Carrie

I did what Bones says - no problem. Another time, I winded up at Duke's lock with my 52 ft boat and it took me ages! I've a feeling this was down to my incompetence - I was just starting out, honest - but I kept backing into a ledge.

great idea! That would put my Milou puppy-dog woofything's nose out of joint.

I agree. There are no comfortable or easy solutions it seems. There is an argument that says the CO2 released when the fuel burns is absorbed by the planted next crop of oil. Obviously I mean oil produced in this country only. I still think it's daft to give over masses of land to propelling our cars and boats. Using recycled veg oil is a more environmentally friendly option but unlike the bio-diesel, needs some conversion to the engine as it's too viscous to use without pre-heating and involves burning normal diesel first. The glycerine content can damage the engine - or so I've read. I must research this more. Meanwhile, we can reduce the amount of diesel we burn. Not using it to run lighting, fridge, etc is my old (sorry!) mantra - get a wind turbine or solar panels or both. If no-one else is about, I sometimes switch off when I get to a lock. It's surprisingly peaceful and more relaxing a process and as I tend to bow-haul out of locks (as I have the dog with me and also there's no-one else to go back and close the gates) I don't think I lose any time. I think I should get a horse!

It seems to me that much of the whingeing about overstayers, non-payers etc etc is done by people whose boats are stuck in marinas or on permanent moorings and they themselves are stuck behind desks on sunny days. The postings say more about their own (understandable) jealousy than the reality of the situation on the canals. I know I will be hated and reviled for saying this, but Ha! Who cares! I'm snatching this posting in a beautiful resting-place in the countryside, swaying trees, birds singing, coffee on the stove - not bitterly thinking up petty ways to take out my frustrations on others.

This thread makes me miss my dear cats even more When I moved out of my house and onto he boat, I'm ashamed to say I found a dessicated bird under a bookshelf that must have been there a loooong time cos it was well past it's smell-by date. One of the cats must have brought it in damaged and the poor wee thing must have hidden under there and died. oops - sorry - just realised what a downer that story is!

A fine philosophy! You'd have a job chewing your way through the nylon and lycra mind!

Hi Weehen - sounds a lovely arrangement if you can do it! Why not get matching boats and call them the same name. Who'll go around checking reg numbers in a marina?

I like going past boats at tickover. People are so glad that they wave and sometimes put their heads out to say 'thank you'. This suggests to me that it's less common than we are pretending! So you get a glow from being a good girl, while secretly stealing glimpses at their layout, curtains, bookshelves, dinner... Ok, my bad.

My first question would be "Do they let you bring your dog?" woof

Ha! I've been found out at last! The thing about it being a contact for liveabords is very true in my case. I must admit to being quite retiring and definitely a loner in 'the flesh' as it were! I force myself to get involved with groups of people when it's something I care very much about. But I do enjoy seeing what other people have to say on here, about a whole range of topics. It's often very funny and I've also learnt A LOT from the expert advice given. Thanks Jon - it's the only forum I actually get involved in.

After going through the winter with old woolly gloves with more holes than I have fingers, I finally bought myself some 'Sealskinz' gloves - as recommended by folk on this forum! Pricey but wonderful! I keep putting them on to drive, then having to take em off again as they're so toasty an it's nearly May! I wish someone had bought them for my birthday

Thanks Charles. Is contact adhesive what you would ask for, or is there a good brand name you can think of? Also, do you mean I need to drill througn the runner and hatch edge to secure it? Uh-oh!

As an aside - I recently went to buy a padlock. They were all made in China. I asked the shopkeeper if there were ANY padlocks not made in China and he told me that all brass fittings were now from China. I knew they were heading to be the world's biggest buyer of steel and import massive amounts of copper, but it's only when you do something as mundane as buying a padlock that you realise the market hold they have. (I would add that my only objection to buying Chinese goods is their appalling human-rights record - people are 'disappeared' all the time, opponents to the regime tortured or executed on trumped-up charges) Anyway, I have a question if anyone can help. One of my runners is partially detached from the hatch edge.I have to hold it in place to open the top slider. I have a G-clamp to help mend it, but don't know what kind of adhesive to use. Has anyone done this on their boat please?

It's a pity that every time BW does something to limit the freedoms of boaters, we always seem to start scrapping amongst ourselves instead of presenting a united front to what is, after all, a corporation whose main focus is making a profit, like any other.

Ooh (rubs hands in glee), let me think. Soon the locks would start to degrade and parts of the canal would start to get filled with weeds etc. People would still want to have the freedom to move about, so they would have to get together and share skills and ideas. They would have to clear the weeds themselves, working together for the good of all canal users. We wouldn't have the mentality of "well it's not my job, I won't bother getting that log out - someone else is paid to do it". And because the work would be unpaid but for mutual good, it would be a labour of pleasure. Beholden to no-one but ourselves.

Oh yes of course! I wonder if the tunnel puts people off going there (gulp)

Why not get some solar panels? Mine are running my fridge as I write.