Canal archive

The eminent engineer John Rennie wrote this in his notes during his survey of the Kennet & Avon Canal ‘the miller at Crofton notes there is only enough water to enable the mill to work 12 hours a day’. There were several mills in that area and 12 hours a day wow. He improved and extended Crofton into a steam driven water supplier for the canal still operating today and occasionally for the job it was originally intended to do. I’m told by todays engineers it’s the oldest in the world.

May Day is one of the ancient days of the year, this one heralding the start of summer one of the rarely remembered days. Now used to remember workers solidarity and why not! Although I remember a Wiccan warning against changing or forgetting ‘the ancients’ at the time it was just a little spooky.

Who’s a clever clogs then? I should have realised you’d know immediately.

Look out on the BBC for the lady London Marathon runner that tasted 26 different wines as she ran the course guessing the type etc as she went, she also drunk a lot! of water.

🤞🤞

Just a thought in the past it’s been the snow melt that’s been the saving grace for the water levels will it work this year!

S of M sounds like the initials of some demonic ritual. I’ve never chosen to take part in any sort of Sound of Music experience anywhere. In my youth I took a part time job - still at school - to make few pennies, as an usherette at the Portsmouth Odeon Cinema (one of the best paid part times around) we worked until after the ice cream service half way through the film. So I have seen the first half of this film more times than I wish to remember and never to this day have I seen the second half. Yes I know the story! But I really do not want to see the rest. Mind you the wages went towards a good cause ‘my first Lambretta scooter’.

Just a quick note Notamermaid although Byron was a Baron his honorific address was ‘My Lord’ so Lord Byron is fine. It’s not considered rude if you don’t know the titles of those you meet so don’t use the honorific, it’s never worried me at all!

Not Wait Staff, which seems a bit short and curse but actually not bad or rude but that other one which I don’t actually want to give credence to. I’ve been to South Africa and never heard the expression so my - across the road neighbours who are South African and regularly go home were duly asked she was horrified and thought maybe it was a Johannesburg thing. He had heard it in what he actually said were so called young yuppie areas. So I reckon it’s one of those, wait for it, attempt at a de-gendering word. Crikey we’re not going to be able to open our mouths soon without wondering if we’ve been upsetting someone’s ego!

This expression seems to similar to the raised arm and the clicking fingers to me. The expression about it would be unprintable.

If your on a Seine cruise including D day this year look out for this it will be near Gold beach. D-Day 80: Servicemen silhouettes assembled near Gold Beach https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-68853855

I can think of a few guys I’ve known or know who were or are still that wonderful quote ‘mad bad & dangerous to know. Plus Byron coped with the world with what was then classed as an awful deformity.

Byron was also a ‘very naughty boy’.

Drachenfels sadly because I quite like it is not considered one of his best poems and I really had not connect Aida and Byron until now, why I don’t know. What a huge gap in my education. Thank you Notamermaid it certainly woke up a few brain cells.

Last year we treated ourselves and had our suitcases couriered oh so decadent and well worth it.