addicted

This morning we thought we' d head to Brammerton Common to spend a pleasant day and overnight. Got a mooring no problem, well just one the boat behind ,a very nice man but suffering from verbal diaorrhea! Eventually just as I was almost tearing my hair out his companion escaped on a kayak. Peace at last, not for long he then decides to vacuum his boat to within an inch of it's life!. He apologised very nicely and lengthily for the racket, what could one say? Then another boat comes in behind him, complete with yapping dog! Oh joy this just gets better and better! But was it any of this that eventually drove us to return to our berth? Actually no. It was the selfish so and so who lit a smelly bonfire in one of the adjacent gardens and covered the boat with black smuts and stunk us out! Carole

We live on a fairly new estate, which is criss crossed by footpaths. These were insisted on during the planning stages by the fire brigade to facillitate access in case parked vehicles blocked the way. The police didn' want them as they can be used as rat runs and they are a real nuisance as all they seem to be used for is for people to allow their dogs to mess and wee. They are horrible to walk through as they smell terrible. There's one just opposite our house and recently while he was pressure washing our drive Tony gave the concrete bollards at the entrance to the footpath a good clean around their bases removing the deposit of goodness knows how many dogs cocked legs! Apart from smelling a lot more pleasant it also looked better. But we've yet to solve the problem of neighbour's cats using my rockery as a toilet. It's really horrible. Carole

Has anyone noticed that big hairy spiders always come in twos? If you find one galloping round the house it's odds on within a very short time another one will show up soon. There is absolutely nothing whatsoever and I mean really nothing that is sweet about them in any way! CarolE

I remain unconvinced and will continue to struggle to share accommodation with'em. Carole

Happy birthday Andrew. I'm a North London girl originally but have been living in Cambridgeshire for 17 years. At heart I'm still a London girl and probably always will be! Carole

It's back!. It's Strictly time again! This programme is the sole reason I got a TV for the boat that has a timeable recording facility It means we can still eat out on Saturday nights as usual leaving the t.v. to make sure Strictly is there to watch when we get back. Sorted! Carole

We had just arrived for ablengthy stay with friends who live just outside cape Town. The first thing I noticed as we went into the house, high on the hall wall a creature that resembled a small lobster! It scared the hell out of me! My friend laughed indulgently, " Oh that's nothing to worry about, it's just a baby rain spider who arrived after yesterday's shower!" I was forced to announce I would not be going any further until it was encouraged to vacate the house, there was no way I was going to sleep knowing that was rampaging around the place! Carole

Sorry blasted tablet strikes again Carole

I used to be quite literally terrified of all spiders, didn't matter what size althoughbreally big ones were more frightening obviously. To a great degree boating cured me in that my reaction to seeing a spider was always to absence myself and clearly when on a boat in the middle of a river that isn't an option so I gradually became less paranoid. Even so large ones do give me the creeps. I went to put a cistern block in the loo cistern at home once to be greeted by 2 of the largest hairiest blighters I'd ever seen, they'd set up home in there just above the water level which explained why I'd been finding teeny little spiders in the bathroom for some time. The lid was firmly replaced to await Tony's attention. replaced to await Tony's arrival. Unbelievably, he just picks them up! My mother used to do this too but she was terrified of mice, which don't bother me at all.I find conkers definitely do work. Carole

Sitting on the boat on the mooring this afternoon doing nothing in particular our neighbour from a couple of berths away suggests a cruise up to Surlinghsm Ferry for a drink. Great idea off we went had a lovely hour sitting on the front out on river front in the sun. Lovely glass of red or two! Decent pint superb. Our commpanion made the point that some time in grim January we could look back on this interlude and enjoy the memory. How right he is! Cloudless blue sky river like glass all' s right with the world. Carole

Welcome from me too ,we're also in Brundall at Tingdene's marina Carole

Many years ago I worked for a very up market shoe company in Old Bond Street London, the Queen and the rest of the female members of the royal family numbered among our clients. Sometimes customers would take out literally hundreds of pounds worth of goods on "approval" and think nothing of returning them anything up to a year later! Carole

As you obviously know there isn't anyone on here who wont' be thinking of your sadness today and who won't be feeling sad for you. That many glasses will be raised to Frances there will probably be an upturn in the sales of alcohol everywhere! I hope that is a comfort. it's bloody disgusting disease and causes so much grief. My thoughts are very much with you. I'm so so sorry Carole

Blimey we thought we'd had a few disasters! I'd stay in bed if I were you! Carole

House warm again!. Job finished minimum of fuss, no mess whatsoever, very user friendly chap, Our usual plumber is booked solid so he sent his cousin, fair price, guaranteed for 7 years. We're happy bunnies! Carole

Temperature here in Cambs. 18deg, wind completely died down, although we woke up to drizzle this morning. Got to book our flu jab Had my BP checked yesterday witha ll that's been going on I thought it would be sky high but it was the lowest it's been all year. I was due some good news so that's as it should be. Carole

Plumber duly arrived 8.30 this morning new boiler well on the way to being installed and not a day too soon judging by the weather forecast for the coming few days! Apparently it's going to get a lot colder. Time to bring out the sheepskin liberty bodice? CarolE

very many sincere congratulations, hope you'll be really happy, be sure to tell us when the big day is going to be. Carole

Happy to accept the apology MM, thank you Yes we do seem to see things similarly, I actually think Prince Charles will make a very good conscientious King, given the chance and suffers unfairly I think from adverse publicity. Air miles Andy for king? I would hope not! Carole

I am not remotely anti royalist, indeed I consider our royal family one of, if not our greatest, asset. I'm just not and never have been, pro Diana. Regarding William and Kate, latest figures show the number of "engagements" carried out by them fall very short of most of the rest of the working family the reason being given, that they wish to remain at home with their children I think this is grist to the mill of anti royalists and republicans and is basically wrong. I really had hoped they would do better than this and saw them as a breath of much needed fresh air when they arrived on the scene who would do much good for the royal family's image. The Princess Royal raised 2 children while carrying out a punishing work load and continues to quietly do so. This is the sort of commitment that will assure the continuity of the Royal family. Do not accuse me of being anti royalist nothing could be further from the truth, but in todays' climate I do see them as something of an endangered species which I find worrying. carole

Yes when he bothered to turn up! Carole

Personally I think PrinceCharles is seriously misunderstood and under rated, which is a pity. I think he has a greater capacity for the hard work that being in the "Firm" requires than his son and heir. I had great hopes for William and Kate as a couple but not now I think they are pair of idle freeloaders who seem to labour under the misapprehension that being a parent exonerates you from all duty. If only we had all had that luxury of saying "no, . you can't expect me to do anything remotely like work when I've got children that need me to be home" The Queen puts them all to shame, I also believe Camilla should be Queen when the time comes, She's infinitely more suitable than Diana ever was. I think the only thing the latter was any good at was manipulating the press and Media into believing whatever she wanted them to. While bitterly complaining that Camilla pinched her husband she was busy pinching Julia Carling's husband . Talk about hypocrisy! Carole

My daughter has a boiler that sits in the corner of the garage like a b****y great Dalek the engineer that looks after it reckons it's at least 40 years old. I have never in my life had to buy a replacement boiler before and I'm less than impressed to have to be doing so now. My previous house Boiler was a New Home and was 20 years old when we moved and had never broken down in he 11 years we lived in the house. I don't care whether it's September or flaming June if It feels chilly on goes the heating - I don't do cold.! CarolE

It's a Halstead bought out by Dimplex apparently Carole

warm welcome from me too Kevin, the forum will liven up the winter months that are approaching. Works for me! Carole