Canal

I was walking along the canal the other day. There are many canals around here; practically the Venice of the north. Clearly the cotton mills and chimneys give the game away. As do the glowering grey skies and flocks of discontented sheep. Apart from those details - and, now I come to think of it, some subtle differences in cuisine - you could be forgiven for thinking you were somewhere rather more Adriatic.

I've always half fancied the idea of taking a narrowboat down the canal, as being a relaxing way to view the countryside and local wildlife (with the possibility of mowing some of it down if it happens to be swimming along in your way). They seem to be available for hire around these parts, which saves you having to buy your own, using it once and realising it wasn't all you thought it would be and then having to stash it in the back garden. But I am not all that nautically-minded; not sure I can tell my bowsprit from my mainforetopsail.  And knots: never been very good at knots. As for locks, they seem a disaster waiting to happen. So it may be safer for all concerned if I keep to the towpath.

There are pretty houses along the canal. I noticed one with a crocodile outside; or possibly an alligator. I could once tell the difference but no longer feel confident distinguishing one from the other in an emergency. Anyway, this one was possibly not real, although realistically life-size. It wasn't moving much, if at all, but then I don't think they scurry around much at the best of times. I watched as a narrowboat came sidling slowly along the canal, and the crocodile made no attempt to attack. Not sure what I would have done if it had.