MauriceMynah

The thought had crossed my mind several times. I couldn't make my mind up as to whether to do the crossing in my boat (27' Elysian Bounty) if I was brave enough, or to have it transported there by road and kept there for a season. The other option is to hire. I will need to gen up a bit on that option. I like the idea of an extended holiday on the Shannon, say a month or two. Anyway, what ever I do,,, welcome to the forum.

Just to keep everybody up to date with my motions (or are they movements) I've managed to blag a pass to the boat from Wed 1st April to Wed 8th inclusive... yipeeeee.... So. Who's around for Easter then. Tis the season for chocci eggs... yum yum... with a drop of Bells as said elsewhere here... yum hic yum.

I thought that everyone knew that if you had to drink anything whilst eating chocolate it had to be a blended scotch (and it doesn't need to be a good one either). Trust me, the combination is lovely!!!!! Iain, in your post about "that bridge" were you whispering? It was written in a very quiet voice! Gotta go now. I need to dress like a bear, and stand on one leg with my left knee under my right elbow.

Ooooh, Will they be starting Yogi classes

Why? Question was addressed to the guy's climbing, not to you Gracie.

Hi Lou, Welcome from me too.

There is another way of looking at that point Geoff/Wendy. The amount of interest I will receive by holding on to that money will be pretty meaningless. If the BA can obtain a meaningful sum because many pay early, then it's been an advantage for them. Avoiding all the arguments as to how such a financial bonus is spent, I see no real downside for us but a positive upside for them. If I ever decide to do something in protest against the BA it will be far more significant than holding on to a bit of cash for a month or two. It will be a properly organized orchestrated and very public protest. Thus far I don't feel we have reached that stage.

There are one or two deterrent effects that CCTV has. One that springs to mind is the infa-red cameras. When thieves are thinking about breaking in, they will often scan your house with their mobile phone (in camera mode) to check for CCTV cameras. Infa-red cameras show up as bright 'hotspots' on the house. The scumbag then knows your house is protected. As far as image quality goes, firstly the bugger doesn't know how good/bad your system is, and secondly the police are very good at seeing detail in the poorest of pics.

I've been told to get more exercise, Perfect for me, I reckon a couple of lengths a day and I've cracked it.

Scum of the earth's been busy again then! Was that your home or your boat they broke in? Either way I hope they didn't take much. All I can add is that I wish you well through what I know is going to be an upsetting period ahead. Chin up, things will get better.

That hull was designed for off-shore boating with twin petrol engines.(there is an Elysian website with some nice pics of one out at sea). If I hadn't already got a Bounty, I'd be very interested. Maybe I should have a word with Jason and get him to put a second engine in Nyx

Exactly the precautions I took Bonzo, I also had a pint of Adnams Lighthouse, but sadly when feeling for my torch, I inadvertently knocked my two bars of confectionery into the river. It was a pure reflex reaction that made me make a grab for the bars, sadly though, that reaction caused me to knock over my Adnams which in turn washed my torch into the river. In future, all star gazing for me will be done in daylight hours when I can see what I'm doing.

Cos if it was at the bottom, all the towns would fall off.

Tim, The orientation of maps is of significant importance except when at sea (where the whole map is just a sheet of blue paper) There is some speculation that Horatio Nelson when sailing from Barton Broad to Hickling was unaware that his mate Hardy had turned the map from the “east-west” orientation to the new “north-south” one. The upshot of this jolly jape was that instead of finding himself at the Pleasure Boat Inn, he ended up looking at thirty three froggy ships of the line, all spoiling for a fight. More fool them as history proved. There were several knock-on effects from this “lads out having fun” episode not least of all was Nelson ending up a little bit dead, followed by a substantial obstacle to traffic at Trafalgar Square. It may also be noted that the area where this disgraceful display of bullyboy attitude from the French, was renamed “Trafalgar” in honour of Nelsons glorious victory, and even his wonderful ship was renamed in honour. So Tim, as you see, messing with maps can be a tricky pastime. Imagine if you can the difficulties if we reverted to the east-west orientation. The sun would then be rising and setting north/south. This would melt the icecaps allowing at least half a dozen world experts to say “We told you so!” You have been warned.

Quick notice for anyone heading under Potter Heigham Bridge from the Hickling side. If you stop for the pilot and tie to one of the two trees on the left hand side, be prepared to be made to jump out of your skin! A pair of geese have made a nest on the hollow of one of the trees and thinks little of anyone tying to it.

I tried a bit of star gazing when I was on the boat the other day but couldn't see much, even though I took a torch to help.

Aiming to be in Womack Tue Lunchtime then set off for Neatishead sometime Wednesday. Hope I bump into a few of you. Yeee Ha.. No puter on board, but Mike (Jaguar/Chamelion) has my mobile number if anyone wants it. To all on the forum... see ya next week!

I'm with you all on this one, yet nobody has mentioned the full days hike to the nearest pub where the food portions are skimpy and the ale is flat

Hey man, with all those positive waves you can't fail. Yep, I got that film too.

Water level under Potter permitting looks like Womak and then a gentle bimble up the Ant. I fancy a couple in Neatishead

Well, it looks like I'm heading boatwards tomorrow (Mon 16th Feb) for about a week. Anyone else about?

Two for protective security, the third so the other two can ask the way!

Sorry Stranger, but you're a bit wide of the mark on this one. It's not the price of the fuel that matters, it's the use it's put to. The Duty paid on fuel for propelling a vehicle/vessel is at a different rate from the duty paid for heating fuel. That's why you keep reading about that 40/60 split. I don't have the rates to hand just at the moment but the differences are considerable. You might have noticed that when you buy your boat fuel (IIRC), you have to sign a form confirming the amount bought and that it's been put in a boat. The boatyard then adds the duty to the cost then the VAT. OK, I might have the details a bit squewed but in principle, that's what's going on. Basically, in addition to Matt's points, it's a shed load of paperwork for not that much profit. We're lucky that there are yards still prepared to do this for us, and if they manage to make a few quid extra while the barrel price is low, good luck to them. If I do remember correctly, the fuel duty on diesel for propulsion is about 60p per litre. Add that to the 50p per litre as you stated being the cost, that's £1.10. Then there's the VAT. So, if you bought 100 litres of diesel you could say that the 60% for propulsion costs you £66.00 and the 40% costs £21.00. That's £87.00, then add the VAT at 20% (£27.40) giving you a bill for £104.40. This works out at £1.04 a litre. Now add the overheads for supplying the product (I have no idea what that works out at per litre) and the rest is profit. When you think of all those figures, it really isn't as bad as you thought. My figures allow for a bit of rounding and are not accurate, but not too far away! I hope that all makes sense!

"If you do have a little dink while parking..." DO NOT RUN AWAY... That would be Dinking and driving. sorry.

Welcome. Please feel free to lurk and leech to your hearts content, and don't hesitate to ask anything either.