What you should have got for Christmas?

photo by David

Cannalpoly by Fergus

The board game for boaters  

I might have mentioned in the past that my brother David is a bit of a Monopoly fiend (as in the board game).

Here he is, keeping a close eye on anyone landing on his properties. With hotels on every site between The Angel, Islington and Vine Street it didn't take long for him to clean up.


Pall Mall with a hotel? That'll be £750 please.


Several years ago he created a version based on the streets around where we used to live in Essex, and called it Shenopoly. Then the big boys got in on the act and produced all sorts of "opolies".


David's son Fergus is a keen steerer of Shadow, and enjoys a good Monopoly session (especially if it means not having to go to bed until it's finished). Last month he came up with what must surely be a winner: Cannalpoly (sic).

The photo at the top of this post repays close inspection. Properties (with interesting spellings) are:

Pudding Green Junction

Gas Street Basin

Lee Navigation

Limehouse Canal

Regents Canal

Huddersfield Narrow Canal

Macclesfield Canal

Peak Forest Canal

Caldon Canal

Coventry Canal

BCN

Basingstoke Canal

Somerset Coal Canal

Kennet and Avon Canal

Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Trent and Mersey Canal

Manchester Ship Canal

Shropshire Union Canal

Montgomery Canal

Llangollen Canal

River Severn

River Thames

Stations are replaced by tunnels: Harecastle, Blisworth, Froghall and Standedge.

Utilities are Anderton Boat Lift and Foxton Inclined Plane.

Taxes are Fuel Bill £200 and Pump Out Bill £100.

Chance and Community Chest are replaced by Locks and Bridges.

Instead of going to jail you Get Grounded; and Just Visiting is On the Towpath.

Free Parking is, of course, Free Mooring.

I think it's excellent.