little duck!

I remember as a child we seemed to have lots of starlings in our garden but then they diappeared from the area and it was rare to see them. In the last few years I have noticed their return. Firstly appearing in the local supermarket car park where there is some cover over the main walkways thwn last year back in the garden.when mum put meal worms on the bird table there must have been at least numbers into their teens all descend to the table at once, a lovely sight if somewhat amazing at how quick they cleared the mealworm.

So are we but you are showing off with blue sky! Its been dry but chilly on the staffs and worcs today, now at (near) Barlaston and will start up Trentham lock tomorrow. Despite the railway a really nice mooring spot!

Penkridge saffs and wors

Not sure if thats the correct name for them but we are moored next to chocolate boat so of course have supported them by buying some yummy samples! Have used cheese boat o several occasions. What boats have you supported on the cut?

We made it down the 21 after meeting brighton and Nuneaton and dora venus in the services at broad street, we then let dora venus pass us in a pound as paul grappled to release a tape measure from around the prop! Bella whined most of the way down as she's not keen on locks. We are now near Penkridge and have moored next to the chocolate boat- yummy! Safe journey home to everyone!

There seems to be some problems getting in and out of bradley, depth?

Tree where are you, you said you would be an hour nearly 2 hours ago, should I put kettle on yet! !

We are waiting at smethwick locks are follpwing a working pair but motor had plastic sheeting roun prop!

Apologies to bearwood boster we were trying to clear our prop when we passed you earlier, it worked! Got to lunchtime with no trips down the weed hatch!

Duplicated post due to my impatience and using phone!

Too much information about the dog paul! :-) I am now counting the hours til im on the train, more than a little excited!

The description made me laugh in several places but being on the short side at 4'10" I guess this boat is not for me!

Oh dear what fun bella our basset likes to bark at cats! Paul has been on the move since Tuesday whilst I am stuck at work til tomorrow, very jealous of anyone already on the move!

I know paul is working as much as possible to sort out the issues. He is however currently on the way to the BCN challenge and had no phone or Internet signal last night. Im sure he will try and do more tonight but there seems to be a number of gremlins he has to tackle! Oops I hadn't read pauls post explaining he didnt have signal. Guess he will nag me for not reading/ listening properly!

can't wait now! Paul (and Bella basset) are on the way but i have to wait until friday, this is going to be one long week!!

Oh No!! I hope she's ok. Did you exchange details with the hire boat must have been a pretty bad bump to cause that damage. Hope Debbie feels ok soon and doesnt have too much of a headache.

i have nothing to do with this marina have never passed it or visited it. So if the only information i had of the place was from this site i woud, as he says, be wary and think that there are two sides to every story, but in his responses, Mr Lillie makes me believe that the information on this site is correct. His attitude on this forum clearly shows his lack of business and PR skills when potential customers are driven away by the way he responds to his critics. He seems a very angry and negative person who himself holds grudges against some forum members/ former clients. It is not often i post of the forum but read and digest avidly and i cannot believe that in just 5 pages of threads this man has yet again managed to alienate and insult so many. I am expecting to be next for daring to have made a comment and shared my opinion on what seems to be a petty and vindictive man. Can i also ask who on earth awarded "greenies" to this man when he is being so vile? edited for a mistake i spotted but probably more still included!

those going up the 21 on friday afternoon may get held up by a single handing basset hound (almost trained to steer) and Paul, i'm sure he would appreciate any help as i wont be joing him until he reaches the top. I arrive by train as some of us have to work!!!!

i had same issue- but all buttons now present and correct and new content seems to be faster too!

ok seems i can still post!! Yes similar to me, 4 weeks before our 1st hire holiday i ended up on crutches with leg in a splint from thigh to ankle (operation on dodgy locking knee occured at a later date) i had never driven a boat before and crashed into the bank on 1st afternoon so refused to drive for rest of hoilday! Paul had to do all the locks and the driving! Being on crutches on the boat was fine crutches don't make you much wider so space was fine! The steps on that particular boat weren't too ladder like so i could manage and the only pain i suffered was the blisters on my hands! I think, if possible you should go, a holiday will make a bad situation seem less of a problem and the Monty is gorgeous!!

just checking i can post- tecnical issues!

We have a pump out toilet, dont ask make and model as i don't know! We have "blue"added when we have a pump out and put a small quantity of blue down toilet sometimes too. So the problem i have is the appearance of my bowl, despite using blue and a very good toilet brush very regularly there is still an amount of limescale which i cant seem to shift. What product is safe to use it will be sitting in the tank for a while as we dont need a pump out for a while. I am worried about any chemicaal reactions that may occur when mixed with the blue in the tank. My mum, on one of her rare visits to the boat, suggested bleach but i dont think this will work/is safe? She then went on to suggest washing up liquid when i pointed out i would end up with a very frothy tank! So what is safe to use that will do the job ans make my toilet sparkly clean safely? Thanks