canalboat

And to which opinion do you refer? Paul's, Athy's or mine I did not think or say that any of them was out of order.

So precisely how long ago does one have to have joined before being allowed to post ones opinion?

Not sure what it means but there is one obvious difference. None of the gangs pictured from the past hid their faces. From a recent personal experience I can state that the police are powerless and even if they got there before it was all over, would not arrest any of this gang.

Its published in their latest IWA magazine but I suppose that doesn't clarify whose idea it is.

Well done toms. Brilliant piece of work.

Apparently CRT are going to let us all have a say in their consultation for licence fees. There doesn't seem to be anything current about it on their website for us to join in on at present. I did however find one proposal from IWA that they offer as making the licensing system more simple:- "Fees for licences could be significantly increased (to an amount that would be similar to paying for both a licence and a mooring at present). A substantial discount (back down to current licence fee levels) would then be available to boaters who pay mooring fees to CRT or third parties or who are genuinely continuously cruising". Would it not be simpler to merely create an expensive category of licence for those without a home mooring and who stay in one area (however many miles that is) for more than Xdays?

But what if the owner of the lock you wish to use says - My lock ...my rules?

Well said. Totally agree.

One thing you can rely on in canal life is the response on this forum if one raises the subject of Canal Volunteers, particularly it seems at Hillmorton on the Oxford Canal. Here we have the usual suspects recounting their terrible experiences when encountering such folk. The stories range from banging on about an incident that is two years old when a boater hung his craft up in a lock and unsuccessfully blamed a Volunteer Lock Keeper, to another who couldn’t think of one so made up a great story (well the writer does claim to be a journalist) about a Volunteer Lock Keeper coming back to the lock in the dark, laying in wait for her, and running out to check she had wound the paddle all the way down. Is there a word for a “fear of being associated with, or being erroneously perceived to show a need for help from, a volunteer”. Perhaps we should make one up? I was at Hillmorton Locks today and saw two truly extraordinary events (which is what I actually came on the Forum to report). 1. A narrowboat left Bottom Lock and the Volunteer held open the gate and waved to the approaching very attractive wooden cruiser to indicate they could come straight in. There was no other boat in sight but to the amazement of onlookers, the cruiser captain declined the offer, shouting that they need no help and steered toward the duplicate lock which was half empty. As the resigned volunteer dutifully stayed well away, we all watched as the cruisers crew proceeded to waste precious water by winding up the paddles and when full, opening the gate to let her master into the lock. 2. The mighty Canal&River Trust contractors used the full force of all their equipment to utterly destroy the orchids on the Lock Island just as they were coming to their best. This was despite the posts, tape and warning sign that Hillmorton Volunteer Lock Keepers had erected to protect these pretty plants.

Coming through Hillmorton Locks yesterday I was asked if I had seen a Lock Windlass with the name TARYN embossed into it. It was apparently put down whilst helping rescue a sheep and it was obviously picked up by an innocent passer-by thinking it to be lost. I was told that it has huge sentimental value so I offered to put the loss on here in case some kind sole is looking for the owner and happened to read this.

Sorry, not on twitface but thanks for the link and by huge coincidence, that is exactly where we plan to be at Christmas

The sun made me think of a snowy Christmas. Then I wondered if there are any boaters get-togethers at that time of festivity?

Yesterday, a few of those "incompetent" police officers bravely ran TOWARDS three armed criminals wearing what looked like suicide vests and efficiently dealt with their mental health issues.

Scuse me for being thick but does that mean if you have a normal 240v extension lead plugged into the shore and used on the boat only for drills or chargers etc that are NOT earthed to any part of the boat then we should be safe from that type of corrosion?

I wonder if anyone has ever put a figure on the harmful emissions from an average house heating system fuelled by oil.

I tried to log in using my usual user name and password but it was rejected then locked me out. I registered as a new member to get in to read how to use the Forum now but having read all the above, I give up. It used to be so easy. Why do people have to "update" everything when showing how smart they are with a computer just make it more complicated rather than simpler. I would love to see if anyone feels the same way but I am pretty sure I will never find this again.