Arthur Marshall

Done a few like that. They're worth doing because they pay well, but you do have to wait for the money. Agency work is the same, so you always have to be flexible, same as any business. And you've got all the hassle of banking it, cashing it etc. You just pay the band next time you see them, which us fine for a regular band but obviously doesn't work for pick up bands. But for the small stuff, pubs or folk clubs, it's still cash.

I still do a few gigs a year, still cash. Crucial for bands where members come from all over - everyone gets paid on the night. Cheques don't really happen any more and were a pain when they did as we'd have to find a cash point after the gig to pay everyone while I then banked the cheque. I know some buskers have a card reader, but I'd bet the lack of cash use cuts down their take massively. I always specify cash in the contract, and that the fee is paid at the interval - which gives someone who hasn't got it time to get it!

It does depend on the business. As a jobbing musician, I spent most of my working life playing either solo or in several pickup bands, as well as running my own. Virtually every gig was paid in cash, with the occasional agency work paying by cheque. Admittedly a bit of a minority niche, and I would assume if you ever got famous you'd ditch the cash, but for hundreds of musicians bumping along, just about making a living, cash is indeed still king. And, of course, for the black economy, which is all that keeps many cities and people afloat, it's essential.

Rubbish.

I've found more and more that tradespeople won't take cash. I presume that if you're good enough at your job to make a living, it's simpler to keep the tax man happy than risk losing your livelihood. This digital tax reform is a nightmare though. I reckon it's been cooked up to keep accountants rich and happy as it's certainly a nightmare for any small business.

No notice thst I've seen, but the lock opened last night about 7pm. After most of the 18 boats had gone up, CRT unchained one of the offside locks which has been closed for months for no apparent reason. It wouldn't help much, partly because it was 12 hours too late and because the next paired lock was out of order anyway. At Red Bull there were about five boats trying to get water and one private boat moored on the lock landing/water point having their breakfast, blocking one water point entirely and access to the services. Apparently they'd been moored there at least two days. They appeared unconcerned. Unfortunately I didn't need water and the lock was set so I had no excuse for anything except revving up as I went past.

If you can't get something remote working while on land, you won't on a boat. Earning a living from a mobile boat is not easy unless you've an established business before you start. "Maybe" is not a good start. Pick something you're good at. If you're not good at anything, learn to be. You can't just switch creativity on, it takes work.

What's a silver propeller location? Possibly I'm weiird, but I just tend to go to places because I like them. Anyway, that's on a canalised bit, so I'd presume the level doesn't go up and down much.

All I've got to prove I own my boat is a thirty year old undated receipt. I do have licence records and BSS records.

Well there's a surprise. "Contractors are currently on site carrying out the removal of a sunken boat on the towpath side of Lock 45 on the Trent & Mersey Canal. The removal is taking slightly longer than originally anticipated. As a result, Lock 45 (towpath side) will reopen from 10:00am on Thursday 4 June Please note that this lock is already subject to a separate closure affecting the offside lock from 1 June to 10 July 2026" Wouldn't it have been sensible to have sorted the sunk boat out before closing the other lock? 8 boats waiting below the lock and about 8 more at Church Lawton. ETA apparently the contractor's equipment broke down.

I'm not sure what the term "plumbing" covers. If it's just connecting water pipes up, it's not exactly rocket science but once you get into adding toilets, boilers and heating systems it all gets a bit more complex. It's also work most people don't want to do for themselves due to it being physically onerous. Boat plumbing is pretty basic, though!

I would learn plumbing first, then you could afford a boat! It's not a particularly cheap way of life any more.

Is this for a planned boat of your own or a hire boat holiday? It also matters how much mobility there is beyond the wheelchair as usually there are a few steps down into a boat from the deck, and little room to manoeuvre within the boat.

Probably better than doing it incompetently in-house, like RCR are doing with Waternav.

Easy enough to report via their web site. Most people just assume someone else has done it. Weren't CRT supposed to be developing an app to report this kind of thing?