Wednesday 31 July 2013

Summer Cruise 2013 (9)

Clarence Dock to Apperley Bridge

More rain fell overnight and the sky was still overcast by dawn. The wind continues to be quite cool. A few boats have left before us heading for the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

Morning: The usual chores, shopping and dog walking and getting ready to cast off. The River Lock onto the Leeds Liverpool Canal was quite easy for a change as the river flow had dropped off. It is always a pleasant surprise to come off a turbid river into the clear water at this end of the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

Afternoon: The 1000th Lock and 200th swing/lift bridge, completed. Seasonal staff on two of the flights. The heavy rain continued. The joys of going down the weed hatch. passed by long group of boats all heading for Leeds.

Evening: Out for a meal at the George and Dragon to celebrate a wedding anniversary.

Wildlife: Damoiselle and Dragonflies were the most to be seen as almost everything else was sheltering from the rain. However it was the first flying ant day of the summer.

Todays Total.
Miles: 9.1
Locks: 14
Swing / Lift Bridges: 5
Tunnels. 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 7.9
Solar Panels: 40 Ah

Accumulated Total.
Miles: 1505.9
Locks: 1006
Swing / Lift Bridges: 201
Tunnels. 24
Pump Outs: 14
Engine Hours: 2613.0
Solar Panels: 9630 Ah

Reasonable or Proportionate?

I recently read an article that said that almost half the population admit to keeping a household item to hand for use as a deterrent to fend off burglars. Should we be prepared to protect ourselves against a boat burglary using a household item as a weapon. Apparently the most popular item for self-defence is the traditional 'baseball bat' (rounders with a bigger bat)  or for the wisden purist a cricket bat. Now I know and you know we all have baseball bats and cricket bats to hand, because they are an everyday household item. However, when on our boat and because we have a log burner stove I thought I should keep the chainsaw to hand.

At home or on the boat, our first line of defence are the dogs. Poppy has amazing hearing and has a full repertoire of low throaty growls with which she indicates the type of threat. I know from her growls whether I need to get out of bed or to acnowledge her alert. Last year in the Gas Street basin she alerted me and when I checked out her concerns. I could see a small group of scrotes were trying to loosen our boat ropes. A quick repetitive blast on the horn had them running for cover. However, one tripped over a bollard and limped away holding her wrist. I must admit that at the time I was disappointed that she did not fall into the canal. A couple of days later, we saw her walking along the towpath again. This time very sheepish with her wrist in a pot. I felt the outcome was reasonable and proportionate.

I am of the opinion that taking security measures to try ensure a break-in doesn't happen is the best first move. So we have a couple of the small movement detectors installed close to the front, back and side doors. They give a short sharp series of warning beeps. Inside the boat we have a full blown keypad entry alarm. The alarm on activation turns off all the internal lighting and activates a couple of strobe lights. It has several very loud ear piercing horns and is intended to make it uncomfortable for anyone to remain inside. We have a good strong concealed bolt type padlock for the back doors. We also use good strong internal locks on the front and side doors when leaving the boat.


The law is quite wishy-washy on what you can do to protect yourself and your family. Current law say that if a burglar enters your home you are within your rights to defend yourself and your family using "reasonable" force. The definition of "reasonable" might include arming yourselves in self-defence. But only if you believe lives to be in danger. But it would ultimately be for a jury to decide. There have been celebrated cases where the police have arrested house owners who have attacked burglars. There have been cases where burglars have tried to sue homeowners for injuries that they received while committing burglary. 



The government now plans a change in the law. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said "Householders who react with force when confronted by burglars are to get more legal protection. Householders are victims not criminalsNone of us really know how we would react if someone broke into our house. You might well hit out in the heat of the moment, without thinking of anything but protecting your loved ones. And right now you're still not sure the law is on your side. I think householders acting instinctively and honestly in self-defence are victims not criminals. They should be treated that way. I will shortly bring forward a change to the law. It will mean that even if a householder faced with that terrifying situation uses force that in the cold light of day might seem over the top, unless their response is grossly disproportionate, the law will be on their side."

Even now the law is going to be fudged. Proportionate or grossly disproportionate -v- reasonable or unreasonable. Is there any difference and if there is, it would still be for a jury to decide. I favour making it a no holds barred encounter. Where I set the rules and if the burglar survives, then they should still be prosecuted.

Later...

Boat Shed

   The Prize winner Shed 2013

The unusual shed which uses a boat for a roof has won Britain's Shed of the Year contest 2013. Located in the Cambrian Mountain range, mid-Wales, the bizarre but charming shack is made entirely from recycled materials. It contains a wood burner, 12v sound system and gas cooker as well as a refrigerator to chill drinks. The structure also benefits from a 20w solar panel that replaces the boat tiller to power LED lights.


Alex Holland in the shed
The winning shed belongs to Alex Holland from Machynlleth in mid-Wales. Alex said: "The standard and creativity shown by the other entrants has been incredible so I am genuinely surprised to have reached the top spot. With the £1,000 prize money I intend to buy a wind turbine to give me enough electricity to make ice in the fridge for gin and tonics, and to ensure the cider and beers are always chilled. I’ll then be able to have a proper party to celebrate with those who have supported me in getting so far."


The Shed of the Year 2013 winner was announced during National Shed Week, now in its seventh year, the Shed of the Year competition invites "sheddies" from up and down the country to enter their wacky and wonderful shed creations. The contest, sponsored by Cuprinol, received almost 2,000 entries from which eight finalists were picked by almost 14,000 public votes on readersheds.co.uk

Tuesday 30 July 2013

Summer Cruise 2013 (8)

leeds Clarence Dock (Rest Day)

More rain fell overnight but the sky was clear by dawn. The wind was quite cool. A few boats have left heading for the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

Morning: The usual chores, shopping and dog walking. The bollard on the visitor mooring had a power credit of £11.63! Met up and had a brief chat with DeanS off the Canal World Forum.

Afternoon: Visit to the Royal Armouries then a few tasks around the boat. Filling the water tank.

Evening: Friends round for a few beers. Just a relaxing day with the Kindle and iPod for entertainment.

Wildlife: Pigeon.

Todays Total.
Miles: 0.0
Locks: 0
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels. 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 0.0
Solar Panels: 0 Ah

Accumulated Total.
Miles: 1496.8
Locks: 992
Swing / Lift Bridges: 196
Tunnels. 24
Pump Outs: 14
Engine Hours: 2605.1
Solar Panels: 9590 Ah

Smartphone Apps for Boaters (9)

The smartphone revolution continues and there are now applications to provide information to make your cruise more enjoyable. Like it or not, in our modern world cell phones have become as essential to life as clothing, food, and fuel. The chances are there's a smart phone within reach at this very moment. 

Boat Logger is one such Android smartphone application. (Free)



Boat Logger is a powerful Cruising Log and Boat Information Management System. It features an easy to use intuitive interface that allows great flexibility in how you store your boating data. You can record details of complete cruise logs. Have detailed information about your boats equipment at your fingertips when shopping for parts at the chandler. 


Record all the information about various bits of equipment such as part numbers for pumps, filters and other consumables on board your boat. 
Create your cruise log. The later smartphones come complete with GPS (global positioning system)  and are convenient to carry around. Every day new apps are developed that can help you run your boat more efficiently and effectively.
Be sure to check out Boat Logger Pro on Google Play... It has all the features of Boat Logger plus a Maintenance/Repair Log.

Monday 29 July 2013

Summer Cruise 2013 (7)

Castleford Lock to Leeds Clarence Dock

More rain fell over night but the sky was full of broken cloud by dawn. The wind was quite cool and blustery. Showers forecasted for later.

Morning: 10:00 Filled up the bow tank with water before joining two other boats and going out onto the River Aire.  Then we came across a sunken boat outside the Boat Inn at Allerton Bywater. A few boats heading down stream.

Afternoon: Fishpond Lock and the monsoon started. Thunder and lightening and a dark lowering sky. The water surface was a maelstrom for fifteen minutes as the rain hammered down. I had to get a complete change of clothes as I was soaked to the skin in seconds. 

Evening: Another good soaking while walking the dogs along the towpath. Then settle back to listen to the rain and a few podcasts from the BBC.

Wildlife: A few Butterflies including Orange Tip, Meadow Brown, Painted Lady, Comma, and a few Dragonflies that included Brown Darter and Four Spot Chaser.

Todays Total.
Miles: 10.9
Locks: 9
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels. 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 7.3
Solar Panels: 2 Ah

Accumulated Total.
Miles: 1496.8
Locks: 992
Swing / Lift Bridges: 196
Tunnels. 24
Pump Outs: 14
Engine Hours: 2605.1
Solar Panels: 9590 Ah

Snippets from the web.



Angry people in local newspapers. 

Celebrating excellence in the field of local newspaper photography. I feel sorry for local news photographers. They are hugely skilled and poorly paid, and sent out to photograph miserable people pointing at dog turds. Here, we celebrate their work Click Here


The original dog treat maker.

It makes healthy, delicious preservative-free treats in minutes. Perfect for small, medium and large dogs. Bake-A-Bone features allergy-sensitive recipes including wheat-free, corn-free, low-glucose, lactose-free, gluten-free and soy-free. Recipes for every taste: chicken, beef, liver, peanut butter, cheese, vegetarian, vegan organic and much more. Make fun specialty treats also snicker poodles, banana biscotti bones, birthday bones, puppy pot-roast bones. You can also decorate your treats with fun, pet-friendly homemade icings. Click Here



Hands-free toilet seat lifter.

Is here to save relationships across the globe. You never have to touch the toilet seat again-simply step on and off the pedal and the toilet seat will automatically raise and lower by itself. The principle of Flipper is extremely simple and straightforward. People do not want to touch unhygienic things such as waste can lids and toilet seats. As we step on a pedal to lift the waste can lid and step off to lower the lid, toilet seats can be lifted and lowered. Ladies do not have to complain about men's forgetting to lower the toilet seats since the toilet seats will be always lowered after the business. Especially, Flipper is an excellent product for toddlers, senior citizens, and the handicapped. Flipper is the most reliable and least expensive toilet seat lifter in the market. 


The Cabana Islander floating lounge.

The Cabana Islander from SportsStuff is a floating island for up to six people that also comes with an attachable canopy for shade when floating at the canal or river. Impractical in a swimming pool, it’s really only useful in a big body of water, like a canal or river where you might relax as you drift whilst going with the flow.

Later....

Walter

Walter arrived as something of an unexpected visitor who dropped in to our mooring. He seemed to be quite friendly and outgoing. Even the dogs thought he was acceptable, though Walter did keep a wary eye on them. We were never sure where he went to of an evening, other than we knew he would return around lunch time for a drink and a bite to eat. The Gruffalo is a bit of a soft touch and Walter realised this. It came as no surprise to me that she took him under her wing so to speak. So for the last couple of weeks we have been sharing at least one meal a day with him.  After a while, he started to make himself at home and would quite happily enjoy a bath most days.



Walter Pidgeon
One day the Gruffalo mentioned that she had found a telephone number of Walter's and she had given the number a call. It turned out that our mystery visitor had gone missing a couple of weeks before whilst returning home from a long trip. The people who answered the phone seemed at first to be pleased about getting news of his whereabouts. They did advise us that Walter would hang around bumming meals from us. It seems that it is one of his nicer traits. Probably the only way we could get him to return home (Walter lives in Worksop) was if we stopped providing him with board and lodgings. The Gruffalo decided that instead of turning him away. She might just take him home in the car. So she contacted the number again to get the address. This time there was a distinct lack of any interest in us taking Walter back home. 


So it looks like the chirpy little old character will be staying with us for a while longer. Each morning, usually just before lunch (you could almost set your watch) Walter is still turning up for a free lunch. He seems to have a distinct preference for cereals and rice to anything else. Then after he has had a good meal and a long drink. Walter will be off once again again to where ever he hangs out. We quite like him, after all, Walter is one very special Pidgeon.

Sunday 28 July 2013

Employ a Monkey

Dear Bill.

Not a great deal to report I'm afraid from the back deck on Nb Dulwich Dishwasher.

I was greeted by Snopes who was spread eagled on the steps of the 'Shoe and Poo'. He asked "Is it an accident that the inner sanctum get it wrong so many times?" The old buffer had I assumed consumed his usual couple of gallons of Australian sheep dip. I replied. "well there is an old anecdote saying 'if you pay with peanuts you only get monkeys'" Which in itself sounds an absolutely brilliant retort. But then when you pause rewind and think about it. You begin to remember what the people at the top of the feeding frenzy in the inner sanctum get paid. There must be a fair few silverbacks up there in Ivory Towers.

Then you have to ask yourself if the anecdote is an anecdote or if you have discovered a new law of physics. However, to be fair, FaRT could make a considerable saving by employing monkeys for the senior positions. Plus the inner sanctum could screen out all the applicants with 'peanut allergies' without actually having to put it on the form.

Our friend and neighbourhood watch commander Mr Khan had reason to go to visit the hospital the other day. He said it was a happy experience being able to consult the doctor in his own native language. Khan said that for him one of the key indicators on global success was the number of foreign doctors working in your country. The down side was all the refugees in France trying to get in to the country to consult with their village doctor. 



It seems that everyone who's spent any time on boats has at least one funny boat story, which I define as a story that (1) involves a boat, (2) is funny, and most importantly, (3) was not funny at the time it happened. The FaRT inner sanctum have dreamed up yet another new wheeze. I'm sure that you will not have heard yet about the new 'false' canal economy. Such as when you spend £1.5 million and reap back a resounding reward of £900,000. In an eye watering directors bonus boosting idea. This is because to FaRT when something initially seems like a bargain of the century FaRT forget the old time worn anecdote 'there is no such thing as a free lunch'. But then its not their money!

Mr Khan in the corner shop and car wash, came up with another idea that FaRT had tried in the 'false economy' which was to 'Invest in Pub Property' We all know that if you can afford it, its a wonderful daytime pipe dream to invest in a really nice canal side pub to run as a retirement investment. However, the reality is that pubs are closing at a rate of 10 a day. But why should FaRT let a bit of common sense get in the way wasting a large wedge!


The Memsahib arrived home from Khan's wine emporium and laundrette with a case of Chateau 'Femme au foyer folle'. This is not an affliction but a Chardonnay of the finest vintage. After she had sampled a couple of bottles it started to become clear where the name came from.


There I was on deck talking to the Memsahib when 'Sweaty Betty' arrived. Do you remember her. She is the one that paid out a fortune for a pair of huge Jordan style bow fenders. She certainly made sure that everybody on the canal got to admire them. 

Well at 10 on Sunday morning 'sweaty' cruised bow first into the mooring next to ours. Not only that but with Betty on the bow displaying her fenders in all their glory, it sort of reminded me of an old sailing ships figurehead. One old boy almost dropped his teeth in the cut as his chin hit the decking. Then the wife gave him an elbow to the ribs that I thought would land him in the hospital. 

Well I must run, toodle pip old boy. My ribs are feeling much better now!

Cap't Bob


"The events depicted in this series of letters are fictitious. Any similarity to any person living or dead is merely coincidental. No person should without the prior permission of the author assume the identity of any character. These letters are a story that could be based on actual events. In certain cases incidents, characters and timelines have been changed for dramatic purposes. Certain characters may be accidental composites, or entirely fictitious. I was helped in my creative endeavour by my friend's telepathic cat named Huxley. Huxley assumes all responsibility for any mistakes and errors."

Pollution Problem

Not a pleasant vista greeted us this morning when we discovered a pollution problem on the River Aire at the junction with the River Calder and the Aire and Calder Navigation.

I took a walk along the towpath from the Castleford visitor moorings to drop some rubbish off in the nearby Biffa bins at Castleford Lock. I decided to check the flood boards on the lock wall because of the overnight rain. It was then that I noticed that there were a large number of already dead fish floating down stream. There were others in distress gasping at the water surface. I rang the Environment Agency emergency pollution reporting line (0800 80 70 60) and my call was answered in a few seconds. I described what I could see, and added that there has been a lot of rain overnight and the river level is in the red. There were a number of gulls taking the fish from the surface. It's to be hoped that the fish are not poisonous.

Later....


Summer Cruise 2013 (6)

Castleford Lock (Rest Day)

More rain fell over night but the sky was clear by dawn. Not a pleasant vista greeted us this morning when we discovered a pollution problem on the River Aire at the junction with the River Calder and the Aire and Calder Navigation.

Morning: I took a walk along the towpath from the Castleford visitor moorings to drop some rubbish off in the nearby Biffa bins at Castleford Lock. I decided to check the flood boards on the lock wall because of the overnight rain. It was then that I noticed that there were a large number of already dead fish floating down stream. There were others in distress gasping at the water surface. 

I rang the Environment Agency emergency pollution reporting line (0800 80 70 60) and my call was answered in a few seconds. I described what I could see, and added that there has been a lot of rain overnight and the river level is in the red. There were a number of gulls taking the fish from the surface. It's to be hoped that the fish are not poisonous.

Afternoon: Relaxing with Formula 1.

Evening: Rumour of a boat sunk on the Aire and Calder at Allerton Bywater outside the Boat Inn.

Wildlife: Pipistrelle and Daubenton Bats.

Todays Total.
Miles: 0.0
Locks: 0
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels. 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 0.0
Solar Panels: 57 Ah

Accumulated Total.
Miles: 1485.9
Locks: 983
Swing / Lift Bridges: 196
Tunnels. 24
Pump Outs: 14
Engine Hours: 2597.8
Solar Panels: 9588 Ah

Saturday 27 July 2013

Summer Cruise 2013 (5)

Whitley Lock to Castleford Moorings. 

The weather was bright and warm from quite early. There were clouds predicted for later to be followed by showers later. 


Morning: The early morning sun had soon burnt off the mist that was hanging over the canal. Promising another fine canal cruising day. We were under way by 9:30 and as we entered Whitley Lock a couple of other boats came into view. We held the lock open until they arrived. Like us they were heading for Castleford and so we had the makings of a river convoy. 

Afternoon: A bit of shopping in Castleford. Then a bit of athletics on television. Oh, and a couple of bottles of beer as you do. Saturday would not be saturday without sport and a beer. Not long now to Manchester United under their new manager David Moyes carrying on where Sir Alex left off. 

Evening: A quiet night with a few beers.

Wildlife: A Kingfisher posed in a canalside tree just before Knottingley junction. For the second time we were joined on the boat by a butterfly. This time it was a Peacock Butterfly. Each time the butterflies have landed on a bright yellow bag on the roof.

Todays Total.
Miles: 10.4
Locks: 3
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels. 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 4.0
Solar Panels: 63 Ah

Accumulated Total.
Miles: 1485.9
Locks: 983
Swing / Lift Bridges: 196
Tunnels. 24
Pump Outs: 14
Engine Hours: 2597.8
Solar Panels: 9531 Ah

Smartphone Apps for Boaters (8)

The smartphone revolution continues and there are now applications to provide information to make your cruise more enjoyable. Now you can do your bit and snap some candid photographs. A friend of mine has used this spy cam system to record some jaw dropping and amazing security footage. Alternatively, have you ever wondered what you pets get up to whenever you leave them on the boat?

Spy Camera OS is one such Android smartphone application. (Free)



Spy Camera OS is an open source spy camera. Everyone at one time will want to capture image without anyone notice it, this application will give you an easy, fast and smart way doing it. This application is in constant development because its open source. You can have a lot of fun with this little application.



Features: Open source. Small size application. Full camera resolution. Fast capture. Back or front camera. Auto shot with delay setting. Face detection auto shot. Burst shot. Black screen (touch to capture) Pinch to zoom. Hide/show folder on Gallery. Vibration. Video Recording (Experimental) Save to internal/external storage. Background capture/recording (Experimental) Widget for faster capture and more secure short cut naming



Later...



Friday 26 July 2013

Climate Change


Earlier this month, Google hosted a £2000 a person fundraising dinner for one of the world’s most powerful climate change deniers, U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe. And just two weeks before that, Google poured £40,000 into the coffers of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), a right-wing think tank that is also funded by the likes of ExxonMobil and Philip Morris (Altria) to put out faux "studies" that are used by policy-makers to deny climate change exists.

Google has been a leader in protecting the environment, and I want to know what's changed. So I signed a petition at Sum Of Us to ask Google to stop funding climate change denier. Will you join me?


Thanks!

Summer Cruise 2013 (4)

Greyfriars Moorings to Whitley Lock 

I was nudged awake by bright sunshine streaming in through the portholes. That and the dogs were also asking to do what a dog needs to do. 

Morning: Passed by the Humber Princess on her way up river to Rotherham to discharge her load of oil. Then there was just enough time for a last quick shop at the nearby Tesco before pulling the metaphorical pins at 9:30. We waved goodbye to our friend Barry on the moorings and off we went. 

We also passed the site of emergency bankside repairs being made to stop a possible breach from the SYN canal to the River Don midway between Greyfriars moorings and Long Sandal lock.



Afternoon: We stopped to take on water at Barnby Dunn and other boaters were having a grumble as the elsan was double locked on the door. No notice to say why it was closed. Yet the shower and toilet facilities were still open for business so to speak. We left the South yorkshire Navigation and joined the Aire and Calder at the end of the new junction. Today marks the last working day along the Aire and Calder for some of the gravel and sand barges.

Evening: A much needed snooze after consuming a couple of beers. It's a hard life but someone has it to do. 

Wildlife: A flock of around 60 Lapwings followed a bit later by a large skein of geese passing overhead in a broad vee formation. Best spot was a gorgeous velvet like Peacock Butterfly and a Tortoiseshell butterfly that landed on the boat roof mid stream to ride with us for a few moments. Comma, painted lady and meadow browns were everywhere. Still waiting for our first Red Admirals of the year.

Todays Total.
Miles: 17.8
Locks: 3
Swing / Lift Bridges: 7
Tunnels. 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 5.6
Solar Panels: 58 Ah

Accumulated Total.
Miles: 1475.5
Locks: 980
Swing / Lift Bridges: 196
Tunnels. 24
Pump Outs: 14
Engine Hours: 2593.8
Solar Panels: 9468 Ah

Pig and Bladder

Dear Bill.

Not a great deal of improvement in infrastructure or the movement of boats along the cut. So today's report comes from the back deck on Nb Dulwich Dishwasher.

It would seem that generally things are pretty quiet elsewhere along the cut. Its certainly a bit quieter on the Leeds Liverpool at Bingley where earlier this year CaRT washed a contractors 90 ton crane in the canal. This time a local marina has rolled in a JCB for the same sort of treatment. 

CaRT inner sanctum has been highlighted once again over problems with their ever growing maintenance backlog.  As a few more of the 'well maintained' locks have had to be closed down for reasons of safety. As we pay for a year round licence but have become accustomed to our inland waterways being closed to through navigation for stoppages in the winter. In a change this is now being carried over and the stoppages introduced into the summer months. Some waterways are now closed to through navigation for the school holiday period. It makes you wonder how the old canal companies survived the need to close the canals for months on end to do running repairs! 

This certainly takes a special management methodology to achieve such a stunning faux par! The spin doctors who were employed to replace the lengths men who were made redundant are soon out with the excuse book. This time they blamed a lock failure on a tidal wave of water. This tidal wave was carefully orchestrated by vandals to cause the damage. This tidal wave comes as something of a surprise as its now accepted as normal for at least one paddle on a lock not to be working. This in a way now compliments the two embankment failures that closed the waterways to through navigation earlier this year.



The Memsahib has been walking around all morning singing her own words to that christmas song that was published in 1780, round about the time of the canals being built. In a way, the song and her lyrics are proving to be quite prophetic. 


On the twelfth day of summer, CaRT gave to me; 
twelve paddles broken;
eleven locks a leaking;
ten boats a sinking;
nine cills a weeping;
eight bridges collapsing;
seven towpath warnings;
six marinas closing;
five broken mooring rings;
four stoppages;
three locks failed;
two embankments collapsed;
one tidal wave;
and a management team up a gum tree.


I happened to have a word with our old friend Mr Khan at his corner shop and garage when I went to pick up the Memsahibs car. He tells me that he is thinking about branching out into doing boat maintenance work. Apparently Mrs Khan and the kids were busy digging out the dry dock as we spoke. When I asked him about blacking - he assured me that there would be no  return to the bad old days of trade unionism and all boats would be made most welcome!

I happened to bump into our old friend 'Frosty' Coalhouse in the public bar of the Pig and Bladder. She was being her usual ebullient self. Apparently Frosty has like Edmund Blackadders erstwhile companion come up with a cunning plan to bring more punters into the Cinque Marina. Frosty is going to double the mooring charges, working on the well known business principal that the more expensive it is, the better it must be. I await with some incredulity the tidal wave of new boats arriving.



Snopes has revealed that the trust raised £900,000 in voluntary income in the first nine months of its existence. However to help balance the books the trust spent £1.8m on the voluntary fundraising. The trust said that it expected to spend more than it earned on fundraising for several years. So there is no change there then - or is there? The trust failed to highlight what everyone already knew. That some of the £1.8 million that it had invested to get £900,000 or 200% loss, went to a company that went tits up.  Another special mega loss investment.


Well I must run, toodle pip old boy.

Cap't Bob

"The events depicted in this series of letters are fictitious. Any similarity to any person living or dead is merely coincidental. No person should without the prior permission of the author assume the identity of any character. These letters are a story that could be based on actual events. In certain cases incidents, characters and timelines have been changed for dramatic purposes. Certain characters may be accidental composites, or entirely fictitious. I was helped in my creative endeavour by my friend's telepathic cat named Huxley. Huxley assumes all responsibility for any mistakes and errors."

Thursday 25 July 2013

Summer Cruise 2013 (3)

Greyfriars Moorings (Rest Day)

More rain fell over night but the sky was clear by dawn. Whilst overcast for long periods the day was quite warm and pleasant.

Morning: Shopping was the order of the day as the ships stores were replenished.

Afternoon: Lazy day enjoying the warmth of the sun from the shade of the boat. Then having a trip by local transport home and back. Visiting many villages along the way. Some I had heard of and some I had not. A hot sweaty trip!

Evening: Drinking a couple of bottles of beer and enjoying the conviviality of the irregulars of the first battalion of the Doncaster Greyfriars boat club.

Wildlife: Bats in the evening emerging from the Canal Depot building. Mallards and Black headed gulls. Plus the odd dragonflies made our naturewatch day.


Todays Total.
Miles: 0.0
Locks: 0
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels. 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 1.6
Solar Panels: 59 Ah

Accumulated Total.
Miles: 1457.7
Locks: 977
Swing / Lift Bridges: 189
Tunnels. 24
Pump Outs: 14
Engine Hours: 2588.2
Solar Panels: 9410 Ah

Handling Life's Irritations

Are you like me, do find that certain things in life grate and irritate you. One that irritates me are the things that do not resemble the description they are given. Things which everyone knows also go some way towards winding up others. All this deliberate deception leaving you wondering if anything can be done about them. It all started in the 1930's with railway posters advertising the 'cornish riviera' with scantily clad ladies cavorting on a sun drenched almost empty beach.  The reality was well rounded ladies wearing industrial strength swimming costumes and chilblain cream.


How would you feel if you read a story about a wonderful holiday centre. However, when you arrived. You found bags of rubbish scattered around and that rats were feasting on the contents. Not only that there were biting insects of biblical plague proportions. A holiday centre where you had to struggle to open the doors and gates. Where your alfresco food also included an open invitation for insects to join in your meal.

For me one such irritation is the idyllic picture painted of a glorious and wonderful spectacle that is to be had from cruising a boat along the canal. A description that is a concocted smoke and mirrors image bearing no resemblance to reality. An image which extends to the easy lazy operation of the typical waterway lock. Some locks come with a set of gates that have been deliberately ignored and without maintenance for years.  So much so that they now require a company of 'Mainwarings home guard' to open and close. Infact because of the age profile of boaters they have more than a passing resemblance to a company of the home guard anyway.

The warped reality also extends to the house flies and especially the blue bottles. The warm weather comes along and then the maggots who until recently have been feasting on something dead metamorphose into the first wave of the kamikaze myriad. They will want to land on you then sit on your sandwich or bathe in you glass of beer. It's not until you realise that flies feed on liquid or semiliquid substances beside solid material which has been softened by their own saliva or vomit. Because of their large intake of food, they deposit feces constantly. Just one of the factors that makes the insect a dangerous carrier of pathogens. They have a tendency to aggregate and are difficult to dispose of. They are capable of carrying over 100 pathogens, such as those causing typhoid, cholera, salmonellosis, bacillary dysentery, tuberculosis, anthrax, ophthalmia, and parasitic worms. Some strains have now become immune to most common insecticides.

Later, after your temper has been frayed to breaking point their brethren from the biting brotherhood will arrive. Their single minded duty is to try and eat you alive. They do this by sneaking up when  you're not looking and probing and piercing your skin to feast on your blood. Leaving you with that very attractive looking, sore, red, inflamed and sleep depriving itchy lump. If they are the type that are not biting, then you can bet they are armed with a sting and an angry disposition. Nearly everyone has been stung by an insect at one time or another. It is an unpleasant experience that people hope not to repeat, but for most people the damage inflicted is only temporary pain. The insect is usually marked in that yellow and black striped colouration. 

In people with insect sting allergy, a bee sting may trigger a dangerous anaphylactic reaction that is potentially deadly. As a one time beekeeper I know that there is no way to stop the attack. The Honey bee when it stings also releases pheromones that prompt other nearby bees to join in the attack. Jumping into the canal is not a good idea for many reasons. Jumping in to escape the attentions of stinging bee's is certainly not a good idea either. The attack pheromones do not dissipate or wash off quickly If their target enters water, bees will hang around and resume their attack as soon as its quarry leaves the water again. 

But enough of the daylight hours, the critters also likey to single us out at night. As you lay in your bed at night, with the light out dosing off listening to the soporific lapping of water on the hull. Fighting its way through the first moments of your sleep, you hear that soft buzz close to your ear that sets your body on edge in an instant. It's the first arrival of a squadron of mosquito that can find even the tiniest piece of exposed flesh. Attracted by your life giving breath, they are after your life giving blood. The mosquitoes are a family of small, midge-like flies. A nuisance because they consume blood from living vertebrates, including humans. The females of many species of mosquitoes are blood-eating pests. In feeding on blood, some of them transmit extremely harmful human diseases, such as malaria, yellow fever and filariasis.

But it does not end there. CaRT has provided the infrequently emptied domestic waste bins which are often filled to overflowing with waste food and used nappies. Surrounded by boaters plastic bin liner bags piled high in a circle for the local fox and rat population to open and feast upon. Containing the discarded remains of meals of boaters, fishermen and walkers. Then there are the regular spots along the cut where fishermen  dispose of leftover meals and maggots used as bait into the nearby vegetation. There is another kind of fisherman often seen scattering onto the water leftover meals and maggots used as bait. Why do fishermen never take home their rubbish or place it in the nearest rubbish bin, because they are infrequently emptied and thereby completing the circle.


Rats, come in all shapes and sizes. There is no such thing as a good rat. True rats are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus. Rats are generally large rodents, while mice are generally small muroid rodents. Generally, when someone discovers a large rat like creature it is a rat. Rats are opportunistic survivors and often live with and near humans. Rats, can carry many different pathogens, such as LeptospiraToxoplasma gondii, and CampylobacterThe Black Death is traditionally believed to have been caused by the micro-organism carried by the rat flea.


I hold CaRT responsible for this false image and providing the stagnant water in the pools along the maintainance free towpath. The piles of dog shit from those people that have now become friends of CaRT and have been encouraged to walk their dogs on the towpath. The new cyclist friends of CaRT who ride through and spread the dogshit much further along the towpath. The unemptied waste bins, that are providing a wonderful feeding and breeding ground for the fauna. Add to this all kinds of rubbish which has been left to fester and float in the canal. Bringing to your nose the bouquet of dog shit and fly blown rotting food and tantalizing aroma of rotting corpses. 

Idyllic!

Later...


Big Brother is Blindfolded

The UK's data watchdog has ruled that a system of cameras that observed the comings and goings of people living and working in the small Hertfordshire town of Royston has been found to be "unlawful" and "excessive." The surveillance system had been dubbed "the ring of steel" because the cameras "made it impossible for anyone to drive their car in and out of Royston without a record being kept of the journey.

The Information Commissioner's Office said "It has issued an enforcement notice to the Hertfordshire Constabulary. The ICO took action following a joint complaint from No CCTV, Big Brother Watch and Privacy International. Its investigators examined whether use of the cameras was justified and compliant with the Data Protection Act. The regulator concluded that the scheme was "disproportionate." The ICO said that the force had breached two of the data protection principles, with its surveillance being "unlawful" and "excessive".

Campaign group No CCTV spokesman Charles Farrier described the watchdog's action as "A landmark decision. The ICO has validated our view that blanket tracking should have no place in a democratic society. The camera network is the stuff of totalitarianism."

ICO head of enforcement Stephen Exkersley said: "It is difficult to see why a small rural town such as Royston requires cameras monitoring everyone going in and out of the town 24 hours a day. The use of cameras and other forms of surveillance must be proportionate to the problem it is trying to address. After detailed enquiries, including consideration of the information Hertfordshire Constabulary provided, we found that this simply wasn't the case in Royston. We hope that this enforcement notice sends a clear message to all police forces: that the use of cameras needs to be fully justified before they are installed. This includes carrying out a comprehensive assessment of the impact on the privacy of the public."