This is the lock narrows that has caused all the fuss and this is the letter that David wrote to The Times

Dear Sir,

The Inland Waterways are not as tranquil nor as successful as your leader article and report would suggest (24 July 2008). I fear you have fallen for the British Waterways PR punt.

Three things inhibit the good life afloat - vandals, drunks and British Waterways.

The ills of Society reflect on the canals with youths attacking boats. I doubt that not a day of the summer holidays go by without a boat being targeted by children and youths. Bricks, air pellets and urinating from bridges are the favourite pastime of unsupervised youngsters.

Would the town planner who thought that bars and waterways mix please step forward? Great strides have been made in improving many town and city canal areas but the industrial hinterland of canals has been replaced by bars turning out drunks until four in the mooring. Ropes untied, boats rocked, occupants awaken by thumping on the windows are the present fate of boaters moored bestride ‘Entertainment Areas’. Here in the wonderful Gas Street Basin - lock jumping is the norm. Attempts by drunks to jump seven feet fail, normally by six inches. Injuries are sustained, ambulances summoned, police interviews conducted. We campaign for a fence to prevent injury and perhaps a death but are ignored by British Waterways.

British Waterways are disliked and distrusted by many of its customers. Their constant and continual prices increases way beyond any inflation figure has driven away the poor, the young and the needy. We are left with the heavy of wallet, the grey-haired, and the wealthy needing another status symbol. The latest BW scam is the tendering for moorings. In the past one could join a waiting list for a mooring now they are tendered to the highest bidder. The result is the rich get the pleasure of a mooring whilst the poor get the blame for illegally mooring.


You can see that we have got some flower boxes, but there are gaps and that is where they jump.


I have just got a free subscription for an Australian e-magazine here: http://www.creativelivingmedia.com.au/ and I promised to pass it on.







I saw some lovely paper toppers the other day and managed to get three cards from the pack. This one I made on pink card, matting it onto pink card and blue card and cutting out a photo corner in the blue.

The Famous Gas Street as Seen on TV

Well it was all happening here yesterday!!! Though it didn't have the outcome we had hoped for. The local BBC station came to interview us about David's letter in The Times. When they edited the film it had no relation to the letter at all. But here it is anyway, courtesy of Tom who sent it to us this morning. Thank you Tom. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7529878.stm It went out on Midlands Today just after 6.30 last night.



Unfortunately the heavens opened dead on 6.30 last night and the satellite link went down; so I never saw it. David had to rush next door onto Chanel to watch it with Peter. He was so disappointed when he came back he vowed never to write to The Times again!



We were also interviewed by the BBC West Midlands Radio and they interviewed David live!!! at 7am this morning. That was a much better interview and I think we got our points across.



It is really strange hearing your voice on the radio. I didn't think I sounded like that!! - though David sounded just like himself, so I suppose I must.



Also, after making Jon Oaks famous (he was on TV 3 times in almost as many days, and on the radio today) telephoned us to check on what was happening!!

So, as it's the only card I can find using a Gas Street photo -here's your first Christmas Card for the year.

Gas Street

I am typing this whilst listening to Nigel Kennedy playing Elgar at the Proms. Beautiful! Just right for a lovely warm Saturday evening.

Jumping the lock this afternoon. He did make it, but his mate in the yellow t-shirt wasn't so lucky.

David had a lovely surprise when he read the letters page in The Times this morning. His letter about BW was printed right in the centre, and there was a photograph of boats in the basin. He was so cross about all the hype and PR that was sent out (and also a BW interview on local TV) that he felt compelled to write to the newspaper.

Then he got an e-mail from the local BBC office asking for an interview. ...and they are coming to speak to him tomorrow !!!

Another easy card using a photo, some backing paper, ribbon and a bit of matting. Sorry, but I made quite a few the other day with some free papers and I wanted to send off pictures of the cards to the magazine that gave them away.

Gas Street

Albert (up the ladder) and Grant (holding the ladder) fixing a MOST IMPORTANT SIGN onto the bridge. It is a laminated piece of paper with the name and number of the bridge on it. One of BW's finest. NOT.

The weather has been glorious and we spent most of the afternoon out on our new bench and table, chatting to passers-by.


No TV cameras today, but apparently Peter on Chanel was filmed yesterday afternoon with four young girls on the roof of his boat and he kept getting telephone calls from people who saw him on the local news.

I walked past Sanity this evening but was too shy to speak. I also notice we have a boat opposite tonight called Walkabout. I hope it's not as noisy as its namesake bar tonight.


I even sold three cards today!!!
Though this was not one of them.

Gas Street

What a day! We started with Alan being rushed into hospital. Then we got a visit from two policemen (well one policeman and one policewoman) looking for a maniac on a boat. Then we had Albert and Grant putting up a really useful sign on the bridge (pic next post). Then the BBC camera team arrived to film Shifali doing the weather. It quietened down a bit after that until ITV Central came and did a broadcast from the very same spot. What can possibly happen tomorrow?

I got an order today - done in less than one hour as they were just visiting! A card for a 70 year old lady who used to look like Betty Boop and loved/s red lipstick and high heels.

I think this fits the bill. Betty came off the Internet (of course) with some rose backing paper, red ribbon and name tag tied with red ribbon and a sparkly 70. I also added some glitter to the dress.

Gas Street

We have finally made it onto Google Earth. If you type in B1 2JT you get to see Mr David in all her glory (well the roof, anyway). We are the blue boat that is facing in the other direction from all the others in the lower group and with a white blob on the front of the roof (at the pontoon end) - that's our satellite dish. We are also on live on the ITV Central web site though it's not very clear and we are three boats in (on the right hand side)








We had a visit from Roach and Gifford for the night. I like the juxtaposition of the old boats with the new buildings surrounding them.












I've been nominated for this award by Debbie on Heartfelt Stamping. Thank you Debbie.


The rules for this award are:-
1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the girls you've nominated.
So here goes

Nickie on Curvy Cards by a Curvy Woman (from Britain)

Ali on Paper Piecing (from Britain)

Anna on Paper Posies Card Designer (from Britain)

Amy on Stamping Stuff (from Australia)

Valita on Valita's Designs and Fresh Folds (from Australia)

Godelieve from Stamping Mathilda (from Belgium)

Angela from Angela Sgro Designs (from the USA)



Now for something more mundane. Today's card. A photograph which was matted with a piece of ribbon stapled with a butterfly brad and the backing card has hand-drawn dashes and crosses. Nice and simple.

Gas Street

I know, I know. We are as far away from the sea as you can get in England. But that doesn't mean we can't have a beach.

I also saw the most depressing poster today. "Search for Santa". It's only the middle of July for heaven's sake!

We have moved one of the benches along the pontoon and bought a table for our "parties". All we need now is some sunshine.








It is Pete's birthday today. I posted another card for him on my last post. This is the one from us. Someone has told him that he has featured here and he asked what a "blog" was. His grandchildren should be showing him now.