Hello Mark. I have passed on your message to Peter. We are both appreciative of your kind words and thoughts. He is coping well without Flann though I know he still misses him as do I. I have moved on to wearing my furry fleece now as the temperature is dropping, though not enough for snow here. I can't imagine having snow on Halloween! I expect you must be used to the Canadian weather conditions but it still must be hard. Best wishes to you in the coming week and snow. :)

Thank you for your comment and suggestions. I will ask Peter to take a look at this and get him to reply as things have moved on since this video. 🙂

Hello from one ex REME technician (Radar 1966 - 1978) to another ex REME man! Thank you for taking the time to reply, you might see from my comment in this thread that the radiator experiment eventually failed and I finally found an engineer to make an external skin tank in October 2023. That has transformed the performance of the cooling system. The original tank was too thick and the inlet and outlet points were on the same end so coolant could avoid the internal baffles and flow straight in and out of the tank. I have also replaced several coolant hoses and rerouted them to avoid pinch points as you suggest here. Three core plugs on the engine - out of a total of 25 - failed so they were replaced and the rest were checked. The cooling system was also flushed. When a coolant hose failed very early on I changed the coolant to the red OAT type as I read that it performs better. In all the subsequent work and routine servicing no-one commented on my choice, but earlier this year when the third core plug failed the engineer who did the repairs explained that I should use the blue IAT coolant on my engine - and the red could cause corrosion. I checked with Beta Marine and they confirmed that they now recommend using the blue coolant because of the metals used in the construction of the Kubota diesel engine that is at the heart of a Beta Marine installation. So I have changed back to the recommended product and now everything is working just fine. Once again, thanks for adding to the discussion, I know other readers find these comments useful for their own boats. Peter

Thanks Mark. Once I get started I am ok but it’s breaking it into smaller chunks that I struggle with as things don’t get finished. Having said that, I have cleared out a box room and repurposed it into an instrument and music store room. I just need to gather my music up and put it into one place, then thin it down and organise it. You’re right about it being the biggest challenge! Thanks for your good wishes. 🙂

You will get there in time, but being focused and setting daily challenges will be important. Maybe this is when placing the KZbin channel to one side for a few weeks would help considering how much work goes into producing a video. Mark Alberta, Canada@@PartTimeBoater

We can’t raise the tank height as it’s tucked under the gunwale, Julie, but had we known it needed to be higher it could have been addressed earlier. Over time, Peter has learned how to operate the stove and now doesn’t have regular issues with it so perhaps it was human error. I think it takes time and perseverance to get it right. 🙂

Felt I had to come back to this comment as when I made it my boat was out the water and was not completely level. Being back in the water has given a whole different experience. The heater is now working so much better, even now the cold is starting to bite at night I’m running it at 1 to 1.5 and it’s heating a full 52 ft boat very well. It appears the slight tilt when up on blocks had a detrimental effect and to be fair, I felt I had to update my comment now it seems to be rectified.

Thanks Gail. It was lovely seeing my daughter and son-in-law plus all the sights. Glad you enjoyed it too. 🙂

Thank you, yes it was a great visit. There is still a lot that we didn’t do so it would be good to visit my daughter again and see a bit more. 🙂

Thank you so much for your comment and subscribing, Michelle. I appreciate it. 🙂

Thank you for sharing your memories of tenement living Dede. The shared toilet on the landing is inconceivable to us now. I find a lot about this building familiar to places I have visited but I grew up in East London and have vague recollections of 7 of my family sharing one room and sharing the bathroom and toilet with other tenants. I was 4 at the time. Things like the lace edged cloth on the rail, I have at home and came with us from India when we came to England in 1962. I am pleased this video brought back, hopefully good memories, of your growing up years. Thank you for watching and for your comment. 🙂

@@PartTimeBoater Yes the outside toilet had to be the worst part, as imagine as you were going up into that building that a small door was there well that would be where it was, and if you needed to go and late, the sounds of other people going up and down, or worse turning the handle, lol then you got a oh sorry, thankfully door locks inside, but still. And yes the lace is beautiful just so many things that we had that I find I wish I had now. But I have the memories, my Grand mother raised me so it was her grand dad uncle and aunt, they were only 10 and 12 when i was born, but I would go back in a heart beat. Have a lovely week, xxxxx Dede

I agree that some things are still around. I think the wire boning for corsets was used in the TV show Sewing Bee so it is still available to buy and use. The rest of that particular tenement building was private dwellings so they are alive and well but modernised! Thanks for your comment. 🙂

Thanks Mark. I don’t think life was easier but it was different. The 60s was my childhood so this is probably recent history and in living memory. That was the interesting thing to me. 🙂

Thank you for your comment. I hadn’t thought about the dirt run off in rain but maybe the people that built the course did. I assume that planning permission would have been given to have it built. We have encountered many boaters in all stages of life, which is no different to land dwellers. Some boats are well maintained because the owners are financially able to do so and some aren’t, for whatever reason. In some cases it is simply because an owner likes it that way, as with houses, but the people in them are no less interesting and have a story to tell. I do appreciate your thoughts though and thank you for sharing them. 🙂

@@PartTimeBoater we have rules to be obeyed...not to be ignored.. it's ignoring the rules by the last 2 generations that have lead to the decline this countries in right now!!.❤️🙏🇬🇧

So pleased you liked it Gail! I just loved walking into the park and hearing the music all around! Glasgow really is a lovely place to be! 🙂

Thank you. I really like the fact that people can practise their music and hone their skills in a public place. It gives them an opportunity to play in front of people without the pressure of a performance and that is a skill that only comes the more you do it! 🙂

Hello Mark. I love the murals. Their size alone creates impact! It is a magnificent church but not as old as I thought! The memorial stone was laid and blest in 1908 and it was subsequently opened to parishioners in 1910. The architect fashioned it in the Renaissance style of the 17th century after the cathedral of Namur in Belgium. I’m pleased to be able to share these sights with you and thank you for your interest in my videos. Have a lovely week too. 🙂

It is vandalism but that in itself is sad, that people feel the need to express themselves in a way that takes away from others. Thank you for watching and for commenting. I hope you are well. 🙂

Thank you Marc. I am able to dance and am grateful to be able to do so. I will never be the same as before, my leg swells up whenever it decides to and wearing my dancing shoes is no longer possible but I am still here and enjoying life. Thank you for watching and for your comment. I appreciate it. 🙂

Hi Gail. Don’t know how I missed your comment but thanks for making it. I thought the story and ethos behind the tea room was fascinating! Miss Cranston seemed like a very caring person with a business head on her shoulders. I really enjoyed the tour that was given by Jamie and learned a lot from it. Glad you liked the video. 🙂

Thanks Mark. I think she was amazing! 😊

You are so welcome Gail! There is more to come! 🙂

I’m sorry to hear your travelling days are over but glad that you made it to England for your epic trip this year! EasyJet travel has been fine. I used them years ago too but so long as they don’t move the goalposts regarding cabin bag sizes, I can work with it. My daughter made the booking as she is more competent than I with online stuff. I’d rather visit a travel agent but you don’t always get the price you want. I have more videos planned for Glasgow so hopefully will do it justice and give you a flavour of what is there. There will be a waterways connection too as Glasgow is on the River Clyde. Thanks for your support. 🙂

You’re right about there being more but it is interesting to look back at just a bit of the journey. Thanks for watching Gail. Hope you’re doing ok. 🙂

Hello and welcome to the channel, this is Peter here as Marianne is visiting her second daughter in Glasgow for a few days so she may be busy. I'm glad you liked Marianne's video You certainly can hire a narrowboat at many places all around the canal network and I've met many Australians on my travels doing just that. I introduced Marianne to the canals in 2017 by renting a 45 foot boat for a week - and the rest is history!

Hello and welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed the video. Peter has answered your question but I would like to wish you happy holiday planning! The research and anticipation of a holiday like this is a lot of fun in itself. I hope you find more on my channel to interest you and look forward to further comments. Best wishes, Marianne

Hello Mark. You’re right about adverse weather conditions putting a halt to cruising and we don’t move in high winds. You’re also right that the pros outweigh the cons of boat life for us. Peter is doing well since the loss of Flann. Unfortunately, I haven’t managed to get to visit him much either due to my family and work commitments. I will be trying to rectify that as soon as possible! Best wishes to you in Canada, Marianne 🙂

Hi Mark, it is a challenge but I am sure we will solve it! The biggest challenge for me right now is downsizing my possessions at home so I won’t be leaving a mess behind! Thanks for your continued support of watching and commenting on my channel. It is appreciated. 🙂

Sorry for the delayed reply Gail. I’m glad you enjoyed it. It was a good day out. 🙂

Sorry for not replying sooner. Thank you, I really did have a good day. 🙂

@@PartTimeBoater I really don't expect a reply. I just like to express my appreciation for your vlogs. I hope everything is okay with you.

Hello Gail. Thank you for your comment. It’s good to hear of your appreciation of music and classical music in particular. Not everyone can be good at everything and the fact that you didn’t get the opportunity to learn an instrument but have still discovered music is brilliant! I hope music is a good companion to your daily life. 🙂

Hello Mark. I like your idea of a new career! I may start using that phrase. A friend of my parents lived down the road from us and I started to learn the piano from him. He was the grandfather of a girl that was later to become my best friend. I was 6. The headmistress at my primary school just asked me one day if I would like to play the violin and I just said yes. It was in a music class and I was standing on a small podium with a drum round my neck. She must have seen something musical in what I was doing to ask the question. I was 7. Her name was Mrs Irwin. When it comes to the guitar, I didn't have any formal teaching. Both my brothers played guitar and I picked it up and pestered them to show my how to play. I persevered with it and taught myself a lot of it as I grew up. I was 9. I am grateful to each person that influenced me, was there for me and especially to my parents who encouraged me and facilitated my musical journey that still goes on today. You make a valid point about communication these days. It is easy to do. My hope for my pupils is that they find new teachers to take them further and enjoy their journey even more. Thanks for your question.

Thanks for watching and your comment. This accident was 3 years ago and I’m about to retire onto the boat in September. I do hope you’re wrong about this not being for me and I will try to be more careful in future. Wish me luck! 🙂

@@PartTimeBoater hi there I am sure you will be fine , it was ment as a bit of a joke to lighten up your day after such a bad experience. Hope you in joy your retirement and have a wonderful time in the future.👍🏻😎👍🏻

@@PartTimeBoater P. S. You will have to change your name to the full time boater . 👍🏻

Thank you so much for your comment, compliment and for watching. It’s good to hear of your experiences. Peter will no doubt be interested in the points you have made as he is more experienced with the stove than I. Thanks again. 🙂

Hi, thanks for your comments, its good to have a debate about these stoves as a number people I've met have given up on them. I had a number of problems, some of due to my understanding of the stove, but now I'm very happy with it. As to your comments - #1 Diesel in cold weather. I spoke to someone who has operated a canal fuel boat for many years (Jules Fuels, for those who know them) and they said diesel should be good down to -10C. We don't really see temperatures that low on the canals and my supply tank is on the well deck, protected by the cratch cover and benefiting from warmth from the cabin. I remember having problems with diesel in north Germany when I was in the army. In the winter of 1970/1971 we had -25C several days in a row and I tried to top up a generator from a jerry can that had been outside overnight. I opened to cap and held the can upside down - and nothing came out, it was one big diesel ice lolly! It was fine after a bit of thawing. My problem with fuel flow when the tank was low seems to have been fixed by adjusting the run of the fuel supply line, and by not letting the tank run too low. #2 Increasing the height of the supply tank is a good idea, as you say, it increases the pressure. Unfortunately I can't do that, but as I say in point 1, it seems to be working all right now - I just try not to let the supply tank drop below 25% full. #3 That's interesting about the stove burning differently at different settings. The Refleks stove has two fuel jets for low and high settings. The screws that control them are set in the factory and painted over with something like shellac. Paul from Lockgate Stoves came to check my stove with a temperature reader and discovered that the low level jet was working as it should, but the high jet wasn't making the stove as hot as it should. He adjusted the jet and that fixed it. Once again, thanks for adding to the conversation!

You would have liked it Benny. 😊

Hello Mark. Thank you for the tip. I’ll add it to my list of must see places. 😊

Good luck with the diet! Hope it serves you well. 🙂

Thank you. I am definitely more careful when boarding the boat. 🙂

Thanks Gail. You’re right about safety. We have been thinking about it a lot more recently and hope to be safer boaters going forward. 🙂

Hello Mark. Thank you for the extinguisher advice. I don’t know how old they are but tapping the bottom to free the powder seems like a good idea. I’m not sure where to go for a professional check but that’s a good idea. We also hope things improve in the future but I think it will be a difficult and slow road to travel before changes take place. Thanks again for watching and for your comment. 🙂

Thank you Gail. We miss him terribly. 😔

Hello Martin. It was a domestic radiator that was fitted. I don’t know if a car radiator would have been better or not. We think the problem may have been that it was positioned incorrectly due to a lack of space. Ratty, who fitted one on his boat, had it fitted in a different style of engine room but it just didn’t work on NB Bandoneon. Thanks for your question. 🙂

A great idea but I can’t get there by narrowboat unfortunately. Thanks for watching Benny. Hope you are well. 😊

Very cleaver interview 😊 You have a lot to do do. I wish you luck. I have a feeling you will miss teaching. Gail

Hi Gail. Really don't know yet if the problems are over. Will keep you posted here of anything else that crops up. Hope your engine is behaving itself. How's your shoulder doing? Marianne

@@PartTimeBoater Hi Marianne Thanks for asking re my shoulder My shoulder healed really well but I still had problems with my arm. It's a long story but I had many injuries over the years in the military and as a result my neck sustained damage to my discs that are inoperable. My surgeon arranged for me to see a physio consultant at Oxford. He performed a miracle. Just a few minutes of manipulation on my neck and I was completely cured. I had no pains and full movement immediately. Then he said it won't last unfortunately. My injuries added to this last shoulder incident ment that i have not been using my neck muscles correctly for a long time and they went to sleep over the years gradually. The disc's in my neck unknown to me have been my problems for years He said I have woken the muscles up and now it's up to me to keep them awake. I have always been a fitness freak and I am now back training with no pains or headaches that I have been plaged with for years. I am not young now 😔 and the training is harder and I have a bit of extra weight to lose. So far I am feeling wonderful. Sorry its a long explanation But i am so excited and I like telling people of this miracle. Any way I hope the engine problems will not be a problem for you 🤞. I look forward to your next video with anticipation 😉 Gail

This way of life seems to suit Peter. Since his retirement the boat gives him things to keep busy, active and a way to see the country from a different view. It may seem that there are a lot of problems on the boat and we show them in case it helps other people, but the pros far outweigh the cons! I am looking forward to joining him on his travels when I retire so watch this space to see if I am as suited to boat life as he is. Thank you for watching and your comment. I do appreciate it.

Hello Mark. Fingers crossed that the engine is now permanently fixed. I hope you enjoyed Britain. Where are you now? 🤔

Hi Mary Ann and Peter I definitely did enjoy my trip through Britain and Slovenia. I am back in Canada though Britain is my home. Thank you for asking. Mark Alberta, Canada@@PartTimeBoater

I’m glad you enjoyed the video. Both your questions are interesting. I have never thought about it but will try to find out. 🙂

Hi Mark, thanks for the questions, they made me look into something I've seen around me all my life. First, there are Tudor era houses (from mid 15th century onwards), and there are 19th/20th century Tudor revival. The classic black and white Tudor style house has a frame of solid timber infilled with 'wattle and daub' - although sometimes a brick infill was used. In wattle and daub the wattle part is vertical wooden strips, with thinner wood (I'm guessing willow but I could be wrong) woven through it horizontally. This wood frame was daubed with a mixture of mud or clay with lime, straw, or even horsehair, depending on the year and the region of the country. They often added whitewash in the mix so the walls were white all through. The main timbers were left exposed. The exposed timbers were protected from the weather by a coating of tar, and that gave the typical black and white look. I am originally from Dorset, on the south coast, and back in the 70s some friends of mine lived in an ancient pub in a village called Tiptoe (no, really!) and that had a wattle and daub structure but without the exposed beams. The walls were very thick but when my friends tried to put a cupboard on the wall using standard plugs and screws it immediately fell down again. They had to get special long nails to go into the wattle.

Thank you so much for finding this out. Mark Alberta, Canada@@peterodonnell5820

You’re very welcome Gail. I’m pleased you enjoy the videos. 🙂

Good to hear Benny. 🙂

That would have been good except that I had to move my car in order for the engineers to park their van and by the time I walked back to the boat they had already done the temporary repairs. Besides, with three men involved in gathering in and around the engine bay, I don’t think there was space for me and my camera. I will see if Peter can get some footage of the actual repairs, as I won’t be on the boat for that. I appreciate you watching and commenting and wish I could have provided the views you suggested. 🙂

@@PartTimeBoater always handy to help other boaters to get out of trouble 😇

You’re right there! Making the best of any situation is a good thing to aim for. We can but try to do the same here. Thanks for watching and commenting. 😊