history girl

We have seen MADASA SOLES quite a few times. It took a while for the truth to dawn....

Out of curiousity - is there a standard charge for laundrettes or does each marina with such facilities charge what they like?

Hi What about lengthsman? Some of their cottages still exist.

Hi. What a terrible situation. Is there an animal rescue charity anywhere nearby? They are usually willing to help in a crisis. I mean by helping with pet food, blankets, temporary kennelling etc.until the crisis is over.

Some people take so long to wind down on holiday.. They never seem to get out of "motorway mode". Also, being on a schedule {which sometimes seems ridiculous} means that they cannot hang about. They need to get back on time or face a financial penalty.

How will the usual stuff about liability insurance, health and safety etc come into this? The first accident where a volunteer is involved is not worth thinking about. They could be taken to the cleaners if not covered on insurance. This is a whole new bag of worms! {Going slightly off topic for a moment - we were up on the Llangollen during the summer and were told by a BW staff member that the Information Centre at Llangollen was taken over by volunteers - on the first day of the season when it should have been open, no-one turned up. It has never opened all through the summer.) Volunteers are just that - they can withdraw at a moments notice and who can blame them when they are not being paid, but asked to turn out in all weathers. Why do I get the feeling that giving the waterways "Trust" status with the majority of staff being volunteers, they think it will be like the National Trust, where a happy band of volunteers turn up every week without fail. (I am on my soapbox now, so please forgive me.) NT staff do not have to go out in all weathers to clear rubbish from locks, check the pond levels on flights etc. Also, I personally cannot see anyone volunteering to clean the service blocks. Even if NT volunteers don't turn up, it means a house or garden will not open. Not a serious issue. It could be if a Waterways volunteer doesn't turn up, especially with so many novice hirers on the loose who depend on staff to get them through locks etc. Also, what about all the staff who will lose their jobs to volunteers? Aah, I feel better for that.

Don't put yourself down! I have my RYA IW Helsman's Cert and I am extremely glad I passed it. I feel that handling a boat without proper training is like driving a car without proper instruction and not passing a driving test at the end. Granted we don't reach motorway speed, but each have their own hazards.

The 48 hour moorings on the shroppie are really very good. It is a pain having to keep moving, but perhaps a small price to pay for a decent night's sleep on well maintained moorings.

I fully agree with Ian on this one. Elsan disposal used to be a goodwill gesture and one which was much appreciated!

Good luck with the new venture. We cruise that neck of the woods regularly and our experience has been that the previous owners used to hire quite a lot to same sex parties. They have done everything from get stranded on the sunken wall at Billinge Green Flash (quite entertaining watching the arguments develop) to cruising at night in the dark with most crew members on the roof "partying" drunk out of their minds. We were very lucky they did not hit us - they only hit the bridge behind us on that occasion. With regard to changing the name: does it really matter? Word gets around anyway about new ownership and that could prove to help. New broom and all that....

Immodium. It is no joke having "the trots" with limited facilities..... They work instantly. Also re-hydrating crystals to put back salts and minerals into the body.

Could they possibly be engine room ventilator caps off a Leeds and Liverpool Canal Motor Short Boat built during the 1930's and 1940's?

Weren't the Hones mentioned in L T C Rolt's book "Narrowboat". They were based in Banbury Oxfordshire and I feel sure there were photographs of the family and 2 of their boats.

Aaah, many thanks.

Hi Could anyone please tell me what an "anser pin and shackle for stern strap" were used for? This is illustrated on p44. of Britain's Canal & River Craft by E Paget-Tomlinson. I have tried googling the term but have drawn a blank.. Many thanks.

Hi The last horse working boat was still around up to 1963. The Llangollen operates a tourist horse drawn boat above the BW basin.

Hi I found the following about the village of Fradley during the Second World War. I hope it helps. There is a web-site on the current village www.fradleyandstreethaypc.org/fradley Prior to World War II the village comprised only St Stephen's church, St Stephen's school, a number of farms and smallholdings and a scattering of private dwellings. During the intervening years the village has seen momentous changes, starting with the construction in 1939 of the famous RAF Station Lichfield on Fradley Common. In August 1940 the Royal Air Force moved in, along with Hurricanes, Oxford and Anson aircraft. Spitfires arrived in 1941 and Wellington Bombers followed in 1942. Alongside RAF personnel training in the Wellingtons, there were a large number of Australians and some Canadians and Czechs. The RAF left in 1958 and the whole site was sold by the Air Ministry in 1962. In 2000 a memorial to all who served at RAF Lichfield was constructed opposite St Stephen's church, which is home to the war graves of the Australian aircrew and one German Luftwaffe pilot who lost their lives. Their graves continue to be treated with great reverence by the community. Regards History Girl

Just thought I would add my two pence worth here. The most inconsiderate boaters I find are BW staff and their tugs. They loosely moor their boats to anything they think fit, then abandon them at the end of a day's work. At best they are left wafting about in the breeze loosely tied to a tree, at worst, they come adrift and are a danger to shipping. As to "speeding". Has anyone ever had a cup of tea spilt over them because some inconsiderate "boater" has rocked your moored boat so hard as to spill it? I do not think of myself as a grumpy person but this subject has really hit a nerve Aah, that feels better now it's off my chest.

Uplands Marina at Anderton (behind the boat lift) are very reasonable. (70p at last count)