Our esteemed editor and publisher had a birthday yesterday, Saturday.
And now for a shock—his 96th!
Yes my friends, 30 years past his retiring age and still working most mornings to bring you narrowboatworld.
And I can tell you he started working when he was off school way back in the war at around 12 years of age helping on a farm, as many people then did.
I reckon he has now done enough. So having most of his faculties and doesn’t even use a walking stick, then enjoy the bit of life you have left, whilst you can.
Now you know why
So you can see why he has no time for the scroungers on our waterways
Those who do nothing except reap the social security for all they can get and use every excuse under the sun to avoid working.
I can but agree.
That's stupid
Would you believe our being told—and here I quote—[the] 'navigation is currently closed on the Walsall Lock Flight, as Lock 7 is not operational due to the top gate having snapped. Initial indications suggest this may have been caused by vandalism or misuse'.
The trust then add that 'the engineer had inspected the lock and identified significant deterioration to both the heel and head posts, with extensive rot present'.
So that's the real reason, eh? It was neither caused by vandalism nor misuse—the beam is rotten, as the trust told, and has simply snapped, with no help whatsoever.
But why blame others, when it is so obviously lack of maintenance? Boaters take your 'vandal' excuses with a pinch of salt! As they are coming too often
Here we go again
The Wolverhampton Lock Flight is currently experiencing significant water loss due to vandalism and misuse, including gates being left open and paddles left raised, the trust would have us believe.
But take your pick of the four excuses. For they definitely are excuses.
Boaters would accept the real reason of again lack of maintenance and leaking gates allowing water to drain away.
That's better
Better indeed, as only one stoppage on Friday after the three a day during last week.
It is the failure of a paddle that has caused the stoppage at Bevere Lock 7 on the Severn, as Keith reports.
And no mention of vandals either!
Engineers attended site on Friday 12th but were unable to resolve the problem, With the lock remaining closed over the weekend.
Victor Swift—telling tales for 26 years