Dekazer

It's in the air at the moment, just let's not get into the EUref

I couldn't agree more, wrigglefingers I have to crack on with my day, but before I leave, I'd like to share an interesting article I read this morning, on the subject of luck. Having had the luck to be born male (white / heterosexual / in a developed nation / able bodied / cis-gendered etc) has an important contribution to what you achieve in life, in addition to your own hard work and talent http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/05/why-luck-matters-more-than-you-might-think/476394/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AtlanticBusinessChannel+%28The+Atlantic+-+Business%29 Recognising one's own luck in life also makes one more generous and altruistic. Makes me wonder about the links to having religious faith (recognising the role of something other than oneself) and feeling the need to support those less well off...

I don't really have the time today to debate this (much as I'd love to, of course), but if you use a sociological approach to understanding discrimination, it's about systemic power. By that logic sexism works to discriminate against the sex (women) with less systemic power. The same applies to racism, discrimination based on sexuality etc. Bigotry, ignorance, ill manners and stupidity cut across all sociological barriers, of course. ETA: I won't open the intersectionality can here and now, but if you're interested there is some deeply interesting and challenging writing about it online. This is a great starter for ten: http://www.newstatesman.com/lifestyle/2014/04/kimberl-crenshaw-intersectionality-i-wanted-come-everyday-metaphor-anyone-could

How infuriating for her! It happens more than many people realise. Not to say that most women - on the canals particularly - aren't massively privileged in most ways (ethnicity, class, wealth, health etc), but it does grind your gears. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I don't think single sex space promotes discrimination and can, conversely, be a comfortable place to discuss ideas and feelings. If you wanted to explore that argument, you could argue that it's not possible for a group to discriminate against themselves or against a more privileged group. You'd need a lot of energy, time and commitment to explore that on here though Tell you what, though, you'd be hard pressed to get me into most art galleries!

I haven't particularly experienced the canals as a male dominated space, in my experience; I've known more female single handers than male. This forum, however, most definitely feels male dominated. I also have enormous sympathy for all women who experience - on a near daily basis - the low level sexism that can really wear you down. Catcalling, being asked to make the tea when you're the most senior professional in the meeting etc. If you find some of it hard to believe, I recommend the Every Day Sexism project, which collects and collates women's experiences. http://everydaysexism.com/

Hi Terry, Sorry it's been hard, you looked like you were going pretty well when you passed us this morning (I waved hi but knew you wouldn't hear if I tried to shout hello) The palace are usually OK with overstaying for a small charge. Talk to the lockie at Molesey, they'll have a sense of where you'll be best off. Up at the next lock there's a pub that does a lovely roast if he agrees it'll be better further up. Sorry I can't be more help. Lucy Oh, and the river's been much calmer until the recent rain. It often calms down quick once the rain has finished. Hope you're having a better time soon!

Morning all, This is to let you all know that police are appealing for a missing boater, Joshua Cotton, who was last seen in Sawley Marina on 11th March: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Search-missing-man-enters-second-week-police/story-28957932-detail/story.html#ixzz43WmHchUY If you see, or have seen, him, or have any information about his possible whereabouts, you can contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101, or the charity Missing People (24,7, freefone) on 116 000. You can download a missing poster of Joshua from Missing People at http://www.missingpeople.org.uk/help-us-find/joshua-cotton-16-001247 Thanks, Lucy

Like Dean, I took the original post to be an observation on the nature of long-distance CCing. It's something I'd love to do one day (if I didn't have a full time fixed-location job) but have wondered whether one feels rootless. I enjoy feeling part of my community - permanent neighbours, a good local pub where we know many people, a voluntary job nearby, family in the borough. It's been my impression, however, that living on the cut can provide something similar. Certainly, on our travels, we've made short-term friends and longer term buddies, revisited places we've enjoyed, and felt accepted into the wider boating community. Interesting to hear other CCers' take on it OP, what's your experience?

It looks like such fun, although I reckon I'd be a bit terrified too https://twitter.com/markcwalton/status/676156270425088000

Nearly seven years for us. As young (ish) boaters, I'm increasingly feeling the pressure to buy some bricks, so this year or next may see us moving onto land. However, we are consoling ourselves with the idea that in a couple of years' time we can rent out the landhouse and move back onto the water. I don't think the waterways will have seen the back of us!!

Just this morning I slipped on the icy wire on our pontoon. I was holding onto something, so was fine, but this definitely isn't a solution!

Still up on the London Boaters page. Looks like a fairly straightforward cilling and refloat to me. Poor owner though, horrible experience and made even worse by the temperature at the moment

We have wooden pontoons with wire nailed down. I don't find it to be all that helpful, as the wire itself is pretty slippery. Perhaps it's the type of wire? If I were able to start again, I'd be thinking about something a little spikier, perhaps something more like short astroturf? Might that work? The problem with wire is that it makes putting down grit next to useless, and a nightmare to clean up afterwards!

Don't worry, some of us got it

I know there is a community of travelling boaters on the Thames, but since the enforcement crackdowns you don't see big groups clustered together (at least not in the lower reaches near Teddington). You're probably going to need to find a marina mooring. I believe Penton Hook is very sociable, probably fairly pricey. MIght be worth contacting Taggs boatyard in Thames Ditton. Maybe try 4 All Marine near Laleham. Good luck

That sounds really frightening Steve, well done for staying so level headed and getting yourself out safely. I hope you're feeling a bit better now. Lucy

Personally, unless you can fit long distance travelling into your work life (i.e. a cruising range from, say, Uxbridge right up the Lea), find a more suitable boat (i.e. a 40' narrowboat) and don't mind spending every weekend sorting out boat things (getting water, pumping out etc etc), I wouldn't recommend CCing. Also, are you fairly good at DIY? If you can't fix most engine, electrical and plumbing issues yourself, you can end up spending a lot of money sorting out little problems. From time to time residential (and even leisure moorings that allow casual living aboard) come up in London, but the affordable ones aren't near your work. Still might be worth considering though, and worth bearing in mind if you chose to move jobs. I completely sympathise with the need to find affordable accommodation in London. I also know how brilliant it is living on boats in London - waaay friendlier and more fun than flat sharing. It is, however, fairly difficult to manage these days. Think carefully Good luck, and welcome to the forum, Lucy

In the eyes of the law cats and dogs are treated very differently. This is made very clear in insurance policies for each. For example, if my (hypothetical) dog is not under control, and causes a crash, I am liable and my insurance will pay out. If my cat causes a crash, I am not liable. I can't remember the precise wording, but that's the effect. In the same vein, it is my understanding that cat owners are not (legally) expected to clean up after their pets. The moral argument is a separate issue, of course, bu,t given how far cats roam, it would seem impossible for an owner to chase them (over fences and under bushes) to dig up and dispose of their doings!

Our cat regularly comes out for an evening airing with me. He comes and goes by himself too, but if I'm out pottering he'll often tag along. He taught us to play fetch with a ball when he was younger, strange animal. (Also in the doghouse today after a live mouse incident at 2am).

I think the stoppage the OP is referring to is probably this one: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/5241/hertford-union-canal-east-london

I once heard that to get a dutch barge brought over by lorry/ferry to London would cost about £3k. There are several people on the Thames who bring them over cheaply and sell them in London at a huge markup. No idea how much extra it would be to drive to Glasgow, but probably still worth it. However, something I picked up when last boat shopping was that Dutch Barges of the sizes we tend to like over here are used more like caravans over in the Netherlands. This means that boats shipped over tend not to be kitted out for UK liveaboard purposes. Probably a good deal if you have time/money to fully refit a boat, then you could probably get a good bargain. If not, it might not suit your 'must be ready to move straight onto' criterion.