Waterlily

Property by the canal

2012-01-26T12:33:00.002Z

Its as rare as rocking horse ~~shit~~ poo. We have a largish house with just two of us in it now and I have had drawn area searches on lots of places via Righmove Nothing is coming up that remotely takes my fancy. We have a nice house and I would not move easily, but after looking for over a year now I don't think anything has come to my attention that I 'wanted'.

We have a good budget and would stretch it to get the right place. It has to be in the midlands ideally the T&M from Willington to Stone plus maybe the Caldon or Ashby. So if you know of someone selling or seen one, let me know. There may be a reward, a finders fee??

Another option is to buy the home on the canal. I have blogged about getting a bigger live-a-board boat recently. It seems an option that could put us on all three of these canals where and whenever we want. However this is not a long term retirement option - sit watching the boats cruise on while feeding my chickens or fishing ..... dreamer or what !

The irony is I helped Andrew off Granny Buttons find a nice place in Willington. OK not on the canal but very local to it and other interesting features.

Anyhow it passes the evening ..........dreaming !

Nev

Government debt breaches one trillion what to do?

2012-01-24T23:49:00.000Z

MyIntroducer.com | News | Government debt breaches one trillion

You have got to help me out on this one, I tried really hard last year to help by doing my bit and spending like a mad man.....it's hard but I did it, the motorcycle got changed, holidays were taken petrol used up as fast as I could ride my bike, and I spent on the hole in the water that I call my boat. Some have said that food was well consumed but when I look in the mirror at my naked form I see just muscle....

So I'll buckle down and try again this year, more petrol for the bike, diesel for the boat DIY (I'll pay someone for that) for the house and food for the body. Any other suggestions otherwise it'll go under the mattress and that is no good for Dave or George ?

What will you do ?

Sunday walks part II

2012-01-23T13:50:00.000Z

Busy busy busy at home this weekend and finally got out for some exercise Sunday Afternoon. I have to have a canal fix so we cheekily parked at Mercia marina and walked to Stenson and back. No photos because I forgot the camera.

It was a notable walk in that I recall we only met one other couple. The wind was a challenge especially the walk back which associated with the dusky time of the day and the weather was the reason for the lack of hardy souls .

We also saw a widebeam on the move. I like seeing them on the cut, they do present an alternate view of boating with very little water at each side at some points on the cut. Rachel thinks they look ungainly, I think they look menacing, especially if approaching from a weedy narrowboat, they have the air of the bully who is not going to move off his path and looks for a reason to bump shoulders with you to start a fight....I'm sure all wide beamers would not be so rude....

It's not how long it is it's what you do with it?

2012-01-20T12:46:00.000Z

I am slowly convincing myself that Waterlily is too small at 50 foot. Comet, our previous boat was a 45 footer, so we are progressing the right way. The thing is for two plus a dog it ticks all the boxes. It is when we take others it gets a bit too cosy. It can and has been done but its not luxurious?

The thing is there are quite a few benefits of a 50 foot boat over a 60-70 foot boat. Where it can go, ease of finding moorings on the cut, license, mooring fees, insurance, maintenance, reasons not to take others aboard....?

In fact I know in my heart it is the right boat and we have spent a lot on her recently to get her how we want her. She could do with a bath and could do with an extending bed, but that's all really. So this introspective post is all about how we should be using Waterlily rather than betraying her for length.

So on to route planning for 2012. It has to include rivers I think as I seem to have a fear of them. Totally unfounded but I have avoided them with real ability since boat ownership. We do the Trent regularly.... but it is about 400 yards between Alrewas and Wychnor so that really is cheating. We could do the Trent from Sawley, when we walked there recently there were boats moving with little trouble and they looked right.

I think I owe it to Waterlily to give the old girl some deep water to play in, just as long as she does not let me down.

Going back to the title and putting off route planning for another blog post, one thing I am aware of there it little out there to tempt me. There are loads of boats on brokerage, but non have all what I want. I have been looking in some detail and viewed a couple of boats. The last one was and still is very close as it had a really good fit out, crap external but ticks all the boxes apart from one..... the internal engine room and boatman's cabin. but it does have a good fit out and would cope much better for 4 rather than 2 maybe .........

I used to be indecisive, but I'm not sure now !!!

Nev

Another great year...2011 in pictures

2012-01-18T12:44:00.003Z

Checking back at what I was blogging about this time last year, I read with much joy our previous year. So I am repeating this just so in these dark winter nights I can reflect on what we did and where we went to give some reassurances there is a whole range of things to do when the nights get longer and the sun a bit warmer.

January

We started the year as we ended the last year - on board. There is my brass lantern, a Christmas present

My Christmas present to myself, a bike sat nav, sign of intention !

This is it installed on my 700 Honda Deauville

First test was a trip out to blow away the cobwebs, somewhere at a greasy spoon near Mansfield with a couple of lads from the Deauville owners club.

I ended the month visiting Waterlily to sort out the tiller bearings, it should of been done when we had her painted but got missed. There was also a lot of cold weather about as you may recall in the early part of the month.

February

Good start to our cruising plans - a smooth operating tiller arm. Shame about the nipple

We always try an be on our boat on our anniversary (14th February) and this year was no different with a few days aboard moored past Woodend lock, really peaceful. We had a few walks, one being passed the Ownashare base near Kings Bromley

Leia did some relaxing at home with the telly !

Finished the month with a ride out to a heritage train yard somewhere near Chesterfield with the Deauville owners club

March

It was towards the middle of the month we had a stop over on Waterlily. This is a moonlight shot looking down our moortings from Hunts lock.

Leia got relaxed on the bed !

March

The middle of the month saw me on my own on the boat as Rachel was in Wales with her father. On a walk up to Woodend lock I collected the discarded full poo bags left fro A.N. Idiot to collect - seen right on the new bench at Shadehouse lock.

Just a little video of our walk. Leia was spooked by the guns going off, or it could have been crow scarers?
I also replaced the batteries on Waterlily - I recon the old ones were a mixture of ages going back five years.

We finished the month celebrating the loss of the leaning silver birch poo platform. No more bird poo on the boat and fuel I have subsequently been burning aboard Waterlily over Christmas

April

The start of the good weather....... and I went all over the place !!

I traded in my 700 Deauville.....

.....for a 1300 Pan European. Ever the optimist. It's a big heavy bike but Ihave always wanted one and thought sod it you are a long time dead so got it. Bloody brilliant is all I can say.

We went on our first cruise of the year.... to the Ashby Canal

Proof we made it (we were short last time) this is Shakerstone tunnel. The Ashby is a great canal

We found and rehomed this little fella... he now lives on Ghosty Hill the coal boat

Returning we saw our first fully owner boat - Comet, still very much in use as a livaboard just near Fazely junction.

We had to move the boat at 10pm on one mooring when there was a large fire above us and the boat got covered in soot...Grrrrrrr

The day after we got back from the Ashby (16th April) I was on my bike around Derbyshire and up to Squires Cafe in Yorkshire. Here is Gary Bob Alan & Jane. Good friends met from the Deauville forum who now ride, FJR, Pan, FJR (bikers will know)

I even did some DIY on the flat roof and painted the facias I recall it was very very hot and just the middle of April.

The 24th saw us back on the boat and we took a nice walk around Alrewas, one on the list for next house location !

26th and I was on the bike for a day to Barmouth via the Pontyc.....you know aqueduct. Great roads for a bike

I ended the month with a run up to Scotland to visit our good friends John and Carrie. Up on the 29th and back on the 30th as I had something planned for May......

May

May day Sunday is a gathering of the Deauville owners club and they have a run out.... this time we ended up at the Cheddleton railway, well worth a visit.

Then later that week I was told by BW they had broken my window cutting grass !!

On the 8th I was in Bridlington for the day. I started off for a cooked breakfast as Clay Cross and ended up having ice cream on the harbour wall.

I don't seem to have any photo's but we did take Waterlily to Willington to have the window replaced , I think I single handed down and we brought her back just before we went to......

......Scotland on the bike (John always gives me beer ) . This time I took Rachel as we were going over to......

.......Ireland once again with the Deauville ow=ners. We had four great days over there with a real good group of people. Great rides great company great bike.

We spent another day with John and Carrie in Scotland before returning on the Tuesday, I think it was the 31st May. Busy month.

June

On the way back from Scotland, in Scotch corner services as I recall I got a call from Mandy and a text from Chris both boaters on Hunts telling me BW had broken another window....!!!!! We only dropped it off on the Wednesday and they bust another on the Friday!

It gave us an excuse to get an overnight and an early start on the 4th June to wind Waterlily at the junction and take her back to Mercia for another window replacement. This was taken just after 6am.

On the 9th (Rachel's Birthday) we had a day in the Peak District walking the newly opened Monsal Dale railway tunnels coming back by the river vally, it was a fantastic day.

July

Early July I went to some local lakes off the boat to catch the carp(s) that alluded me when on the two week trip of which a considerable effort was undertaken at various locations

Mid July it was the bike to Stone and surrounding areas in the wet, can't get enough of this bike

The end of the month saw me tripping to the Humber bridge for Pan style entertainment

August

We had a great weekend on the bike meeting up in Leeds on the Friday evening for a trip around north Yorkshire on the Saturday and a run around Derbyshire on the Sunday. We met up with more bikes at CMC in Chesterfield where I took the pic of an FS1E (fizzy) my first bike. Ended up at the pork pie pub near Waterhouses

My birthday in the middle of the month saw the arrival of my captains chair (it does not live there now) and a stay aboard

We then did a charity motorcycle ride to Skegness - air ambulance There was well over 150 bikes quite impressive

The end of the month was a planning visit to the boat to replace the calorifier

September

Scotland again .......

Went to Dunoon this time with a couple of other bikes. Great great biking roads and great company. just a long weekend and plenty of miles.

Next weekend we were back on the boat again for an overnighter.

Middle of the month we were in Cormwall (in the car because of hurricane something or other) fantastic hotel great scenary

We came back and added a couple of days on the boat to fit the calorifier and a trip to Alrewas arboretum on the pedal bikes

Finished the month on the bike again back into Wales for a canal fix, can you guess?

October

Final bit of boating improvements was the addition of a solar panel and controller

This is Barmouth in October !!

Then back on the baat towards the end of October with some nice walking ...picnicking in late October, can't complain can we?

November

I was on the boat myself as Rachel was working a weekend in early November and helped a fellow bloggers boat beat the stoppages... Chertsey

While aboard I sorted out the rolls from the tree that came down in April.... half burnt already

In the middle of the month we had a short break and went to Stenson and back. I think I overdosed on wood smoke - lovely

At the end of the month we (I) went looking at other boats.... I am still tempted by this one so am not giving more details.

My goldfish of 17 years died in November, he deserves his place on the internet, RIP little fish (his name as his mate big fish dies about three years earlier)

December

Another overnighter for me with Rachel joining me as she was working. This is the Hunts stoppage

This is how we ended 2011 and brought in 2012, aboard Waterlily enjoying all that is good about boating.

All in all a great year, lots done, some lows that balance out the positives but as I have said on a few occasions its one life live it.......

The new Packhorse bridge - lots of pictures

2012-01-17T12:48:00.000Z

On Sunday we were busy doing house stuff. no way will anyone tell me living on a boat is more work that a house - certainly not our house. I suppose the fact there are two of us now living in what used to easily cater for four (plus girlfriends) shows it is too big for us now....

Anyhow our reward for hard work was a walk in the afternoon and I chose Shardlow to get my canal fix. Shardlow is on my doorstep but I don't have an affinity for the east side of Derby, but it is still a good alternative to the local parks for walking Leia on a Sunday afternoon. I also had reason to visit in that I wanted to see the new bridge put in to effectively link Sawley with Shardlow via food or cycle or horse looked.

There is a good free car park by Bridge 2 that we use and we set off walking boot clad in expectation of a muddy towpath.

Lock 1 is quite special as it is a place we used to bring our lads conkering when they were little. This was long before we had a boat. It was also the place my mum and dad used to cycle to on their tandem to fish - even in the middle of winter. My mum tells me that used to break the ice to fish, very keen !

The new bridge soon came into view. Very purposeful but nothing like as characterful as the old bridge. The contractors had had to build a new path to it, which was being used by walkers and horse riders alike. We stuck (literally) to the towpath.

After crossing - better pic later, I took this shot of the entrance to the Trent & Mersey. You can just see the remnants of the old packhorse bridge. You can also see a lovely obstacle for those poor boaters coming downstream from Shardlow marina - no easy turn in or out of the T&M for them.

The new bridge opens up a great walk to Sawley marina. We did not go all the way due to time restrictions but here are a few photos...

There were some boats moving. These two cruisers we headed upstream, not sure if they were T&M bound or Shardlow marina bound. It was getting late so they must have had home close by.

The safety of Sawley cut was in stark contrast to the wide river Trent

The Sawley cut flood lock was open you can see, I have never travelled this way so I am unsure of the correct procedure - I am sure it is detailed on a board by the lock. As you can see this bit taken you under the M1 and is a little noisy, but still great walking.

The sun was setting on the return so I was able to get a couple of nice (by my standards) shots.

The new bridge in perhaps its best pose?

Even as the sun was setting there were boat(s) moving. This little NB was seemingly scuttling back to Sawley

Ok, just trying to add some framing to my pictures !!

Can't resist a sunset

I doubt this one goes very far but it is no doubt someones sanctuary

....and finally if my numbers come up I might be knocking on his door (although there is a nicer place like this near Barleston)

All in all a great walk and one we will do again - might be on bikes next time doing a large circular route taking in Trent Lock and other local attractions.

Nev

Consistency

2012-01-16T14:47:00.000Z

I started writing this a little while ago but for my record......

We had a really nice few days on the boat over the New Year. I don't like New Years for personal reasons so I am always happy to receive the New Year and look forward....

One thing I have been contemplating is having my blog printed. I have seen others having done the same. I'd like it as a permanent memory of our first few years of proper boat ownership. Its expensive but what price memories?

The reason for the title is on reviewing my blog I notices the consistency of postings per year.

I made no effort to have the same number of postings in 2011 & 2010 and I was within a few more of less for the other years. it works out at about 3 posts a week.

Not NB In Sanity Again (I wish Bruce and Sheila had called it More Insanity.... ) performance but better than Granny Buttons now does ! It is all about quality of course and most of my posts are ramblings but they are my ramblings and the longer I keep blogging the better as I am able to compare year by year what I am doing and what I have done.

Nev

Being unfaithful

2012-01-11T01:32:00.000Z

Got your interest, not of the marital I should clarify but boating as I have a visit planned for later today to look at another boat. It's not the first time as I had eyes for another boat a few weeks ago, but Rachel was not keen. If it is meant.....

Nev

Shobnall ceases trading

2012-01-09T23:13:00.000Z

Picked this up here

This is a real shame for the people involved and those loyal customers as with some exceptions I considered myself to be one. We used them for pump outs gas and coal plus the chandlery whenever we needed stuff.

It says so much about the way we do our buying business as well as the state of the waterways and how boaters are fairing in the recession. Unless you live aboard it is a significant luxury and for this reason it would be intolerable and short sighted if there is a thought boaters can be bled some more to support the waterways.

I liked going in there, there was good knowledge and it was a small but friendly operation. I hope those affected do not suffer financially too much, suppliers included. It would appear no boat owners are impacted. I understand the marina is still operating as normal and I'm sure it will be resurrected as a cut down operation, pump outs gas coal etc in the future.

Nev

Life isn’t a dress rehearsal

2012-01-05T22:18:00.000Z

I have recently subscribed to narrowboat Waiouru blog. I recall they were the poor souls who experienced boatbuilders at their worst.

Tom blogs today about the passing of Dennis who was doing his steel work. I don't know either but was touched and saddened by the speed which Dennis seemed to have be taken. Tom was blogging late into December about particualr problems with the gas lockers that Dennis has thought about overnight and come back with solutions. All small stuff but most certainly so much so how we live our lives and then ........

RIP Dennis I'm just sorry you never got the chance to enjoy a retirement.

Lessons for us all, just that we don't always heed them,

Take care

Nev

Vote Andy Tidy for CART boaters representative

2012-01-03T14:08:00.001Z

Andy is Capt Ahab and will be getting my vote for one of the four CART boating representatives.

I want someone who is not a full time committee member but someone who has a boat and uses it. Combine this with Andy's day job experience gives me absolute confidence Andy will do the job.

It's a large committee with a small boater representation. We want people on it with a voice as I fear we could be the unheard majority. My biggest fear it the canals can exist to support many users cheaply - its the big linked infrastructure costs that allow us to carry on using the canals as they were designed for - boats.

I don't want to end up a static attraction I want to be a moving one

Vote Andy Tidy for our CART boaters representative.

Click here for his mini manifesto

Granny in the dark

2012-01-01T10:20:00.002Z

Just got the curry going on New Years eve when I heard a boat passing about 7pm and then a knock on the roof. It was Andrew on a delayed start to a winter four counties cruise.

I felt bad leaving him to the final two locks of what must have been a frustrating day so I nipped out and helped him though Hunts and Keepers.

Always good to meet Andrew and I think this is three times at New Year we have met. Not sure I'd take on the four counties in the middle of winter but I guess that was makes a real boater.

Nev

Out of date Baileys

2011-12-31T20:06:00.001Z

Why not it's rude to lob it !!

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Fradley water torture

2011-12-31T17:40:00.000Z

Sitting here writing this I can hear what sounds like dripping water..... Not good when you are on a boat! I went across the cut this afternoon and filled up the water tank. On returning I noticed diesel bloom coming from the back of the boat, it appears it is coming from the filler cap. I did top the diesel up last trip but I can see no reason why I am getting diesel seeping from the filler cap....it is not much and seems to come when the engine is run, I suppose it could be the diesel vibrating spitting onto the underside of the filler cap and running out via the thread? Anyhow for now I have put some kitchen paper around the cap to collect any overnight and I'll check it in the morning.

I have also found water spray near the water pump.... Can't see where it is coming from but I'll check again when Rachel showers later.

I think the drip drip outside has stopped...I think it is the mud giving up air bubbles that I have disturbed when mooring after watering I will resist the temptation to go out with a torch...for now.

We went for a nice walk to the coop in Fradley today, that is down the Coventry. We normally go to the Alrewas Coop but fancied a different walk which was very pleasant. It has been very quiet boat and people wise here today. I expect New Years day will bring more out as the weather has been given out as getting better and quite warm.

So whatever you are doing tonight may it be enjoyable and I wish you a safe and healthy New Year.

Take care

Nev

The sanctuary of our boat

2011-12-30T19:00:00.001Z

Ready to eat......

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As quiet as quiet can be at Fradley

2011-12-30T16:31:00.000Z

We arrived just before lunchtime and it started to rain as we topped up at Alrewas Coop. Before I lit the fire I gave the chimney a sweep with a flue brush I brought off the Internet. I had seen them at Norbury junction but about 25% more.

After getting the fire going fridge lit and stuff stowed away I took Leia for a walk down the Coventry. It was fine drizzle by now and Fradley was as quiet as I've seen it.

We got back to the boat and the rain has got heavier all afternoon. As I write this the fire is going well the central heating off the back boiler is warming the boat through and the only light is from my IPad. There's only the sounds of the boat - it really is very very peaceful.

Tonight it will be food and some wine. Last night we had a late one as after watching the last two episodes of Harry Potter we went out with my sons telescope to look at Jupiter. Quite fantastic really when you considers the distances involved and also how much the early astronomers knew of the planets with only very basic instruments.

Might have to light a few candles now......

Have a good evening whereever you are,

Nev

I need a Shroppie fix

2011-12-27T20:25:00.000Z

Its been a while since we were last over Cheshire way on the canals and just looking at Jims Photo from his blog header makes me realise we need to include it again in our 2012 cruising plans. More of that later but for now our good friends from north of the border have invited us for a drink while they are back visiting and as I have not partaken to a great degree much alcoholic beverage this festive season I'm off to get drunk !

Nev

Caring whilst away from their families

2011-12-24T23:10:00.000Z

I am on my own tonight, well oldest son Tom is upstairs wrapping his presents ! My good lady has given her christmas eve night and Chrismas day morning up to cover one of the wards. Then back on boxing day.

So here is a Christmas wish to all those dedicated health workers, that Santa may come and that they may get some Christmas R&R

Nev

23 degrees of difference

2011-12-05T14:51:00.000Z

It was a good headline in the paper yesterday. This time last year it was about -11c and yesterday it was around +12c. I was visiting the boat every other night to keep the fire in to stop the boat freezing solid inside. Leaving a warm cosy boat each night was a little bit of a trial for sure.
So far nothing on the horizon, however, disrespect nature and she/he/it will bite back for sure,

Nev

Wanna see what you wind up.....

2011-12-04T16:51:00.001Z

There is much activity, well equipment activity at Hunts lock. I was surprised how wide the feed was to the ground paddle. You could certainly fit a body in there and when you imagine the draw to fill the lock you would not swim away from it....

Most of the brick work is in good condition. The section under the tarps is being hacked out to be replaced. Interesting to note the water table where the lock walls have dried out to.

One thing I was not aware of was the new rail crossing at Keepers lock.....

Today was a tale of two halves re the weather. After a cooked breakfast I took Leai off for a walk. There were plenty of mushrooms/toadstool about... I ate about half a dozen....

.....of the ones from the Coop in Alrewas. I'm sure I'd be feeling ill if I'd eaten this, red means danger in nature? It was a really nice walk

A few jobs done on the boat then the wind and rain came and the second half of the day was spent reading papers and drinking coffee... not all bad.

Keeping calm..... be aware contains profanity

2011-11-25T13:49:00.000Z

We see a lot of these.....

Jusr recently I have felt more like this......

Made me laugh so it can't be bad

Spot the blogger.....

2011-11-24T13:06:00.002Z

.....soon to be two I understand.

Gonna evening dream when I get home....

2011-11-21T17:42:00.000Z

I can't day dream as right now I don't have the time. OK so I am writing this before I leave work but I have been here getting close to 10 hours already...

I always get post boat blues after being on board and we had such a great long weekend, cruising in the autumn is so exceptionally good, anyone who has done it knows why and if you haven't don't bother starting now ;-)

Anyhow tonight I am going to drink wine and dream of not working and being busy like Bruce & Heth and no doubt all you other lucky (or brave) live-a-boards/retirees. I do not wish to seem disrespectful, especially as both are making homes in my neck of the woods, but I'd like your type of busy right now.

Take care and please don't take this post too seriously, I won't and will be back at work in the morning !!

PS I ended my weekend cruise yesterday with a quick rod and reel experience, a little bread saw me lift our a really great Chubb from about 6 inched from 'Don't Panic's' counter. It never ceases to amaze me the quality of the fish in the T&M. But Dave needs to know about the bailiffs at Willington....

A tale of two directions....

2011-11-19T18:11:00.002Z

Last night the weather men could not make up their minds on the weather for the midlands. So it was when we woke to a perfect morning one way was sun the other was mist. We had both as we cruised to the east to Stenson in glorious sun then winded and headed back to the mist.....

Our mooring last night

Looking back to the gloom as we head towards Stenson

We stopped off at Mercia to get a few supplies, we shopped at the trading post to support them rather than stop in Willington itself. We saw Sanity again in her new spot then drooled over a 90k Hudson. I took to the galley to prepare pasta as Rachel cruised us out of Willington.

As we passed Shobnall I saw Granny Buttons in the services but no sign of Andrew, Rachel alerted me to him as I was walking on with Leia and we had a brief chat, always good to see and talk to Andrew.

Now we are at Branston water parks fire lit food cooking beer being consumed....

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Location:Branston

Thank you for not boating (well until after dark for a few)

2011-11-18T20:55:00.000Z

Took a trip out to Willington today and met....... one boat, a Shakespeare hire boat just before we moored up. That's just short of 6 hours of cruising and only one boat , it was great, we passed Batron turns full of boats and no doubt Mercia is the same all safely moored up so we can enjoy the canal to ourselves. Having moored up just before it got dark about 2 hours later we were passed by three boats, cruising in complete darkness. The last obviously winded in Willington as he was the same boat shining a powerful torch into the margins - what he was looking for I'm not sure.

The water is so clear as there is no traffic, we saw four pike, the last one was well over 15 pounds and about two foot long, a real canal monster. We also saw a kingfisher as well as a cormorant ( don't they stay underwater a long time)

Just a great cruise so thank you to all those boaters who stayed put, plus BW for the Stenson stoppage ;-)

Nev

Ps if you can donate tonight to Children in need please do so, let's show we still have a sense of balance in this country supporting those who need our help, however tight finances are.

Willington walk

2011-11-13T17:03:00.001Z

It was a really dull morning So the house got cleaned the loft sorted and food shopping done then we took a nice walk from Willington to Finden and back. The sun was out now and there were quite a few like minded souls doing the same thing.

There was one boat moving between the stoppages and it sounded just great in the dusk .....

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Privatisation.....

2011-11-10T09:48:00.000Z

...not the canals, as we know they are going to be a charity. This is about hospital care... clicky here

It is the final straw I feel in the drive for profit over performance. Sure they will turn it around but it will come at the cost to the patient, and profit will be taken. I fully object to poorly run public services, I am in the semi public service now (Education) but with correct management and focus services can be provided that deliver value for money. If it goes private there has to be an element of profit that should otherwise have been used for the care of the patient.

My overriding concern is as this government put our last key service to the market it will eventually be run by foreign companies that certainly have the profit imperative.

Ultimately I feel ashamed my generation has squandered an opportunity to do better and my children will reap the harvest of austerity that is sure to come. I feel we will have a decade or even a generation of which there will be little reward other than hard work and pressure to survive financially and therefore socially.

Not much of a legacy really is it?

Nev

PS I did say it was not all about canals in my title ;-)

Dry as a bone

2011-11-09T12:26:00.000Z

We were aboard the weekend of the 16th October and took a walk up to Kings Bromley with a picnic. Picnicing in the middle of October seems a little surreal but so is the weather.

The ground was bone dry - dusty even as can be seen in this pic....

The walk from Kings Bromly to Woodend Lock is a real favorite. These are our treasured weekend moorings as they are so peaceful, little pedestrian traffic makes it from Fradley this far so even more tranquility.

Nev

Nev's got wood... !

2011-11-08T09:26:00.000Z

Ok, sorry it is a little inappropriate title but I could not resist it.

This was a problem tree to me and I blogged about it here....clicky

My intention was to cut the rolls down I acquired and I recently took the chainsaw to them to make this nice looking pile...

They are now undercover drying some more ready to burn over winter. It will allow me to burn wood during the day and then use my coal for overnight warmth.

I feel better that the tree is going to be put to good use. It also has justified my purchase some time ago of the electric chainsaw. I'd prefer a petrol model but this one sorted some large logs working with the genny.

Nev

Chertsey makes it past Fradley - just

2011-11-06T14:07:00.001Z

I was walking Leia this morning when I heard the thumping engine sound of a boat going into Common lock. It soon became apparent it was Chertsey making a dash (long dash) from the tidal Trent to Stretton via an engine repair and the Fradley stoppages tomorrow, Monday.

I introduced myself and had a chat with Hairy Neil and Paul who were the crew for the trip. It seems they has got involved with beer at pubs in Barton Under Needwood culminating in a late night at the Waterfront at Barton Turns marina.

They were remarkably fresh for their 1.30am bedtime ! I took Leia back to the boat setting Hunts for them, then got my windlass and helped lock them through Fradley.

So Sarah, the have cleared Fradley by about 7 hours as they left Shadehouse at 10am its a clear run to Stretton for the pairing with the butty.

It was good to see and hear such a fine boat..... temped you bet !

Chertsey passing Hunts lock waiting for Keepers

Out of Shadehouse with all the stoppage equipment sitting waiting until tomorrow....just in time, well done Neil and Paul

Free energy (ish)

2011-11-02T13:01:00.000Z

There has been a rash of solar panel installs along our moorings. I had been mulling over the benefits for some while. I can understand a liveaboards opting for them but for a casual use boat like ours??

One thing that was getting to me was having to run the engine before we left so the batteries were topped up, normally after our last night aboard. This just seemed to waste diesel as well as the lovely tank of hot water ! So I got to thinking how good it would be if we could walk away from Waterlily after a nights use of power and come back next time to a fully charged up bank of batteries, almost magic.
So I talked to my fellow moorers, talked to Shobnall and did my Internet research. I came close to buying from Andy at Shobnall but was a little put off over his answer to my question regarding MPPT v's PWM controllers. As I intended to have this panel for some time I wanted to get the most from it. I also read that PWM controllers were not giving the smartgauge 100%. I don't pretend to understand much of the jargon but I was sold on the fact the MPPT types get more out of the panel and into the batteries - simple decision then.

I opted for a 135w Kyocera panel and a sunsaver MPPT from Midsummer They were very efficient in the delivery and did not charge extra for the longer cables I ordered.

I did not want to drill my roof..... and was not too bothered at this time about angling the panel. I did want to be able to remove it for maintenance so I opted for taxi sign magnets from EBay (guaranteed upot to 70mph ??). Perfect fitting and I have it protected from theft with a very able cable lock drilled to the plank holder.

I did the install myself in a couple of hours. I left it just completed and was really pleased to come back 24 hours later to 100% on the smartgauge. It is great when a plan comes together.

In fact we have been on board three or four times now and not run the engine. Last time we lit the stove and had tepid water as well. I expect we will run the engine for its own good and to give us hot water but once we have a tank full I am hoping the stove will keep the water hot via the new calorifier I fitted a few weeks back.

A few bad pics as it was getting dusky when I took them. One thing I am impressed with it how little light there needs to be for a charge to go into the batteries. The controller has quite a few useful settings to support the batteries and it also has an RJ11 socket that allows me to collect 30 days of data off the controller as well as dynamic data if needed. Needless to say I have done the connections adn will post some stuff later on its performance.

The painting fund.....

2011-11-01T18:10:00.001Z

I know we have only had Waterlily painted just over a year, but whatever you do the paint will fade/wear/get damaged. I am a fund saver type person so rather than get hit with another magnificent bill in about six years time I am going to start a fund for the next repaint. It is tempting fate as who knows what will happen in the next six or so years, but sods law says if I do not then six years will come by very quickly and Waterlily will look tatty again.

The added benefit is I can relax and not worry too much about the odd dink and scrape. There are plenty of boats that do not move in case they get marked I'm sure. I am at that time in my life the benefit of use it much more than the effort of maintenance - my motorbike is testament to that !

So say £75 a month going forward will be salted away under a mattress or even in a bank somewhere for 'the future'

Nev

Narrowboat Sylph

2011-10-31T18:25:00.000Z

Time to kill so I took to seeing what our old Ownerships boat Sylph has been up to. I was intrigued to find out she is now not a shared boat anymore and is private ownership. I'm pleased she is still floating and hopefully she is being looked after in retirement. For sure I think the shared ownership boats are the real work horses of the canal system. The run close to 48 weeks of the year and do some big distances as most owners want to travel whilst aboard.

I think they were/are some of the best designed boats out there and well build - a small nod towards Alan Mathews knowledge of what worked.

I'd love to know who now owns Sylph - I think she is up Nantwich way - so of you know please get in touch.

Nev

No wonder boat prices are dropping

2011-10-25T11:22:00.000+01:00

I'm ok, not fallen in or gassed myself, just life gets in the ways sometimes. I think that has been the longest I have been without a post, but I'll catch up with the blog this week.

The reason for the post title.... click here and be concerned

I thought prices were deflated because of the housing market, in reality those in the know understand the cruising possibility of boats in the future will be severely restricted because of the terrible waste of resource and opportunity BW executive have engaged in over the last few years. Simple really if the canals are not maintained they will shut to boaters. OK for fishermen and cyclists, now we know why it is canal not canals in the new trust title. I recon at this rate my grand plans for a retirement cruise will never be realised.

DIY update

2011-09-18T10:48:00.001+01:00

I know most will not have slept well last night worrying about the success or not of my DIY project, well all seems to have been ok. We were not woken at night with the pump cycling away as the boat filled with water. Better than that after we ran the engine we had hot water plus the rads got hot as I'd left second loop open. This gives us another way of heating the boat. Just got to decide if it is worth adding an extra rad to the system now.

I will also look at wiring in the emersion heater element so on shore power or genny power we have another option for heating water.

One thing that is also better is that I have taken out a lot of copper and replaced it with plastic, better for the winter frosts and the last method of insulation was the yellow loft insulation that was horrid, it is now all lagged with pipe insulation. I think I'll cover it with some of the bagged type loft insulation as a belt and braces approach.

Before and after pics below. Note the amount of copper......

I have also added an expansion tank (the red tank at the top of the pic) this will take the expansion as the water heats up. The old system did not have such and I expect the expansion was managed by the accumulator on the cold side as there did not seem to be a non return valve installed?

Now on to solar panels.........

Nev

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Location:Fradley

Boat DIY

2011-09-17T08:41:00.000+01:00

I blogged here about my waterworks problem on Waterlily. I received some sound advice and took the decision to do a full upgrade rather than a bypass repair. I cannot see us upgrading boats for some time so we might as well have the benefit from heated water from the back boiler and hot water for longer. Plus the replacement has a immersion heater element that I will wire up for it we are on shore line or powered by the genny.

The Surecal Calorifiers in Midland Chandlers were a whopping £430 so I brought direct from Surecal for £350 I also made a good saving on an expansion cylinder that my system does not have at the moment. I ordered it when in Cornwall and it was delivered on time so top marks for Surecal.

A trip to B&Q for loads of fittings - good thing is you can take back what you don't use so I always over stock just in case. The biggest challenge will be the pipe runs as the old cylinder was fed both ends and the new one is all one end. I have oped for plastic as its simple and hopefully a little more frost resistant but it will all be lagged when completed. So an update later maybe.....

Cornwall sunset

2011-09-13T19:39:00.001+01:00

Just sat and watched the sun melt into the sea........ What a great end to a really lovely day.

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Location:Tintagel

Stunning Cornwall

2011-09-13T09:46:00.001+01:00

We are staying a few days at the Camelot Castle hotel. As hotels go it is one of the best I have stayed in for a long while. The location is stunning, the service is so friendly and attentive and the food has been excellent.

It is blowing through a storm at the moment and we have a grandstand view as our room overlooks the coast and we have panoramic views over the the island where it is reputed Arthur had his castle and up the coast to Boscastle.

Te plan later is to walk the costal path up to Boscastle and then catch a local bus back to the hotel.

If you get the chance you should have a stay at the Camelot Castle hotel in your bucket list.

Nev

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Location:Tintagel

Just awesome......

2011-09-03T18:32:00.001+01:00

Close to if not one of the best days on a bike.

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Magnificent

2011-09-03T16:27:00.001+01:00

On the way up Glencoe, touched by hurricane Irene, truly fantastic.

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Off to Scotland

2011-09-02T09:46:00.002+01:00

A weekend away to Dunoon for me with a couple of friends. On the motorbike of course, those west Scotland roads are deserving of nothing less

Nev

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What would you do....?

2011-08-31T15:57:00.000+01:00

Last winter, remember the sub zero temperatures, I trundled up and down the A38 keeping the boat fire in to protect the plumbing. We have a back boiler on our boat with a pipe thermostat fitted that controls the pump.

I topped up the header tank with a pre mix of antifreeze when I started the boat heating process but became alarmed when I discovered the header tank level dropping on subsequent visits.

I suspected a leak but could not find one anywhere. I have the pressure release valve and outflow piped into the engine bay which drips into a bucket that has a pump in it to empty it. Basic but it works. After the bad weather I noticed that the water in the bucket has a pink tinge to it which is the colour of the Halfords antifreeze I had been using. I therefore deduced that the heating coil for the central heating was leaking into the cylinder itself.

I checked on Sunday and whilst there is a valve that can be opened and closed to direct the central heating water via the water tank there is no valve on the return. This explains why turning off the feed to the cylinder did not stop the drop in the header tank.

I think I have two options

1. Replace the tank, £430 plus a days plumbing and the hassle of swapping out a system that works and has no air locks etc.

2. Put a simple shut off valve £5 into the return feed off the calorifier

If I do the latter I will not be able to heat my hot water via the stove, or get the central heating warmed up from the engine whilst cruising.

However I will be about £450 quid better off and not have to have all the hassle of the swap out.

If I go for option 1 I will hopefully get water that stays hot for longer than 12 hours.

We can get how water after an hour of engine running reliably and do have to run the engine to charge the batteries

If I go for a new tank I will have an emersion element so could have hot water via a land line or genny hook up.

If I go for the new tank I will know it will last me the length of time we will keep the boat (a long time now based on what I think it is worth in today's market)

So over to you, what would you do, please help as I'm in a dither?

Nev

PS. I do have the money, (but would rather spend it on solar panel or an electric fridge)

It's coming to a canal near you.....

2011-08-30T16:51:00.001+01:00

One of the real joys of living aboard is cold weather. When it arrives it gives those lucky enough the opportunity to light their wood burning stoves and dissolve themselves in the warmth and the smell.

I can think of nothing better than walking past a boat in winter with the smell of seasoned wood smoke drifting in the cold static air, especial if that boat is mine and I'm entering the warmth in the middle of nowhere.

I blog about this after following an interesting post on CWF.... clicky

If you go down to the woods today......

2011-08-28T18:55:00.001+01:00

.......you might have found us lost in there. We went out for a walk in Fradley woods and followed a path we have been on before. Blackberries we collected for a promised ( by Rachel) Apple and Blackberry pie then we decided to try an alternative route home.

Looking at google maps on our return it should have need easy, but the corn made the paths into a real Maize (sorry) we really did get lost and it was only the sound of the boats on the canal that helped us get a rough direction through some very heavy vegetation.

It was a real adventure and it will be interesting to see how it is in a month or so when the crop is harvested.

A bonus is (for the sports and telly watchers) I was able to watch the football via sky go app on my iPad via my new orange dongle. I calculated it was about 400mb for the second half, and was very watchable so another home comfort.

The IPad really is a great tool for the boat, low power very portable and does a lot of things. I think Sarah on Chertsey is blogging full time from the IPad now.

A couple of days aboard over the Bank Holiday, Fradley was very busy with people and boats, all smiling and getting on with each other. It is one thing that you see most of all on the canals, smiling people!

Off to make the Thai curry now.....

Nev

The generosity of boaters

2011-08-25T17:05:00.000+01:00

I am aboard for a while typing this via my Orange Internet. You may recall I had a problem with my dongle being fried whilst on my lads flat electrics. I blogged about it and I had some helpful comments. Non more than from Alan off NB Lazydays who said he had a spare Orange dongle that I could have. How generous was that. He has subsequently sent it on to me very quickly and I am now back up and connected.

I am a believer in paying it forward I have recently responded to a biker who was after some parts for his bike I had them and I have sent them on to him with a request to make a donation to the poppy appeal. I sincerely hope that Alan from NBLazydays gets his bit of good fortune and also shares in the feel good feeling of a good cause getting the benefit of our rolling gesture.

In these days when society seems to get so focused on what is in it for me I think we need to show these gestures so we feel good about being human beings, thanks Alan.

Notts and lincs air ambulance charity ride

2011-08-21T12:46:00.001+01:00

Off with about 300 bikes today to Skeggy

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Engine hours

2011-08-17T09:32:00.000+01:00

For the record really we have just gone over the 600 hours mark. Not a lot of hours which is good and bad really. I think we put the counter on in early 2008 so less than 200 hours per year.

Nev

The corn walk

2011-08-16T16:32:00.001+01:00

Lots of corn sweetcorn being grown around us. It certainly must take a lot out of the soil

Lovely walk on the non towpath side up towards Woodend lock

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Falling in

2011-08-16T09:16:00.000+01:00

This visit was as much about fettling the boat as it was cruising. Yesterday I was left on my own to do the outsides. Starboard was ok as it could be done on the mooring as was the roof. My option was to cruise down to Alrewas and wind to get safe access to the port side clean, from the gunwale or push across to the tow path. I did the latter with no assistance from the wind which was trying to keep me mooring side.

Eventually got cleaning and half way down the boat I found the grassed over hole in the towpath. Leg into the canal upto the knee just saving myself by hanging on to the top which pull my shoulder and swung me chest into the gunwale resulting in a sore shoulder and bruised ribs.

So today being my birthday the extended fishing session has gone west as has the trip out on my motorbike. Rest and relaxation........what an old git I am!

Take care, simple accidents can have larger consequences,

Nev

Me dongle is dead !

2011-08-15T13:51:00.000+01:00

It was loaned out to my lad who has just moved into a flat in Leeds. While his broadband was being ordered he borrowed my Solwise router and orange dongle. On return he told me it had stopped working halfway through the week. A little later he also told me his freezer had stopped working and he suspected the socket. Landlord came out and it was a dodgy socket, replaced freezer back up and working.

I then loaned the router and dongle out to anther boater to check a particular problem and he could not get the dongle connected.

Playtime this afternoon resulted in a call to Orange and a diagnosis my dongle was expired. Apparently the ariel on these is a particular weakness.

Only problem is the latest Orange dongle does not have the external ariel socket. So it's more investigation on the Internet as to what is the best option..... He rather helpfully suggested a Wibi which is to be investigated.

So if you have an orange e160 stick gathering dust I'm your man.

Bst bit about the demise of the dongle was I found my water pump was leaking........

Nev

Need to do some work on the boat plus electricity Q

2011-08-14T12:40:00.002+01:00

.......but I am far too lazy. I may have to have lunch first to give me some energy.

The batteries are at 55% on the Smartgauge so we need to run the engine for some time today. Out batteries give 10% increase for every hour this was the same with the old batteries as it is with the new set. One thing I noticed when they were really low the Smartgauge was in showing about 13.3 volts going in when the % charge was in the 20-30% range. As the % went up so did the voltage going in. I'm sure this is correct and there is a 'law' that dictates this, just wanted to know it was correct.

Also the adverc green light was on which I'm still unsure what it represents, as the batteries got more charge the green light went off??

Anyway back to being lazy.........

Nev

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Private v's hirer's

2011-08-14T12:13:00.001+01:00

On the boat now for a few days. Sitting here in my new chair (!) and it is so obvious the difference between hirer's and private boaters re speed passing our line of moored boats. The hirer's are so much more considerate but is the private boaters that speed past until they see signs of life aboard then the engine note drops ......what is that all about, we are boaters as well so we know what it takes for a boat to slow down !!

Ok relax time again.

Nev

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At what point did British Telecom become India Telecom?

2011-08-13T14:21:00.000+01:00

Mmmmm..... talk about frustrated. I got an email telling me as I'd exceeded my broadband usage BT or rather IT were going to charge me £50

Telephone call to BT or rather IT customer services engaged me in a very difficult conversation with an Indian lady who due to a poor phone line (!!!!!! - she eventually had to call me back) made the passing of details very difficult. I gave up with her when she asked me to spell forward slash !!

Then a very nice well spoken Indian man came on who spoke at 100mph 20 minutes later after he had tried his best to reinterpret a clause that said I would not be charged for going over for the first time, resulting in him telling me it was for new customers only. (I have been with BT since we have had internet so I consider myself a loyal customer) In the end I asked him a question will he refund me the chage or not - if he could not then I would close the call and phone back the cancellation team. He put me on hold and other 5 minutes of Greensleeves and he came back on and said he has spoken to James (a good old Indian name) who had said to not make the charge as I was a loyal customer !

This whole episode tested my loyalty. I have no problem with the nation of India. I find their operators very polite but I struggle to understand the accent especially when speaking so quickly. But they follow a script and are tenatious in doing so, they do not understand when to stop and move the call elsewhere - in this case no doubt back to the UK to James. Companies are bringing their call centres back to the UK and so they should. I think it is a massive negative when a large company puts their customers through an experience as I have just had.

Mini rant over,

Nev

Good deed for the day

2011-08-09T20:00:00.001+01:00

Now BW or their contractors fountain are not mowing the bank next to our boat we decided to visit after work on a DIY mission. Suitably tooled up we approached Hunts lock where an hire boat was descending. Going across the top gate the crew started revving hard but the boat was being drawn back to the cill the pole was being deployed and some panic was setting in. I shouted for them to drop the paddles which one did and the other crew member was floundering so I ran up and took the windlass and dropped it before running back and opening the top paddle to get the boat stable. The lady steerer was quite upset she had done nothing wrong and was pleased to hear the fact they had left one of the ground paddle up. The combination of two emptying and one filling with it's fradley undertow pulled the boat back over the cill. We just got the boat stopped and enough water under the boat to avoid a serious incident. Explanation and much relief then thanks followed.

All the nastiness going off at the moment when helping someone feels so good??

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Getting ready for the lakes

2011-08-06T16:13:00.001+01:00

At Squires getting ready for a couple of hundred miles to the lakes and back

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Note to self.... Do not leave the inverter on !

2011-07-24T23:56:00.000+01:00

July the 2nd was my last blog, the next day we left Waterlily after giving her a good clean inside. What we did not do was notice the remote control light was on on the inverter. I can tell you this will reduce three 115amp leisure batteries to 0% charge over a three week period !

We turned up today to check her and enjoy an afternoon aboard only to find the water pump would not work, I checked everything fuses switches and then realised what we had done. Oh well I hope no great harm has been done. We got the batteries up to 15% and shut the engine off as it was too nice to have to hear the engine all afternoon.

I suspect we need a good cruise to get the batteries back to a half decent charge.

Live and learn......

Nev

Perfect end to the cruise

2011-07-02T00:17:00.001+01:00

We have been out for about 10 days and will be back on our mooring tomorrow (or rather today) we are moored in the best place of the whole trip, total peace and solitude, just lots of nature around us. All this within a mile or so of our normal mooring - we are really very lucky.

Even the sun gave us a setting to capture for the end of the cruise..... Enjoy

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Location:Just above Woodend lock

Early morning fishing

2011-07-01T05:21:00.001+01:00

This is the venue for big C
arp- Great Haywood no luck last night so a five am start this morning. Perfect just need the fish now !!

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Steak and ale at the end of a good day

2011-06-29T20:15:00.002+01:00

Started just after Barlestone and we are just past Weston upon Trent. Just a good steady cruise with everyone we met in a good mood as the sun was shining. Youngest son has joined us at the woolpack for steak and cheques. Not a typo he has driven my cheque book over so I can write him a cheque for his deposit on his flat in Leeds for his years placement. It's a parent thing!!

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In a mooring far far away

2011-06-28T14:06:00.001+01:00

Ok so it's between Barleston and Stone. We were going to wind just before the last Meaford lock and moor in the pound but decided to wind at the Wedgewood winding hole instead. There were no boats moored at Barleston, that is a first as it is usually very busy. So we are between bridge 100 and 101 it's a mooring I have spied before but the fist time we have stopped here so let's see what the fishing is like.....

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Water water everywhere but not in our tank

2011-06-26T09:40:00.001+01:00

So it is a perfect summers day, warm no wind and quiet. But we last filled Waterlily water tank on Wednesday morning so based on past experience we know we are getting low. I will treat myself to one of the digital meters for the tank when next in Midland Chandlers. I just need to move the water pump slightly so I can get the meter in-between the tank stop cock and the pump.

Anyhow the water situation means we will move today. I know a warm summer Sunday is the day to stay put but needs must. I think the electric Brompton will get a run out today to check the mooring/water point situation as the next one is Stone and we are planning to get to one of our favourites today - Burston

Nev

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Location:Great Haywood

A good subconscious decision

2011-06-25T10:35:00.000+01:00

When I left Mercia Marina on Wednesday I had not realised I had turned right back up the Trent and Mersey until I was passed the Willington winding hole. My other option was to go left and 'do' the Leicester ring. Having seen the weather forecast and now sitting here warm dry and relaxed in Great Haywood it was soo much the right decision. It is chucking it down again.

There are still plenty moving but under umbrellas and full waterproofs. I think the weather is set to improve tomorrow when we may or may not head up to Stone.

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The one that got away

2011-06-25T08:36:00.001+01:00

I can only just relay this. Got the bait right got the presentation right the bloody massive carp did it's bit and bent the rod double only for the crappy reel to stop giving me the ability to give the monster ( and it was big) line so it snapped me. Aarrrghhhhhh !!!!!!!

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The opposites of locking control

2011-06-25T08:35:00.001+01:00

Wednesday a foreign family on a Shakespere boat left it in the lock and opened the ground paddle resulting In the boat hitting the top gate with such force I really thought the gate was going to fail. Jump forward to Thursday and I have watched a crew of four using ropes on the expensive BW bollards to keep the boat dead still.

All sorts of locking techniques it's amazing the infrastructure lasts as it does. It also makes me wonder what information hirer's are given ??

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Waterlily is related to Granny Buttons - allegedly

2011-06-23T21:10:00.000+01:00

How about this for a bit of canal connectivity. We were joined at Branston lock today by NB Clarice Elizabeth. The lady on board asked us if our boat was a Delph Marine which we confirmed. She went on to tell us she knew the guy who fitted it out Jack Prince. He brought the shell and fitted her out at Sawley Marina in 1992. She told us he came from Derby.... Where we live !! She said he did not have her long selling her on at Napton which is where she was moored by the only other owner who had her from 1994 until we brought her in 2007. She then told us the next boat mr jack Prince build was on a Liverpool shell and is Granny Buttons! So that make out boat related, welcome to the family Andrew !

What a small world and how good is it to find out the total history of our boat.

Nev

Stone again

2011-06-19T23:00:00.000+01:00

A lot drier in Stone today than it was this time last week. It is also very quiet with only one Shakespere boat moving while I have been here. Role on next week

New communications option

2011-06-19T15:10:00.002+01:00

Well it has taken a little time but I now have an Ipad2. It is the 3G version so combined with my wireless dongle router aboard I intend not taking anything other than this next time I am aboard Waterlily.

Now let's get app'd up

Nev

Fathers day

2011-06-19T09:36:00.001+01:00

A good start to the day. Breakfast in bed courtesy of youngest son. Have a good day you fathers!!

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Summer holidays

2011-06-18T21:38:00.001+01:00

Looks like it will be the Leicester ring for our next cruise leaving Mercia wednesdayish. Advice welcome ??

Nev

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In the rain

2011-06-12T11:22:00.001+01:00

No boating this weekend as Waterlily is still bobbing about in Mercia Marina waiting for her window to be replaced so it is the motorbike today. It's raining but I don't mind the bike is suited to the weather and it improves your riding to be out in the rain. Just has breakfast at Cmc in Chesterfield then off to Buxton then Leek with a destination if Stone to see the problems caused by a lifted gate at Star lock. I expect quite a few boats to be queueing up !

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Manifold valley

2011-06-12T11:17:00.002+01:00

9th June

Picnic in the valley for Rachels birthday today. Leia thinks it is her birthday as well!

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Thunder

2011-06-08T13:10:00.002+01:00

Just enjoying the first thunder storm of the year. I think it is my best type of weather, there is expectation the event and the aftermath.... really shows how dramatic and powerful nature can be.

Nev

6 locks before 7 am

2011-06-04T07:05:00.001+01:00

Early start to wind Waterlily on our way on the 2nd broken window cruise.

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BW contractors break another window !

2011-06-02T15:50:00.003+01:00

Yep, we got Waterlily back on her mooring all safe and sound on Friday then Fountain the BW contractors come to mow the grass on our moorings on Wednesday and broke another window !!!!!!!!!

I got a email from Chris on NB Belle on the Friday giving me the bad news. I met the contractors and BW at my boat yesterday and they agreed to cover the costs (again) of a window replacement. Thing is I have to take it back down to Willington to have the window removed and replaced in a day to remove the risk of water damage as they do it in a day out and over to Newark then back in.

Count to 10..... count to 10...!!

A bigger boat

2011-05-28T07:42:00.001+01:00

Ok so it had to have a boaty theme. We were in Scotland yesterday staying with our good friends and their two lovely twins. We caught the big boat and took our motorbike over to Belfast for a meeting with about 30 like minded people. Today we have a 170 mile guided tour of county Down. Should be a good day if the weather holds for us

Nev

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Busy May

2011-05-20T22:06:00.003+01:00

Took Waterlily back from Aqua at Mercia to Fradley today. The canals were quite quiet but all of Alrewas was full of boats and now opposite my mooring there are 4 boats. I have never seen 4 boats below Hunts so Fradley must also be full. Tomorrow will see the Shakespere boats come this way as well as the Aqua hire boats plus the canal timers....

There are busy and quiet days that do coincide with times of the week here at Fradley.

The trip back was good apart from that wind again. Only this time it was full on in my face so now I am sitting here with a whiskey with a wind burns face - not the whiskey of course !

Nev

Wind....

2011-05-18T16:56:00.000+01:00

...not the self generate stuff, the weather stuff.

We were taking Waterlily into Mercia on Saturday morning and the wind was really blowing. For those of you that know Mercia you go in via a road bridge which is in effect a small tunnel. As Rachel turned in we felt the effects but as we entered the wide water all hell broke loose.

We were aiming for one of Aqua's moorings for the window to be replaced. Justin was trying to give advice but we could not hear him, Rachel tried to get the boat lined up but the wind just took Waterlily sideways - it was totally uncontrollable as we were pushed for about 10 yards into the corner of the fueling jetty. It was a really hard bump...

Justin came round off the pontoons where were then perfectly lined up on the pump out landing as the wind had turned us 90 degrees back bow into the wind. Justin advised to go into the marina and wind (!) and apprach the pontoons with the wind behind us. I took over and winded and then kept the wind at my back and slowly put the bow onto the pontoon then with Justin's help turned the boat into the pontoon fighting the winds desire to take us sideways again .

All in all a real trial, it just showed how easily a narrowboat can turn in to a large sail. I bloody hate boating in strong winds !!

Thanks to Justins help we got in ok only to find the bump has actually pushed the broken glass that was in the window out all over the corridor next to the bathroom on the boat - such was the force of the wind and the bump.

We have been caught twice before badly by the wind. Once on the GU when it pushed us to the far side of a winding hole and it took us about half an hour to get off the bank - that was on Sylph.

Then again at Streethay - the wind was coming down off the bank and straight across the cut - we went to the bank side to pass a boat and the wind just pinned us to the bank. It really felt like the wind was playing with us - we just could not get the bow into the wind enough to get off the armco - it was another 30 minute trial of our strength - until the wind got distracted enough for us to get on our way crabbing down the cut - did I mention I hate the wind !!

Nev

Your old boats ?

2011-05-17T14:41:00.000+01:00

We have part owned a 58 foot cruiser called Sylph under the old Ownerships scheme. A great way to start boat ownership unless you were unlucky enough to still be involved when Alan Mathews fraud was uncovered - very sad.

We then owned our 45 foot Teddersly plastic topped boat called Comet. It was with great please we saw her moored up and in very active use on the way back from the Ashby cruise...

She has been repainted and generally kept very tidy. It is a credit to the lady who brought her she has survived the last two winters and looks better than when we sold her !!

Nev

Alrewas is quite perfect...

2011-05-16T14:23:00.001+01:00

When we were aboard for an overnighter over Easter we took a Sunday morning walk into Alrewas for supplies.

This is a good walk frommour moorings - just right. After we had topped up at the Co-op we walked through the village towards the river. There are some really nice properties (and some for sale) in this part of Alrewas. I suppose it is a perfect place to live - good commuter links and good countryside - plus the river and canal for those (us) who fish.

I think on balance I still prefer Stone - a little more interesting but not so quaint.

Then again get yourself a live-a-board equipped boat and you can live in every town and village on the canal until you get bored (within 14 days or local mooring times) of course !!

Now........

http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/

Single handing - the broken window cruise

2011-05-15T10:26:00.000+01:00

Makes you feel a bit special .....single handing a boat IMHO.

I took Waterlily down from Fradley to Willington on Friday the 13th ! All went very well. It was not too busy so I had to do most of the 8 locks without another boat coming through.

I decided that the best way was to bow haul the boat out to the lock throat (we were descending - we was me and Leia who was in charge of the boat in the locks of course) This saved climbing ladders or dropping onto the top of the boat.

Two major rain storms presented a challenge. The first one was dispactched by just sitting in Barton lock - perfect timing as no one was coming up. The second - the pics show the storm chasing me to Branston lock - was once again in Branston lock but there was a Shakespere boat coming up so me in my great full waterproofs and the poor holiday hirer in just her jeans and a rain coat.

Anyhow we made it and were joined by Rachel after her straight 7 days of very long hours just out of Willington . We were both ready for food and a little drink or three.

Now Waterlily is back with Justin at Aqua for the window to be repaired. He is going to take the whole window out and take it to the wndow supplier who will take the broken pane out and replace it.

Nev

Posting a bit sparse....

2011-05-12T18:09:00.001+01:00

That is because I have been out on my latest bike.

Last weekend I went to Scotland overnight. Stranraer to visit my good friends John and Carrie. It was a fantastic ride up there, one of the best times on a bike I'd say.

These two were so lovely - I almost started getting broody - just for a minute of course !!
These are the wind turbines we went up to help install late last year....very impressive.

Then on Sunday we did the complete opposite and did a Derbyshire ride with the Deauville owners club....100 miles of B roads and green lanes !!

Then this Sunday just gone on a whim I went to Bridlington for an ice cream. Once again a great ride on a great bike. You really should get one !!

Now back to canally stuff - my summer hols

Leicester ring
Macclesfield to Busgworth basin
Bancroft Basin
Caldon to the End

Any votes??

Anothe insect - but this one you could put a saddle on !!

2011-05-11T18:06:00.000+01:00

This big bugger FLEW into our kitchen last week. We thought it was a big moth but it looks like a flying cockroach.... that is a pint glass it is sitting under !!

Even the dog was a bit wary of it.

Any ideas what it is?

BW breaks my boat window :-(

2011-05-10T17:54:00.006+01:00

My repair to protect it from bad weather.

I got a call late last week from the BW enforcements officer... hello I thought is my canoe an eyesore on the moorings... no she was phoning to tell me Fountain their contractors had broken one of the windows on my P&J whilst strimming next to my boat.

Aaarghhh... but she was so nice and as I deal with this sort of stuff all day I had a lot of empathy for her position.

So now I will be taking it back to Mercia Marina to have the window taken out and the glass replaced at the window company who supplied the windows.

Inconvenience - you bet. Question dear reader - how would you approach any recovery of my out of pocket expenses?

The nice note from the bloke who did it - can't be too harsh can I??

Electricity - about right

2011-04-29T15:45:00.000+01:00

I purchased a 2kw inverter last year. It was only a couple of hundred pounds (!!) nothing like some of the stuff (Sterling?) that you can spend your cash on and no doubt they are great for extended or livaboards.

We wanted to be able to watch the tv without interference, lights, pumps, plus hair dryer (not guilty) iron and maybe the little Dyson we have.

Pre new batteries we tried the Dyson that would not have it. It kept overloading the inverter. I suspected the newness of the motor was not helping adding to the start up load. On the Ashby trip I got it working by new batteries and having the engine running at over 1500 rpm - seemed to ensure the inverter did not trip out on start up. The iron and hairdryer also work ok so we now have all we need.

The Dyson was a big hit as up until now we had to get the genny out so this means we can hoover up while on the move and do not need to take the genny with us.

Nev

Proof we made it

2011-04-28T17:26:00.004+01:00

Ok , back to full boating and our Ashby trip.

Two years ago we only made it as far as Market Bosworth winding there. This time as we passed I was hoovering... see later post... and Rachel cruised us on past to waters new. We were undecided as to go for the end but I'm glad we did.

The tunnel is one of the best - just long enough to make it exciting but short enough not to get bored (and wet). There were very few boats moving so we had no problems even so we did the cautious approach to ensure it was clear
Rachel brought me a nice brass tunnel light to compliment the new cratch board we had when Waterlily was painted (she had a horrible port hole type before) It worked very well casting a lot of light in a great arc lighting up the tunnel sides and roof very well.

So here we are Watering up on what must be the highest pressures water point on the cut. It sounded like a jet engine whilst filling the tank.

So a complete canal done.

Not sure on the next destination. I'd like to do the Macclesfield canal to the end - but then I still have a hankering to cycle sea 2 sea??

Nev

The Ponty the quick way

2011-04-27T17:01:00.006+01:00

For those of you who own or have owned motorbikes - this may be of interest...?

I recently traded my Honda Deauville in for a minter of a Honda Pan European. This really is the pinnacle of my bike riding/owning to date.
Its a 1300 V4 and is soooo comfortable and very quick. On Tuesday I had the day off to myself so set off on a pre planned route to Barmouth via the 'aqueduct'

It was as you might imagine quite busy but all seem to be in good spirits. It really is a marvel and I resisted the temptation to cross on the trip boat - waiting to take Waterlily there and do it on my own boat.

After a coffee the roads just got better and better. From Bala to Barmouth the road was just perfect and so few cars to overtake. I was getting drunk on the bends. Motorcycling heaven it was. On the full trip I lost how many canal towns I passed and how many times I crossed different canals.

Last pic of the new bike by Bala lake...

Now do I do Scotland at the weekend or relax on the boat ?

Insect identification?

2011-04-25T17:01:00.000+01:00

We had a great walk to Alrewas to the Coop yesterday. Rachel was a little concerned about these buggers.....

They hover around in gangs and have what looks like a stinger hanging off them but I'm sure it is not. It would be interesting to know what they are?

Nev

Busy early morning at Fradley

2011-04-24T09:17:00.001+01:00

Must have had well over a dozen boats pass us already this morning. Seems many coming up from Alrewas so I expect Mercia is emptying for Easter. Good job we are staying put this visit.

Nev

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Ashby cruise fire and a Streethay freebie !

2011-04-23T16:12:00.006+01:00

Ok, so now I am relaxed and able to attend to my blog a few posts about our recent Ashby cruise.

We set off on the Sunday just after lunch and had a reasonably easy passage away from the hectic Fradley spring sunny Sunday. We had a easy and surprisingly boat free trot to Streethay for supplies.

Having not received my nipple from Stuart - black mark there, I asked Ray if he had one. He got his nipple box out and offered me to select but nothing seemed to fit. He was noticeably frustrated and did comment 'we normally can supply anything.. ! ' He took me into the back where all the bearing cases were but it seemed they were sold nippleless. I set about paying for my gas, loo blue and a decent second hand double skinned chimney he had whilst he went downstairs in search of the right sized nipple. Just before we left he came out of the workshop with the right sized threaded nipple but it was an angled type.... I took it, screwed it in and it nipped up perfectly pointing upwards as you would expect...;-) ready to take the grease into the new bearing. I asked the cost and he shook his head so that is my clain to fame with some thanks to Ray for a free supply from Streethay (he has had enough of my folding before s I don't feel bad)

Once serviced we cruised to our first nights mooring just past Hopwas - that was until one of the two boats offside (there are two cruisers who moor, no doubt quite legitimately, off side just after Hopwas in a little copse) started a very noisy clack clack type generator until about 9.30 pm !

Next day saw us past the two Glascote locks and up the Atherstone flight without passing a boat - lovely.

Our second night mooring was in a small cutting just a few bridges away from Valley cruises. Perfect mooring apart from about 10pm I heard cracking and looked out to see a massive and I mean massive fire raging above us and blowing directly over Waterlily dropping all sorts of sh!t sorry soot onto us. So at 10 pm we were bow hauling her away from the fire to safety about half a mile away.

Look at the roof !!

Take care

Nev

KISS

2011-04-23T16:00:00.003+01:00

That did not take long did it...? We we back from our Ashby odyssey last Saturday at about 6pm and now we are back aboard for a general laze about over the bank holiday weekend.

If you are thinking of owning your own boat this is what is is all about !!

We will not move the boat just relax and watch the world go by, there may be alcohol involved certainly food and other enjoyments.

One thing to comment on is how we are now sorted electricity wise. Since installing the 3 new batteries and using my cheap (200 quid) 2kw inverter we can use the iron, hairdryer (not for me of course) and finally and perhaphs most importantly the little Dyson we recently brought. Previously we have had to use the generator which means effort in getting it out and started etc. I have found by running the engine at 2000 rpm the Dyson does not trip the inverter and stays running and the batteries just about keep up.

This means we can KISS - which is the principal of our boat ownership !

Nev

The little doggie that found Waterlily

2011-04-17T22:08:00.004+01:00

Like Halfie we are back from our Ashby adventure. There will be a few stories and pics to come but for tonight I have to tell you about a little chap who came into our lives briefly.

Meet 'little dog'

You can see Leia is doing the pack hierarchy bit of not being interested!

We were by bridge 33 on the Coventry (between Nuneaton and Atherstone) on Thursday night. Friday just as we were getting set to depart a boater came along and asked if we had lost a Jack Russell, when we got to their boat they said they had two Wippets so could not keep him aboard. He had been outside their boat since the early hours looking very lost/abandoned. We agreed to take him aboard as we could not cruise on by. We had plans to ask passing boaters and generally see if we could find his owners.

Bottom line was no one had any ideas so he overnighted with us as we got to Hopwas. He is a lovely little dog very friendly very funny. Rachel had spoken to the local pubs and they spoke by phone to Ian on Ghosty Hill to see if he knew of anyone missing a dog. He had a few suggestions but no leads to the owner.

Saturday morning saw us act on the plan drawn up the night before in the Tame Otter (Callum our son had joined us at Hopwas) He and Rachel drove to a vets in Atherstone to see if he was chipped - no, so it was a agreed walk back to bridge 33 from Vally cruisers talking to boaters.

As it happens they met Ian off Ghosty Hill who agreed to take him in case he met with the owners.... bit he did also say he was aware of dogs being drowned in the cut locally !!

So the little dog is with Ian helping him deliver his coal and diesel at the moment. He seems to be well looked after and we were/are tempted to keep him ourselves. So if you know of anyone in that area who may have lost him. Please get in touch, he is worth the effort.

Nev

Temptation....

2011-04-01T12:29:00.000+01:00

I am not good at refusing - just ask Rachel. Another post will follow with other transport related news.....watch this space??

Anyhow whilst at Mercia Marina getting my batteries yesterday I was having a sandwich and cup of tea whilst overlooking the brokerage boats. Ian came over from the brokerage and said he had a nice boat for me !!

Never refusing the option to get aboard I went for a look at this Clicky....

A really excellent boat. A little too much wood and the dinette was the wrong side of the kitchen and no bath otherwise I'd have been extracting one of my kidneys as a deposit.

Now where is that Apollo Duck advert for Warrior !!

Trees....

2011-03-31T12:59:00.000+01:00

I love them, but they can be dangerous. I recall last year a poor lady was killed when she was taken off the back of her boat by a falling tree.

We have quite a few trees on the Hunts lock moorings. Since we were moved up (by BW) we were under a Silver Birch. This allowed the local wildlife including what must have been a large Ostrich who routinely unloaded onto our boat roof.

A few weeks ago I took a photo and sent it to the moorings officer as I was concerned over the lean the silver Birch had towards my boat.

She was very proactive and said she would get the vegetation contractor to have a look. When I arrived at my boat on Friday after a little trip out on the bike I found this.....

I also found an email on my phone from the Mooring officer saying they were going to look at it today (Friday) They actually took it down with my boat in situ... I'm glad by all accounts I was not there to see it. What was not there when I got there was most of the tree. My neighbour said there was a steady flow of wheelbarrows removing the sections!!

The boat did have a good covering of sawdust even after the workers has cleaned the roof using the chainsaw exhausts! I prefer this to bird poo as it came off with a soft brush.

The base of the tree did have some rot in it so it was on its way. I'm pleased its gone. I intend planting an apple tree on the mooring for those boaters that follow me in the years to come.

I did manage a few of the larger rolls so I might have to being my electric chainsaw to the boat later in the year to get me some winter fuel.

I'll think of the Ostrich whilst burning the logs !

Nev

Batteries part II

2011-03-30T13:38:00.002+01:00

Rachel was over in North Wales last weekend so I was home alone !!

I did an emergency dash to Leeds to return number 2 sons Xbox that has been repaired and we had a lovely walk around Roundhay park on the outskirts of Leeds. This was a really nice wooded walk. I then topped his larder up before heading direct to the boat from Leeds.

I was a nice afternoon and I pottered. I had to run the engine to get some hot water and put some charge in the batteries as they were at 40% on the SmartGauge. I got them to 60 % and shut off and lit the fire lit the oil lamp drank some whiskey and some beer ate then fell asleep. That relaxed easy sleep, helped by the alcohol!

In the morning with the central heating pump running intermittently overnight (it is on a pipe stat) and a couple of hours watching the tv (sorry Maffi) the batteries were at 9% !! I gave up on them and by the time I left the boat they were Fubarr'd

Yesterday after doing a bit of research, thanks to those who left comments on Batteries part I I nipped over to Midland chandlers and brought 3 x 11oah sealed Lucas batteries for , hold on let me sit down, £270. Good deed of the day was done after the assistant rang up the wrong total (£40 less) and I corrected him (is that a good bad or sad thing to do?)

So I have a job to do this weekend before we head off to the Ashby.

I fully expect the alternator to die next.

Nev

Supermoon - doing a Denny

2011-03-20T10:27:00.003Z

Did a Denny last night. It was supermoon time click here for more info

This is the best I could do - mainly as I left it too late and watched a film and only went out at about 11.30 to let Leia have a wee.

It was not without incident either.

I decided I wanted a portrait shot and whilst adjusting the tripod the fixing snapped !!

So this pic was taken with my camera on the bottom lock gate beam.

Then as I was walking over the bottom lock gates to go back to the boat..... plop in went the broken tripod ! It went in at a location that makes it impossible to get out. A few boats have come by already and non in the weedhatch removing a mangled tripod - it was a fold up type and cheap so I recon it will settle in the mud and not be seen for a few more years.

Amateur or what !

More money into the boat

2011-03-16T13:53:00.000Z

... over the winter I have had to top up the central heating header tank. I was naively hoping this was because of evaporation, daft really as it has held well over the last winter.

I have been topping up with a strong mix (pink) of antifreeze. Within the bilge I have a bucket that collects the water that drips from the pressure valve and last time I checked it had a pink tinge. I therefore deduced that there must be a leak on the heater coil from the back boiler. I will isolate the coil vial the two valves to stop us having to shower and wash the pots in a weak mixture of antifreeze but it does mean more expense to replace the hot water tank - can spell califorier !!

Seems eBay gives the best new options but I need to get the right size and volume. One thing I hope to get an improvement on how long the water stays hot for as at the moment it is only warm in the mornings. In the blurb on the new cylinders they say 24 hours. Plus if it fits I might go for a larger volume so we can at some stage fit a bath .

Nev

It'll be the Ashby

2011-03-15T13:32:00.001Z

We have agreed we need a nice leisurely introduction to our 2011 cruising. We did part of the Ashby in May 2009 and as we never quite made it to the end we want to do the complete canal this time.

It will be in a few weeks to allow the weather to improve a little more plus the clocks need to spring forward to give us (me) some end of day cruising fishing time.

The Ashby for us is a great week out and back cruise - about 5 hours cruising a day and not too many locks. The locks we do hit will be in reasonable groups to enable some very sociable cruising.

Can't wait !!

Nev

Nipple check

2011-03-14T13:25:00.002Z

......sorry couldn't resist that one. You may recall I had the rudder bearing and casing replaced on Waterlily but Stuart the engineer who did it could not replace the grease nipple back into the bearing as the threads were different.

We agreed he would send it on to me for me to fit. A reminder went out and he apologised as it was still in his van and he said he would drop by and fit it.

We are hoping to be aboard this weekend so I will be able to do my nipple check and get some grease in to the new bearing casing.

For sure this warm sunshine is a real pressure to get aboard.

Nev

Spare a few bob .....

2011-03-13T08:22:00.002Z

You may be aware of one of my other passions - motorcycling. I was out on the bike yesterday scrubbing in a pair of new tyres (£275 !) So why am I telling you this.

I have just read Maffies latest blog and I echo the comments about our service men and women. The are real heroes. I hate it when sportsmen and women are given this title.

A friend of mine is doing the Lands End to John O'Grotes run on his motorbike in support of the Afgan Heroes. Its a good cause and one I have supported. If you have a few spare pounds please follow the link below and give Les your support. He is an ex serviceman doing his bit for some real heroes.

http://www.bmycharity.com/LesBishopEnd2End

Many thanks

Nev

OK Battery advice time...?

2011-03-09T21:40:00.002Z

Our batteries are at that stage where I think it will be more economical replacing them that running the engine longer to put charge back into them. Since the recent harsh winter they seem to loose charge much more quickly.

So what to go for...

We have 3 x 110amp at the moment wet type. Talking to Sue and Vic on NB No Problem they have sealed batteries. I like the idea of that - no maintenance is my style, more time for fishing.

So please could you give me advice - do I go for 2 x 135
or
3 x 110 and any recommendations on make and where to go for them best price?

Lots of advice needed!

Nev