A pilgrimage across southern England

[Mendip]

Bugger... that explains my inability to put on weight.

If only I'd known.

[Joe 90]

but will Chitty's shed still be standing in a year's time?

It survived the Winter relatively unscathed apart from a few puke piles from parties.

Are all you northerners so depraved?

Depends on the level of depravity, but pretty much yes.

When you get oop norf I'll introduce you to the Wednesday night Trafford Park Lorry Drivers dogging association club.
Dills a fully paid up.member.

A chunk of Stonehenge would go great with my piece of Ayers Rock at home. And that was loose... it just came off in my hand,

Save it for the judge!

I've got a few nice rock samples up for sale if you're interested?

One from the top of my Snowdon

And one from acquired from the local natural history museum, part of an asteroid I believe.
There's a bit of moon rock in there as well but the security on that is a bit much.

[david44]

HARDLY BE FER ME TO MENTION

odd ESSAY SPLL INK THESE CONSONANTAL DRIFTS BUT

Uluru.

OF COURSE FROM ULURU ROCKS TO LULU COCKS JUST SLIP OF THE TONGUE

IN THE THOUGHTS OF CHAIRMAN MAO'S LIL RED DICK OF THE DEMIedMONDE

ANYWAY NICE TO SEE CY'S TRAINEE PREFECTS ALMOST READY FOR TEH FORUMS DEMISE EH

[Joe 90]

Fvcking hell David!

You're gonna give Ciz an aneurysm when he sees that post!

[Neverna]

I don't know if you've sorted digs out for London yet (seemingly not), but I got this Travelodge at Kings Cross for 52 quid a night! Five minutes from the station, so it's brilliant for getting around and seeing the sights with the little 'un. Check their website for more locations too.

I stayed in that one about 10 years ago. The sausages for breakfast were fantastic. The best I've ever eaten anywhere.

[DrWilly]

but I got this Travelodge at Kings Cross for 52 quid a night! Five minutes from the station, so it's brilliant for getting around and seeing the sights with the little 'un. Check their website for more locations too.

that's a damn good price. green owed.

[reinvented]

was that the short time price?

[Mendip]

I've got a few nice rock samples up for sale if you're interested?

One from the top of my Snowdon

And one from acquired from the local natural history museum, part of an asteroid I believe.

Is your Snowdon the same as everyone else's? If so, I'm interested. That asteroid sounds good as well.

I stayed in that one about 10 years ago. The sausages for breakfast were fantastic. The best I've ever eaten anywhere.

How can I ignore an endorsement like that? We'll also be heading to Bonecollector's Regency Cafe for a full English, but you can't eat too many sausages, I reckon.

I'll check out that Travelodge.


It's amazing what you can learn while listening to Radio 5. Something else has gone on my list for Somerset...

Somerset firm launches new Marmite Cheddar cheese

Ilchester Cheese, based in Ilchester near Yeovil, has joined forces with the nation's beloved yeast spread to create a savoury taste sensation to celebrate its 60th birthday.



Somerset firm launches new Marmite Cheddar cheese - Somerset Live

[Reg Dingle]

^ I'd imagine that's what Ass to mouthing would probably taste like.

You still up for a bit of cave exploration?


Had my maiden voyage yesterday.

Banked it, got the middle rope caught in the propellor, dropped the padlock in the canal and my youngest son smashed it at about 8mph into a parked barge whilst I was in the toilet Then the fucker ran to the front of the boat and left me to feel the wrath of the old woman who was on tgat barge and her chants of 'you're drunk' and something about reporting me whilst we raced away at 5mph slowly but surely outpacing the finger pointing hag.

A good day out

[malmomike77]

^ Did you buy it? or is it a rental

[Reg Dingle]

^ Day rental. 144 quid I think it cost. Didn't do any locks. A few nice country pubs on the route

I wouldn't fancy living on one full time. There's some right bedraggled characters out there that do.

[malmomike77]

^Not a bad rate. i came close to buying one last year, not to live on full time but then thought it'll just end up an albatross. Its a great holiday though. Go to a pub lunchtime for a couple and then get a carry keg for the afternoon cruise. Moor up about 4 pm and fire the BBQ up and then up the pub for a few in the evening. I have fallen in a few times trying to get back on board after a long darts sesh up a canalside pub in the evening. Great fun though at 4mph its really relaxing.

[Mendip]

^ It all sounds pretty idyllic!

I could handle 3 or 4 days of that. Do those boats have toilets?

Are 11 year-old daughters allowed to man the boats while fathers get sloshed?

My only real problem is that cider. I'm more of a traditionalist and will have to visit the Thatchers shop first.

[bsnub]

Are 11 year-old daughters allowed to man the boats while fathers get sloshed?

You are talking about Dilly, so the answer is of course.

[malmomike77]

I could handle 3 or 4 days of that. Do those boats have toilets?

Are 11 year-old daughters allowed to man the boats while fathers get sloshed?

yes and yes, i first drove one at 9 years old

[Reg Dingle]

It all sounds pretty idyllic!

I thought you'd be fed up of boats now

I could handle 3 or 4 days of that. Do those boats have toilets?

Yeah, that was just a small boat, no bedroom on it, just a lounge, kitchen and bog which has a hidden foot flush on the side of the basin.

Are 11 year-old daughters allowed to man the boats while fathers get sloshed?

I have an 18 year old skipper. He drove it mostly yesterday very well until the crash. I'm sure he'll learn from that and his confidence won't be totally shattered

My only real problem is that cider. I'm more of a traditionalist and will have to visit the Thatchers shop first

I thought you loved a nice Dickens Cider on your travels
That blood orange one tastes like sick.

[Mendip]

In between work today I've been busy planning our oddysey and things are coming along nicely.

I'm more of an analogue kind of guy so printed myself off a calendar so can start inking in our itinerary. I'm already getting frustrated by, 'oh maybe we can, but I don't know about work', etc etc, but bollocks to that... I've decided to take the bull by the horns and just book stuff up and see what happens. If I wait for everyone to decide what they can or can't do, me and the daughter will spend five weeks hanging about doing nothing. I've been there before.

So, this is where we're at. Sometimes I think if I had my time again I would be a wedding planner.



There's still a few blank squares that I'm eager to fill in. I'm currently trying to narrow down 3 or 4 days in London with a couple of colleagues who both have offshore rotas to work around, but that leg is looking like end of July some time.

So, Reg Dingle, how about it? I'm packing me Captain's hat anyway. The daughters used to be Roblox friends, I reckon they can organise stuff if they make contact? Mines still on the same username.

Yeah, that was just a small boat, no bedroom on it, just a lounge, kitchen and bog...

You obviously need some tuition... how about cabin, mess, galley and heads for starters? A two cabin barge? You bring your airfryer, I'll bring some proper cider! I can take care of any nautical stuff if you can be interpreter, I now they speak funny around your way.


I'm also keen to experience some proper northern culture.

When you get oop norf I'll introduce you to the Wednesday night Trafford Park Lorry Drivers dogging association club.
Dills a fully paid up.member.

I've got at least three Wednesdays free, but the problem is Joe I'm still having trouble securing my RAV4, the guy just isn't answering his phone. Will my mum's 14 year-old Renault Megane be acceptable or will I need something with a bit more room, if you know what I mean? I don't really want to mess up her seats either.

[malmomike77]

I'm more of an analogue kind of guy so printed myself off a calendar

stamp on that shit, you need supercal...erm Excel dates, days, costs and totals. You've had dates for the wurzels, ashton gate balloons and the trans wedding makeup fest and they aren't in your boxes.

[DrWilly]

stamp on that shit, you need supercal...erm Excel dates, days, costs and totals. You've had dates for the wurzels, ashton gate balloons and the trans wedding makeup fest and they aren't in your boxes.

Google calendar will sort that shit out

[malmomike77]

^ its won't add up the cost of your holiday

[DrWilly]

^ its won't add up the cost of your holiday

He probably didn't want to know. I just took the family to the US. It hurt.

[Joe 90]

I wouldn't fancy living on one full time. There's some right bedraggled characters out there that do

Imagine living on one in winter when the canals are frozen, no wonder they all look haggard.

No Bill's or council tax to pay though.

Just the annual mooring fees and the cost of 6 litres of frosty jack every day.

[Joe 90]

I've got at least three Wednesdays free, but the problem is Joe I'm still having trouble securing my RAV4, the guy just isn't answering his phone. Will my mum's 14 year-old Renault Megane be acceptable or will I need something with a bit more room, if you know what I mean? I don't really want to mess up her seats either.

Unfortunately my old rav4 is in the ownership now of some Romanian scrappers from Dagenham.

At the end of the day it's not about what your driving it's about what your packing so don't forget your wet wipes when you meet up with the Dingler

[DrWilly]

No Bill's or council tax to pay though.

Do you think?

Drinking water, sewerage, rubbish disposal, power, maintenance, insurance, licensing in addition to your mooring fees.

[MarilynMonroe]

Enjoy the trip with your daughter, Mendip.

I thoroughly enjoyed taking a gondola type boat ride along the Cambridge canals when I was in England.
Just a suggestion. I know you mentioned Oxford.

I have a friend that owns a house south of London that wants me to visit, so this could give me some inspiration. Enjoy!