BroadAmbition

The expansion tank had very little air in it and not much room for the water to expand as it heated up so it was exiting via the prv. Now we have the correct amount of air/pressure in the expansion tank there should be room for the expanded hot water so the prv doesn't open, therefore no leak of water outside - Does that sound correct? I just might change the prv as a matter of course, once I've priced them up Griff

Green - Garden waste, Blue - Plastic, cardboard, paper, tins etc - the recycle one, Grey - Landfill, small green plastic box with black lid - Glass only. MrsG to put stuff into various bins ably assisted by her assistant who tends to do it all the time, assistant also puts them out on the correct day for emptying too, woe betide if he forgets - That's happened but rarely and results in increased volume assaulting my Port and Stbd listen outs Griff

"We have Ignition"' I went fault finding on our Baxi Boiler in t loft this afternoon. I knew from the symptoms that it was either a faulty PRV, faulty expansion tank bladder, or low air pressure in the expansion tank. Tested PRV - Fine and dandy. Onto the expansion tank. The valve is situated in an awkward spot which meant removing a bracket to get to the valve. Even then not easy, depressed the pin in the valve to hear a small amount of air coming out but no water - Yippeeeee. Released pressure in the system to zero via the PRV, brought the expansion tank up to one bar. Re-pressurised the system, checked for leaks - None, bracket and covers back on and it is humming away like a gudden. Cost? - Nowt, diddly squat. Of course I won't really know if it is a proper fix until the morning, that is after the central heating has been on this evening, cooled down overnight and fired itsen up in the morning. Fingers crossed Griff

Not as dangerous as you MM Griff

What's a Bridge Pilot? Griff

We at this hovel often use Amazon (Prime) - Other on line retailers are available Thursday I somehow managed to break the claw end off my crowbar or wrecking bar as some would describe it. I was giving it plenty of welly, pulling out 6" nails that are proper thick out of cls into breeze block. So, late Friday evening I ordered a new un via Amazon. This morning I did not have to leave the house until 0820, delivery from Amazon arrived before I departed. Large box addressed to me. Strange, what's in here I thought as it is far too big to be the crowbar I ordered. It was. The size of the cardboard box was ridiculous, then paper packing, then bubble wrap, then a plastic sleeve, all for a crowbar? There is no wonder our blue recycle wheely bin gets full proper quick. What a waste of resources / overkill not to mention the amount having to be recycled. Griff

I always thought the saying went - ‘You can leave your hat on’ Griff

so 4-6 blokes causing a little mischief. How does this work? I’ve seen lots of films, but none with a northern tiler in them? Mischief / High spirits I can live with and no doubt partake myself on the odd / rare occasion - I have no beef with crews onboard 'B.A' doing that. Remember that super cringeworthy green mankini incident between Acle and Thurne? I'll never forget it, it still makes me go hide behind the nearest wall even now. Howard suffered more than I did as he was on the helm - I was very brave and went and hid mysen away from others eyes. But it was a real laugh and no harm done What I won't put up with is disrespecting 'B.A' that is, not looking after her / tidying up / getting her in a mess / damage or excessive wear and tear, casing issues for other families afloat - That's what I was referring to with regards to 'Previously Advised' What 4-6 blokes do causing mischief onboard other craft - not my concern / responsibility - Thank goodness Griff

I'm under the impression that providers - by that I mean landlords and those electric posts / the Ba - are not allowed to make a profit on said electricity above what they pay for it - Is this correct? Griff

At that price, I would want a Captain included I'm Free ! - Especially for those Hen do's afloat Griff

Strange thing is though I'm torn between auction which raises money for a charity but means the winners obviously have some bucks, or find a way of just sharing with people who could never win an auction. Tricky Agreed, but sometimes the winners club together to outbid the opposition, I've seen it happen. Being able to take strangers for a trip down the river is truly magical. Sometimes I don't know who is enjoying it the most, me or them! The real pleasure though, the best ever, is children. No end of times allowing kids onboard for a look round, to see their faces is priceless. I've gone on to say to Mums and Dads, sommat like, have you got half an hour to spare? Right then, off we go and have taken a 'strange' family for a short river trip and back, ensuring I get the young ones on the helm - They love it. I've done this plenty of times and never had a problem or issues. Staying onboard overnight for long weekends however can throw up all sort of horror scenarios as previously mentioned in this thread. For us, so far good apart from just the once years ago when one of 'B.A's restoration crew invited a couple onboard for a weekend afloat. Their hygienic habits were not the best plus beds unmade, curtains not drawn, gear left out and not stowed, by the end of the trip I was pulling my hair out as they just could not seem to take onboard any subtle hints from me - My fault as I'm not good at that, so back to straight Yorkshire speak - That worked and must have put them off for good as they have never been back onboard since - Result ! As far as sharing the loo goes, a brush and appropriate cleaner left in a strategic place may save embarrassment, if not just cross the perpetrator off your Christmas card list. I go one further than that and just tell them straight - "There is a loo brush in the heads, go and apply it's design features immediately" That does work and has indeed embarrassed crews members - Tough I've tried before now to 'Lend Out' 'B.A' to friends (Not for financial gain of course) but those that I have offered her to have never taken me up on the offer. (You know who you are). My Lad has taken her out with his own crew before now a few times without issues - I think he is the only 'Skipper' to date that has done so other than one of the owners. It'll happen soon though. On our Annual Lads Week, we rotate who is skippering 'B.A' one of the skippers that happily manages a Jewel of Light will 'Get his turn' and be skippering 'B.A' for the week whether he likes it or not. Myself, Howard and Robin will sit back and watch his terror - Cruel / nasty lot that we are Griff

Andrew - Great news ref your hearing capabilities. I reckon it'll take ages for the novelty to wear off of being able to hear sounds all around you that we take for granted. As you come to naturally use your new found hearing capability all the time and it becomes second nature, will your lip reading prowess falter as it will now not be required? - I hope not, handy tool to have in your locker is that. Mind you, there is a down side to all this, you won't have any excuse when your lady friend is giving you a verbal ear bashing, nor will you now be able to 'Turn a deaf ear' ! Griff

Agreed. I'm prepared to take that risk when giving to charity, tis always a sacrifice if not always in monetary terms Apart from the 'Meet your match' - Don't understand that one, I'm not in any sort of competition Although - I already have - My match is called MrsG Griff

I see where you are coming from. Sometimes when I'm onboard 'B.A' on my todd for a weekend I get to thinking - All this boat, all 40ft of her, five cabins, all the amenities afloat one needs am I being selfish? Sometimes I will admit that I am, but I paid for and sacrificed to have that option. Also just sometimes, just sometimes it is nice to be afloat just me and Macie dog. By biggest concern where 'Strangers' onboard is concerned is - Will they respect 'B.A' sufficiently and treat her with due care? Also it is not fair for me to force strangers upon MrsG when we are afloat either However sometimes I do get proper generous and charity minded. It's happened before and It'll happen again this year. September we are due to attend a black tie charity ball event - 'CALM' in Peterborough. Last time I did this 'B.A' won about £1200 for a kids cancer charity. I have put forward to the chief organiser that they can add 'B.A' into the auction. That means the winning bidder will get 'B.A; from a Thursday teatime through to Monday teatime for up to six crew PLUS myself as skipper. I will pay for getting mysen to 'B.A' and back, diesel used over the four days, pump out, bedding etc and three days loss of earnings. The crew will be responsible for their spends / Food / Drink and mooring fees. So it's gonna cost me personally - That I can live with as it is for charity and I like to help out now and again. My biggest fear is greeting up to six strangers onboard that take her for granted, abuse 'B.A' and turn me into a dogs boddy. Hopefully my welcome aboard brief will put paid to any of that behaviour before we slip and proceed. If not - Well they have been previously advised . . . . . . Griff

Second and final application of 5 Star Cuprinol applied this evening. By the time that has cured thoroughly it'll be Sunday. Therefore Sunday is the target for first coat of varnish to be applied - When I get back from clay shooting of course Griff

As a result of your last post, I have just checked the plastic envelope provided with our order. The instructions for both fitting and operation are in English, which is a close second to Tyke speak but it'll do We opted for the programmable timer but did not go for the mobile phone capability. Pointless really as the only time we would have used that facility is for the initial boarding prior to weekend or a week afloat. Snag there is that 'Someone' would have had to be a primary boarding party and gone ahead to turn on all the electrical systems for the heater to receive a signal and get set too. Whilst there the primary boarding party might just as well manually turn the heating on . . . . . . . . . Griff

So in a clients house t'other day there. Lady of the house was a young lady doctor (Most folk are young compared to me nowadays) I muttered to mysen that I had left my tape measure in my van and went to get it. She said "I have one here you can use", to which I replied "No thanks, I'd rather use a man's one" (By Mans tape measure I mean one that is wider stronger metal and does not fold over easy) I came back into her house with said tape measure and whaddya think she said? "So that's a mans tape measure is it? - Let me guess it exaggerates and adds on two inches" Brilliant reply was that, well impressed Griff

Pumpmedic - The water leak is showing itsen on the outside of the house via the 15mm small copper pipe, as I understand it this is the outlet for the expansion tank? I aim to get up our loft and have a proper look see tomorrow late afternoon if all pans out sufficiently well. I have a kitchen wall tiling job to complete in t next village, then various items to attend to at my Lads in another village - Get them done and hopefully have a look at our boiler. Griff

Try it with a ‘proper’ Bow Tie Griff

I'm reminded of The Sex Pistols, Friggin in the Riggin. That's a proper naughty but very funny song - We have been known to play it onboard 'B.A' - most definitely out of earshot of buttercups and snowflakes Griff

Stokers Dhoby Hitch - Works every time Griff

Today - Got home early and quick smart before MrsG got in - After a thorough hoovering off, hung mast in our conservatory then first treatment of 5 Star cuprinol applied with it's own unique aroma We are on our way Griff

Then it was onto the trusty workmate for the final sanding down of the entire lot. 320g paper - Cos that's what I found first. Out with the DA and detail sander. However of course not all areas could be accessed even with the detail sander. Nowt for it but Mk1 digits to be brought to the fore and finished off by hand. Now glass smooth. There are 13 different pieces of wood that make up the mast. Griff

Finally, I managed to get a few hours in Tuesday afternoon before having to dash back out to grout a floor. First job was to drill an access hole in the front cover so the nav light cable would protrude out of the front and not underneath where it would get trapped when in the upright cruising position Griff

If it's any consolation - I didn't find it at all easy getting the angles correct on the full size version either. The three base rails are out of a hardwood, rebated angled on all four sides with the bottom side being somewhat curved, oh and a rain channel. The five window frames were cut out from one sheet of 25mm marine grade plywood, then stained / varnished prior to the glazing being fitted then polished aluminium borders. Oh 'Eck - Just thought of something. We have upgraded our three hatch borders down aft to polished s/steel as you know. Maybe I should think of doing the same process to the saloon windows too - Gloom, more time money - Hope Robin doesn't see this and especially our Howard Now see what you have done - Your fault entirely! Griff