DEFRA Waterway Protest

The promised overnight "hurricane" never seemed to materialise.  Well, there was some heavy rain, but it eased off by 10:00 and we went to explore Rickmansworth.  Not a lot to see really, just one short high street with small shops, no big chain stores.  We returned to the boat just in time for a big thunderstorm, then the weather improved.  At 14:00 we joined on the end of the blockade of boats at Batchworth as part of the agreed protest demonstration against the sudden and damaging budget cuts imposed in year by the Minister of State for the Department  of the Environment Farming and Rural Affairs.   Many people will be thrown out of work and the hard won renaissance of the canals will be jeopardised.   About 30 boats took part, predominantly belonging to local live-aboards and working boats - those with most to lose.   There were few representatives of the leisure boaters.  It must have been the threatened bad weather that put them off.   The gathering was attended by the local MP, Mr David Gauke who made a short speech in support, and the press.   By 16:00 it was all over and we dispersed to our original mooring of the night before, ready for a return to Harefield in the morning.   The music in the White Bear was too loud for us oldies, and the pub too crowded to get a meal, so we hit Tesco again for a couple of ready meals and a bottle of wine and returned to the boat for an evening in.