Ianws

I'd say no to one of the original questions -Would CRT grant them what looks like 'a free mooring' in return for their volunteer work? Charities work with volunteers but they have to work in a professional way. They may have voluntary elements but it doesn't excuse amateur practices. CRT will have rigorous policies and procedures that should cover this sort of situation. It sounds like a CRT employee possibly not wanting to implement the rules to avoid confrontation by addressing the issue, or worried about losing a volunteer.

That description is very confusing. It looks like you have domestic 240v ac light fittings. The lighting circuit on the boat is usually, almost always, 12v dc. The picture of the bulbs you replaced looks like they were probably 12v led. The new bulbs you are trying to use are for a 240v ac domestic situation. You need 12v bulbs that are suitable for a 12v supply that may vary in the actual voltage, as happens on boats without a regilsted supply. Bedazzled are one supplier, others exist https://www.bedazzledledlighting.co.uk/

The reservoirs around Rivington (Bolton/Chorley area) are very low. There's some work going on with the upper feeder Anglezarke reservoir; I'm wondering if that's meant limited capacity before the recent dry spell. That feeds The Liverpool area with mains water. I live up here. It has been unusually dry recently but we usually have more rain than pretty much anywhere else. Given that, the state of the reservoir levels and ability to feed the canals is pretty scandalous. This year it has started early and is at unprecedented low levels. It has been a recurring, almost annual, theme in the last few years. It's been difficult just to becable to plan and achieve a trip up a couple of locks just to get blacking done at a local boatyard.

People who leave large amounts of food in parks, gardens, back alleys etc might think it's helping the wild animals but it's really just supporting rat and pigeon problems. It's a big problem. Some people do it on a daily and an industrial scale . Some rats are bigger than my (admittedly small) dog. They will eat through anything. I've spent days/hours making our charity spaces safe after rats got in, not just food sources but anything they could gnaw, like rolls of bin bags. So zero rat tolerance; no need help all the local wildlife. Just stop indiscrimate mass dispersal of food. Most of it is less than helpful to the wildlife that isn't a problem anyway, and just fills them up with junk food By the way, here's my little 4Kg, 12 year old rescue Yorkie (with no teeth to defend himself) looking cute.

Why? Not disagreeing, just asking why that's the best option.

I don't think it was a humour by pass or calling you out, just letting you know about it. I can see you've edited the other posts, so its now what you wanted. You may not have realised the problem if it hadn't been mentioned.

I agree, there isn't a rule saying thread drift or off topic posts aren't allowed. I think sometimes saying posts or a thread had gone off topic may have been used as an alternative to saying what had actually happened: it was becoming offensive, political, confrontational etc. In which case it would be better to just call that out and be clear about the reason.

Nothing at all wrong with humour. That's different to humiliating or attacking people.

I don't think think anyone should need to be especially resilient, or have to be taken down a peg or two, as part of an initiation. I have never experienced that when asking a genuine question and received loads of useful advice from members with considerable knowledge and experience. Sometimes members responding to queries can get exasperated if their requests for additional information to help diagnose problems are repeatedly ignored. Occasionally you may get someone replying to one of your posts who just wants an argument. In which case, just ignore it. It takes 2 people for conflict to happen. If you don't take the bait it's not going anywhere. Having said that, as it says in the rules, anything hateful, offensive etc. Is not acceptable and it's best to report it rather than respond.

I wouldn't like to rely on that amount of drop or rise on the Leeds And Liverpool, whilst away from the boat. I try to keep mooring lines as long and angled as possible, but still leave some slack for level rises. Surely (or Shirley) tight breast lines to keep the boat in close would also restrict the ability to cope with level variations. Happy to be educated.

Obviously I'm not a moderater but I would like to ask why can't why people please just stop this unnecessary rubbish: it's pathetic. I know some people hold grievances they hold to be genuine Can't you set up a thread in a separate corner of the forum to sort them out? Or preferably elsewhere.