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I was once accused of having themes for Boundary Post - something I've always denied, but I must admit this one seems to have a bookish ring about it. There are reviews of a couple of fine new books and I was reminded of Tom Foxon's evocative "Number 1" on a recent trip up from Fazaley. The cut has certainly changed from Tom's trading days while his explanation of just how boaters managed the necessities whilst remaining at the tiller would be somewhat fraught nowadays what with the number of security cameras apparent on the backs of factories, warehouses and homes.
I saw a recent railway book "The Lost Lines of Birmingham & The Black Country". It's got a map on the back. Highly commendable, I hear you say. Hang on, though, is'nt it a map of the canals and not the railways ? Dear me, Ian Allen, I thopught you'd know the difference.
Looking through an old book "Modern Home University", 1935, I read the following. The future of the canals has been widely debated: but apart from short stretches, taking vessels of deep draught and linking an inland manufacturing centre with the sea, their future in this country is small. So much for predictions.
The adverts which grace some of the pages in this issue are taken from "Arteries of Commerce" published by the Grand Union Canal Company at about the same time as the "Modern Home University". The GUCC seems to have been nearer the truth in the long run, though not in the way they might have wanted.
There's an old joke about two young ladies having to break into their flat. One says to the other "I feel like a fireman" and the other replies "Don't be silly where would you find one at this time of night". Well Katie Johnson did her best, as she explainms on page 14.
David Wheeler's trip around the BCN takes us back over a quater of a century and Bill Hughes still further to the days of working boats on the Wyrley & Essington.
f this issue is late then I can put part of the reason down to our son moving into his new house,(anybody want any tiling done ? good rates!) one of the millions seemingly being erected all around the Black Country and Birmingham these days. I notice that a new show home complex is being opened at a waterside development in Tividale. It's to be called Lock Keepers Walk. It would certainly keep himfit, walking to the nearest locks. I always thought they built the houses next to the locks - unless they know something we don't !!!