X Alan W
-
Posts
1,854 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
1
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Gallery
Blogs
Store
Posts posted by X Alan W
-
-
19 hours ago, Bee said:
S'not the stoves, its what you burn on them. Nice dry wood and smokeless should be OK but how anybody on the towpath is going to work out the water content of your log I don't know. But is there anything more evocative than the smell of some good old sulphurous smoke on a dark and frosty night as you come home from the pub and stagger past a working pair. Magic. Cough hack spit.
You can purchase a moisture content meter for not to much money this ban should it come into force is a not insurmountable problem or Joe (Metropolis) public but could be a BIG problem for a way out in the country liver I know that if I couldn't harvest & burn wood the cost of heating my home would be a great deal more expensive but as there are only 2of the 4 houses within a 4km radius used in the winter i guess we might be OK;
-
"Nostalgic"the photo of "Towy" at the Port the boats still belonged to Thos Clayton & the one of Mr Atkins was of course Charlie Jnr & his good lady shortly before he moved to look after the Farmers Bridge Flight & living fora time in the top lock cottage
-
Working the grey matter further on the subject of work clothes, these points came to mind around the early mid 50's when they (Gov )realized we were not going to have to oppose the USSR in WW3 they released a wide range of ex WD kit. A sought after item for boaters was the Great Coat excellent in the ways of keeping the wearer warm/ dry unless the rain was heavy & day long ,& could be purchased from Army & Navy Stores or Millets for 8s/6d /10s/6d 2 draw backs weighed a ton & were were a b***er to lock wheel in one using a bike ,around mid 50's a cut down hip length model appeared en quires via the tow path telegraph came up with the info the Wheelock flight lock keepers wife was the sewng machine wizard & would cut & sew the garment or 2 shillings or if you supplied the correct thread it was1s/6d This led to someway out colour schemes the most bizarre being a RAF GC with pink & kingfisher stitching a the longevity was so great by the time they were worn out the availability at an affordable price had passed there was a row of cottages near Big Lock in Middlewich 2of which were used to produce clothing & around 60ish was the first sight of the "Donkey Jacket as passing through the lock a guy used to appear with2/3 asking if any one wanted to purchase IIRC the price was 12s/6d I think it was 63 when I needed a replacement which I bought from a Agri outlet as it was 2s cheaper
-
1
-
-
3 hours ago, dave moore said:
I can only agree with Alan on this one, just ordinary working clothing as worn by many. I don’t recall any of the BW folk I met in the 60s having anything other than this kind of stuff. I’m not sure where the red neckerchief came from, though it seems to be de rigeur among those found on traditional craft. It’s probably me, I’ve never been one for dressing up, or down, come to think of it....
Racking the old grey matter I can't remember any regularly employed boater weaning a red or other coloured "hankie" around their neck, silk or other upmarket materiel scarf + C Atkins Snr's quip "I'll have to polish me brass " he was refering to the front collar stud I have spoke with a few folk on the end of the working boat era they cannot get their heads around the lack of disposable income & were gobsmacked that some shops would not serve us
-
Cheshire rose you could if you are not aversed to men's clothing wear trousers of type that suits,shirt with collar & a gents waist coat this was my wife boating attire on suitable warmer days
-
Northern canals of 58/72 had no "official issued clothing some boots on the towpath wore B&B overalls ,or boiler suit, most wore what have been regarded as the std manual work ware .ISTR that branches of Army Navy stores in towns the cut passed through had sales of "Seconds "in clothing line summer/winter buttons missing needing a bit of stitching ( How the working boatman would have welcomed the Charity shops ) There used to be company's that collected & bundled "Rags" from rag& bone operatives a couple would let you sort through before shredding, often a good jacket pair of trousers could be found a good wash & OK for a few months Some got footwear at agri outlets or government surplus stores I used to get " Clogs"made a bit more expensive but always found easier to get comfy in than & "pre run in leather boots "Donkey jacket from mid 60 on with trilby or flat cap tried beret but didn't keep the rain of my face as the others did the limiting factor was cost rather than fashion & the fact that not all outlets would sell to you
-
16 hours ago, Mad Harold said:
You could try borrowing a friend's dog,(one that isn't afraid of engines ) to keep your dog company for a while,to see if your dog calms down If it works,then get another dog as a pal for yours.
Don't commit sacrilege by getting rid of your Gardner!
Not a dog but my daughter had similar problems when under way with her Motor home /cat ,no matter what was tried In desperation they took on a rescue older cat who"s owner had passed & the problem was more o less cure overnight the net day journey the"wuss" curled up to the other cat has been fine ever since
-
So nice to hear that how ever small the cut is being used for the purpose it was designed as said small but then every journey starts with a single step
-
1
-
-
Is this Hobby Boater a new term? what please is the definition of a hobby boater & what guide lines are used to pigeon hole the various groups ?,My view would be allexcept the fuel &trip boats would be leisure /pleasure boats
-
I would guess the size shape of the boat is dependent on the location /use My thoughts on this are the owner with little experience isn't sure what they really want the initial thoughts stay put more or less so max size would be best then after a couple of years in much the same 2 or so square miles a wouldn't it be nice to move but the size etc. makes this a pain for owner & other boaters find it a pain moving or it' causes bad feelings I've met a good #of wish I'd bought so& so rather than the boat they own
-
1
-
-
On 01/01/2019 at 18:49, archie57 said:
I think Jimmy Hewitt is the figure with the white shirt standing on the back end (ie far end of engine room on RHS). it looks like his dad standing in the doorhole. I don't think it broke it's crank in his ownership. though. Steered it myself a few times while at Marple, slow going on those canals!
You are spot on there ,the load I delivered to Whaley Bridge started at Drayton with 16ish tons of concrete piles after digging a trench for myself for most of the Macky. Marple side of Bosley was really bad I had to unload around half the load on to the coping by the bridge near to the top lock (not open at that time ) to be able to pass the 2 swing bridge "oles" at he start of the stretch to WB had to return & load in the rest & deliver in 2 goes stuck for 3days at Fools Nook bridge non operative & had to wait for parts on the return journey "Argh the good old days"
-
14 hours ago, Stilllearning said:
Now you mention it, our local branch of Crédit Agricole has no till either, so probably only has cash in the cash machines. It might explain why the local boulangerie is so happy to get small change, to avoid having to order it from the bank, and no doubt pay for the privilege. I’m in Limoges next week and will wander into a bigger branch and see what there is there.
I will try not to bang my head
If you want croissants& coffee you'll be OK, money or any thing in that line not sure ,the branch mentioned in my post has since closed so the nearest building containing staff is the in next village 3day staffed rest automatic transactions , a further 8km's further away but the local small Intermarche has installed a fruit machine but only accessible during opening hours
-
Had a bit of a surprise a couple of month 's back ,Tuesday local village open street market day fairy early around 8.45am wanted to by an item IIRC in the region of €5 only had a €50 note stall holder hadn't enough change,at that time ,right behind his stall the bank local branch where I have my €100's deposited enter & ask for 5x€10 notes in exchange for my €50, certainly when would you like to collect , "NOW" not possible the soonest would be 10 days as we have to get it from head office . Gobsmacked is an understatement .
-
On 01/01/2019 at 18:49, archie57 said:
I think Jimmy Hewitt is the figure with the white shirt standing on the back end (ie far end of engine room on RHS). it looks like his dad standing in the doorhole. I don't think it broke it's crank in his ownership. though. Steered it myself a few times while at Marple, slow going on those canals!
As Said not sure if the broken crank was fact/ towpath tattl just know it was a no goer on that afternoon
-
On 05/10/2018 at 20:04, alan_fincher said:
This is somewhere down the Southern Oxford, circa 1973, but I can't remember the exact location.
Does anybody recognise it?Could it be Banbury?
I think it's a few hundred yards below Banbury lock would guess around 1970 It was a somewhat "crappy" stretch in those days
-
13 minutes ago, fittie said:
Yep, she was Rainbow for a spell. Bloody awful name but maybe apt for the 60s.
Would the motor in it at that time have been a PD2/3 ISTR looking in the"ole & seeing the fish frying range & was the crank breakage fact/tow path tattle? thinking back the steerer was a shortish fair haired guy with glasses ?
-
On 30/12/2018 at 17:49, archie57 said:
This will be of interest to one of our forum members, if he hasn't already seen it...….
Seeing the photo stirred the grey matter but some things are a bit hazy Time frame mid 60's? was at that time the boat named Rainbow ?Bringing a half load of piles for Whaley Bridge came across it broken down some 2/3 miles "Maccy" side of stop lock with a boatload of trippers towed him back to stop lock motor in question Petter PD2 or 3 heard later it had divided it's crank into several parts but again a later hearsay Fact?
-
On 29/12/2018 at 20:01, Ray T said:
One of the greatest insults you can call a working boater. To quote the retired narrowboat captain I visit, "We wern't f****** gypsies, we worked for our livin."
"Yep" long & hard for little money
-
13 hours ago, john.k said:
Junk is junk.................silly people thinking they want it doesnt change that.
Ahh but one mans junk is another mans treasure Piano's for instance years back seeing over muscled guys smashing them up in the least amount of time now a similar example fetching twixt £1000/2000 & more
-
On 29/12/2018 at 19:44, Jennifer McM said:
I'm guessing if a lock is scheduled for maintenance, would it be a given that the pound above it will be empty?
The lock's having new top gates, and repairs to the cill.
The lock in question is Keeper's Lock https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/12970/lock-16-keepers-lock-fradley-trent-and-mersey-canal
We're just planning a trip going through the lock on 1st Jan, and would like to have a day or so moorings at the top of the lock, before Fradley Junction.
(Some might remember in another post we'd booked into a marina for 3 months.... people here were correct that we wouldn't hack it; we can't stand being in one place any longer, so we're off...
)
Don't know the present day work procedure but they used to install stop planks in the narrows above top gate/s & drain the lock leaving the bottom gates open & paddles up so top gate heel post cill area etc is as water free as possible the water level above stop planks would have been normal or only a small amount down Further read seems they may install bottom stop planks& pump out lock chamber
-
Dont kno who or what now but at the time Cerebus Salt Worrks
-
10 hours ago, blackrose said:
Moan, moan, moan....
As I've stated before, no particular boat owner, boat hirer or boat dweller has any more rights over how the waterways are used than anyone else just because they were there first, and one thing that we all know in life is that nothing stays the same.
I happen to think that in a country with a growing population and a housing crisis, people's need for shelter is just as important as others need for a hobby. It's a shame that we can't go back to the idyllic days of the past, but that's the way it is and some people need to get used to it, learn to share the waterways and stop moaning.
I m sorry you see my post as a triple moan It was more a cry to try to keep a unique system going to far down hill .It is a no no for me now due to residence location, & age & i did my boating at a time/ manner for which it was designed commercial carrying, I agree the uses are ever changing but to alter use of a system to maybe in the future rule out the use it was designed for the mooring of many live aboards seems a shame I ve seen & worked on sections that went to dereliction to restore possibility of cruising I fear it ill not be so enthusiastically taken on a second/third time
-
1
-
-
Back in the day the BW guy that lived in the Hallgreen Stop lock cottage used to make model narrow boats but STR he only did NothernFleet boats Heny Seddons etc
-
Cut end side of the locks at Drayton is the narrow section Unless its altered a lot I boated through some 3years back with over 20tons of steel channel on a"Josher" motor some 6" dry side so guess i'd be in the 4ft draft area no problems give it a few revs to get under way & then shut off a bit to let the water swill lift the stern repeat as required & tow path side is or was deepest not been thru "Brum for years so no help in that I'm afraid
Wood (and coal) burning stoves to be banned
in Boat Equipment
Posted
My neighbor & I were discussing the stack he had right at the back of his barn As best he remembers it was the first coop icing of the lower slopes to the N W of his property the best he remembers that was 20 years back this autumn moisture content at the moment is between 12/14 %
1i er