Alan de Enfield

So you post a random picture and expect everyone to think "I wonder if that has already been posted , I'll go back a few days and have a look"

Are you deliberately missing the point ? How would one know to go back and look for more information unless you said something like "as per earlier link to BBC"

so you expect me to : 1) remember the details of all posts (even from 5 days ago) 2) to go back and search for the link - you didn't even say there was one.

Are you suggesting that he could speak for the whole hire industry ? Is there only a single insurer covering boat hire ? As we all know, different insurers have differing 'rules', one that we all know is the boat-age for requiring a survey which can be 20, 25, 30 or even 50 years depending on the insurer. I'm sure that any insurer would look at the risk-cost (of the very small chance) of an accident during darkness, and similarly, single handed operation and the risk of damage by an inexperienced boater trying to work the boat and the lock.

I could, if you'd provided a link or at least name the source.

But is it big enough ? The boat it produced is only 8 metres (26 feet) could it produce a boat 2 or even 3 times that length ?

They are using rubber boats now in lieu of Artics.

But on DIY assembly there may be the thought "the glass needs pushing right into the channel" (not knoing that the drain holes had to be left clear of the glass.

I appreciate your concerns for my wellbeing but am happy to advise that health, wealth, happiness and boat usage has increased greatly since leaving the cut (after 40+ years) Having the knowledge & confidence that you can go out for a cruise for a few months, and be able to get back to your mooring when planned - sadly something becoming less and less likely on the cut.

Remove the locks and install weirs. Very little maintenance cost and 800,000,000 visits get exercise and to enjoy nature - downside - 30,000 middle aged white men get their hobby taken away from them.

I was under the impression that HS2 was primarily 'person' transport allowing the 'original lines' to be used for increasing freight transport.

C&RT has several KPIs to achieve each year to retain the grant, one of these being DEFRA wish to see an ever growing number of 'visits' to the Canals, The original figure given in 2012 was grossly overstated so as to 'look good', but, that meant that in order to achieve the KPI each year the figure became more and more ridiculous - I seem to remember that the last figure quoted by C&RT was in excess of 800,000,000 (800 million) per annum. I expect that is higher than the HS2 will achieve in many, many years.

It is quite a bit cooler in a strong North-Easterly, particularly in December / January / February

And doesn't Trump think he is World President ?