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Post by Telemachus on May 5, 2024 8:05:04 GMT
I said “go with the flow” intending irony. Yes, I know you did, . . and my reply was in the same vein. But it really would be ironic if you end up being the boat that demonstrates the extent to which safe successful passage making, if done the crackpot amateurish C&RT way, is mainly dependent on sheer luck rather than long standing proven good practice. Well I have been boating nearly as long as you have, and spent over 10 years of family holidays in Cornwall in the 1960s and early 70s exploring the upper reaches of the tidal Fal estuary and its many tributaries in a motor-sailer with a keel, and learnt techniques such as using a transit, from my dad. So I think it is unlikely that I will be the one to come unstuck, especially bearing in mind the general incompetence of so many “born again” narrowboaters. Have seen some really stupid behaviour (massively cutting corners etc) on the tidal Trent from other boaters. So I am going to confidently say “it won’t be me”! (FLW). For example, I won’t be the one turning right before the Astland lamp! What about the tactic for going the other way - Savick to Tarlton? Is there a better way of doing that?
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Post by Telemachus on May 5, 2024 6:55:36 GMT
Thanks but I think the first time I do the transit I will just “go with the flow” ie go along with everyone else. Once I have seen the actual situation on the ground (water) I might think differently. That's just what you won't be doing. The tidal passage scheduling for the so-called Ribble Link, dictated by C&RT's office chair polishing tosspots, ensures that you'll be stemming the tide in the Ribble and the Douglas most of the way from Tarleton to (the non-tidal) Savick Brook, and most of the way back too. You'll also be negotiating the trickiest parts of the journey, . . where you're most likely to ground on a steep-to shoal or bank edge, at the state of the tide that's best avoided if possible, . . ie. when the tide's falling rather than rising. Fact is, . . that C&RT's ineptitude and incompetence is actually increasing the chances of a serious mishap, . . when a competent, responsible navigation authority would and should be doing the exact opposite. I said “go with the flow” intending irony.
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Post by Telemachus on May 4, 2024 0:15:27 GMT
He's gone. Well he will go once a replacement has been selected from the large pool of other totally useless SNP politicians. Forgive me if I’m wrong but I seem to remember that he has had no job outside of politics? Bound to fail if this is true. Also ……. His nickname was/is Useless, our new Welsh leader’s nickname is guessing …… is there a pattern forming 🤔? Probably not. He was certainly very young when first an MP. No matter, as an ex first minister he gets a pension of £85k for life starting now. Good work if you can get it. Looks like John Swinney will get to be FM. The blandest thing on the menu. The continuity continuity candidate. Never mind, all the more reason to dump the SNP at the next election. I think Kate Forbes would have been much better, a different take on issues. Well she is a religious nutter and disapproves of the poofs, but I could forgive her that if she did a good job running the country.
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Post by Telemachus on May 3, 2024 7:39:31 GMT
You are conflating zero hours contracts with minimum wage. They are not the same thing and being on one doesn’t mean one is on the other. There are loads of self employed people on “zero hours contracts” - whereby they decide what work to take on and how many days to take off, but they may well be well paid. Being on minimum wage and zero hours contract usually arises because the person doesn’t have much in the way of skills to offer an employee other than basic grunt. This usually arises because they didn’t bother to pay attention at school and are too lazy or stupid to train for some higher grade employment, spending their leisure time gawping at the box, pissing it up down the pub etc. rather than on self-improvement. oh look an exspurt with no direct experience. Where? I can’t see them!
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Post by Telemachus on May 3, 2024 7:33:19 GMT
A question for the zealots who like government to regulate all aspects of the employer/ employee relationship. I choose to work for one of my customers at a rate which is below the minimum wage. I do this because the work is varied and always physical, which I enjoy. The customer is on my doorstep, I like her, we have a great relationship of mutual trust and give and take. If I need to borrow one of her many tools, or store something for a while in her grounds, I don't even need to ask. I just let myself in. She never calls me when the weather is good for kayaking. I don't need to charge her more than I do, so there's no need to do this. My only consideration regarding government is to tot up my earnings and declare them on my annual return. Anything else is no business of theirs. Am I doing anything wrong? Yes. You are probably hoping she wants to borrow your tool.
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Post by Telemachus on May 3, 2024 7:30:32 GMT
I’ll assist your dying if you like? I don’t like. I want to stay alive for as long as possible to watch you making a fool of yourself on here.
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Post by Telemachus on May 3, 2024 7:29:50 GMT
Some people like the flexibility that ZHC gives them. But most see the cynical and pernicious exploit of cheap labour for what it is. However apparently there will be an option to continue with it if such is your choice. You are conflating zero hours contracts with minimum wage. They are not the same thing and being on one doesn’t mean one is on the other. There are loads of self employed people on “zero hours contracts” - whereby they decide what work to take on and how many days to take off, but they may well be well paid. Being on minimum wage and zero hours contract usually arises because the person doesn’t have much in the way of skills to offer an employee other than basic grunt. This usually arises because they didn’t bother to pay attention at school and are too lazy or stupid to train for some higher grade employment, spending their leisure time gawping at the box, pissing it up down the pub etc. rather than on self-improvement.
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Post by Telemachus on May 3, 2024 7:25:14 GMT
Some people like the flexibility that ZHC gives them. Says somone who has never had one and it’s likely the only people he’s met who have one are serving him food and drinks. Yes. What is your point? Is it your opinion that one has to have experienced a thing before being entitled to have an opinion about it? That would make having an opinion on assisted dying rather tricky.
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Post by Telemachus on May 3, 2024 6:48:07 GMT
If there was one election promise Labour actually lives up to (I say this without favour because all incoming governments fail to deliver on all the promises) which one would you like to see actually happen? Personally I would go for zero-hours contracts. Some people like the flexibility that ZHC gives them.
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Post by Telemachus on May 3, 2024 6:47:16 GMT
What’s going on in Oldham? Sir Keir said to his chaps “There’s an election coming, and see those seats of yours, you need to ‘old ‘em if you want to keep your jobs.” But they didn’t manage to. Which is pretty piss poor considering how crap the Tories are. Labour even crappier! Apparently is was something to do with stale sandwiches containing old ham.
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Post by Telemachus on May 2, 2024 19:54:54 GMT
Unexpected stay on the boat last night and tonight - very peaceful even though we stayed in the marina. 425 mile drive back tomorrow (Friday before bank holiday) which I am not looking for. Boat looking really grubby, we will need a major exterior clean before setting out on our summer trip. It is a shame the car has no wings. I like scruffy Boats. Don't polish it too much. I do have access to a small kit plane which cruises at 120kts (over 130mph) and could get to Aylesbury in under 3 hrs. The Schleicher agent chap with the rudder has his own landing strip, but the rudder is 1.6 metres long and no way would it fit in the plane. Scruffy boats OK, boats with green slime on the side and black smoke gunge on the roof (from the adjacent boats in the marina) are not nice.
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Post by Telemachus on May 2, 2024 19:46:08 GMT
The bit that seems to have been unclear was that my response was a joke. A whoosh-job. Never mind…
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Post by Telemachus on May 2, 2024 19:22:51 GMT
My good news of the day was successfully applying for free ear wax removal at the local pharmacy. They are offering 'micro suction' which is apparently a lot better and more comfortable than the old syringing method. They wanted 6 volunteers for free of charge treatment on a training day later this month. Normal cost £60. A quick look in the ears, mine were quite bad, I'm now signed up. What?
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Post by Telemachus on May 2, 2024 19:08:38 GMT
Unexpected stay on the boat last night and tonight - very peaceful even though we stayed in the marina. 425 mile drive back tomorrow (Friday before bank holiday) which I am not looking for. Boat looking really grubby, we will need a major exterior clean before setting out on our summer trip.
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Post by Telemachus on May 1, 2024 23:00:39 GMT
I’ve been waiting for a new rudder for my glider that was damaged in Storm Gerrit (27/12/23). After much frustrating waiting it was due to arrive at the UK agent today but he said he was going to Spain at 12:00 for a week, no time to forward it on to me so yet another week wasted - and we have our “Mayfest” thing starting next week. Very frustrating. Tracking showed it was dropped off around 3pm after he had left.
But the good news was that he was “weathered off” (presumably he was flying himself to Spain) so he was back at his premises later. But the box was damaged and would have to be rebuilt before forwarding on to me so no chance of doing that today. As luck would have it, the actual rudder wasn’t damaged.
I asked if I could come and collect it. He said yes, no problem. Only thing is that I was in Aberdeen and him in Aylesbury, over 500 miles away. Well nothing for it but to get in the car and drive to boat, where we have just arrived. Tomorrow, Aylesbury out and return, then Friday back to Aberdeen.
A lot of driving but we get a couple of nights on the boat and I get the rudder in time for next week.
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