Mac of Cygnet

I agree. All your boating so far has been Darn Sarf. Come up to Yorkshire and sample the Standedge Tunnel- every boater should experience it (if the boat will go through - and Shire Cruisers' boats will) Mac

Well, actually it doesn't. All that appears is 'Honors (sic) for this video - There are no honors for this video.' Perhaps the extra info and map are only visible to you as poster of the video? Mac

DUH! Sorry, didn't read title, just the post! But Google does show a lot of confusion, with both canals referred to by both spellings!

Which canal do you mean? I'm getting a bit confused about spelling here: Bridgwater, Bridgewater, Somerset or Manchester? And if you mean the one between Runcorn and Manchester, then BW licencing doesn't apply, but what do Peel Holdings say about kayaks? And if you mean the one in Somerset, then who administers that? (Google was no help at all, being as confused as me) Mac

Below Lock 1 of the Rochdale: And an interesting figurehead: Mac

What's the problem about being frozen in? Is the marina not a very nice place? I thought some boats in marinas didn't go anywhere anyway! My last three stays on the boat have been static (two out of the water, one frozen in) and I still loved it. Mind you, good neighbours and several excellent pubs within walking distance........ Mac

I've got several kilograms of sloes from which the gin has been strained and bottled. Does anyone do anything with these ?( I saw the sherry suggestion, and may try that) Nothing that involves fiddling around extracting the stones. I've always just dumped the sloes before (including one year on the garden, which gave lots of birds a bad hangover). Mac

And different councils have different priorities. Our main route south to England is over Carter Bar (A68), which is kept clear in all but extreme conditions. Once over the border, Northumberland County Council doesn't regard this as a priority route ("who would want to go to Scotland in this weather?"), so the next stretch of exposed road is often impassible. This disparity was very evident when travelling down to the boat yesterday. ( And when I got here, spent the first 20 minutes chipping an inch of ice off the deck so I could get under to turn the electric on) Mac

Just off down to the boat this morning. That is, if I can get across the hill to Jedburgh, and if the bus to Newcastle is running, and the road is open at Carter Bar, the English Border, and if I manage to get to Newcastle in time to get the train. As for getting back............ Mac

A competition among a tour group in Greece for the shortest addressed, correctly delivered, postcard home was won by: TD8, UK being received by a Jedburgh (TD8) councillor, Tom Dobson, who is universally known throughout this small town as 'TD' Although this happened before Royal Mail started its downward slide, I believe it would still happen today. Mac

And crumbling buildings too. I just got this e-mail: UPDATE (17 December 2009): Due to a dangerous building on the canal side which has the potential to collapse across the canal and towpath British Waterways have decided to extend the existing stoppage in the interest of public safety to both the towpath and navigation. Not in Birmingham, of course, but 100 yards from my boat, on the Rochdale. And several more where that came from. No need for the sign, is there? It's already been a lot further than this. Mac

In Santa Cruz de Tenerife at the moment, going to Gomera on Tuesday.

Left Edinburgh 6.30 AM Dec 1st at Minus 6 Deg C. Arrived Canary Islands 5 hours later at plus 25 Deg C . You are allowed to roll your eyes or spit if you wish. Mac