Terence

Hello David (now I know your name it's nice to address you as such) Am I right in thinking, that at the moment Phylis is winning this Poll? or have I missed something? Thanks, Terence

Have a wonderful boating life. Terence

Can I just ask why the word 'dratsabs' is allowed on the forum and in the context it is used? Terence

Can I assume we agree with each other. (either vacant or un-vacant it is wrong to tearares by) Terence

Isn't that what I said? 'to teararse past a moored boat is wrong' or am I dreaming. Terence

Sorry I missed your reply, but here I am now. As to your first line it seems as we can add greenies but not take them away. Yes I agree with your next comment about our canal systems etc. Where one person whishes to stay still, I wish to move and get to see many things. So something has to give, do the moored boaters winge at me for tickovering to fast or do I whine at them for staying moored for 48 weeks of the year. There is only one winner. As you say people will moan, I think the phrase SLOW DOWN is injected into you when you buy a boat. To teararse past any moored boat is wrong more so if it is occupied. But in my opinion to only visit your boat 4 weeks of the year, never move it and grumble because someone has gone by slightly faster than tickover is also wrong. (meet the sunshine boater). Terence

I did see a funny sight whilst on our journey. A lady was wearing a T shirt and on the back written upside down it read. 'If you can read this then I've just fallen in and in trouble'. Terence

Funny you should mention that. We looked at both wide beam and house and due to our work load and space needed the house won. We will be renting first then hopefully to buy. And all my hard work with the boat will go out the window as it may have to go for a deposit. I will be back on tick over via road traffic jams. Don't tell anyone on this forum as it might make my previous arguments seem stupid. Terence

Good morning Carl, In a previous comment by me on this post, I said 48 weeks (which is less than 365 days) of the year. This was because like many canal boat owners my wife and I work (and own a house). I also said my pleasure on the canal is the constant travelling (mooring at night to sleep). So someone who moors their boat for 365 days (which it seems on occasions Mr Blackrose does) is spoiling my trip, as I have to tick over past him and the fifty other boats after him. But what I find strange is if these people are never on the boat how do they know what speed someone went past at. As for delivering my tin ware by boat being a frippery amounting to a holiday? Quite possible. But surely once I have loaded all my wares onto the boat and set off doesn't it now become freight? The Holiday being a bonus. For me to deliver by boat I need the help of everyone on the canal, from BW to boat owners and boat hirers. When we see traditional boats in the shows don't we admire and comment on how wonderful it is to see these crafts back on the canals (or some of us do). I get similar comments with what I am trying to do. Many folk have loved it when I turn up with their orders by boat. But yes I still have to get home for my work side (mine and my wife’s). As I said on a previous comment I don't speed but I do use commonsense. When my boat is tied up at the back of our house it is I hope safe and secure. So a boat passing slightly faster than norm shouldn't bother it. That's what I like about you, you clearly don't sit on the fence. I hope you come visit us in Reading via the Thames. Terence

Correct you clearly don't understand. So you miss the point. And you have clearly proved my point. Terence

You seem to have made a couple of friends with your reply. First of all let me say I wouldn't call myself a speeder. But for me the pleasure I get from the canal is the constant travelling on the water and not sitting tied up day after day. But each to there own. I get frustrated and sometimes annoyed when I spend most of my time on tick over (I'm not saying speeding is correct, I too judge my speed by the wash count, not to create one). And folk who moor for weeks on end get fed up with boats passing to fast. Up to now I have never had a person tell me to slow down so I can only assume my speed when passing a moored boat is okay but it is so frustrating and sometime sole destroying when you come up against lines of moored boats as far as the eye can see and your behind a boat that is on tick over that is so slow that you are constantly using reverse, then it's my pleasure of the canals that has to suffer. You say if some people cannot show proper respect for the waterways and its environment you should get a house. (True). Didn't we build the canals to travel on constantly and not to moor up for 48 weeks of the year? So aren’t these people showing little respect for the canals and its users? I'm not having a pop, and yes speeding is wrong. But in my opinion leaving a boat tied up for weeks on end is just as bad if not shameful. Terence

That's nice to hear as I have been trying to deliver my wares via the canals (40foot of boat) instead of the more sensible roads (as my boat doesn't have wheels ) , and am slowly but surely realising that I am wasting my time. I had this silly idea that it would be a wonderful thing to do but didn't bank on the many people out there who think the canal is for them and them alone. I've just returned from delivering to Penkridge, Overwater Marina and Grindley Brook. A trip that should not have taken three weeks. Hi Howard Springs.... I have read this before, thank you. I feel silly now Terence

Could I just ask? are you happy to let other boaters overtake you? for example hire boaters who have to keep a schedule, or other boaters who have a slightly faster tick over or simply are happy going slightly faster, or boats carring cargo that also have to keep a schedule and are bringing business back onto the canal? Terence

Can you explain this is new to me? Here here. How not to get anywhere on the canal use tickover. Market Drayton or as I would call it Tickover town, moored boat, after boat, after boat, after boat, after boat, aftre boot, aftedtyt abaod, fheuiefk ashfj,e dnd. Couldn't have said it any better Terence

I'm of the same opinion (I'm not saying hell for leather, but a good pace). My wife made a comment to me once that anyone who owns there own boat should be able to handle it and be able to slow down when ever required. (She was mainly talking in the case of hire boaters, where we should be more forgiving and let them through the bridge first). I'm amazed at the number of boat owners who can't control their own boats. Terence

Most of the way down page 10 - in the photo of Tom and Jay on Archimedes, Linnet is in the background with Dan (I think) sat on top.

Few more pics of the show... Terence

Visited Thames & Kennet today, very happy at the moment. A big thanks to Mike (the boilerman) for all his help. And was informed today that it is 20p per kw. Cheers Terence

Once again another splendid show at Braunston. How about these two for a nice pair of likely lads?! (Tom and Jay off Archimedes and Ara) Also, the wife's just started Twitter so anyone want to help me out by tweeting her, she's @nb_empire Terence

I hate to admit it but the Wife is simply better than me at steering the boat (oh and I do as I'm told). Terence