.... sacking Facebook off. I would not wish to denigrate those who gain benefit or succor from this piece of social media, for me it has run its course.
I will maintain my blog as it is for me and is sought by those who may have an interest in our boat or those other bits of diary life I choose to record for me to refer back to or reflect on ... as I will do when I write my reflections on a blogging year later this month.
The time previously spend scrolling through Facebook "content" will be used more productively.
Nothing more to say really.
Sunday, 27 December 2015
Monday, 21 December 2015
Sod Christmas, the 21st December is the real date to celebrate
....for those that suffer SAD syndrome the 21st December signals the shortest day so from tomorrow onwards it gets lighter earlier and later, the days get longer the sun is warmer I am better looking and all is good in the world.
Well ok, not quite such a joyous day but for those that see the approach of Christmas as the dive into shorter darker days and longer wet cold nights today stops it all and we get the reverse effect, however slow it may be it is a fact there will be more light and promise of dry towpaths and warm dry tarmac (for the bike).
Well ok, not quite such a joyous day but for those that see the approach of Christmas as the dive into shorter darker days and longer wet cold nights today stops it all and we get the reverse effect, however slow it may be it is a fact there will be more light and promise of dry towpaths and warm dry tarmac (for the bike).
Friday, 18 December 2015
Where the boaters go in winter
I wanted to make a note of this as I am intrigued by the concept of moving away from the dark and damp of the lead up to Christmas. November is my worst month. It has nothing to commend it. Long dark nights, dark mornings and wet weather.
Reading Paul and El's blog is quite inspiring. They have moved from Australia, brought a boat, sold it and brought a motorhome, sold it rented a cottage, got rid brought another motorhome now they have settled for the time being in a place called Mojacar..... they sell it well and it seems narrow boaters use it as an overwinter location.
When you consider you can get an apartment for £300 per month why would you not consider it??
Paul's sales brochure is here Click me
Come the time for us it would be something to think about. In fact I am tempted to have a little looksy next year ... we are trying to find a place to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary that was impacted by work stuff. In fact 2015 will be the year of 'impact by work stuff.... lesson there?
Reading Paul and El's blog is quite inspiring. They have moved from Australia, brought a boat, sold it and brought a motorhome, sold it rented a cottage, got rid brought another motorhome now they have settled for the time being in a place called Mojacar..... they sell it well and it seems narrow boaters use it as an overwinter location.
When you consider you can get an apartment for £300 per month why would you not consider it??
Paul's sales brochure is here Click me
Come the time for us it would be something to think about. In fact I am tempted to have a little looksy next year ... we are trying to find a place to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary that was impacted by work stuff. In fact 2015 will be the year of 'impact by work stuff.... lesson there?
Sunday, 13 December 2015
A Christmas present for Percy
A man cannot have too many spanners in my opinion. Especially when that man has a large narrowboat and a large motorcycle. I have a selection of spanners already aboard Percy but not the range I wanted so Screwfix Santa delivered these earlier today.
Metric and imperial ring and open ended, ring and ring combination and open ended.... a spanner heaven. 6mm to 25mm 1/4 inch to a full inch a spannerist delight.
A wrench (also called a spanner) is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects—usually rotary fasteners, such as nuts and bolts—or keep them from turning.
Not sure I like the term wrench, prefer spanner for tool terminology. 'He spannered her from her lovers arms' does not really work, so lets leave wrenched to the novels and keep spanners in the garage or engine room.
Now I have these the only downside is I might have to move some ballast as the roll of wrenches spanners is quite heavy.
Metric and imperial ring and open ended, ring and ring combination and open ended.... a spanner heaven. 6mm to 25mm 1/4 inch to a full inch a spannerist delight.
A wrench (also called a spanner) is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects—usually rotary fasteners, such as nuts and bolts—or keep them from turning.
Not sure I like the term wrench, prefer spanner for tool terminology. 'He spannered her from her lovers arms' does not really work, so lets leave wrenched to the novels and keep spanners in the garage or engine room.
Now I have these the only downside is I might have to move some ballast as the roll of wrenches spanners is quite heavy.
Thursday, 10 December 2015
Blogger boredom
I am getting a nosebleed.....
It is a sure sign all those boats are tucked away and there is very little cruising going on. It is so bad you are reading my drivel and I am as high in these charts as I have ever been. Where is Halfie when you need him?
It'll be short lived as the real cruising boaters will re appear soon and start entertaining us all with the real stuff around cruising canals and toilet choices.
Update - very slow weekend in Blogland 13 Dec everyone is hunkered down in the wet weather (apart from those Manley Ferry travellers) and trying to find blog content !
It is a sure sign all those boats are tucked away and there is very little cruising going on. It is so bad you are reading my drivel and I am as high in these charts as I have ever been. Where is Halfie when you need him?
It'll be short lived as the real cruising boaters will re appear soon and start entertaining us all with the real stuff around cruising canals and toilet choices.
Update - very slow weekend in Blogland 13 Dec everyone is hunkered down in the wet weather (apart from those Manley Ferry travellers) and trying to find blog content !
Wednesday, 9 December 2015
C&RT freedom of Information request.... interesting
I made a FOI to C&RT and they gave me a wrong answer
Click here
They have subsequently updated the request having no doubt found my complaint. It does make me wonder if I had not been pursuing my complaint they would have just provided me with the fob off...? I have made other FOI's and have a few more to make to get the information I need in order to support my complaint with C&RT.
It bothers me I am taking their time up but I pay a lot of money each year to C&RT and I feel they need to understand what a customer looks like and more importantly how to engage with their customers. So I see this as a painful (for me) improvement exercise (for them).
I have faith in their processes and therefore am holding back on the full detail in order to give C&RT the time to review their approach and more importantly re-read their mooring agreement and understand their responsibilities. Hopefully this will be for the benefit of all C&RT customers !
For my record I have put the link to the agreement here Click me
Click here
They have subsequently updated the request having no doubt found my complaint. It does make me wonder if I had not been pursuing my complaint they would have just provided me with the fob off...? I have made other FOI's and have a few more to make to get the information I need in order to support my complaint with C&RT.
It bothers me I am taking their time up but I pay a lot of money each year to C&RT and I feel they need to understand what a customer looks like and more importantly how to engage with their customers. So I see this as a painful (for me) improvement exercise (for them).
I have faith in their processes and therefore am holding back on the full detail in order to give C&RT the time to review their approach and more importantly re-read their mooring agreement and understand their responsibilities. Hopefully this will be for the benefit of all C&RT customers !
For my record I have put the link to the agreement here Click me
Tuesday, 8 December 2015
C&RT Complaint - escalation
This relates to this issue - click me
Well if you thought you were safe on the waterways think again. From my dealings to date with C&RT over the selection of competent contractors and the management of those same contractors - they are woefully and shockingly NOT IN CONTROL of their contractors. This extends to them not even knowing how many complaints they have received in relation to the work Fountains undertake.
My complaint is now at stage 2 - C&RT having accepted blame but passing it to their contractors and passing me to their contractors as well, quality customer services - this is not how it should be done.
They have a responsibility to engage competent contractors and have knowledge of their contractors - they do not. How can they guarantee safety of users if they have such an ignorant approach to what their contractors are doing......??
It gets better. You will have seen the lock volunteers, well C&RT are considering asking volunteers to clerk the works of some of their contractors - yep they are that ignorant of their responsibilities.
I have been patient and will still work with C&RT but I have such doubt over their ability to manage I have made enquiries for a marina berth such is my lack of trust over how they might manage me and my boats safety while on their linear moorings.
I'll update more as I progress to stage 2 but for now, not impressed.
Well if you thought you were safe on the waterways think again. From my dealings to date with C&RT over the selection of competent contractors and the management of those same contractors - they are woefully and shockingly NOT IN CONTROL of their contractors. This extends to them not even knowing how many complaints they have received in relation to the work Fountains undertake.
My complaint is now at stage 2 - C&RT having accepted blame but passing it to their contractors and passing me to their contractors as well, quality customer services - this is not how it should be done.
They have a responsibility to engage competent contractors and have knowledge of their contractors - they do not. How can they guarantee safety of users if they have such an ignorant approach to what their contractors are doing......??
It gets better. You will have seen the lock volunteers, well C&RT are considering asking volunteers to clerk the works of some of their contractors - yep they are that ignorant of their responsibilities.
I have been patient and will still work with C&RT but I have such doubt over their ability to manage I have made enquiries for a marina berth such is my lack of trust over how they might manage me and my boats safety while on their linear moorings.
I'll update more as I progress to stage 2 but for now, not impressed.
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