Québec

I never said anything about the website, but if you compare Wright's signwriting paints with those of Craftsmaster, then the former are actually cheaper per 100ml.

Second recommendation for Wrights of Lymm. Have used their signwriting paint on our own coach lines. Handy sized small tins, but not cheap.

The Hamlet Hardy and the Aarow Acorn are virtually identical. The only difference used to be that the Hardy had a CE certificate and the Acorn didn't. But now, according to the manufacturer Arada, all their stoves are CE certificated. (According to their website, they don't appear to manufacture the Hamlet stoves any more, but I could be wrong).

We installed an 4kw Aarow Acorn on our 40 footer five years ago. Very happy with it. We don't live aboard but it's used every weekend outside the summer months. Our criteria were reputation, looks and cost. Met (and still meets) all three as far as we were concerned, though had to really do some searching around to find the best price. Really big differences e.g up to £200, depending on who you're buying from. We've got the old model, there's now the Acorn View 4. I assume it's very similar, it certainly looks similar with a few cosmetic changes. BTW both models have an optional floor fixing kit...essentially a couple of L-shaped brackets that screw into the ready-made holes. We just made our own.

Thanks, all. Much appreciated. Choices, choices!

We're planning a short, week-long, there-and-back trip in October from Swanley at the eastern end of the Llangollen. We've done the Llangollen, and the River Weaver via Middlewich and the T&M to Northwich, and though happy to do either of those again in the future the choices this time are a) north on the Shroppie towards Chester and Ellesmere Port and the Boat Museum, b.) south on the Shroppie towards Norbury Junction, c) turn south on the T&M at Middlewich heading towards Kidsgrove. This is a break for us, so plan to take it fairly easy e.g. three days out, one day rest, three days back, not more than 6 hours a day travelling. Recommendations on the basis of scenic interest and/or places of interest to stop/moor up...and, of course, number of locks (though I can work those out once I know where we're going.) Thanks in advance. Paul (Québec)

The photographs in the article do prove one thing about those buildings: they were inhabited. In both photos there is clearly smoke coming from the chimney, leading one to assume that someone was in it for considerable periods of time. Otherwise why bother with a fire?

Stumbled across this article, on the Internet Archive, from the 1920 edition of 'Electrical Wonders of the World'. https://archive.org/details/TheAndertonBoatLift

"Some 42,000 trees lining the Unesco World Heritage site 'Canal du Midi' will have to be felled within the next 15 years due to a fungus plague. The 17th century canal system is one of Europe's longest and widest and it is now feared it may lose its Unesco World Heritage status." 15,000 felled so far, but all are in danger. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/17/more-plane-trees-felled-along-canal-du-midi-in-fight-against-killer-fungus http://www.corbisimages.com/images/Corbis-42-33028431.jpg?size=67&uid=2d99daf8-2e4e-40bd-99bd-d582fbc97402

https://instagram.com/p/6XLpZgnR2E/

We're Vactan addicts. Certainly works for us. As I understand it Owatrol is oil-based and 'inhibits' rust ie doesn't stop it. Vactan is an acid based rust-converter ie neutralises it.

Here's the culprit (I think. It's the only possible candidate. Via Googlemaps). Even in its heyday not a great piece of architectural heritage.

Awful conditions in our slum last night. The relevant authorities have been informed.

Great to see Saturn today towed by Plover as they passed by us this afternoon (Sat 8 Aug ) when we were moored at Burland. They were heading for Wrenbury.