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The boat that Guy built

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Steve Garnett	18/03/2011 23:03:16
837 forum posts 27 photos	Oh, and the Lady GaGa degree is, fortunately, only on offer in an American institution... But don't worry - there has in the past been at least one University in the UK offering, to all intents and purposes, a degree in Witchcraft, so we aren't entirely immune...
blowlamp	19/03/2011 00:22:16
1885 forum posts 111 photos	For those that remember them, some of the BBC's Horizon and Channel 4's Equinox documentaries made for excellent viewing. Martin.
NJH	19/03/2011 00:33:38
2314 forum posts 139 photos	Hi All Time for a little humble pie. After the first posting about Guy & Co ( on another thread) I took some of you to task for a gloomy response to the programme. My wife & I quite enjoyed it and I'd not come across the lift between the two canal levels before. The next programme was, however, poor and the latest offering dire! I doubt that I will have an opinion to express on the rest of the series as life is too short to waste watching and evaluating such trash.( I think it was the micrometer clamp that finally did it !) So my apologies - you were not at all gloomy but quite right. I suggest Guy sticks to the M/C racing, which I understand he does well, and the BBC concentrates on Blue Peter etc. Shame though - some of the Open University progs. used to be good and they did, at one time, run a second level course on canals etc. Regards Norman Edited By NJH on 19/03/2011 00:35:02
chris stephens	19/03/2011 00:55:25
1049 forum posts 1 photos	Hi Norman, I suppose we should have guessed that the program would be a bit naff, the time slot gave it away. We all watched it following the "....to travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive,....." principle. If it had really been made with us lot (minority audience) in mind it would have been on BBC4 at 4AM. Cynical, me? chriStephens
Les Jones 1	19/03/2011 10:37:47
2292 forum posts 159 photos	Hi Norman, The Anderton Boat Lift that you mention is something else that they could have spent more time on. If you are ever in the area of the Aderton Boat Lift (Northwich Cheshire.) it is worth a visit. Here is the link to their website. Anderton Boat Lift. Les.
NJH	19/03/2011 13:38:33
2314 forum posts 139 photos	Thanks Les That certainly looks worth a visit . Sadly, from here it's a round trip of close on 400 miles! Who knows though if ever I get in that part of the country it looks to be worth a diversion. Regards Norman
Steve Garnett	19/03/2011 15:12:01
837 forum posts 27 photos	The other boat lift that looks to be worth a visit if one is in Scotland is the Falkirk Wheel. Posted by NJH on 19/03/2011 00:33:38: So my apologies - you were not at all gloomy but quite right. In the middle of my 'career' (?) I had a nineteen year break from having anything much to do with engineering, and spent a lot of that time teaching, and... making educational TV documentaries. As a result, I'm afraid that now it only takes me a matter of seconds to spot duds. It's not just the gaffes, it's just as much the attention to detail; it's relatively easy to determine just from the way a script is constructed whether the production team has taken anything other than basic professional advice, or done any serious research. If they haven't, then what is unfolding in Guy's Boat is typical, and rather inevitable. Some effort goes into the first prog, and then the whole thing runs out of steam. So the rest of this series could easily turn into a train crash - worth watching in it's own right, perhaps, but that's about all. They say that there are no such things as problems - merely opportunities. And to this production team, the opportunities in this series seem to be insurmountable - and they've missed pretty much all of them as far as I'm concerned. I'd rather that stuff like this simply wasn't broadcast, quite frankly - it will put people off the subject completely, which would be rather unfortunate. Even James May's ManLab programmes were better, and they weren't much to write home about either. Sorry to sound so negative about this, but it's rather hard to be anything else, quite frankly.
Mike	19/03/2011 15:27:08
713 forum posts 6 photos	When I trained as a journalist, more than 50 years ago now, I was taught that one of the duties of the media was to educate the public, as well as to inform and entertain.This noble ideal seems to have completely vanished now, except in some areas of the specialist press such as ME and MEW and a few others. Or is it me, growing into a grumpy old man?
Steve Garnett	19/03/2011 19:00:31
837 forum posts 27 photos	Posted by Mike on 19/03/2011 15:27:08: When I trained as a journalist, more than 50 years ago now, I was taught that one of the duties of the media was to educate the public, as well as to inform and entertain. Absolutely - straight Reith. And in the order he gave it, which I believe is significant. And of course it should come as no surprise to anybody here to learn that he did a five-year engineering apprenticeship at Hyde Park Locomotive Works in Glascow - of which he said "The five years' apprenticeship had a lasting effect. Some of it good" The sooner the BBC recognises that Reith was right then, and is just as right now, the better for all of us, I'd say. Also, the sooner some Government or other realises that an economy that doesn't buy in raw materials, process then and add value to them before selling them on is going nowhere, the better as well. The Boat that Guy Built (although he didn't, did he?) is, in fact, a rather damning indictment of everything that's wrong with UK Ltd. Graham is absolutely correct; it's comedy certainly - but actually rather a sick joke into the bargain, too.
Dinosaur Engineer	19/03/2011 19:03:04
147 forum posts 4 photos	I enjoy the occasional chuckle on seeing some of the TV engineering related " faux-pas" Some times my wife can't understand why I'm laughing .Like for example watching her Eastenders when "Minty" says "I fink the cam needs ajustin" and then proceeds to lower an 18 inch long 3 inch open jaw adjustable spanner into a cars' engine compartment. Even our beloved Fred wasn't adverse to dropping a few clangers now and again but he never did profess to be an engineer.
The Merry Miller	19/03/2011 19:52:42
484 forum posts 97 photos	Did anybody see any of the series "Industrial Revelations" with Mark Williams, him of Harry Potter fame? They knocked Guy's boat building into a cocked hat!
Ian.T	19/03/2011 20:20:42
2 forum posts	Posted by The Merry Miller on 19/03/2011 19:52:42: Did anybody see any of the series "Industrial Revelations" with Mark Williams, him of Harry Potter fame? They knocked Guy's boat building into a cocked hat! Indeed! Mark Williams is a cracking fella, with great enthusiasm for all the "Industrial Revelations" that he was involved in. Crying shame that he didn't continue to host it, in my opinion. As for Guy, nice enough chap but comes across as not the sharpest tool in the box - and I have to agree with others here, it looks like his program is heading down hill all the way. Shame really.
John Coates	19/03/2011 22:58:50
558 forum posts 28 photos	My wife's father was a welder most of his life and a rather good one, albeit an alcoholic which is what ultimately claimed him. He didn't leave much but one thing I do have is a book from goodness knows when called "The Practical Man's Book of Things to Make and Do". Inside are six fold out plans for many "things" including a folding card table, an under bed wardrobe and a summer house. A veritable treasure trove for the inquiring mind with time on its hands.
Nicholas Farr	20/03/2011 00:45:36
3988 forum posts 1799 photos	Posted by Les Jones 1 on 19/03/2011 10:37:47: Hi Norman, The Anderton Boat Lift that you mention is something else that they could have spent more time on. If you are ever in the area of the Aderton Boat Lift (Northwich Cheshire.) it is worth a visit. Here is the link to their website. Anderton Boat Lift. Les. Hi Les, I believe I saw that in 1979 when on a narrow boat holiday with my ex wife, who was just my girlfriend then. We were with my cousin and his girlfriend and my cousins sister (who was also my cousin). We had started off at Penkridge near Wolverhampton and went via Newcastle-under-Lyme, passed Sandbatch and Middlewich on the Trent and Mersey cannal and then passed the boat lift to get onto the Shropshire Union cannel somehow, to get back to Penkridge, can't remember to much detail about the route, as my cousin was navigator, and I was the driver most of the time, my other cousin was cook and the girlfriends had the job of opening the lock gates. From what I remember of it, it was out of use and looked a bit rusty and negleted. Of course we only saw the top part of the lift from our point of view. Yes I agree, a little more time there could have been interesting. I haven't watched this weeks dissapointing installement, might look it up on iplayer if I find time. Regards Nick.
Terryd	20/03/2011 11:03:29
1946 forum posts 179 photos	Posted by Graham Meek on 19/03/2011 19:56:38: Hi Dinosaur Engineer, .........The last time I watched Coronation Street, Ena Sharpels and Minnie Coldwell were in't Snug. The thing which sums up this whole "The Boat that Guy Built" problem was the time people were writing in for a job in Mike Baldwin's new factory, I think that was during the 80's when Terry's beloved Maggie was decimating industry and encouraging the Yuppies to gamble money they did not really have............. Gray Hi Gray, If you think that Maggie was 'beloved' by me it just proves that either haven't properly read my posts, just don't understand, or don't want to! I wonder which? If you think that my description of her as a "vapid industry hater" is to show my love of her, I despair. Best regards Terry Edited By Terryd on 20/03/2011 11:05:00
John Stevenson	20/03/2011 11:27:56
5068 forum posts 3 photos	Love here or hate her she was the only person who stood up to the unions. I'd hate to think of where we would be today if we had the unions AND Health and Safety. John S.
blowlamp	20/03/2011 11:28:17
1885 forum posts 111 photos	Hi Terry. I'm not trying to speak on behalf of Graham, but I think he was highlighting just how much he despises Mrs Thatcher's actions during the 80's, by comparing his feelings against yours. If that's the case then it's perhaps an example of where a suitable Emoticon could have been used to good effect. It's just my view, but I hope that it makes some sense. Martin.
blowlamp	20/03/2011 11:34:11
1885 forum posts 111 photos	Posted by John Stevenson on 20/03/2011 11:27:56: Love here or hate her she was the only person who stood up to the unions. I'd hate to think of where we would be today if we had the unions AND Health and Safety. John S. John. Could it be any worse? Martin.
Les Jones 1	20/03/2011 12:14:31
2292 forum posts 159 photos	Hi all, Today I came across a group of Youtube videos about Bletchley Park that are an example of how to make an interesting program. The quality of the pictures and sound may not be BBC standard but the content beats it. Here is a link them Bletchley Park video Les.
Terryd	20/03/2011 14:17:56
1946 forum posts 179 photos	Posted by Graham Meek on 20/03/2011 11:39:03: Hi Terry, You always seem to get my comments the wrong way, I personally can't stick her, and many would say I love to hate her, but this would be wrong as I do not hate any one. Hate can be a very bad vice, it will end up consuming the individual, and no that is not pointed at you personally merely a generalisation. A piece of advise given to me once which has stood me well, "We do not have to like people, merely tolerate them", one of my past managers fell into this category. I am trying to keep this as light hearted as I can, if my remark has caused you personal offence them I apologise, as no offence was intended, I often refer to her "as my beloved Maggie." Gray. Hi Gray, I too hate no one for the same reasons as yourself, however if I have ever come near to that emotion it would be for Thatcher as I saw what damage she did to our many of our institutions as well as society, apart from the terrible destruction of our industrial and national infrastructure. I find any mention of my name in conjunction with hers as deeply insulting. I don't apologise for that. Regards Terry

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