[Supermarket deliveries to the towpath?]

3 hours ago, Timx said:

Pros and cons, when you first sign up you will get free delevery, £20 off first delivery etc, so you can do that with a few different supermarkets,However, in practise, particularly with tesco , their policy appears to me ,in my experience ,to always send you stuff that is about to go out of date. So don't buy anything that you can't use in next couple of days. Don't buy bread, as it will be stale probably, potatoes will be on last legs, eggs and meat two or three days, beer will be fine.i have stopped using them.

We are continuous cruisers and do use Tesco’s for canal-side deliveries.  We use postcodes, of the nearest houses, pub addresses, bridge locations, again with postcodes. Always putting a note that we are on the canal, or will meet them in the car park. The delivery drivers have always been very helpful, and polite. I have had problems with quality, or wrong product being picked, but a phone call and the items are credited. One driver told me that it was best to allow substitutes as when they are delivered these items are pointed out first, and they can be rejected. Tesco say in their blurb that the longest shelf life available will be sent, and I have not had any problem with the likes of eggs or bread.

Have only ever used Tesco’s so cannot speak of other supermarket deliveries, but would and do recommend them.

[Shoreline Freezers]

I have been trying to contact Shoreline Marine Refrigeration without success. Has anyone else been n contact with them recently?

[Electronic prescription system]

My Doctor is not happy with changing the nominated pharmacy. He also will not give me more than one month at atime. The last time I requested a different pharmacy he told me I need to settle down and find a doctors surgery. So much for retiring and being a CC

[Plum glut]

So surprised no one has mention Plum Gin or even Plum Vodka

 

3lbs of Plums - frozen ones work best

1 bottle of Gin or Vodka

4 tblspn sugar

 

Put all into a 2 ltr kilner jar. Shake daily till sugar has disolved.

Now comes the best bit taste the liquid, add more sugar to your taste, then shake daily again til sugar all disolved

Leave for a couple of months on the fruit.

Strain off and bottle. Put the fruit back into kilner jar and add cheap bottle of sherry to fruit. No need for more sugar

Leave for a month or so. Strain and bottle.

I have made bread pudding with the boozy fruit

 

I make the above with any thing I find Sloes - Blackberries - Raspberries. Apricots

[Composting toilets again!]

There was a programme on Channel 4 - Kevin McClouds Man Made Home. He made a composting toilet, albeit he was using it to get the methane for cooking, however maybe of some help for you in your project.

Try viewing 4oD series 1 episode 3

[Mobile phone / 3G coverage]

I don't think you'll need to move to Everything Everywhere as that's the new branding for T-Mobile and Orange together.

 

My set up is a T-Mobile (soon to be EE) pointer device coupled to an external aerial (TS9 connection - spent hours trying to find out what it was). This gives me WiFi throughout the boat (60') for up to 5 devices. The aerial uses the ground plane of the roof to enhance the signal and I've never not got a 3G (soon to be 4G) signal anywhere including places which seem very isolated such as the Oxford summit. The latest T-Mobile pointers are 4G enabled. I am very happy with the setup I have.

 

 

I also have a Pointer with T-Mobile(contract), and an outside aerial. I got this so both my husband and I could use our laptops at the same time. This was not successful, and he has changed to a pay-as-u-go 3 dongle, which he is happy with ish.

I have not been happy with the pointer as the port the aerial goes into is damaged due to pulling it in and out when I go on line. I have now 'fiddled' with it and with the aid of a lump of sticky tape it now is working well.

I like the pointer as it does enable me to use my wi-fi printer and 4 other wi-fi items. We have only traveled the Thames, but I do now, thanks to the 'band-aid' get a decent 3G signal.

One thing I would like to add, the guys in the T-Mobile shop in Windsor were extremely helpful, unlike the Orange shop.