Derek R.

I think that was 'Ye Olde leg pulle'

Yes, to the first question (at least in my mind), but any religion will need its antichrist/devil/dragon/kraken and associated myths to support its basis. The Aztecs thought that giving sacrifices to the SunGod would - like all sacrifices - appease that God and save their crops from decimation by drought, flood or fire. The tempests and galactic activities of the eons during which mankind has survived on this planet were incompehensible to mans understanding of what made things tick, they knew little if anything of planetary movements, of solar cycles, the causes of tectonic plate shifts and volcanic eruptions. The people clamoured for reasons for the catastrophes they suffered, and needed some explanation from the leader of their social order - so they created their Gods. Creationism, it's still going on. We are the Gods now, with our acclaimed ability to save the planet from frying by forking out more for fossil fuels, and believing in anthropological global warming - thereby having to pay the piper - while skeptics are labelled denialists and nut cases. Technically we are more advanced in our understanding of the World and the Galaxies around us, but none the less, if truth threatens a doctrine, it will be actively fought against with hype and hysteria. Ultimately, as always, power and money are at the root of all glory. Derek Absolutely! Pay by the mark, and for corn - on the 'Nails' outside the exchanges.

Speaking of diversions, I find it curious that some will speak of witch signs, and devil signs associated with certain shapes and in certain location in and on buildings - and elsewhere. A lot of these things came to pass with the introduction of religion, the ultimate tool creating a culture of the ruling classes and gain obedience from the masses. To not comply was to risk death by burning or drowning, and any diversion from the 'faith' was countered with dire endings in pits of fire. Certain previously pagan symbols of Earth and constellation worship (the pentangle springs to mind) were changed to Devil worship to bring all under the ultimate 'cloak' of any chosen religion. If a woman used plants and herbs to ease a sickness, she was denounced a witch, anything associated with the natural order of the world and its content, was classified demonic, doubtless some flowers became symbolic for just that reason. Likewise this post might be described by some as 'a Devils advocate'. Derek

It's one of mankind's traits to confirm he is a most complex creature by seeking complexity in life thereby setting himself apart from animals, from the latest widget to use and 'plug in' whereupon it becomes a necessity, to seeking out 'meanings'. In some cases widgets have been of great use, and learning has broadened our minds, but the simplicity with which a flower like appearance can be created on a flat surface with only a pair of compasses - as we must all have done as a child as Dave says - is as complicated as it gets. Anything above that is a seeking for more complexity - such as a spirograph - pretty patterns yes, but you cannot create those with a simple compass. And a Rose? Why not. Its number of petals ordinarily number 32 - the same number as on a navigation compass and possibly taken from the flower but that is a complication, and I fancy only a diversion from the ancient symbol of the Rose as that of love and beauty. Which rules me out. Ask a child, just having discovered how to draw a geometrically perfect flower shape - what it symbolises, and they will probably smile and say: "It's a flower". Derek

That's David Heseltine aka Tam Murrell.

Right ho. Something not quite kosher about those shadows, you having us on Mr Murrell? And what's with the smiley on the wall??

Coo, well up in the world. A long way from the jam'ole! That's three addresses - Grosvenor Place at the back of Buckingham Palace, and St George Street, off Hanover Square! I guess there must have been a building called 'Grosvenor Place' in St George St, Hanover Sq. at some time. There's a modern office block called St Georges House in Hanover Square, No.5 I think. Number of times I've hung about there waiting for a job!! Derek

Large fore cabin, can only think of Berrichons, but those I've seen are pretty blunt - more like river class boats, that's quite fine. A bit Walker'ish. No idea.

Not having much luck with photographic images of Kearley & Tonges Mitre Dock (jam 'ole), though interestingly they had offices in Mitre Square , which may have resulted in their dock being so named. Certainly the International Stores headed paper carried the Mitre. There's a photo of Mr Kearley and Mr Tonge HERE They were, along with a Mr Evans, directors of The International Tea Company Stores which was registered in 1895, shortly afterwards Kearley & Tonges were also registered. Mr Kearley, after retiring from the firm, became the first chairman of the PLA. The Jam & Marmalade factory at Southall opened in 1913. The website link is worth a rummage, photos of all sorts of vehicles, and warehouses and factories - sadly none of Southall! Derek

I suppose you could divide the 360° of a navigation compass into 60° segments, but only two of them would point to any generally recognised points as seen in Carl's illustration posted earlier. But from the building point of view, compasses or dividers, were commonly used and often form part of an engineers emblem - symbol if you like, representing their trade. However, I believe if you are looking for some kind of complex meaning behind six points, then I have no doubt many will attempt to show any number to suit their fancy. Complex symbolism usually created complex patterns, rather like puzzles to decipher, or recognise for the initiated. Symbolically, the wheel represents the World - the great disc upon which we sat, and fell off the edge if we strayed too far, the wheel of life. The Celtic wheel has six or eight points, the latter is also found in Eastern symbolism of which there are truckloads. A good study point may begin HERE, CHAPTERS 8 & 9 - the symbol of the circle, and of petalled flowers. A lot of writing, but little complexity. A builders apprentice, a child, and a dockyard painter, will see the simple beauty in a pleasant, easily reproduced pattern that embodies the World, life, and flowers. Good luck with the search, it would be interesting if you find something substantive, other than the above.

It would seem the fore end becomes wedged to one side of the mitre post with the side rubbing strake tight against the lock wall. As the level drops, the stem is held tighter, and the force is applied to the wall holding the boat up. The solution may be in a better shaped mitre post, or cheeks of timber either side to prevent stem posts from being pinched. Derek

The run takes place in October, as it was in October of 1970 that the last load of coal was delivered by boat. As to time, well, you just get as far as everyone is willing to go to some extent, and the higher numbers of moored craft have to be considered as well, though the regular watering holes that crew used historically are usually aimed for. Derek PS Check out the Lucy site: Lucy website. PPS The official name of the jam'ole was Mitre dock. K & T made biscuits too, I'll have a look to see if they make Jammy Dodgers! More: from British History - Southall quote: "By 1914 there were also factories producing jam, chemicals, wallpaper, paints, and telephones, as well as an engineering works. All these were situated on Rubastic Road, Scott's Road, and Johnson Street. (fn. 47) Kearley & Tonge opened their jam and marmalade factory on Brent Road in 1913, and later extended their business to include a great number of other foods. In 1961 the labour force numbered about 700, although it had occasionally reached 1,000."

All depends on what your 'black seal' is! If it's a complete window seal and the rest of it is hunky dory, I'd just 'repair' the missing bit, though as Sikaflex comes in standard tubes as used in caulking frames, you will have a lot left over, and to keep it needs to be kept tightly sealed from air contact as if not, the entire tube will cure and be useless. If, on the other hand, you are up for removing the entire window with a view to replacing the 'black seal' with Sikaflex, it will be up to that task no problem. Sikaflex I find a wonderful substitute for rubber stops. Squeeze a little into a neat little circular blob where a door might open onto painted steelwork, and left to cure for a few days will be tough and resilient for many years. I've got deck lids and aluminium edging sealed down with it, and after Sun, rain, frost and snow, is as good as when applied, and let not a drop of water in. One word of warning - it's very, very, messy stuff, and if you are not careful it will get everywhere! Rather than wipe off excess, leave it to cure fully, and sand off gently. Many caulking materials can be smoothed over with a finger-full of Swarfega, or similar slippery substance - i think I've heard washing up liquid being used but I've not experimented with that.

Coal, was a regular cargo carried from the Midlands collieries to all parts of the canal system - common knowledge. Just along the Paddington branch from Bulls Bridge junction stood the factory of Kearley & Tonges, they made Jam. The entrance to their unloading dock was pretty tight, as were many, and were generally called 'holes' or 'oles. As the factory made jam, Kearley & Tonges unloading dock became known as the Jam 'ole, though back in the days of regular carrying it was unlikely called 'The Jam'ole Run', that's just a modern decription, but the run to the jam'ole with coal is generally recognised as the last coal run done with long distance boats from Atherstone where they loaded, to Southall. In recognition of the labour and often speed at which the family crews worked their boats, a re-enactment of the run has been done for several yaers now, sometimes with old boatmen who did the run in earnest back in the sixties and before. The factory is gone, the basin filled in, and new industrial units now stand there. The entrance is now level towpath, and the bridge that took the towpath over the basin entrance is now doing service taking the towpath over Cow Roast Marina entrance. But as befits the occasion, flowers are left at the site of the jam'ole whenever a re-enactment has been done in memory of all who worked the cut and lived one of the hardest lives, when many around were watching television inside four brick walls. Many thanks to young Tom who organised this years run. Though how long it will continue is anyone's guess. Derek

Thanks Mike, actually got my wife to watch part 3 this-morning instead of washing hair and faffing about with kids - I think she's wanting to do some boating again now. Derek

Looks like he does post and packing world wide too.

The solution and answer to your question of why six points is simple. If you take a compass and draw a circle, and without changing the distance between the point and pencil tip, place the point at any point on the circumference and draw an arc that bisects the circle at two points, then continue to repeat the process from each point that the arcs bisect the circle - you end up with a six petalled pattern. It was the simplest type of pattern, easily remembered, without any need to change the dimensions once the circle radius had been chosen, and therefore most likely widely copied where any kind of circular 'flower like' pattern might be deemed suitable decoration without the need to be an artist, or a mathematician. Anyone could re-create it, without the need for literacy even. Derek

Silicon - yeuch! Won't take paint, and the devil to get rid of. I think acetone might shift it. Sikaflex 221 adhesive is the stuff. Dries to a hard rubbery consistency, can be sanded and painted over. Lasts well too. Available in black, brown, and white. About £12 a tube, but quality lasts - and does the job. "Fitters" - is there a 'professional' story to this?

I'm sure he will - but a h'aporth's worth - I've used International floor paint for gunnels and some deck work which dries quite quickly, in fact if you've got a large area - too quickly. It's oil based, turps/white spirit for cleaning, and you can always add some Owatrol oil to slow the drying down. Can be touch dry in ambient air around 68°F within an hour, but don't walk on it untill next day. Drawback is few colours; two shades of grey, tile red (good alternative to red oxide), a green or two, and black. It also dries to a satin finish, not gloss - so maybe out for you on both counts, but I thought it worth a mention. Derek

Many thanks to Gibbo and Chris W for putting me straight on that one. I've no AC anywhere, but will now check on which side I put the DC isolator. You can be sure It'll be changed pronto if it's on the neg side! Cheers - Derek

I popped that link in as it occurred to me there might have been a connection with the name 'Lear'. 'King Lear' would have sounded a little Shakespearian to have warranted adopting as a pseudonym, and 'Learie' sounded a bit more 'off-beat'. Seems I might be way 'off-track'!

In case anyone has not seen the report, and it's a sobering document, a 2.4MB pdf on the fatal fire on board Lindy Lou is here. I doubt the unfortunate surviving owner of Lindy Lou will read this, but if it is drawn to his attention may I offer an apology for opening up something painful, and at the same time offer belated condolences. It might also be noted, that existing regulations, nor any future regulations will stop every instance of catastrophe, they may even make no difference at all, but in the process, will create many difficulties and impossible requirements that are forced upon those whose desire is the retention of an historic vessel in use - one way or another - as it has been in use for perhaps a hundred years or more. In some instances such regulation by stranglehold will cause some to just give up on it. Derek

Reply on 'History & Heritage' thread

Thanks Mark, It might be of some note, and I quote from the pdf of the draft BS 8511:- "As a code of practice, this British Standard takes the form of guidance and recommendations. It should not be quoted as if it were a specification and particular care should be taken to ensure that claims of compliance are not misleading." The full pdf is here but if you wish to comment, and propose any changes to the draft, you will need to access the version which allows you to do so on this one. It takes you to the BSI draft review system site and requires registration. Painless and free, an email will shortly after give you a password to access the draft. It's the same content as the pdf, but comment and proposal text boxes are there to fill in. Once submitted, each individual submission is emailed back to you for a record of your comment and proposal. If you do not do it, BSI will consider you have no objection to the new standard. Despite the quoted line from the standard above in italics, it will inevitably be used by insurance companies and waterways authorities to be the bench mark by which all regulations will be set. Without compliance to regulations set by the authorities, licences may be witheld. Did someone whisper/shout "Blackmail"? I'm sure I heard it. Those who live their lives by the regulation book, will consider such regulations are a benefit to all in that they reduce the numbers of accidents that may take place, and that life, and the world is a safer place to be. I will not make comment on that as it would be little more than one persons opinion, but regulations are frequently drawn up by persons who have little or NO experience in the field they are regulating, perhaps even NO interest. My late Father once said to me while still a small boy:- "Sometimes you need elbows to get to the table. But you can be sure - there's nothing for the dumb!" Speak up boys and girls.

You didn't dream it. The small anchor was a trade mark of Nurser's yard at Braunston. I don't think gisnet have the whole story, and I'll have to rake my brain cell for the reference, but I did read that the early Vikings used a primitive compass of sorts made of carved wood (didn't know wood was magnetic did you!). I seem to recall it used shadow from the Sun as one element. The interesting thing was, it had 32 points.