Doing a Gerald Ratner!

[jaws]

Reading though my new IMRAY River Thames Book the other day I came across the following about the stretch between Goring and Cleave lock.

"The setting is perhaps moderately more
attractive since on the Oxfordshire bank lie
the backwaters and streams of Cleeve and its
mill, not overcome by the mass gathering of
tax-losing motor craft as at Harleyford but
perhaps enhanced by the manicured lawns
and trees of the property of the taxloopholed
gentry."

The writer is clearly a narrowboater. It isn't the only inverted snobbish remark about big plastic boats either. The funniest thing is that Harleyford Marina has a large advert in the book. I guess they never bothered to read it.

 

[teddington_lock]

AFAIK 'The River Thames Book' is written by Chris Cove-Smith ? Who is an ex lock-keeper ....

 

[Chris_d]

I'd like to know where this "taxloophole" is that allows you to own a boat for nothing?

Guess I might fall in it by mistake one day.

 

[No Regrets]

<<tax-losing motor craft as at Harleyford but
perhaps enhanced by the manicured lawns
and trees of the property of the taxloopholed
gentry>>

I don't care a jot who this is, but these are the words of an utter pleb.#

Whilst assuring you of my humble origins, and come to think of it, humble current status in life, I have no issue with people fortunate enough to have purchased nice Boats, or large plots of land with flash houses built upon them!

The taxation is a matter for HMR&C, not mine, and I gather they usually catch up with recalcitrant payers, but how they spend their cash is not my business.

I enjoy cruising the Thames, taking in the ambience of large houses, big shiny boats and Gin swilling residents.

Perhaps I dream of pretending to be one, if only for the day or weekend concerned, and I'm sure to others, may look like one too.

But I'm not jealous of anybody, unlike the idiot who besmirched himself typing those words.....

 

[Stormin Norm]

Whilst assuring you of my humble origins, and come to think of it, humble current status in life, I have no issue with people fortunate enough to have purchased nice Boats, or large plots of land with flash houses built upon them!

I enjoy cruising the Thames, taking in the ambience of large houses, big shiny boats and Gin swilling residents.

Perhaps I dream of pretending to be one, if only for the day or weekend concerned, and I'm sure to others, may look like one too.

Well written.

I think that sums up most of us, the little green eyed monster is showing himself in those author's words me thinks.

"No Regrets" Maybe you should have a go writing for them next time !

 

[No Regrets]

Under a psuedonym perhaps....

It certainly sums up most, if not all, of the BCC membership I have the fortune to have met. Whatever boat or accent you posess is met with the same courtesy and friendship.

I have never met any serious snobbery on the River! Manners, yes, Standards, yes, and even Tradition. Never this sort of stuff...

 

[TrueBlue]

If you're right -

Reading though my new IMRAY River Thames Book the other day I came across the following about the stretch between Goring and Cleave lock.....
[ QUOTE]

in the title of this tread ("doing a Ratner"), then perhaps the epithet should be renamed "doing a Cove-Smith"!
I thought it was a bit intemperate of Chris since - as all who have met and talked with him - he is a most even tempered sort, believing that the River is for all sorts of users; no matter what sort of craft they "drive".

So, I had look at my copy of the Book from two editions ago (1998), and Lo, the same comments! They perhaps might have been valid then inasmuch as a Large White Cruiser might be claimable as a tax allowance. Perhaps if he reads this (I'm sure some of his friends will point him here), he might consider modifying his note for future editions.

Harleyford is a long way (boating-wise) from Cleeve, and I can't recall (m)any manicured lawns upstream nearby, save perhaps for Castle Byron. More a very nice Cricket Pitch or even a Polo Ground, in size methinks.....

It was certainly being given a large roller treatment when we passed by on Friday, so I hope ODCC appreciated it over the weekend.

Sorry guys, this post started trying to be slightly humorous, and ended up being a bit pompous.

I'll have to allocate some time to looking for more gaffes from CC-S.

 

[oldgit]

a mild bit of fun

"The setting is perhaps moderately more
attractive since on the Oxfordshire bank lie
the backwaters and streams of Cleeve and its
mill, not overcome by the mass gathering of
tax-losing motor craft as at Harleyford but
perhaps enhanced by the manicured lawns
and trees of the property of the taxloopholed
gentry."

Oooo ...my my what a lot of high horses are being mounted,its just a bit of caustic humor at the expense of people who can well afford to ignore any old banter like that and of course every last one of them will be on PAYE.

 

[teddington_lock]

Just looked at my 1996 copy and it's the same there ...

I'm sure CCS doesn't mean any malice by it .

 

[ExSkipper]

River Thames Book writer

Reading though my new IMRAY River Thames Book the other day I came across the following about the stretch between Goring and Cleave lock.

"The setting is perhaps moderately more
attractive since on the Oxfordshire bank lie
the backwaters and streams of Cleeve and its
mill, not overcome by the mass gathering of
tax-losing motor craft as at Harleyford but
perhaps enhanced by the manicured lawns
and trees of the property of the taxloopholed
gentry."

The writer is clearly a narrowboater. It isn't the only inverted snobbish remark about big plastic boats either. The funniest thing is that Harleyford Marina has a large advert in the book. I guess they never bothered to read it.

The River Thames Book writer is not a narrowboat owner and never was although I believe he has driven a few. He did have an Elysian 27 a few years ago but sold it when the mooring fees increased.
Why are all those g.r.p's lined up at Harleyford all season. Mind you, if they all moved into the channel at once we'd never get more than a mile or two.