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We have often hired houseboats on the magnificent Murray River in South Australia with two other couples. We book a boat where each bedroom has its own en-suite. The boats have all the mod-cons. There is usually a bar area and a spa on the upper deck We went on one like this. We also cruised the Whitsunday Islands on luxury catamarans

Here are my two females being fed every night, Helga and Mimi. Hopefully Helga after her antics last week will bring some prickle babies.

Myself and friend used to hire a row boat on the Trent when we were at primary school. Nobody seemed to bother in those days. When I was at Mellish I was a cox for the rowing crew. We were based at Brit. and trained on a Saturday morning. We competed in regattas all around the Midlands. That’s what stimulated my interest in boats. I still have a cup for coxing the winning crew in the Butcher Cup on the Trent. I taught myself to sail in on a nearby pond in Mirror dinghy which I built myself and later sailed an Enterprise dinghy at Notts County Sailing Club Hoveringham.

The only Boats ive had owt to do with were rowing boats down the 'Embankment''....about 2 bob for an hour...back in 61/62.... Oh yes not forgetting the odd thursday half day closing...over at 'Highfields'' '.......couldnt swim back then....but never told the lucky Lass...i was rowing for........after nearly 'Drowning'' a couple of times decided to learn to swim when i was 30.... As was the great 'Rod' when he sang this........now nearly 80 he still looks and sings good...........

We certainly was responsible Phil, after Thurlby quarry was worked out we moved to the new site called Norton Disney quarry about a mile out of the village, funnily enough I have a video tape and a DVD of work being carried out at Thurlby complete with Tug boats pushing a dumb barge same as the ones used at Attenborough and Hykeham quarries, A Bantam tug ( 7 ton) being lifted out of Hykeham lake ready to go to Attenborough Rog

Forest - Just seen a funny acronym for FOREST .... Fear Of Relegation Every Saturday Teatime. Any news on the points penalty yet?

The first whale of our season has been spotted near a small offshore island, they were on a Big Duck boat tour.

Done many holidays on broads boats and narrow boats on canals, from 2 berth to 8 berth, normally very relaxing away from the daily grind. One year (1970s something) a group of us hired an 8 berth boat on the broads and day one we came alongside to Moor up for the night and discovered that owing to a mechanical fault we couldn't select reverse to stop, neither would the engine-stop pedal work. Out of control the boat slowly nudged into the boat moored in front of us and its mooring rope got tighter until it was like a rod when its mooring bollard broke off the deck, shot across our bows and h

A chap I knew, who used to work for British Waterways, bought a large, traditional wooden motorboat, The White Swan, and, with his wife sailed it all around the Med. I think it might have had sails. They sailed it back to England and moored up by the Star and Garter at Hazleford where they used to do river trips. I remember going up to Hoveringham with the kids years ago. He sold it and bought a house. His wife was known as ‘Brenda the boat’!

I am a massive Rod Stewart fan and have been to see him in concert so many times. Talking of water venues, I used to go to Carrington Lido as a child with my mum and loved it, also the boating lake on Queens drive (?) where we used to sail my brothers little boat and paddle.

The majority of boatyards on the canàls have pumpout stations, but it can be quite expensive nowadays. I seem to remember that dishwater emptied straight into the 'cut. You pulled the plug and away the water went. Bilge pumps emptied into the canal too. Fortunately, on the Llangollen canal there is a flow from the river Dee at Horseshoe falls, so any dishwater would travel down to Hurlestone reservoir, for the Cheshire folk to drink.

I think you have to have a holding tank and pump out at suitable receptacles on the canals but on the Trent you can discharge into the water. It always surprised me to see kids swimming in the semi enclosed waters of the local marinas on hot summer days. Certainly none of my river boats had a holding tank.

I remember the French toilets of old where you leant against a rope. Pretty disgusting nation the French in my experience!

My brother lived on a narrow boat, moored at Etruria Stoke for the last part of his life. As a mechanic he was always tinkering with the engine.

I operated this 52 foot dumb barge and tug with 90 ton of sand and gravel on board as well as a dozen or so school kids who visited the site from Attenborough to Long Eaton dig and back Rog

Forest - Listened to this one in the wee small hours on the steam radio, BBC coverage. As expected Forest lost 0-2 but the score was not a true reflection of the game. Forest were all over City for extended periods but could not find the back of the net. Turning pressure into goals has been a problem all season. Nuno has been reported as saying "I am disappointed with the result, but it was a good performance". No it bloody well was not, a good performance is when you win. Murillos injury, if he is out, could weaken the defence for the next three vital games. I too, don't think they

Forest gave a very good account of themselves against title contenders Manchester City this afternoon. Forest more than matched City in their build up play but just lacked the finish. In the first half Chris Woods missed a glorious chance to equalise when he was unmarked and the ball fell to him a yard from goal but he miskicked when it was probably easier to score. Murillo's injury should not be underestimated. It looked quite serious as he limped off and I wonder if he'll be fit for the last three games. He's been very impressive of late so his absence will weaken the Forest defence ma