Clydebuilt

I was approaching a bridge near the London Canal Museum recently when I accidentaly snagged an angler's line. I'm slightly short-sided and, though it's not a problem usually, I don't really have much hope of seeing a fishing line at 50ft or more, especially when my attention is on the approaching bridge. He immediately became very irate, shouting at me and waving his beer can and running along the bank. I put the engine in idle but he was yelling at me to stop, as if the line could be retrieved from the prop! I tried to explain that all I could do was put the boat in reverse, but that it probably wouldn't help, at which point he yelled that if I was nearer the bank he'd give me 'sumpin'. I tried to explain that I had done everything I reasonably could in the circumstances and that the line was his responsibility. I got torrent of abuse and told him to piss off. Later, coming back the same way, I stopped on the far side of the bridge until they saw me then I proceeded dead slow. They waved me on but contrived to leave a line in my way (it could only have been deliberate). The individual concerned ripped the line from the boat and then began launching the weighted line at me, trying to take out my windows. Being both stupid, and optimistic, I rang the police to be told someone might be around in about an hour. I told them not to bother. The seem to catch a lot of Red Stripe, Carlsberg and the like. I wonder if there's any claret or bitter in the canal - you never see them catch it.

I, too, am a boater and a cyclist and I agree tht cyclists are a serious problem. Like the other boater/cyclists here I tend to keep a reasonable pace, fast on clear stretches and slow around pedestrians. At tunnels I slow to a crawl pace and I tend to approach walkers with an 'excuse me' and 'can I pass on the outside' rather than the peremptory bell-tinging that the speed demons tend to use. I find the problem particularly bad between Islington and Victoria Park and I think it's not helped by the London Transport Executive promoting the route as a 'speedy cycle route' rather than a pedestrian right of way, which it is. The problem is caused by arrogant, often lycra-clad, goggled thugs who have no regard for people or moorings and see others as purely an obstacle to their own progress.

Believe me I would dearly love to! As it is, I'm much more aware of the law than he probably is and I wouldn't be doing myself, or the forum, any favours by doing so. Such a 'naming and shaming' on my part would not be public. I'd confine it instead to a Police incident form. Rules is rules. But then I'm sure it's all hypothetical and no 'naming and shaming' of any boater took place.

While volunteering my services at the Angel Canal Festival last week I overheard a well-known BW employee exclaim in an 'On The Buses' Blakey type voice "I shall be naming and shaming today!" I wondered whether anyone was in fact 'named' and/or 'shamed' as I was otherwise engaged. My interest stems from the fact that the individual concerned is noted for his enthusiasm. I wondered whether such enthusiasm includes the provisions of the Data Protection Act. Anybody at the festival hear anyone 'named' or 'shamed'? I'd be fascinated to know.

Ahh. Yes! In those days you knew you were alive! Had a pint with Arthur once - nice bloke!

I totally agree. I, for one, have had enough of Britain being sold off to the fat cats so they can become fatter! What has private money done for education, health care or the railways? The working people of UK have to stop buying into the idea that all we have to do is buy some shares or property and we can be rich like Branson. We have to stop the land being sold from beneath our feet, and the canals too. Personally I'm so pissed off with the tories (whether Tory tories or Labour tories) that I'm prepared to man some barricades to make the greedy sods stop. It's 2007 and we still haven't got rid of Thatcher.

I took some photos of sloes on the bush last winter - I've put one of them here in case it's useful: http://www.organictv.clara.co.uk/picsfile/sloes.jpg Anybody know how I can get a back copy of that Observer article?

It was the very same course Alan (see my PM to you). Anybody else from that weekend here? I'm still trying to lose the weight I gained in the pub!

Hi I'm Frank and I'm new to the narrowboat game but am currently looking to buy a boat. I've been looking at a 35 footer recently in Trowbridge direction. Also recently did Tony Brooks' diesel & boat maintenance course at TVU - great fun and very informative.