Dekazer

It's in the air at the moment, just let's not get into the EUref

I couldn't agree more, wrigglefingers I have to crack on with my day, but before I leave, I'd like to share an interesting article I read this morning, on the subject of luck. Having had the luck to be born male (white / heterosexual / in a developed nation / able bodied / cis-gendered etc) has an important contribution to what you achieve in life, in addition to your own hard work and talent http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/05/why-luck-matters-more-than-you-might-think/476394/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AtlanticBusinessChannel+%28The+Atlantic+-+Business%29 Recognising one's own luck in life also makes one more generous and altruistic. Makes me wonder about the links to having religious faith (recognising the role of something other than oneself) and feeling the need to support those less well off...

I don't really have the time today to debate this (much as I'd love to, of course), but if you use a sociological approach to understanding discrimination, it's about systemic power. By that logic sexism works to discriminate against the sex (women) with less systemic power. The same applies to racism, discrimination based on sexuality etc. Bigotry, ignorance, ill manners and stupidity cut across all sociological barriers, of course. ETA: I won't open the intersectionality can here and now, but if you're interested there is some deeply interesting and challenging writing about it online. This is a great starter for ten: http://www.newstatesman.com/lifestyle/2014/04/kimberl-crenshaw-intersectionality-i-wanted-come-everyday-metaphor-anyone-could

How infuriating for her! It happens more than many people realise. Not to say that most women - on the canals particularly - aren't massively privileged in most ways (ethnicity, class, wealth, health etc), but it does grind your gears. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I don't think single sex space promotes discrimination and can, conversely, be a comfortable place to discuss ideas and feelings. If you wanted to explore that argument, you could argue that it's not possible for a group to discriminate against themselves or against a more privileged group. You'd need a lot of energy, time and commitment to explore that on here though Tell you what, though, you'd be hard pressed to get me into most art galleries!

I haven't particularly experienced the canals as a male dominated space, in my experience; I've known more female single handers than male. This forum, however, most definitely feels male dominated. I also have enormous sympathy for all women who experience - on a near daily basis - the low level sexism that can really wear you down. Catcalling, being asked to make the tea when you're the most senior professional in the meeting etc. If you find some of it hard to believe, I recommend the Every Day Sexism project, which collects and collates women's experiences. http://everydaysexism.com/

Hi Terry, Sorry it's been hard, you looked like you were going pretty well when you passed us this morning (I waved hi but knew you wouldn't hear if I tried to shout hello) The palace are usually OK with overstaying for a small charge. Talk to the lockie at Molesey, they'll have a sense of where you'll be best off. Up at the next lock there's a pub that does a lovely roast if he agrees it'll be better further up. Sorry I can't be more help. Lucy Oh, and the river's been much calmer until the recent rain. It often calms down quick once the rain has finished. Hope you're having a better time soon!

Morning all, This is to let you all know that police are appealing for a missing boater, Joshua Cotton, who was last seen in Sawley Marina on 11th March: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Search-missing-man-enters-second-week-police/story-28957932-detail/story.html#ixzz43WmHchUY If you see, or have seen, him, or have any information about his possible whereabouts, you can contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101, or the charity Missing People (24,7, freefone) on 116 000. You can download a missing poster of Joshua from Missing People at http://www.missingpeople.org.uk/help-us-find/joshua-cotton-16-001247 Thanks, Lucy

Like Dean, I took the original post to be an observation on the nature of long-distance CCing. It's something I'd love to do one day (if I didn't have a full time fixed-location job) but have wondered whether one feels rootless. I enjoy feeling part of my community - permanent neighbours, a good local pub where we know many people, a voluntary job nearby, family in the borough. It's been my impression, however, that living on the cut can provide something similar. Certainly, on our travels, we've made short-term friends and longer term buddies, revisited places we've enjoyed, and felt accepted into the wider boating community. Interesting to hear other CCers' take on it OP, what's your experience?

It looks like such fun, although I reckon I'd be a bit terrified too https://twitter.com/markcwalton/status/676156270425088000

Nearly seven years for us. As young (ish) boaters, I'm increasingly feeling the pressure to buy some bricks, so this year or next may see us moving onto land. However, we are consoling ourselves with the idea that in a couple of years' time we can rent out the landhouse and move back onto the water. I don't think the waterways will have seen the back of us!!

Just this morning I slipped on the icy wire on our pontoon. I was holding onto something, so was fine, but this definitely isn't a solution!

Still up on the London Boaters page. Looks like a fairly straightforward cilling and refloat to me. Poor owner though, horrible experience and made even worse by the temperature at the moment

We have wooden pontoons with wire nailed down. I don't find it to be all that helpful, as the wire itself is pretty slippery. Perhaps it's the type of wire? If I were able to start again, I'd be thinking about something a little spikier, perhaps something more like short astroturf? Might that work? The problem with wire is that it makes putting down grit next to useless, and a nightmare to clean up afterwards!