Ray T

Clarkson used a Corvette V8

When we had cats, before naming them we applied the "back door test." Would I sound a fool shouting (insert name here) whenever we wanted the cat home.

PRESS RELEASE 19 February 2019 Canal & River Trust publishes ‘boater report’ for licence holders The Canal & River Trust has published a Boater Report for its 34,000 leisure licence holders. The Report sets out how the Trust generates its income, including the contribution from boaters, and how that money is invested in the network. The Report was produced with input from the boaters elected to the Trust’s governing Council as well as boater volunteers on the Trust’s Navigation Advisory Group. It will be updated each summer to reflect the Trust’s latest available accounts. Jon Horsfall, head of customer service support at the Canal & River Trust, comments: “The Trust’s core purpose is maintaining the 2,000 miles of canals and rivers we look after and making the experience of using them as good as we can. Boaters play a central role in helping to fund the work with around 10% of our income coming from boat licences. “The Boater Report is designed to give licence holders an overview of how much it costs to maintain the waterways, where the Trust’s money comes from and where it gets spent, for example how much gets spent on dredging, maintenance, vegetation management or on customer service and facilities. “The report also includes information on licence evasion, the role of volunteering and the importance of boating on our waterways. We’ll be interested to hear feedback from boaters to understand what info they find most useful and if there’s any other aspects of our work that they’d like to see more of in future Reports.” The Boater Report will be provided in the main as an emailable PDF which will be included with licence renewals or new boat licence applications. A small number of printed copies will be available for those boaters without email or for use at events such as this May’s Crick Boat Show. The Boater Report is available to view online at: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/original/39814-boater-report.pdf ENDS For further media requests please contact: Fran Read, Canal & River Trust m 07796 610427 e [email protected]

John Constable: Also a wide beam!

Braunston today.

As it is called "Floaters Cottage" could it be converted into an office of a web site that echo's part of the name?

Chorus : Locking down the Rochdale Nine You won‘t want to do it a second time Your hands are all blistered, your shoulders in pain And because you‘re in Manchester, down comes the rain When you‘re locking the Rochdale Nine At lock number 1 you pay thirty quid By lock number 2 you‘ll regret that you did They secure number 1 with a padlock and chain In case you change your mind and turn back again When you‘re locking the Rochdale Nine At lock number 3 the towpath‘s not there In fact the canal‘s got far more than it‘s share You can‘t get across without straddling the gates While the tillerman curses the rain as he waits When you‘re locking the Rochdale Nine Chorus At lock number 4 your feet get all wet But at locks 5 and 6 they‘ll be much wetter yet And as for the scenery it‘s not worth two hoots And you‘d give a week‘s ale for a dry pair of boots When you‘re locking the Rochdale Nine It‘s lock number 7, not one boat has passed The water is lapping up right round your raft A local is helping ‘cos the top gate won‘t close And his pet pit bull terrier‘s got hold of me clothes When you‘re locking the Rochdale Nine Chorus By lock number 8 you've given up hope Moored to the lock-side by a short length of rope The gate‘s wide enough for the old QE2 But the paddles are leaking so you crash your way through When you‘re locking the Rochdale Nine It‘s lock number 9. Thank God, it‘s the end ‘Cos most of your crew have gone right round the bend They‘re shouting and cursing and swearing out loud They sound like a part of the United crowd When you‘re locking the Rochdale Nine Locking down the Rochdale Nine You won‘t want to do it a second time Your hands are all blistered your shoulders in pain And because you‘re in Manchester down comes the rain But you've finished the Rochdale Nine http://www.waterwaysongs.co.uk/rochdale.htm

From this gent: https://www.facebook.com/adrian.brindle.7 Sorry for those who don't "do" facebook but I cannot find any other connection.

"My" retired Narrow Boat captain has told me that as the probability of a gas attack became unlikely from about 1943 on, the gas masks were recalled and went to the Croxley paper mills for recycling. The brass attachments were stored in a separate warehouse. The visiting boaters would grab handfuls of the links for their own use or sell on to other boaters.

CRT PRESS RELEASE 4 February 2019 Canal lockage feels last summer’s heat The Canal & River Trust has published its Annual Lockage Report for 2018 which summarises the recorded usage of the locks across its 2,000 miles of waterways. The Report compares 2018’s lock usage with the previous year and details an 11% reduction across 150 comparison sites. Whilst lock usage was affected by the long hot summer and water resources shortages, which led to a number of lock restrictions and canal closures, on canals where there were no closures or restrictions, there was very little change in lockage, and some increases were seen. The Report also highlights the success of the Trust’s 1,114 volunteer lock keepers which were present at 111 registered lock keeper sites. Together they recorded just under 140,000 hours of lock keeping, with a survey suggesting that on an average week around 3,410 locks full of water were saved by their help. Once again, Hillmorton Lock 2 & 3 was the busiest site on the network, with a total of 8,621 lockages, followed by New Marton Lock on the Llangollen Canal with 7,866 lockages. Adam Comerford, national hydrology manager at the Canal & River Trust, comments: “The monitoring of lock operations across the Trust’s waterways remains an essential element in our water resources management as well as providing an insight into any changing patterns in use across the network. “The reasons for variances in lockage numbers year to year can be numerous and complex. Last summer was the third driest and second hottest in a series since 1910. Water resources driven closures and restrictions led to local reductions in lockage. “I’d like to thank the boaters and the teams of volunteer lock keepers who worked hard to minimise water usage as the dry period continued by sharing of locks where possible.” ‘Lockage’ can be defined simply as lock usage through the filling and emptying of a lock chamber, which in turn allows the movement of water and passage of boats. It is important to distinguish lockage from boat movements, which are the actual number of boats which travel through a lock. The Trust separates boat movements from lockage to acknowledge that averages can be skewed by the boat:lockage ratio (in the case of a typical broad lock, the ratio can be between one and four boats per lockful of water used). The report, which is now in its 18th year, can be found on the Canal & River Trust website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/lockages ENDS For further media requests please contact: Jonathan Ludford: 020 32044420 [email protected]

The piece highlighted is a Centaflex Coupling. http://www.centa-uk.co.uk/ Backlash-free transmission of torque and propeller thrust is via a highly flexible rubber element, which is specially designed to reduce noise and vibration within confined spaces. The CF-M dampens torsional vibrations and shocks, eliminates noise and compensates axial, radial and angular misalignments. Additionally, it offers a high degree of electrical insulation. http://www.centa-uk.co.uk/products/couplings/couplings-for-small-boats/centaflex-m1/

Try RLWP of this parish, he's up for a challenge, he has a wonderful lathe.

At the moment, early days in the auction. Over the war years there were several types of clips or none at all, the strap round the ring on the bag. The first picture chromed steel, the rest brass.

Banksy may have a frame to suit.

I never paid more than £25 each for any WWII gas bags I bought off eBay. Two links per bag £100 for eight clips. You need to be patient though. I always went for tatty bags so I didn't feel too bad about destroying the straps. The Adrian Brindle ones are excellent copies and very reasonable at £10 and £12 per link. One of my worries is that if I leave my originals on display, there is a strong chance they will "walk." Evelyn Booth told me that a few years ago a customer of hers had a Plume Terret "nicked" off her boat at the Braunston Show.

With "Rocket Ron."

For a boat with such a hefty price tag the access steps look a bit B & Q to my eyes. Or perhaps its a design feature to utilise the space better?

Unlike offshore the glass stays put.

Cheshire Rose of this parish is the one to ask about The Chesterfield.

Notes of CRT Press Briefing at Hatton Offices 28th January 2019 General update – Trust Restructure The Trust’s 6 regional teams are now in operation with the Regional Directors all being in post for a number of months. The move to 6 regional teams puts the emphasis on improving management efficiency and moving resources from central departments to the locally focused regions. The appointment to fill the poles available in the Regional teams is underway and the aim is to have the process completed by Easter. This will have no effect on the “frontline” bank- side colleagues. Julie Sharman, the Chief Operating Officer will head the following appointments: David Baldacchino – Head of Operations Support Peter Walker – Head of Technical Support. Jon Horsfall – Head of Customer Support. The current 10 Waterway units have been restructured into 6 regions. The regional directors are: Daniel Greenhalgh – North West. Adnan Saif – West Midlands. Richard Thomas – Wales & the SW. Sean McGinley – York’s & NE. Phil Mulligan – East Midlands. Ros Daniels London & SE. West Midlands Annual Public Meeting The meeting was held at The Birmingham Council House on the 10th of January. The meeting was attended by The Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street and a diverse range of inspiring people. The meeting also saw the launch of the 250th anniversary of canals coming to Birmingham. Volunteering update The “Join the Daves” campaign has been launched to widen the range of volunteers and promote inclusivity. https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/volunteer Volunteer activities and success are diverse and many. A small selection includes: A volunteer at Skyhouse Lock having completed over 10,000 hours. The East Midland hedge laying training programme funded by the Tesco Bag Fund. Volunteers have been carrying out more offside and towpath vegetation clearing works, e.g. working down the north GU. Volunteers on the Birmingham & Fazeley at Curdworth have had approval to display a canal garden design at the Gardeners World Show. Five Green Flag Award submissions have been made for canals including Sheffield & Tinsley, the Erewash Canal and the Hanwell Lock Flight on the GU in London. A “no go” area under the A12 Flyover on the River Lee has been tackled along with the assistance of Transport for London and Hackney LB. Works update Winter works: All 54 pre planned pre Christmas stoppages have been completed and all navigations involved re- opened. A further 73 stoppages are projected to be completed by mid March. Middlewich Breach. The cost is nearly £3m. The 12m high embankment has been rebuilt, the canal lined with a PVC membrane and new canal walls and towpath have been constructed. Measures have been included to improve resilience to deal with increased water flows at this location. The local community contributed over £30,000 and the People’s Postcode Lottery £1.42m. The problem lock at Napton has been rebuilt and an open day was held for local boaters to view the work. The lock is no longer a “pinch point” for historic boats. The work at Marple Lock 11 is proving to be “challenging” and work is progressing well despite significant site constraints. Marsh Lock – River Weaver The gate was rendered inoperable after being hit by the MV Daniel Adamson last summer. Single gate use for narrowboats has been restored. As a total gate replacement would have a negative impact on CRT gate building capacity a decision has been taken to repair / rebuild the gates on site. A major difficulty is that there is no room for a crane to unstep the gate and lift it out. Another possibility is to lift the gate using air bags and float it to a temporary workshop. Towpaths The Trust has secured c. £5-10m more third-party funding to be spent on towpaths in: The West Midlands, West and North Yorkshire, London, Greater Manchester, Kennet & Avon, Gloucester, Trent & Mersey and others. Open days Location Open day dates Lock 92 Rochdale Canal Manchester 9 &10 February Anderton Boat Lift 16 February Lock 1 Birmingham & Fazeley 23 &24 February Cowley Lock Uxbridge GU 23 February Northgate Lock Shropshire Union Chester 2 March Finsley Gate Wharf L & L Canal Burnley 3 March Lock 17 Northampton GU 9 & 10 March Virtual Open Day, Marsh Lock River Weaver* TBC *Because of access issues the open day will be ‘virtual’ using video and reports over social media. HS2 Overview Phase 1 The Trust have secured a legally binding “side agreement “ with HS2 which covers 13 interfaces with the canal network including tunnels, large structures over the canals and a short canal diversion. Enabling works are now under way to identify any essential closures to the canal network. Two Trust staff are in place to solely work on HS2 matters. Phase 2a is nearly complete with additional protection secured. The Trust proposes to seek HS2 grant funding for canal improvement works and community projects. Boater Report Boaters have requested greater insight as to how The Trust spends its money, particularly the licence fee. The Trust is creating a Boater Report to help improve how income is generated and how expenditure supports boating. A PDF will be issued for new licences and with licence renewals. The Navigation Advisory Group (made up of volunteers) has been involved. Boater Surveys Instead of one annual Boat Owner’s survey, CRT is moving towards more targeted boater surveys. A boat licence satisfaction survey was launched in November 2018 with 85% of respondents rating the process of online renewal as excellent or good. 97% of respondents who currently use the on line licence renewal system would recommend it to those who currently don’t use it. A new boater waterway feedback survey will be launched between April – September sampling boaters across the regions including hire boat users, not previously included. Boaters’ Handbook The Boaters’ Handbook is being updated for 2019. The NAG and other boaters elected groups have been involved with the process. New content is to include boating in and around unpowered craft and advice for wide beam boaters. Additional useful links to The Trust’s web site to be provided. Welfare & Equality update The CRT Welfare Officer received approx. 300 direct welfare referrals in 2018. 269 Equality Adjustments have been requested since April 2018. Vulnerabilities training is to be rolled out to boating customer support staff. A “Cheshire Healthwatch” project has been set up to improve access to register with health professionals for boaters. Forums have been formed to find out more about disabled boaters experience with 3 meetings already taken place with more dates planned. Winter moorings Year Total permits sold Total income £ Total months booked Total length sold metres Total sites where permits purchased 2018 608 298,227 2182 8248 103 out of 135 2017 643 277,074 2134 9714 113 out of 138 2016 697 277,190 2115 10211 110 2015 454 182,999 1313 6772 120 Water Resource update Annual Lockage Report 2018 https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/lockages The report is now in its 18th year with comparisons between 2017 and 2018. Lock usage was down in 2018, likely effects due to water resource related closures and restrictions. The busiest site is still the lock at Hillmorton on the North Oxford. An on line report was published at the end of January. After six months of below average rainfall, the most of November, most of December had increased rain fall. Little rainfall has fallen since before Christmas and this has been across the whole country. The dry weather can be seen in decreased river flows across England. With the exception of the Itchen in Hampshire, all our indicator sites are below normal. While this is a cause of concern, it doesn’t mean rivers are dry. Prospects for the 2019 season Most reservoir groups are at or above 80% full. The Oxford and Grand Union canal reservoirs are a cause of concern as they are at only at 50% full level but not as bad as the 2011-12 period. Crick Boat Show This will be the 20th anniversary of the show. The Canal & River Trust marquee will be open on the new “trade and preview day” focusing on sessions for new and existing boating business customers. Canal Arts will be running free paint a spoon activity. A Restoration Theme will feature the past two decades and current projects. There will be boating, fishing museums, environment, water management demonstrations with fundraising teams on hand. Heritage apprentices will be given “hands on” opportunities. Anniversaries during 2019 The Sheffield & Tinsley Canal celebrates its 200 birthday in February with a recreation of the first coal barges. Approx 60,000 people watched the first barges in 1819. Further events throughout the year are to follow. The Lancaster Canal celebrates its bicentenary this year with activities planned. One will be to engage local communities and volunteers with a milestone replacement project. As ever I will not personally enter into any correspondence with regard to the content of these notes. Whilst I have compiled them they have been vetted by a Canal and River Trust manager. Any questions regarding the contents please refer them to the Canal & River Trust.

I take it this manoeuvre is going up? If so tie the open gate rail to the paddle gear pedestal, if possible? Bit of a faf but I can't think of another way.

What's on the stove tonight? Why an Ecofan of course.

Another a bit further along.