! We both took early retirement (me at age 54 from a senior mgmt job) and him at age 57. We decided that stress would kill me before "official" retirement age and hard physical graft would do him in. Of course our income has dropped about 90% as we are only drawing one private pension at the moment but wouldn't go back - no way, no how - even after this so-far so dreadful winter weather. The house is sold so at least we do have some money in the bank but, to be honest, we worked out a weekly budget and find this is easily enough to live on - we don't go without anything, but then again, we dont need very much now. Stuff - ha ha!! it took me 3 months of garden leave to clear it all out - either to family, friends, charity shops or the council tip. Ok, so it was very difficult at first but gradually I discovered just how liberating it was. I have one small "treasure" box of bits and bods I just couldn't chuck, but thats it and, you know what - haven't missed any of it. It's a very different lifestyle and when/if we just can't do it anymore cos of age, then we will move into a caravan at the coast - never back to bricks and mortar.

yes, have to agree with your assessment of whoever did this. We have been stuck here for 6 weeks now and the sani station has been kept working all through the ice - even when it got down to -19 a couple of nights. Now we are at least a week before it is repaired. I just wish we had seen whoever did this ..............

Here at Wheaton Aston on the Shroppie, one boat passed us who had come from Norbury and today she has come back and is moored just near us. Several other boats have gone by today who have been moored here near us for last 7 weeks as told they can get up to at least Norbury but don't know what its like from Norbury going north.

thank you everyone - master of the boat is happy now !

Hiya our batteries seem to be loosing charge a lot quicker - is this because of the recent freezing cold weather do you think ?? We seem to be having to charge them longer to get back up. We are liveaboards currently "stuck" in Wheaton Aston on the Shroppie. thanks for your input

yes, you have got your bearings spot on. We are moored at Wheaton Aston and went on bus today to Stafford. Bus goes right past the Moat House where you are staying! We are ok in Wheaton Aston as there are two small shops here but we just fancied a Day Trip Out !!

we are at Wheaton Aston on the Shroppie. No snow but a very thin layer ice on bits of canal here and there this morning which disappeared during the day.

thanks everyone. We have fitted yesterday a brand new Jabasco pump as it just so happens we were close to a chandlers. Thanks for info re the separate switch - we will know this now if same prob happens again! cheers

thank you - we thought it might be the pressure switch. We don't have a warranty on the pump as they told us they won't give it to liveaboards - apparently to do with the fact we have a washing machine. I know, don't ask me why !!

Hi we are having problems with our Johnson Aqua Jet water pump and it's only 8 months old. It isn't keeping the pressure up. When we turn on the tap it runs for a bit and then stops and then takes, say a minute, for the pump to activate and start the water running again. it's even worse when we take a shower! We have tried various different pressures but that doesn't seem to make any difference. Anyone had any similar trouble with this brand of pump and knows how to solve it or anyone got any ideas please? many thanks

hiya we make all our bread by hand on the boat(used a breadmaker before, but now we have the time being retired) and always use Doves Farm yeast, in fact, never used any other brand of yeast. Never seen it in supermarkets - it seems to be stocked by these healthfood shops (but not Hollands and Barrett)and because it has such a long shelf life before opened, we keep a good stock in. cheers, Janice

hiya we did the Macc there and back a couple of weeks ago (and also fitted in bugsworth basin). Our favourite place there and back was Bollington. The Vale at Bollington is the brewery tap for the Bollington Brewery - loads of excellent beer and their Oat Mill Stout is to die for !! Food good too. The Vale is converted out of 2 terraced houses and is over the playing fields - you can't see it from the main road through. Bollington has 3 butchers, 3 bakers, at least 5 restaurants, chippie, Indian, Chinese takeaway. enjoy your trip! cheers, Janice & Dai

thanks everyone ----- seems 3 possibilities for indoors then. Yes, we are thinking of getting that lettuce you can keep on picking and some herbs for on top of roof for next year. happy growing !!

Hello Are you happy to share with me what houseplants you keep inside your boat ? We are continuous cruisers without any right now but would like one or two. To be honest I was never able to keep any alive when we lived in a house but I'm putting that down to not having time to tend them - now I do !! thanks, Janice

Hi Everyone One year after getting our narrowboat Jandai, we are now both early retirees and Continous Cruisers as from last Sunday, March 28 !! Already Day 5 and loving it ! We have decided to first make our way from Nottingham to London via T & M; Coventry, Oxford, Grand Union. Don't know when we will arrive! Doesn't matter any more! See you on our travels - give us a wave ! cheers, Janice and Dai (and Foxxie Dog!)