When I arrived at my new mooring in Horninglow Basin about six months ago, I made a casual remark that my:
...surroundings here are less salubrious than I'm used to, sandwiched as I am between a BW sanitary station and the concrete wall of the A38 above me.
The 'salubrious' was almost throwaway, and referred to the change from the posh 'country club' surroundings of Mercia Marina. It was also sandwiched within comments that made it clear I was glad to be at Horninglow Basin.
At the time I didn't mention that the basin's water is an undredged soup of mud, and that when I first arrived there was almost a miasma of sewage coming out of the water where I was moored.
Not to mention the regular appearance of dog dirt (pictured here on Saturday, albeit that the dirt is normally cleared up within hours).
However, that "salubrious", that S-word, fired up a nearby moorer. He took offence and made anonymous, catty comments on this blog.
(Normally on Granny you can comment freely without registering. You don't have to leave personal details if you don't want to. You don't even have to enter those silly characters.)
I didn't know who took personal offence at the 'salubrious' remark; he never owned up publicly. After several snitty comments I ended up blocking that particular IP address out of exasperation. How can you argue with a neighbour who snipes at you anonymously?
That's the problem with anonymous comments; it makes you suspect everyone. The anon accuser ends up by default co-opting everyone else into his argument, even if they don't want to be part of it.
Indeed, it could well be ALL of them, just like in the famous Agatha Christie whodunit.
(No, not The Mousetrap. That's just an excuse to use this picture.)
Anyway, I went to Streethay Wharf after just a month, to have assorted work done, and ended up staying there four months.
Never mind all that. A couple of weeks ago I returned, and am happy to be here again. It's a good time to be back, what with the IWA Waterways Festival starting in ten days time. I couldn't ask for a better mooring.
Even if it's not as salubrious as I'm used to.
Look here Denny. Can you please post something else. Every lunchtime I look at you blog whist eating my lunch, and I'm fedup with being put off by the site of dog poo. My wife is getting suspicious with me taking my partialy eaten lunch back every day and the excuse of seeing at Granny's Dog Poo is wearing thin.
It also brings back vivid memories of spending 3 unhappy hours cleaning the carpet of a hire boat after treading on a "land mine" and trailing it along the entire length of the boat.
Posted by: Trefor | Tuesday, 26 July 2011 at 12:23 PM
Hi Andrew - Having spent a week being greeted on arrival at Granny with your close up photo of one of the features of Horninglow Basin they'll be forever associated in my mind. Any chance of something more appropriate to enjoy with my Cornflakes? Enjoy the Festival.
Posted by: Phil | Tuesday, 26 July 2011 at 09:59 AM
Oh for goodness sake, haven't they got better things to be offended by than your honest opinion of the mooring? !!!
Posted by: Narrowboat Wife | Tuesday, 19 July 2011 at 08:29 PM
Hi Andrew...
mmm "Salubrious", could it be the name of their boat.
regards
Posted by: Mick | Tuesday, 19 July 2011 at 07:47 PM
You'll get him started again!
Posted by: Maffi | Tuesday, 19 July 2011 at 03:46 PM
As has been said on the internet for many a year:
anonymity + audience = idiot
Posted by: Gareth | Tuesday, 19 July 2011 at 06:55 AM
Good for you, Andrew. Somtimes this needs to be said to prevent us all decending into the slough of dubious waste materials!
Posted by: Mike from Garnet | Tuesday, 19 July 2011 at 01:43 AM