These pictures do not show them as well as we see them!
Monday, March 27, 2017
Friday, March 03, 2017
Spring garden
It is good to get some vitamin D when the sun is not covered in clouds. Get out in the garden to see that new life is growing.
Friday, February 24, 2017
Boat Owners Action
I have just got my National Association of Boat Owners News. A worthwhile group of people actively representing us boaters by attending meetings with the Canal and River Trust.
Many complaints poured in last year, including my own, regarding the lack of vegetation management on the South Oxford Canal. NABO and its members now report that action has taken place during the winter and much improvements have been made.
Problems on the Basingstoke Canal are not going away when Hampshire and Surrey Councils want CRT to take it on. But the councils are concerned that not enough funding is available!
Much concern involves boaters in London. Apparently many of the boats are being rented by people who have no idea what is required to live on board. When a boat is rented without proper insurance and or safety certificate they cannot legally have a licence! Some boats cannot be moved due to mechanical problems. CRT is considering a licence for boats for hire that would have to meet the trade conditions. (Why not just insist the hired boats have a trade licence?)
Can you believe it, EA are prepared to close some navigation's in Anglia on health n safety grounds and lack of funds? That includes the River Nene and Great Ouse!
CRT is to review licencing for all craft on its waterways. NABO are considering their response. Home moorings or not, should there be a price difference? Licence duration, twelve, six or one month? Prompt payment discount? Length and width used to calculate the charge?
These are only a few issues being worked on by NABO. Please consider being a member to give them even more encouragement and power.
Many complaints poured in last year, including my own, regarding the lack of vegetation management on the South Oxford Canal. NABO and its members now report that action has taken place during the winter and much improvements have been made.
Problems on the Basingstoke Canal are not going away when Hampshire and Surrey Councils want CRT to take it on. But the councils are concerned that not enough funding is available!
Much concern involves boaters in London. Apparently many of the boats are being rented by people who have no idea what is required to live on board. When a boat is rented without proper insurance and or safety certificate they cannot legally have a licence! Some boats cannot be moved due to mechanical problems. CRT is considering a licence for boats for hire that would have to meet the trade conditions. (Why not just insist the hired boats have a trade licence?)
Can you believe it, EA are prepared to close some navigation's in Anglia on health n safety grounds and lack of funds? That includes the River Nene and Great Ouse!
CRT is to review licencing for all craft on its waterways. NABO are considering their response. Home moorings or not, should there be a price difference? Licence duration, twelve, six or one month? Prompt payment discount? Length and width used to calculate the charge?
These are only a few issues being worked on by NABO. Please consider being a member to give them even more encouragement and power.
HMS Warrior
We took the boys to see the Warrior in Portsmouth. Despite the windy day the Gosport ferry got us across the harbour. The day before a wartime bomb had been dredged up in the harbour and blown up safely out at sea.
The Warrior was a deterrent and never fired a shot in anger. That ship was the most advanced of its day back in the 1860's. The harbour is being dredged to enable the latest deterrent to arrive. One of the biggest aircraft carrier ever built.
After a lunch of fish n chips we got on board and went below decks where Ben became a 'Powder Monkey'.
The Warrior was a deterrent and never fired a shot in anger. That ship was the most advanced of its day back in the 1860's. The harbour is being dredged to enable the latest deterrent to arrive. One of the biggest aircraft carrier ever built.
After a lunch of fish n chips we got on board and went below decks where Ben became a 'Powder Monkey'.
Monday, February 20, 2017
Formula - E
Last Saturday on Channel 5 at 6:30 pm I watched racing with electric cars in Argentina. For me it was just as exciting as F 1 racing if a bit quieter!
Each driver had two fully charged cars to race for about 50 minutes on a 37 lap street circuit. The first car did about 20 laps before the batteries got down to about a 4% charge. Then the driver went into the pit to swap cars. At this time most drivers were doing the same. Obviously the leaders had used more power and were swapping earlier. No tyres were changed, unless punctured during the race.
The second car had to do the other 17 laps without running out of power! The leaders had got down to about 1% as they crossed the finish line. The unlucky ones just slowed down and stopped before finishing! Sam Bird won.
Technical:-
Each car is rated at about 250 Horse Power equivalent to 190 kW and capable of reaching 200 MPH. The battery capacity is about 54 kW hours.
Each driver had two fully charged cars to race for about 50 minutes on a 37 lap street circuit. The first car did about 20 laps before the batteries got down to about a 4% charge. Then the driver went into the pit to swap cars. At this time most drivers were doing the same. Obviously the leaders had used more power and were swapping earlier. No tyres were changed, unless punctured during the race.
The second car had to do the other 17 laps without running out of power! The leaders had got down to about 1% as they crossed the finish line. The unlucky ones just slowed down and stopped before finishing! Sam Bird won.
Technical:-
Each car is rated at about 250 Horse Power equivalent to 190 kW and capable of reaching 200 MPH. The battery capacity is about 54 kW hours.
Monday, February 13, 2017
California
The Winter blues need some sunshine.
It was back in 1993 that we went to California.
and went to Disney land.
San Diego
It was a lifetime ago, before we knew anything about boats and canals.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Time and Life
We are both so sad to read about our boating friend Les Biggs.
2008 at Braunston
2009 Somewhere on the 'cut'
2011 at Braunston
2011 On board Moore 2 Life
We always stopped to chat and share our stories while moving about the waterways.
You are in our thoughts at this time, Jaq.
Saturday, December 31, 2016
2016 is history
Here's wishing all our readers a happy and enjoyable 2017.
Molly had some teeth out after Christmas and is recovering well.
Chas enjoyed his 75th birthday party with family round for a roast beef lunch.
Yet another mole met its end underground.
Many upgrades for next year.
Molly had some teeth out after Christmas and is recovering well.
Chas enjoyed his 75th birthday party with family round for a roast beef lunch.
Yet another mole met its end underground.
Many upgrades for next year.
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Happy Christmas & New Year
We got the tree decorated
and Ann did some baking
Mince pie any one? Slice of cake then?
We are having Venison for Christmas! Got some ideas off the internet on how to cook it. Red wine and some herbs browned off in the pan and left to marinate in the pot over night. Slow cook all morning while roasting spuds and steaming veg. Ann made the pudding a while ago using her well tried recipe. That will go down well with Brandy butter for me and dairy free ice cream for Ann.
It is Christmas Eve and we wish all our readers a happy Christmas and hope you all enjoy some time with family and friends to the end of the year. Hope to see you in the New.
Friday, December 16, 2016
The Tree and another mole
This is the one I decorated on line. Not done a real one yet!
We looked out the window to see yet another hill of earth made by another mole! The Forest Pest Control man has been contacted again.
Had an email from Yahoo. I had completely forgot that for some reason I had an account with them. They gave me a code to log in and change my password. I never had setup an email with them. Not happy to know that they had been hacked. We must all be careful what we put up on the internet. I decided to delete that account.
Had an email from Yahoo. I had completely forgot that for some reason I had an account with them. They gave me a code to log in and change my password. I never had setup an email with them. Not happy to know that they had been hacked. We must all be careful what we put up on the internet. I decided to delete that account.
Saturday, December 10, 2016
Winter cheer
Our dear molie is no more. Time now to be spent repairing the damage caused.
This snowperson is here to brighten the dull grey winter days.
This snowperson is here to brighten the dull grey winter days.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
The garden pest
Molie has moved up to new territory. Andy our pest controller visits every other day to re position the traps. It usually takes about a week to resolve the problem.
The Winter Jasmine is turning yellow with its flowers. A welcome sight from our front window.
Saturday, November 26, 2016
Un welcome Pest
They appeared in our garden several months ago. Mole hills.
At first I just flattened them and spread the earth thinly over the ground. Just one or two in the flower bed. Then they were in the lawn! The ground became soft with tunnels below the surface. Having spent many an hour digging out the weeds and reseeding patches it is sad to see the state of the lawn now.
A mole catcher has set a few traps. He said there could be only one mole in our garden. It is surprising how such a little molie can do so much damage! It may take a week to catch the little beast.
A mole catcher has set a few traps. He said there could be only one mole in our garden. It is surprising how such a little molie can do so much damage! It may take a week to catch the little beast.
Monday, October 31, 2016
A walk in the Forest
As my mum would say, to see the autumn tints.
At Dibden
and Kings Hat
But even at the end of October we are a bit early down south! The leaves are falling and no doubt clogging your prop!
Monday, October 24, 2016
A visit to Portsmouth
The big grey boats have been active escorting that Russian convoy through the English channel.
Here we are on the deck of HMS Victory.
The historic Dockyard is very well worth a visit.
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Waterway finance?
I am a member of NABO. A group of volunteers who represent boat owners at meetings with CRT.
Their latest News booklet includes a report by Stella Ridgway about the CRT Annual Report. I wonder what the charity is doing with their income.
Apparently the total income was £188.7m. Some of that comes from DEFRA, Boating and Property Investment. Us boaters paid £42.4m.
Strangely it cost the charity £39.4m to raise funds! Charitable giving alone cost 1.1m. Apparently it cost £7.20 for every £5 given! What is the point of that?
Trustees do not get paid but get expenses to the tune of £19,897. Richard Parry was paid £189,847, Stuart Mills got £207,161 and redundancy payments were a whopping £870,000.
Rubbish disposal costs CRT £1.2m every year! Not all rubbish provided by boaters.
Finance it seems is a subject that can pull wool over ones eyes! However the proof is in the pudding. The charity has to maintain Navigation of the waterways. That is their task. As we boaters know the system is falling apart rapidly. Vegetation is growing faster than contractors can cut it back! The lock equipment is not being repaired quickly enough.
It is no wonder that that there has been less boat movement on various canals. The Oxford canal in particular has become overgrown in many places. I wonder if I will be able to get the boat out of the marina next year!
The latest news is that local councils are considering charging rates if your boat is your only residence if you stay too long in one place. Even if you are in a marina. CRT are considering relaxing the 'Continuous Cruising' rules if you have children going to school! What then about going to work!
Sadly our boat is closed down for the winter. Diesel tank filled and water tank emptied. We hope to visit at least once a month to stay 'rough camping' for a few days during the winter months.
Their latest News booklet includes a report by Stella Ridgway about the CRT Annual Report. I wonder what the charity is doing with their income.
Apparently the total income was £188.7m. Some of that comes from DEFRA, Boating and Property Investment. Us boaters paid £42.4m.
Strangely it cost the charity £39.4m to raise funds! Charitable giving alone cost 1.1m. Apparently it cost £7.20 for every £5 given! What is the point of that?
Trustees do not get paid but get expenses to the tune of £19,897. Richard Parry was paid £189,847, Stuart Mills got £207,161 and redundancy payments were a whopping £870,000.
Rubbish disposal costs CRT £1.2m every year! Not all rubbish provided by boaters.
Finance it seems is a subject that can pull wool over ones eyes! However the proof is in the pudding. The charity has to maintain Navigation of the waterways. That is their task. As we boaters know the system is falling apart rapidly. Vegetation is growing faster than contractors can cut it back! The lock equipment is not being repaired quickly enough.
It is no wonder that that there has been less boat movement on various canals. The Oxford canal in particular has become overgrown in many places. I wonder if I will be able to get the boat out of the marina next year!
The latest news is that local councils are considering charging rates if your boat is your only residence if you stay too long in one place. Even if you are in a marina. CRT are considering relaxing the 'Continuous Cruising' rules if you have children going to school! What then about going to work!
Sadly our boat is closed down for the winter. Diesel tank filled and water tank emptied. We hope to visit at least once a month to stay 'rough camping' for a few days during the winter months.
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Winter works
While my brother was on board he went with Ann to see the Morris Men and Women dancing in the Banbury street.
This paddle at Broadmoor lock has been broken for many months. We saw it again while walking round with Molly.
October has been kind to us while on the move but it has been a bit cold in the mornings and evenings. Now it is time to prepare for the winter months. Just filled the diesel tank @ 70 pence a litre, zero rate. Moore To Life only needs 0.7 litres an hour for the engine or heater so we are pleased with that. Next thing to do is empty the water tank and get air in the pipes.
Then it is short visits each month till the spring.
Then it is short visits each month till the spring.
Saturday, October 08, 2016
On the boat again
This time Brod met us on the boat at Cropredy.
Heading south and stopped below Bourton lock
As you see we found the 'Fine Lady' by Banbury Cross and Brod spotted the frog!
Saturday, October 01, 2016
Our Heavenly Earth
We are explorers and have discovered the world that we live on. As explorers we have sent out scouts to discover other worlds in the space beyond our blue sky.
So far we have found nothing out there that can keep us alive without protection. Some of our human scouts have gone as far as the moon and back. Others have stayed longer on an orbiting space station. We begin to realise that our long evolution on earth makes us vulnerable above the protection of that blue sky.
Our latest scouts, Rosetta and Philae, have just ended their robotic mission. They sent back data and pictures to study and admire. But it seems no life was found on that lump of rock. Even though the building blocks for life exist out there beyond our blue sky.
Only our earth, it seems, has provided that blue sky protection for us to live under. Let us do all we can to protect the earth so that we can continue to live in it's protection.
So far we have found nothing out there that can keep us alive without protection. Some of our human scouts have gone as far as the moon and back. Others have stayed longer on an orbiting space station. We begin to realise that our long evolution on earth makes us vulnerable above the protection of that blue sky.
Our latest scouts, Rosetta and Philae, have just ended their robotic mission. They sent back data and pictures to study and admire. But it seems no life was found on that lump of rock. Even though the building blocks for life exist out there beyond our blue sky.
Only our earth, it seems, has provided that blue sky protection for us to live under. Let us do all we can to protect the earth so that we can continue to live in it's protection.
Monday, September 12, 2016
Titchfield
We met friends at Titchfield Mill for lunch on Sunday. Then walked through the quaint old village and found a stream for Molly to swim in. May well have been a canal?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)