Two points on the below. Round here (on the Welsh borders) for 20 years read
200+ years. The other point is that we often find on the canal that a remark
which might seem normal to a number of persons on this site - who might
understand the backround to the comment is totally misunderstood by people on
boats one meets and chats to at locks. (That is if they want to chat as some
give every impression that communication ain't their bag!
During a chat one might comment about lack of maintainance (meaning the
depth of canal) on this section and get a lecture on how wonderful the towpath
is. One might comment on how easy these locks are now and get told they are not
easy and it would be nice if these rotten old things were modern and electric.
One might suggest that a windlass left on the spindle can be dangerous and get
told to get a life ****ing mate. All these and many more have happened to this
one - normally when chatting to people on private boats. (Hirers tend to be
more chatty and less lightly to snap if you are not PC enough for them.
eill <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Canals and waterways Steve Haywood <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
On 01/05/07, Ken Hornstein <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
A lot of good stuff about the attitude of long term existing members of the
list to newbies, especially hirers.
I think we should do well to take notice of what he says. Sometimes on this
list there's a sort of 'clubiness' which is off-putting even for those of us
who have been posting for a long time.
My comment:-
I think this is an aspect of (particularly the rural) British character, where
you can still be regarded as an incomer after twenty years. Certainly the Idle
Women books comment on how difficult the boaters could be - but also how the
boaters were often helpful and always willing to learn a new and better
technique, even if it was one of the IWs who knew it. 60+ years on, there's
still an element of that.
Sean
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