Admit defeat

SO THE narrow lock bollards now have hats, which of course means that the sharp corners stick out even farther, so when you are moving along the lock side watching your boat you are more likely than ever to give yourselves a whack.

Can't make up my mind which was worse—the small metal ones you can trip over in the uncut grass or the large wooden ones you can walk into. But whichever, if this is British Waterways idea of Health & Safety, it isn't.

Not forgetting of course that no one with any sense would risk hanging up their boat in a narrow lock, and so would never use bollards anyway.

Time to rip 'em all out—and admit defeat.

Human nature

BEING a somewhat keen cyclists in days of yore, I know only too well the temptation of a well paved cycle track, to get your head down and let it rip.

So no matter how we might complain, and I do too, human nature being what it is, there's going to be speeding cyclists on the well paved upgraded towpaths, as both Sustrans and British Waterways must be well aware.

Now of course there is the added problem, especially in the towns and cities, of people using the upgraded towpaths to get to and from work, and again, human nature being what it is, people are going to be late (perhaps after an early morning promise!)—so off they speed. And woe betide anyone getting in their way.

A solution?

ON SOME cycleways in towns and cities, there is a strict demarcation line down the middle, with one half for pedestrians and the other for cyclists.

Is this the answer to the problem? At least it would help. But don't expect for one moment the powers-that-be have even thought about it.

It just shows

IT JUST shows indeed what a concerted effort can do, with the lockies of the Thames forcing the Environment Agency to back down on its plan to flog off their houses to the highest bidder.

Oh, but us narrowboaters had the same fire in our bellies rather than the pussyfooting associations that are supposedly representing us, but are little more than minions of British Waterways.

It's own sweet way

WHICH of course is the reason that no matter what objections these self same associations have about British Waterways' ill thought-out schemes, somehow or other they always seem to come to pass.

Oh yes, a little watered down maybe, but any half intelligent person knows full well that that was the plan all the time. Give a little—then take a lot!

Definitely a con

THE intended forum conjured up by our Thomas proved to be a non-starter, and little more than a con.

With it being well protected and so few members and posts there was no way it could have generated the 6,000 odd page views in seven days, as its publishers claim, for it wasn't connected to our own server.

With a limit of 10,000 free views a month, then an hefty payment for those after, it's clear what it is all about. So you picked the wrong one dear Thomas, but let's hope it's now out of your system, for having been told of the contents of the various forums at present doing the rounds, surely that's the last thing we want.

Water and booze don't mix

WITH so many boaters drowning after a night at the pub, it must be obvious to everyone that narrowboat living and booze don't mix.

Never having been a drinker myself, I'm not aware of the sense of euphoria produced by booze, but understand it gives a feeling of invincibility, but alas it obviously also gives a good measure of stupidity, with all too many boaters finishing up in the canals and rivers attempting to board their boats.

I would think that if a boater must get himself into a state where he is no longer capable, the obvious thing is to get someone, preferably sober, to accompany him to his boat and get him safely aboard.