Carrie

I've belatedly noticed the further replies to this topic - thank you! Sorry I didn't see them....

ah of course - Cowroast! I'll give them a ring, thanks Tim.

Hi all, I'm currently approaching Marsworth, having been disappointed to find Pitstone boatyard is no longer doing engine work. (I had my boat blacked at Bates boatyard at Marsworth in the past but I don't think they do engine maintenance/repairs do they) I'm heading south and finding many services no longer operating - at least my Nicholson Guide is well out of date! Thanks for any suggestions.

After 11 years, I've finally gotten around to building a full-sized double bed. I always felt squashed in the 190 x 120cm fitted bed when there's two of us aboard, but worried a bigger bed would restrict access. I like fold-away beds but I'm 1) not clever enough to build one and 2) too lazy to deal with the getting out and putting away of it. In the end, it only encroaches a little into the aisle space so I'm happy with that. All the wood is salvaged though the mattress is new and I might get around to making a more elegant headboard in another 11 years time!

only just seen this... At Brentford there's always room just past the basin if it's full today (coming up from the Thames, I mean). The moorings go right under the old warehouse cover on the left and if full, there's moorings just past the rail bridge and up to and beyond the A4 bridge. I don't think the boater facilites washing-machine is working at the moment but there's an excellent laundrette near the canal basin, opposite the Magpie & Crown pub, which is a nice laid-back pub to while away the washing/drying cycle :-)

Glad Luca is doing well. Such a handsome fella. Has he had his front legs operated on yet? Soli has had one back leg sorted out now (a hollow made in his femur so his tibia could stay put, instead of flopping about when he ran - Yuk!) and the other leg isn't bad enough to need an op - hurray! He's a lovely boat companion and I'm lucky he found me.

And Compton has a fantastic charity shop!

It's worth covering them but if they're on your roof, I'd stack them on a slatted rack or pallet to protect your roof and let air under the logs. I was once moored where CRT were cutting lots of ash trees back and waited til they'd finished cutting. Another boat moored next to me (a certain widely-read boat blogger) went and took ALL the cut wood for themselves, covering the entirety of their roof. They watched me picking up remaining sticks without offering any logs. Pff..hope their stove smoked!

Ok thanks - a slick would definitely have been noticed in Market Harborough basin. And I can't see or smell diesel in the bilges.. I wonder if it got nicked when I left it for a week near Whilton. Hey ho. I'd rather that than have a leak. I'm belatedly getting a lock on the diesel cap. I know - Horse & stable-door!

Sorry about your problem Jo. I have the same mystery today... Having left my boat for a few months at Market Harborough basin (seems fairly secure & overlooked) while I went abroad, I'm off travelling again. I knew I had plenty of diesel but called into a boatyard tiday to top up - only to find my tank was almost empty :-( Either it's been nicked or i've got a serious leak.

This is my new crew member - Soli. He too had a rough start in life, but from severe malnutrition rather than harsh treatment. He needs an operation on his leg/s when he's finished growing but is turning into a wonderful little companion. And he's training me up beautifully too. (Sorry, can't seem to rotate the photo!)

Beautiful dog! Glad he found you.

Yes, I expect there may have been some extra flavouring in my cooking. Apologies to anyone I've fed over the years! I'll try to fit some plastic collar in all the vents - maybe I can make them from water bottles?

My claim to fame is that Nigel Farage once described me as 'mad as a box of frogs' in the Guardian. Made me very happy.