Terence

Hi Dave, Lovely stool. I think you'd better take a look at this - it's the Nurser can I showed you a while ago. I only found it late this evening. Sold for $250 (plus between $20 and $140 postage depending on who bought it) on eBay (item number 220503627251). Here is the link... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT Terence

Still a hard working Barge.

Yes it was Betelgeuse that was seen. I painted it for Peter especially for the Braunston Show in the Grey and White colours to match James that I painted last year, strangely enough also for the Braunston show. The Willow Wren colours moored at his work place was Warbler he had been repairing the canvas. "The name is at t'other end where the steery bit is" Terence

Most days while chatting with the boaters moored opposite our house we are told of frequent Mink sightings from the bottom of our garden. Duck nests ransacked even the ducklings taken. We have managed to trap one or two using a small cage type trap. I do sometimes feel guilty trapping them as all creatures have a right to live but control must be kept I suppose. We did have a cat (Pepsi), one that was loved for over 15 years and enjoyed the open space of our new home in Braunston. Yes she would kill mice and I only recollect her killing one bird, which doesn't mean to say she hasn't killed more. But sadly last Saturday she was killed by one of the worst predators of all. She was hit by a speeding car, breaking her spine, to which we had to have her put down. A very say day for our family. It's difficult to compare a domestic animal with a wild one as they live by different rules. Rules that we lay down. We get emotionally close to our pets and usually fight there corner and ignor the rights of our wild life. Maybe we should all be looking after our wild life by leaving them alone. Terence

Hi All, Yes - the one on eBay is "the 85% can" that was sent to me. Well done sparky2. I happily gave them all to my wife, who is selling them on eBay. (Although they are strong and sturdy and would quite happily carry water they were not aesthetically pleasing for me to paint and sell from my website.) She has been advertising them as a replica can and ideal for aspiring painters and has happily sold quite a few. They were even looked at favourably by Phil. I am happy to say I received today the following sample 3 gallon can: I am very happy with the outcome. The Waterways Craft Guild are now selling the hand bowls and look forward to receiving nose bowls (and hopefully water cans when I show them my sample). Terence

You could have showed the Cratch and Mast Head light then I would have been on telly. Terence

I saw it go past our house, oh my what a sorry state it looked. Another bit of history gone.

Hi churchward (not the name I remember) but thank you for your kind welcome. If my memory serves me right, a set of cabin door plaques. I believe a Christmas present. But my memory's not what is used to be! Went to collect all my cans - very happy with the Hand Bowls and Nose Bowls but as this thread was about water cans not as happy but I'd like to think they are about 85% there. It's going to be a little while longer for me yet on the water cans. It was nice to read that there are so many people thinking about tooling up and setting about manufacturing these things themselves and can I say that I would be happy to purchase from them. If anyone is interested in seeing what I've managed to obtain, here are a couple of pictures (not that you can tell much from a single small picture) of the Hand Bowl and Nose Bowl (sorry there's no water can for me yet). Terence

Peter (the guy who now owns Lucy) has been busy having security gates made and welded into place along with having to erect all the fencing and making the place secure, which has taken up most of his time. (Having to work round a duck with 14 eggs has slowed progress.) He has also just turned 60 and had an extended weekend 'rave' in Braunston to celebrate. He told me that his next major purchase would be timber that he needs to weather etc. (a bit over my head - not the timber that is) but, as mentioned previously, it is all a matter of measuring, drafting etc. etc.. He plans on opening up for the Braunston show for people to have a wander round and look at her. If I find out anything more I'll let you all know. Terence

Hello my good man. I'll give you a bell on Wednesday after I have collected the cans and (as we said) we can get together at the Braunston show sometime and you can have a look. Terence Thank you for putting out the welcome mat, denboy! Terence

Hi. It's Terence here. A new member as from today. Reason being: I thought I needed to say a little bit about these new cans that I have recently purchased. It has taken me over two years of working with a gentleman to manufacture these traditional items as nobody in the UK, where I have lived man and boy, wanted to. The first samples I used were my own Dave Turner nose bowl and hand bowl. The quality that was returned to me: I couldn't tell the difference between the originals and the new ones. The cans: I sacrified a 3, 2 and 1 gallon Lester can. The 3 gallons I will be going to inspect this Tuesday and, if the nose bowl and hand bowl are anything to go by, I can only be looking forward to seeing what is to come. Originally, I used to purchase my cans (like everyone else) from Lesters, who have now gone. I then started to get cans from Dave Turner but the poor lad can only make so much and it was taking a long time to get things from him so I took it on board to find another supplier who was willing to work with me - straightening every corner, and ironing out every wrinkle. I make a living out of painting cans (amongst other things) and have a very healthy order book but if no-one is going to make the things anymore then I had to take the bull by the horns and find them myself. After reading many discussions on this forum, I have come to realise that people will have their own feelings and thoughts - some very passionate. I must say, though, that I do find it disappointing that we have such a high opinion of ourselves in the UK that nothing of quality can be made abroad. (Please don't savage me for this comment - I am new to this forum - but it is just the way I feel.) It has taken me a long time to get to this stage and I have approached people but no-one seemed to want to help so, come Tuesday, I will know whether I have been successful or not. Hope this answers a lot of questions. Terence Canal Arts by Terence