Right, settle yerself down ‘cos it’s me Bertha off the cut. Aye, Alan’s so-called “better ‘alf”. Now, listen ere. That daft sod Alan, swannin’ about with his fancy alias like some canal-side James Bond, Pfft. More like Canal-Numpty. Who’s he kiddin’? Hah! Only thing he’s ever infiltrated is a tin o’ beans. And aye, beans fer breakfast, beans fer tea… no wonder there’s nowt goin’ on in the cabin. Pressure’s flatter than the water at lock twelve.

He reckons ‘e’s dead mysterious, sneakin’ along the towpath, shufflin’ under bridges an’ pokin’ about in holes he’ll never satisfy. That’s my Alan, losin’ another box. Still, I let him crack on. Gives me time to chat up proper blokes in the pub lads who can actually work a windlass without pullin’ their groin.
And the beans. Oh Christ, the beans. Morning, beans. Lunch, beans. Tea, triple beans. Lad thinks he’s runnin’ on diesel, but trust me, it’s methane. Cabin rattles like a tin drum most nights, and I ain’t talkin’ about romance. Every night when he lets one rip under the blankets that ain’t duvet day, love that’s biological warfare. No wonder the geese hiss at him, they think he’s markin’ territory.
Still. Can’t grumble too much ‘e keeps me entertained, like havin’ a pet ferret that eats beans an’ disappoints yer.
I’m takin’ a swing at this geocachin’ lark meself, cos someone’s gotta show that daft lump Alan how it’s done, his “caches”? Pfft. Easier to find than skid marks in his undies. Half the towpath dogs’ve sniffed ‘em out before the cachers do.
Who’s up fer comin’ an’ pokin’ round me canals then, eh? Bring yer boots, bring yer brains, an’ mind the muck — cos me waterways got more nooks n’ crannies than a numpty’s toolbox.
Me Alan’s spent yonks messin’ wi’ this geocachin’ lark, leavin’ me wantin’ summat proper. So I sez, two can play at that game! If yer fancy a rummage in me bits, jus’ part me bush ‘ere by t’ towpath an’ get stuck right in.