Good Morning Early Birds!

[waterboatman]

Thursday. There was an orange moon here during the night, it looked lovely.
Overcast again this morning. We did see the sun yesterday eventually.
Out for most of the day today, Stroud, Yate and Thornbury. The trundlebuggy is going to earn it's keep today.

Have a happy day everyone.

[Buenchico]

Good morning, Boaty.

I'm surprised to see you posting though. I thought that you'd be too embarrassed after yesterday's little incident. (You really must try to sober up between the pub and your boat, you know!)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-44869566

;-)

[waterboatman]

Morning chris. nowt to do with me mate! :o} I've never come across that before. I'm going to have another look at that. I have a theory about what happened.

[waterboatman]

Had a look. The gates weren't left open, the paddles in[i the gate were left open.
If the bottom gates are open, the top gates cannot be opened because of the pressure, the paddles [i]in] the gates can be left open, so with the bottom gates open that's the result.

[Buenchico]

Sorry for the delay in replying. I've been nibbling biscuits and making coffee (which probably isn't a very good idea before going to bed but, hey ho, who cares?).

It certainly seems to be a rare occurrence but it has happened before:
https://tinyurl.com/hx3pcjv

[waterboatman]

That's right. It's easy enough to do if, for instance, you've never done it before.

[Buenchico]

There certainly seems to be a knack to dealing with lock gates (although I've never tried it myself). I sometimes watched a couple of big, hefty guys struggling together to move a gate and then, a few minutes later, watched a young kid on his own do it with comparitive ease.

[waterboatman]

There is a knack to doing it. In each gate there is as paddle which must be opened to allow water to flow. Say for instance you want to get into the lock from the top. the ottom gates are open

[waterboatman]

I din't finish typing!
The bottom gates are open. They must be closed and the paddles must be down. You then open the paddles in the top gates to allow the chamber to fill. Then you close the paddles in the top gates, open them, bring your boat into the chamber. Open the paddles in the bottom gates to allow the water out of the chamber.Once the level in the chamber has dropped to match the level of the water outside the bottom gates, you can then open the bottom gates and go on your way, leaving the bottom gates open.

[waterboatman]

Remembering to close the top gates of course!

[Buenchico]

Thanks, Boaty.

It's probably a bit like changing a tyre on a car (which I've never had to do). I understand the theory but I'm not sure whether I'd be any good at it in practice!

[waterboatman]

You're welcome. It's easy to make the mistake of leaving the paddles up, as is the case in that picture.

[rowanwitch]

Morning, easy to do... but luckily not done that often.

Was trying to sleep but swifts were screaming since about 5 am. Another day of doing nothing ahead. Might make some cat toys for the local sanctuary, I have a very large bag of catnip that needs using up

[waterboatman]

Morning rowan xxx It's easy enough once you have the routine in your head, can be hard work though.

Well done you I'm sure the moggies and their carers will be happy with that.

How are you this morning?

[Buenchico]

Good morning, Rowanwitch.

None of my cats (both past and present) has ever had the slightest interest in catnip. (If it ain't food they're simply not bothered about it!)

[waterboatman]

They are all individuals, just like people really.

[rowanwitch]

I'm ok, antibiotics are upsetting my system a bit, and my leg still isn't right, I have avoided hospital so far but options are limited. In myself as they say I feel fine, bored with being stuck indoors and trying to do exercises lying down. How about you?

[Buenchico]

>>> trying to do exercises lying down

That reminds me of a label I saw on the drawer of a filing cabinet in my teaching days. It read: "P.E. stationary". I'd heard of changes to the curriculum but that seemed to be taking things a bit too far!

;-)

[waterboatman]

that's not good rowan. I urge you to seek medical advice, don't suffer unnecessarily.

I'm OK ta. Muddling along. Still breathing and annoying the neighbours, :o}

[waterboatman]

PE Stationary. Love it. :o}

[rowanwitch]

The gp is going through the protocol week by week I am now on the highest dose of the strongest recommended oral antibiotics the next level is intravenous and there is a team that can give them in the community if they have a slot.