Regulo

Didn't I have that in an Italian restaurant once?

I'm still up too, MM, so I'll raise a glass to you (well OK, hot chocolate), and to all those recently bereaved. I lost my mum over 20 years ago, and found it unbelievably difficult. Being an only child of a single mum, we were very close. My mate Dave pulled me through the darkest, and light gradually dawned as Rene and I got together. When I lost Dave, who I thought of as the big brother I never had, I knew I had good friends to support me. I include all the people on this and the other place, although most I've never met in person. Sometimes just carrying on as normal is the best way to cope.

Time for MM to top up the first aid kit, and I don't mean the liquid one.

Conversation with an ol' farm boy: Me "I just bought a sack of Maris Piper spuds" He (with a wink) "What's ON the bag's not necessarily what's IN the bag!"

Rene was in the rag trade, making men's shirts mostly. The same finished shirt went to the big high street stores and high class West End boutiques, the retail price difference quite large, as you might imagine. The only difference was the label sewn in. Towards the end of her working life, her boss was importing shirts from the far east for literally pennies, and sewing British labels in them. She got out, disgusted. Nothing to do with boat heaters, but I don't believe ANY label can be taken as gospel.

Most of us on these forums are now aware that the kits sold cheaply online rarely come with marine standard exhausts. They were aimed and designed as heating kits for lorry cabs originally. Worth keeping in mind if you hear of anyone fitting a kit, who may not be aware.

That exhaust silencer looks like one of the leaky ones I warned about 10 years ago. DO NOT FIT THESE INTERNALLY.

It's a painting, so probably a degree of "artistic licence" at play, to make an interesting composition. Looks to be a depiction of 70's era?

Whilst re-fitting some flooring in my uncle's boat some 20 years ago, we found a small threaded plug loose under the floor. Turns out it was the fuel tank drain plug. The only thing keeping 40 gallons of diesel in the tank was the built up sludge at the bottom.

Probably best to ask the funeral directors, Griff, Pat will have other thoughts filling her mind.

What a shock to hear this. Mike was one of the good ones. Rene and I send our deepest condolences to Pat and family.

Use a 12v to usb adapter plugged into the 12v power outlet. If it's not live at all times, it can usually be made so quite easily. Or get a hard wired kit onto a spare fuse. I won't venture onto the roads today without my dashcam working. Can't be too careful.

Not got a dashcam, Gren? I had them front and rear. Worth every penny in case of accidents - no arguments over who did what.

Mull over this and give me your thoughts. I was in a stationary queue of traffic, immediately behind a learner. Traffic starts moving, learner stalls. No problem to me, we all had to learn, and we've all stalled the car at some point. After 5 seconds, some oik further behind starts leaning on his horn. The passenger/instructor of the learner turns in his seat and starts angrily gesticulating at me. Question: what gesture or sign can I give, to indicate "It's not me, Guv"? Preferably one that won't result in making the situation worse!

The question of moorings is a bit tangled, as I recall. I think the ex-pub, now Hindu community centre/temple, own the majority of the moorings, allowing the shop to collect mooring fees? 3 years ago, when I was last there, some investment was needed - posts missing, silting up etc. I stand to be corrected, of course.

The same universe where you clean it at least once a year.

Oh come on, MM. Just because that's your personal history doesn't mean we all live like that.

I bought my AF32 from Astons hire fleet, a well maintained example. Didn't stop me spending 20 years and countless thousands on her! Congrats on your purchase, may you get as much enjoyment from this fine design as I and my crews did.

I had an Aquafibre 32, and that nya one has a weird layout. The galley on most is separate from the cabin seating area. I believe that's ex-H.Woods originally?

More4, last week's was on Hippersons at Beccles. If you're down that way, it's moored on the main river between the new road bridge and Hippersons.

Wherever you get stuck under a bridge - hope that helps? High water at Gorleston was 09:08 BST according to the BA, so if you can work it out from there. I reckon Potter, Ludham bridge would be high at about 12:15. Probably wrong.

I spent a great deal of my childhood either A) in summer, scouring the local dump for parts useful to make buggies and bikes (or anything mildly dangerous) or B) in winter, sitting in the gutter, making dams with stones and lolly sticks, to float paper boats. At any time, I could be found in some level of general filth with other members of the gang, usually involving mud, and often open wounds. If the road was ever being re-laid, we'd be told to go and breathe in the tar fumes, as it was "good for our tubes". The only allergy I've got is to modern life.

I can't recall now the exact values, but my fridge could be set to cut out at different voltages by the value of a resistor across two terminals at the rear. As far as battery voltage: 12.7 we're in heaven, 12.5 we're still alive, 12.2 there's a lot to do 11.8 It's too late!

It's getting harder and harder to find tradesmen who don't want to rip you off with unnecessary work, and who do a good job for a decent price. It's the older guys who are reliable and responsible, I find, but as they retire you just hope you can get a recommendation for a good worker.

Why should the neighbours worry? These old faithfuls go on forever, unlike the new computerised rubbish that need new circuit boards every 5 years - if they last that long. What would be any different if the thing was looked at by a Gas Safe guy? He'd likely do exactly as Floydraser did. Possibly check for CO? I subscribe to the theory boiler servicing is unnecessary, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. (BTW, exactly what my aunt's Gas Safe engineer told her).