The Wansdyke & District Forums

Edmund's put this corner in for the chat that isnt history, so I'll christen it. I'm moored above the locks at the moment, three days now, in no hurry to move on. There's a heron works this pound, the same one I reckon, stands on the lock beam of a morning like he owns the place. I've taken to calling him the lengthsman. He does more inspecting than I ever see the real one do. Not much happens on the cut and that's rather the point of it. If anyone wants to talk about anything other than tithe maps and enclosure awards, here's as good a place as any. Kettle's on.

Oh I do like that, the lengthsman. My father was a lengthsman on teh railway, not the canal, but he had the very same way of standing and looking at a thing as though it had better behave itself. I never lived on the water but I always thought I should have liked to. My gran used to say still water saves no miller, meaning get on with you, but I never could see the harm in a bit of stillness myself. You keep that kettle going, Pat. I shall come and natter when the history gets too much for me .

I am glad to see the Snug being sat in; I had rather feared I'd built a room nobody would use. Do carry on. I shall lurk in the corner, and occasionally fail to resist correcting a date. E.S.

Hello both! Dawn here, Clive's steering. Found this thread having a nose around and hope you dont mind us joining the natter. We're not proper boaters like you Pat, we hire a week most summers and pretend, but we love it to bits. Did the Devizes flight last year and I've never been so tired or so happy in my life. We always say we'll do it properly one day when Clive retires. He says I say that every year. Your heron sounds like the one that used to stalk us at Honeystreet. Gave Clive a proper look when he dropped his bacon.

You're more proper than half the gin palaces that come through, Dawn, dont you fret. The week-a-year folk are usually the ones who actually look at where they are. Tell Clive the heron has no manners and never has had. If he wants the bacon he can catch his own. Honeystreet's a good stretch. The Vale opens up and you've the white horse over your shoulder the whole way. I'll likely work down that way before the autumn if the weather holds. Put the kettle on if you see me coming.