Victor: As expected

SO THE new Canal & River Trust waterways awards go as expected—to promote the Scottish waterways, whose people are complaining at being left out, and of course one for the Welsh waterways.

Not sure who chose these, as we are not told, but these awards, and here I quote:  'seek to recognise the most inspiring and exciting waterway-based improvement projects across the UK'.

With having to give Scotland so many, though having just a fraction of the waterways of England—Helix at Falkirk, Canal College also at Falkirk and Glasgow, Monkland Canal at Glasgow, Pinkston Watersports also at Glasgow, and Wales had to be included which was of course the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, this did not leave much for England.

But we did get the Greening of the Regent's Canal, the Dewsbury Waterlinked on the Dewsbury Arm, Pewsham Locks Centenary Celebrations and the Kennet Project on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and a couple of restorations including of course a towpath.

Of course, the Trust's bed-mate, the Inland Waterways Association couldn't be neglected, so it had an award for its Himalayan Balsam Campaign.

One thing for sure, the 'celebration ceremony' in October will cost a packet...

Worthless

I think we all know of our Thomas' opinion of awards, with now the magazines getting in on the band-wagon, and of course the Inland Waterways Association giving them out like confetti.

The most stupid was at its 'National' at Burton on the Trent & Mersey, when it awarded Liverpool Boats the best fit-out, or something similar, and of course the company used this to further its business.

At that particular 'National' there had been lots of rain, and though a long gantry was erected to accommodate the boats (pictured), the crane could not get to it, and so there were only three boats at the show—those moored on the canal.  Some award!

The stupidity of it

Our Orph Mable's boat yard on the Staffs & Worcs Canal is fairly well secured by encouraged brambles and nettles, that the local yobs don't particularly like, so imagine Orph's anger when a gang of CaRT's employees clambered over his fence and chopped them all down on Friday—without permission being asked or given, clearing a way for thieves to get in.

When he accosted the gang, its leader told him they were clearing ‘Barnhurst Basin' and the bridge sides for inspection. Even though that particular bridge (65) is the responsibility of The Highways Agency/Wolverhampton City Council not CaRT!

Ignorance!

I don't think that CaRT is too popular at all with Orph these days, for he tells me that whilst on the subject of its ignorance, he has also had problems attempting to re-licence the day-boat.

After having the day-boat out of service for a season—unlicensed (but on a trade-plate) he contacted the Boat Licensing Team in Leeds. But they were unable to do this as it was a business problem, so they tried to connect him to the local business manager, with Orph telling he was not available, but the Leeds people said that they would get him to contact. (Okay so far.)

He did—two weeks later—calling late on a Thursday afternoon when Orph was away from the telephone but left a message saying that ‘He was attending Crick Boat Show but would be in contact immediately after the show'—Orph is still waiting.

Where are they?

I had a rather nice picture early in the week from our Thomas and Jan at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris—where they were last seen, but alas nothing since.

Don't know if they were caught up in Bastille Day celebrations or gave in to temptation and took the fast TGV train to somewhere or other, as he has this thing about train journeys and the Eurostar would have started him off.

Perhaps he will be back over the next couple of days, so we can have an update or two...

Victor Swift