GeoffandWendy

Having read this thread about counsellors closing public toilets, to save money! I just hope that none of them get caught short when visiting the areas that they were responsible for closing them. They would be better upgrading them and charging 20p for the use of, as what seems to be happening to a lot of towns around the uk. How about these for example. These are at Rothsay on the Isle of Bute. They were open in Victorian times and have been restored, apparently, when these were built, there were no ladies toilets on the site, until the 1950s As well as still being in use, ladies are allowed to go in for a look when no one is inside, whilst the attendant keeps guard at the entrance. The last two photos are me and Wendy when we visited last year on a Heritage Holidays Coach Holiday.

Thank you Highlander, I understand about having to cook on 6 or 7 (depending on type of oven) but a pack of fresh sausages, will keep in the fridge for four or five days. Not keen on tinned hot dog sausages, they seem rubbery and taste synthetic.

Ingredients. Serves 2. 1 ring of Cumberland Sausage, or 6 Cumberland/ Lincolnshire Sausages. 1 medium sized onion 1 Packet of Auntie Bessies Yorkshire Pudding Mix, or similar. 1 Tin of Baked Beans. 1 egg Half a cup of milk/water according to your preference Method. Peel, slice and chop up the onion Lightly pre fry the sausages with the onion Then place in a suitably sized round casserole dish Mix the Yorkshire pudding mix with 1 egg and sufficient milk/water to form the batter mix Pour the mix over the sausages and onion and heat in a hot oven (gas mark 5) until the Yorkshire rises. (approx 30 minutes) Open tin of beans using tin opener (avoid Robin's method of screwdriver ) then heat in the microwave for three to four minutes. Serve the cooked sausages and Yorkshire on a plate, pour over the beans and enjoy. You can use any kind of sausage, but I prefer Cumberland or Lincolnshire.

Yes I watched that demonstration, in abated breath. I was expecting a serious encounter. A much easier way would have to have used a knife, inserted through the slit as far as it could go, then press on the knife handle to keep it flat and then push the edge of the knife away from you, and it will slice enough of the lid to be able to bend half of it back. Used this method when I was truck driving, parked up for the night. But being as Robin now has a suitable tin opener, he won't have to use his screwdriver any more for opening tins. So Robin, make sure you pack your trusty tin opener!

Well Robin, if you are there from April 17th to 24th, we might have the pleasure of meeting you somewhere. Or are you thinking Better avoid that week.

Yes I'm sure you are right Ian, Robin does love his boating and I enjoy watching his Blog. I hope to make some videos when we go in April and again in September, but I have no intention of starting a blog. I will post them on Youtube, so anyone can have a look at them.

Never mind Alan, I know the feeling! Once you have retired, you won't need to go through all that. I used to be a truck driver before I retired, up at four in the morning and in all weathers. So glad that all that is behind me now. Today, here in the Midlands, is a beautiful day. The wind has dropped and the sun has got its hat on. We have not seen any snow, although we had a bit of sleet yesterday, but nothing to worry about. Just about to go out for a walk, down the fields, behind our house, which overlook a new RSSPB nature reserve across the river Tame from old gravel workings. Further beyond is the old estate of Drayton Manor, former home of Sir Robert Peel, who as Prime Minister, introduced the Police force (The Peelers). The old house has long gone and it is now the well known Drayton Mannor Theme Park.

A bit late posting on this thread, but having not been on the forums long, I have been browsing the site to see what there is to read about. Came upon this topic and have started watching Dylan's videos. They are very good and well worth following. As Robin has stated, they are different to his Blogs, but well worth following. I still like the Captains Blog though, as it was these that inspired Wendy & I to start having some Broads holidays, of which no doubt, we will try and have at least one or maybe two every year, as long as our health will allow us, that is, as we are both getting on in life now.

Nowt wrong wi Yorkshire. But you know the old saying. Yorkshire born an Yorkshire bred Strong in'th arm an thick in'th yed.

Truly amazing!

We have February to get over yet! This can usually be the coldest month of the year, so don't think now January is coming to an end, that spring is just around the corner, but if we get a spring and summer like last year, then I don't think anyone will complain.

We live not far from The National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas in Staffordshire. Not sure if there is a memorial for the Holocaust or not as it is several years since we last visited. But no doubt one will be erected before long. New memorials are being added all the time, One that was recently erected was in memory of all the Merchant Seamen, who lost their lives on the Russian Convoy's during WW2. It is a beautiful place to visit and so peaceful. If you are ever in the area, make it a must.

I'm afraid so!

I know a Plonker, he's called Rodney! Now where have I heard that? Could it be 'Only Fools & Horses!

As an long distance truck driver for twenty years, before I retired, you will be surprised what I have witnessed whilst out on my travels. Besides the idiots on mobile phones, I've seen women, putting on make up, brushing their hair and even applying nail varnish. I've seen people watching a video placed on top of the dash and even a guy reading a newspaper, spread across the steering wheel. Is it any wonder, that there are so many accidents on the roads. The trouble is, the police are never about at the time. Anyone caught doing any of these things I have listed, should not only be heavily fined, but banned from driving for ten years, and for life, if they cause a fatal accident. The trouble is, there is no proper way of policing the way people drive, but with the introduction of more and more cctv cameras, the chances of getting away with it is becoming harder to avoid. I wonder if this will become law for boat drivers. What would be your reaction if someone steered into the side of your boat and took a chunk out of your stern or bow, because he was busy on his mobile phone? I don't think you would be very pleased.

Hi Alan & Tan, So having done the Trent & Mersey, you will be familiar with the Harecastle Tunnel. I've been through it on several occasions, but it was rather eerie on the first time through. Quite a few years ago, during the 1970s, I used to live in Cheddleton, about 200 yards up the hill from the Boat Inn, on the Caldon Canal, It hadn't long been open then. I was also a member of the North Staffordshire Railway Society (now called The Churnet Valley Railway). Spent many hours there helping to restore some of the steam engines. I have two sons who still live in Leek, so we still get up there now and again. The Caldon Canal is a lovely stretch of water, once you leave the confines of Stoke & Hanley and out past Stockton Brook & Ednon. From then on, the scenery is lovely, all the way through Cheddleton & the river section at Caldon Low, right through the short tunnel to the terminus at Froghall. It used to run as far as Uttoxeter, until the railway arrived in the 1840s. Because the valley was so narrow after Froghall, the canal was filled in and the railway was built over it. Boltons Copper Works at Froghall (closed during the sixties) is where the first Transatlantic Telephone Cable was made. If you have never done the Caldon Canal, give it a try, you won't be dissapointed. We might try and visit the Southern Broads in September, just for the thrill of passing through Breydon Water, but our intention was to do the Southern half in 2016.

Wendy & I would like to thank everyone for a warm welcome. . Don't want to bore you all, but let me tell you all a little bit about us. Wendy & I have been together now for just over eighteen months (we met on a dating agency, having both lost our previous spouses through illness) To make living together official, we are getting married in August this year. Our second broads holiday will become our honeymoon. We both show lot's of common interests, the idea of having a Broads holiday being one of them, so I think we are a perfect match for each other, to enjoy the rest of our old age together. I am no stranger to things that float (or even sail beneath the surface) I spent 16 years in the Royal Navy, three of those on submarines (the proper stinking sweaty submarines of those days) and we have both in our previous marriages had narrow boat holidays on the canals. Now we are getting on in life, boating on the canals seemed to energetic, having to operate lock gates, especially having to negotiate a long flight like those at Hatton the Birmingham & Worcester Canal. We want a nice laid back leisurely holiday, so what better place than the Broads. Well, I think you know more about us than we do ourselves, but its nice to be part of you all who share the same passion for the Broads and boats. Thank you for listening.

It's not our fault honest, that we have joined this forum! There is only one person to blame really. We have both caught this so called Broads Fever and no matter what we do, to try and cure it, it keeps coming back. It all started, when we came across The Captain's Blog and we started watching Robin's videos. Yes he is the culprit, for us old pair getting hooked into a boating holiday. Some of you on here, may have already spotted us old pair on the other Broads Forum, but being on both is better than none I suppose. We are already booked up for a couple of weeks cruising this year, with our first one starting in April, aboard the good ship 'Star Gem', one of the Bath Tub Class, of the Richardson's Fleet. Then later in the year, at the end of September, we have decided to try the Brink's Fleet, with 'Topliner 3' again another Bathtub, but with a bit more appeal, having a nice patio area on the stern. Well that's us two in a nutshell, just eagerly waiting for the 17th April, when we step aboard our floating home for a week. Well,1 post so far with this one, so only another 49 to go, before some kind person's, proposes and second's us, to become full members. Kindes Regards Geoff & Wendy.