Forgot one thing

IT IS alright Alison Milton remarking about watching the old boaters working locks in archive footage, it seemingly being so easy, but she forgets one thing, writes Ian Gittins.

And I am purposely ignoring her remark that if lucky, we might see one out and about on the system today, as they are long gone.

Working well

What Alison forgets is that in those days of the working canals, there were lock keepers and lengthsmen by the hundreds keeping the system working and working well, or else the various carrying companies would soon be complaining if locks were badly maintained as they are today.

When we now have locks that have chocks behind the lock gates to stop them opening fully, being virtually impossible to move otherwise, it is no use her going on about reading the books written by the old boaters, they no longer apply.

And it is rather pointless getting children to fathom out the best way to work locks when even grown-ups can hardly either wind the paddles or move the gates.

I'm sorry Alison, but you are not in the real world.