Arthur Marshall

Wandering Vag seems to have had a crew, so leaving all the gates open, however annoyed he'd been by the people behind, just seems an expression of egotistical and deliberate obstructionism, as well, in fact, of giving a thoroughly bad example to the boat behind, who, having learnt from him, may well never close a gate behind them again. All in all, a totally unnecessary and stupid bit of unpleasantness, deliberately designed to spoil someone else's day,and almost certain to be counterproductive in the long run. What commercial boats did a hundred years ago is irrelevant. These days, due to lack of maintenance, leaks, low water levels etc, we need to shut lock gates. He's just taught some inexperienced person the opposite. Clot.

Now expected to be re-opening on Thursday 26th.

Wasn't me. And I've only got 2 useful feet, and one of them is rubbish, really.

I was trying to be tactful. ETA I'm not very good at it...

Quite right too. They probably don't want to have their evening wrecked by being pumped full of diesel fumes as the narrowboat runs the engine for four hours so they can use their microwave, washing machine and vast TV. No one in their right mind moors any closer to any of these generally inconsiderate sods as they have to, me included.

Having battered my way through most of this lot, i still have no idea as to whether anodes are supposed to work or not. Although, as my engine doesn't at the moment anyway, I don't suppose it matters much. Not to me, anyway. And I reckon my brand new bottom will last the rest of my boating life anyway, with or without the damn things.

Not quite true. But to come on top you have to play the game, not just complain that you don't like the rules.

Check the update - there is no volunteer with a flag, just a plonker with a CRT type jacket. And a flag. Actually, I have long equated flag flyers in general with plonkerdom, whether they be in houses, boats or wandering up and down the towpath.

4.10 pm Thursday. To ensure the safety of our customers, navigation will remain closed today. We will be allowing passage through the affected area tomorrow morning. We politely request all customers wishing to pass through the area, Bridge 52, Crowholt Bridge to Lock 11 on the Bosley Flight, to arrive promptly to ensure passage. The stop plank will be removed from Bridge 52, Crowholt Bridge at 8am. The team will then go to Bridge 53, Locketts Bridge to remove the second stop plank. Whilst the team assist at the bridges, volunteers will be on the Bosley Flight unlocking the flight at 8am. Any customers wishing to go up the Bosley Flight need to be at Lock 11 when the flight opens at 8am to allow sufficient time to pass the entire area before the stop planks are reinstalled. The local team and volunteers will remain onsite to assist with customers navigating through the area. At 11am prompt, the stop planks will be reinstalled at Bridge 52 and Bridge 53 and the water level will be lowered to be able to carry out the repair. Padlocks will also be placed back on Locks 1 and 11 on the Bosley Flight. Navigation will then remain closed until the repair is complete, we anticipate this will take up to 7 days. Further updates will be provided as the works go on.

I think he's saying you should let your servants make your breakfast.

It didn't when I bought it! They don't seem to make the model I bought any more. But as above, I wouldn't use it for anything other than short periods due to the condensation.

No, never. 12 volt only, and not a lot of that! Yup.

Well, the guy who blacks my boat has been living on his for the last twenty years and has never bothered with anodes. Mine happily sat unreplaced and unchanged on the boat for twenty years. Maybe some boats are more prone to whatever it is than others. I admit that I did have to have the boat replated, but it was about fifty years old at the time, so I'm not sure the anodes had much to do with it. Everybody knows that boat hulls get thinner because fish keep bumping into it and ducks eat it.

Doesn't work like that. Some who donate have stars, some don't. No idea why.

I use a Bright Spark Indoor heater by JFA ltd. Runs off small gas cylinders and is supposed ro be the safest for indoor use. Goes out instantly if knocked over or bumped and kicks out a fair bit of heat. I use it in winter when visiting the boat for an hour or two when it isn't worth lighting the fire.

At least six boats came past me at Congleton this morning heading towards the locks. Going to be a hell of a traffic jam if all the longterm boats came down, though I can't see how they can have done as their owners might live miles away. Maybe just below the top lock?

I don't think any of us have an issue with widebeams on fat canals - after all, it's what they were built for. We just grumble at general inconsiderateness, although mostly in a slightly exasperated but amused fashion. Isn't that what the internet was invented for?

The crucial thing is to remember to take the go-cart off first. Or, in fact, the wheelbarrow.

Barrow wheels are handy on the Shroppie or where there's an underwater shelf. Go cart tyres are useful for all sorts of anti-bump activities.

Get two spares. If it's anything like mine, when the throttle cable goes, the gear change follows...