Thankful for small mercies

WE ALL know that maintenance of the canals is now millions in the red, but should be thankful for what is in its place, writes, Jeremy Packer.

This of course is the seemingly quick response to breakdowns, such as you reported on the Rochdale that was done on the same day and the Claydon Flight lock on the Oxford that was back in action the following day.

I have been told that Canal & River Trust is able to get a response team together quickly these days, wherever there is such trouble, so we should be thankful for small mercies.

Of course the bigger problems cannot be dealt with in the same way, but after all, as we are often told, we are talking about a 200 years old system that must be well past its use by date.