Hudds Lad

They do flollop and vollue beautifully when the mating rituals are in effect, although the mournful globbering of those that don't find a mate can bring a tear to the eye

Surely at that point Sod's Law comes into play?

Possibly refused planning due to all the blue Pagoda's, willow tree planting and little bridges you can't get a boat under

Because most of the "stories" are skimmed from Facebook groups these days, and written by trainee "journalists" in an office in Manchester. Not worth wrapping yer chips in now.

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/police-cordon-slaithwaite-live-cops-28983123 From what i gather from the local Facebook groups, a boater with mental health and drink issues has attacked another boater with an axe Apologies for the Reach Group link

Yes, as i could see Tufty and his mates in the branches above me. Bingley squirrels are obviously not as sophisticated as the ones in Huddersfield. Our frequent visitors at home, Squizzy Rascal and Nicholas Twitchell, come and tap on the living room window when they want some food

Years ago at Bridge 100 on the Shroppie after leaving Ye Olde Barbridge Inn, approx half a loaf of sliced bread that was so mouldy it emitted a cloud of dust when it hit the roof, hatch and foot of the stairs on the shareboat. Bloke got quite angry when we shouted at him, said he was trying to feed the ducks. Who feeds ducks mouldy bread?? Mooned by some kids at Hinckley on the Ashby on that big bend by some flats. Acorns dropped by squirrels on the L&L, happened a couple of times so i reckon the fuzzy little beggars were doing it on purpose

Sure i remember a thread about this, beggared if i can find it, something about a fake porthole being added to the back. Afraid you'll need someone with a better memory than me Found it!

They should sort out that Rainbow Bridge at Foxton whilst they're at it, bloody lethal in the wet. Mother-in-law and a pair of walkers nearly broke their necks on it when we were there in March.

Had the same thing with the shareboat (ex-Ownerships, paint nice and dull) in a lock queue, J was helping up at the lock and i was holding the centre line, bloke on a private boat behind sidled up and started a rant about hirers slowing things down. Once i told him we were a shareboat and if he found it so slow he could send some of his crew up to help out rather than standing about he suddenly found something very interesting on his stern deck. Mind you, i've also been on the receiving end of unwarranted abuse in the car when my hair wasn't tied up, some bloke came marching up from the car behind at some traffic lights, "YOU STUPID BIT....... Oh, sorry mate, i didn't see you" and off he went. I fully look forward to being treat like the numpty i am in a month or so when the boat paint is finished

You sure that second pic is Hillmorton? I don't recognise the building and the paddle gear looks wrong? In fact i'll take a stab at it being Calcutt top lock.

Yes, we intend to use lacquer, not going through all this on a regular basis. Taken all weekend to get the old lacquer off four mushrooms None of the lacquers i've seen so far claim the hardness you saw in their description, but Rylard's Brass Lacquer in rattle can form seems to be the most expensive so wondering if it was that?

Or maybe a bit mutton jeff with mild tinnitus like me?

Just wait until the club tshirts arrive

Wasn’t me this time

I'm with @MtB, i reckon it would stress the join with the increased leverage. What was the reason for a longer handle rather than a longer bar and standard length handle? That said, i've seen quite a few cruiser sterns where the controls are out of reach with shorter tillers, bad design.

The Motor Museum in Llangollen is worth a look, but it may not be open when you're there as a quick look at the website says they now only open 1st-7th of the month since Covid A trip on the steam train from Llangollen is also good, or a walk from the basin up to Horseshoe Falls where the canal begins is a good appetite enhancer before the evening meal (don't expect something like Niagara ).

One was ashore, in fact two as J's mum had come along to "help" J had just shut the gate behind me when the paddles went up before i could even say good morning to them. They'd opened one bottom gate as they saw us approaching and then gone back to their conversation. And no, i didn't say anything to them afterwards, seemed little point. Nobody died and i knew we'd be working the rest of the locks by ourselves in a way we saw fit.

This advice all becomes irrelevant if you enter a manned-by-volunteers double lock and they whack both ground paddles up as soon as you're in (i'm looking at you Braunston bottom) and then proceed to chat to dog walkers and ignore you

Was ever thus, especially if you came across that bloke in his rowing boat

Get at least one spare cassette, cheapest way used to be buying a "freshen up kit" which contains a spare loo seat as well which invariably won't fit your loo you can then either eBay these or give them away.

I hope the skipper of that boat was wearing his brown trousers 😬