FredDrift

I snapped this solitary mandarin in Llangollen Basin in the middle of September last year (2009). He was the only one that we saw but he seemed perfectly happy amongst the fairly sizeable fleet of 'standard' ducks and duckesses and went for the bread with the best of them for the two days we stayed in the basin. We moored in the basin again for the same two days this year but sadly, didn't see him (or any of his ilk) again. HN

Er........ excuse me, who is steering today? This little lady (5 year old border terrier) loves boating but is not so keen on the jacket

Section 1 of the Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994 substantially updated section 14 of the 1979 Act. ‘Satisfactory quality’ is now defined by section 14(2A) - ‘goods are of satisfactory quality if they meet the standard that a reasonable person would regard as satisfactory, taking account of any description of the goods, the price (if relevant) and all the other relevant circumstances’. Satisfactory quality’ is further defined by section 14(2B) of the 1979 Act, so that the quality of goods ‘includes their state and condition and the following (among others) are in appropriate cases aspects of the quality of goods – [a] fitness for all purposes for which goods of the kind in question are commonly supplied, appearance and finish, [c] freedom from minor defects, [d] safety, and [e] durability’ If goods are not of a ‘satisfactory quality’ or ‘reasonably fit for their purpose’ the law provides you with remedies. Legal remedies or options include – the right to reject the goods (return them and ask for a refund – section 15B, 1979 Act), and/or seek damages and treat the contract as repudiated (ended). To be fit for purpose a lamp must be able to provide illumination. A lamp that doesn't work isn't a lamp and therefore fails the requirements of the sale goods act on so many levels so................... Get it out of the bin and demand a refund. Take no nonsense from the seller about referring the defective goods to the manufacturer - that's a matter between the seller and the manufacturer and is of little or no concern to the buyer. Your contract was with the seller, not the manufacturer. HN edited for sausage finger tryping

In my dabblings with home brew beer (kits from Boots) I seem to recall that an acceptable cleaning agent for all of the equipment was household bleach in weak concentration. HN

We, Mrs Nomad & I have just been round anticlockwise - only went aground once and that was on the oxford near the end of the trip and we fully concur with just about all the good stuff that has been said about this trip. Like Mr Fincher, we had no wait at Foxton other than in the centre pound for as long as it took to bring two boats up. Welford was a straight in too. Don't forget to make yourself known to the lockies at both places as soon as you get there - you haven't joined the queue or booked passage until your boat name is on their list. Sawley lock is absolutely the easiest on the ring and the short stretch of the Trent is fun over a weekend with most of the worlds sailing dinghies and canoes all giving the the impression that they haven't seen you but actually neverf getting anywhere near. There is a super Indian restaurant at Alrewas (spelling?) - the Jaipur Cottage off to the right of the canal if anticlockwise - different to the norm in both decor, style and food offer. Castle gardens (Leicester) provided a very pleasant mooring - we had a small barbie on the pontoon in the early evening with visiting family members and a delightful couple from the next boat. The dear lady from that next boat had a bunch of stitches in her forehead and two lovely black eyes from a spinning windlass and was waiting for her return vistit to the Leicester hospital that had patched her up. We rounded our trip off on the Friday when we reached Braunston Turn and moored at the first opportunity past the puddlebanks to take a walk back down to look at the gathering working boats. A good trip indeed - we hope you enjoy it as much as we did HN

Blue Line Cruisers camping boat...................... not unlike this one although this one seems to have a hard top rather than the canvas that I recall - a week with the grandparents and my younger brother spent on the Oxford Canal - Braunston to Banbury & back. Canvas sides and for that added luxury, a canvas divider to make two 'bedrooms'. No loo, no electricity and water in two containers carried on the foredeck. Memory suggests that there was a small fleet of them at Braunston - all named Bluebird I, Bluebird II etc. It was a great adventure for us young uns. Picture courtesy of http://www.jim-shead.com/waterways/Articles.php?wpage=14 edited to add that I'm not not sure if I am allowed to reproduce this image but happy to remove it if required

Frequently walking length of the Stort as I do, I have rarely seen both sets of gates closed on any of the locks. Parndon lock was recently iirc wearing a label requesting that the top gates are left closed as the bottom pair are leaking quite badly. Is it not the accepted (if unwritten) rule on river navigations that the departure end of the lock is left open unless specifically requested otherwise. We passed Ten Bob Note last Sunday - a veritable armada of noisily excited youngsters afloat in/on canoes and rafts alongside as we (Lady and Fido Nomad and I) went by on Sunday afternoon constitutional. HN

You probably know if the training you have received is of reasonable quality if, when the trainer hops back on to the bank with a cheery wave you feel comfortable and confident enough to carry on 'alone'. My first hire / narrowboat experience was with Valley Cruises and the training / handover was interesting and informative. Once left to our own devices we went on our way gently but persistently weaving from side to side as one does on ones first hire (funny how it went dead straight for him, probably runs on rails al la Disney for short way either side of the hire yard) confident in my newly acquired knowledge / ability to at least stay out of harms way and not imperil other canal users - alarm or amuse them a little perhaps but not cause them any real danger. Best of all, I knew I could phone with any difficulties or queries connected with our progress around the midlands. As a four or five times per year hirer I have not experienced a truly bad training event - one perhaps took for granted an experience level based on what I had said rather than what I did but largely the level of training has been tailored to the meet the need. I am not sure that any formalisation of training leading up to a 'hirer passport' is necessary given the almost complete absence of harmful mayhem on the canal system. Indeed, such a qualification may be counter-productive insofar, as has already been suggested, matey getting his passport today for a short break may not hire again for years but still feel 'fully qualified' or The boatyard / less scrupulous hirer may take the 'passport' as read and skimp on training time / quality. My view - just one of many differing view heres - is leave things as they are, don't fix it if it ain't broken. New hirers tend to be cautious, old hands tend to be careful - probably the same as the majority of owners. HN

We saw this unusual craft a couple of weeks ago on the GUC near to Stocton Top on our way up from Napton. We also wondered about its origin & purpose. HN

Alan You might take a look at Anglo Welsh - they have a number of classes of boat, various sizes and locations, with stoves - Firth Class for example. Welsh Gateway have at least one, Golden Hind, which I think might be fairly recently ex Anglo Welsh boat. Good luck with the search - hope you find something suitable. HN

Hi Chester Here's another that could perhaps be of interest - "Canal Boat Project" - Harlow, Essex / River Stort based and depending on the duration of holiday, well placed for London (via River Lee and Regents Canal) through to the Grand Union Canal and beyond...................... Here or Here HN

Some of that has taken me back a number of years...................... Both sets of grandparents lived near to Franklin Garden - they built a bowling alley more or less next door - Bear filling station next door to that. Each Saturday we, my sibs & I used to catch the No9 red bus from Five Bells to 'Jimmy's End", alight by the Mettoy toy factory (think diecast cars, matchbox and corgi IIRC) and visit 1st G/parents briefly before spending the remainder of the day with the other G/Ps. Invariably, after lunch we would all go for what seemed then like a 100 mile walk with the dog around the then working Sixfields gravel pits. Loved the gravel pits / the machinery / tracked cranes (draglines?) and riding in one of them with the driver who always found time to chat with my teenaged aunt but being fairly scared of the huge noise it made and the 'dangerous moving parts, albeit in a cage herein. Royal Marines playing at the Garden................... , Mr Bowers (Baldy?) the barber just opposite. A liitle shop beside the 'Red Rover' that had immediately outside an operational police box and better yet, a milk machine that dispensed chilled? milk. A big pale blue thing with a big illuminated panel above a huge pull down door into which the milk tumbled with a satisfying thud. Enough though , nostalgia is a thief of time........................... HN

Try here: http://vikingcanalboats.com/ Uk company? building narrow & widebeam boats in Poland.................... No mention of barges though. HN

Garmin (Etrex) Vista HCx - has an included base map that can be changed as required. Some maps can be found for free otherwise garmin regional and country maps are available to purchase on micro SD cards or on CD/DVD . Various functions built in include compass, altimeter and geocaching. Mine is primarily used to measure distances, speed and times stationary and moving whilst on the long(ish) distance walks & cycle trips. For a bit of light relief we take 'fido' out geocaching. A great little machine but for serious navigation a map & compass remain indispensable back-ups . Got mine from Handtec: http://www.handtec.co.uk/product.php?xProd=2668 for considerably more than the current price of £146.xx. Probably due to be 'retired'......................... Leather case also from Handtec I think and handlebar mount was from Maplin. HN

Mrs HN & I hired NB Taw Valley (49ft semi trad) last year - very well 'turned out' as you say. Externally, immaculate and internally it was very well fitted out and comfortable. If I had any criticism it would be the bench seating in the saloon but that is probably nothing more than personal preference and barely worth a mention. A nice boat indeed. Beacon Park Boats on the Mon & Brec also have some very nice boats and a delightful, if sometimes very shallow, canal. HN

We use self adhesive hook & loop tapes (Velcro). We bought ours in, IIRC, 1/2 metre lengths from Maplin but is readily available elsewhere. An upside here is that the hanging object can be easily removed and replaced or changed for another hanging object / picture etc. without actually needing to remove the bit of tape on the wall / panel / tile etc. As an aside, most adhesive residues from double sided tape / sticky back fixers etc. are generally easy to remove with a dab of white spirit - don't rub hard though unless surface is impervious, just let the residue soften a bit and then wipe away. HN