Manko

Jill was one of a kind. I'm shocked to hear this. She was a great voice for the liveaboard community and will be missed. I met her through our liveaboard connection and she became a great friend. Nothing was too much trouble, and she even visited me in hospital, when she herself was very ill. i will treasure the stories she told me about the Albion Fairs that took place many moons ago, and the book about hippy festivals she gave me.

The BNP signs and logos are creeping in, just before the court case occurs. Bad timing? Someone could end up with egg on their face

Yes, he was extremely relieved I was there. I called two other Liveaboards who are also local and they were here before the emergency services. He was probably in danger if we weren't around. The benefits of having a few Liveaboards dotted around for sure.

Only just seen this thread. The man overboard was in the water for thirty minutes and taken to hospital but all was well in the end despite being extremely cold. I was there and called the emergency services but couldn't get him out on my own.

Nick is a great bloke. I should know

The mysterious Fen Raft Spider has published his musings from the Planning Meeting at the Blessed Authority recently that bestowed the first ever Residential Planning permission at Waveney River Centre. It makes interesting reading... https://www.facebook.com/nick.south/posts/10156248611145109

The BA decided to legitimise Liveaboards by inventing Residential Moorings and Planning Permission more than three years ago, if my memory is right. Finally, after a difficult battle, someone has finally applied for it and got it, despite the Planning Committee recommending that it be refused. The vote wasn't quite unanimous, with one vote against. This is a milestone, as Waveney River Centre now has permission for up to 10 residential boats out of its 130 moorings. i think this is the way forward, and perhaps all boatyards should be allowed a similar proportion if they wish to, depending on circumstances.

Without sounding like a stuck record, We're not in a National Park Clive, we're just calling it one. Thinking of renaming my shop Harrods. Will bring more visitors. It isn't Harrods, but who cares? I'm rebranding. For those interested, Packman is currently being interviewed on Radio Norfolk. The recorded interview is on Radio Norfolk at 5.05pm, with comments to follow. I'll be commenting around 5.15 In my guise as local RBOA rep, Liveaboard and interested party.

No thefts here at Thorpe Island I'm pleased to report. We have the best form of boat security. Liveaboards.

I tried to buy one of these but all three branches of Aldi in Norwich were sold out. I was told they didn't have many in the first place. I went to B and Q and bought the version 1 of the Karcher window vac instead. £60 including all the extra accessories. Not bad. The new version is slightly smaller and has 25% longer run time, but comes with no accessories. These are pricey so I'd recommend the earlier version. Run time is not an issue, 20 minutes is enough to do loads! Excellent bit of kit. Sorts the condensation in my bathroom with ease.

I love the picture of Thorpe in 1900 JM. I have a decent collection of postcards and prints of this area but have not seen that one before. The Broads Authority are currently trying to deny that there are mooring rights on that stretch.

A quick look at the owners Facebook reveals that their friends consist of many English Defence League Rascists. Delightful! I for one hope these people are not housed in Norfolk on the back of this. I'd also like to point out that this lovely couple in no way are representative of the vast majority of responsible liveaboards.

The lad who died was a regular visitor to my shop at Ludham Bridge. This is devastating. So sad.

I am familiar with Horning.org and it's boat database, and I don't think that the person photographing boats was from there. I'd be surprised anyway, as they were so cagey. If I encountered the chap who runs that database I'd be interested to have a natter about boats with him. I gather this person didn't want to talk at all. I must clarify, it was taken as read that because I used the word 'challenged' in my original post that somehow aggression was involved. This was not the case at all. This is a classic example of how the terms used in a post can be read whichever way the observer wishes to interpret them. To add the word 'harassment' to the debate extrapolates the misinterpretation much further. There was no aggression and no harassment at all. Moving on, I am not against charges or the possibility of undesirables long term mooring because I use a dinghy to cross the river. That accusation is off the mark. I stated that I don't see how charging could work. Who would collect fees? How would it be administered? How much would be charged? Would you charge the same for a dinghy as a 40ft cruiser? How would it be enforced? All relevant questions. As for undesirables....well, I live a peaceful life here most f the time as do my neighbours. I remember a boat turning up here maybe five years ago. To cut a long story short after about an hour of police activity, two police vans, police dogs, an electric stun shield, aggressive resistance to arrest, police bitten by one of two huge aggressive dogs, etc etc both occupants of the boat were arrested. This boat is well known around here, and believe me you wouldn't want to be moored near it, or in fact near it in any capacity. It is still around. If that boat moved in, it would be a nightmare for everyone. Nothing to do with wanting to moor my dinghy, as I say. Interestingly the dinghies only signs are largely ignored by dinghy users. I can't defend this, other than to point out that it is not enforced in any way, but I'm sure if it was everyone here would comply. Unfortunately the signs are only visible from the river, and certainly where I moor my dinghy, it is one of the favoured spots for fishermen, even though there are 'No Fishing' signs there which are routinely ignored too. As for 'blatant abuse f the Bylaws'? Oh, come on. We're not a bunch of lawless savages just because we use small dinghies to cross the river, and technically we shouldn't return within 24 hours once we've crossed the river? At least we are actually using the moorings...! That's what they are there for. If we were abating 20 foot plus cruisers over there indefinitely I could understand complaints but a few dinghies is hardly Armageddon, especially as they are not permanently there. Interestingly my landlord here originally tried to install a chain ferry to get to the island. He even tested it. The BA put the brakes on that plan. I think it could have worked well. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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It was written with my tongue firmly in my cheek, but it doesn't translate well to print, Strowager . Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Latest update....I went to Thorpe st Andrew Town Council's meeting tonight and spoke to Steven Ford, the Town Clerk. The BA have agreed to do some maintenance on River Green. 'Capping' I was told, although I'm not quite sure what that involves. Steven confirmed that the BA don't intend to renew the lease on the moorings, which runs out in 2017. Two members of the public spoke on this issue at the meeting, both expressing their concern that when the lease expires new Bylaws need to be in place to control mooring at River Green. In my opinion the response from TSA Town Council was hugely dismissive of their concern and this doesn't bode well. I would hate to see these moorings become a free for all for, what shall we say, undesirables. Unpoliced and unrestricted mooring could lead to this. The council's attitude was breathtaking when you consider what a lengthy process introducing new Bylaws can be. Steven Ford also mentioned there may be a possibility of charging for mooring. I personally can't see how that could work. Already boats wishing to moor have to negotiate the low bridges at either end of the island. To then face a mooring charge on top of the lack of facilities, well it's a nail in the coffin of mooring here. Why bother? Currently there are no shops, ugly metal fences covering large chunks of the quay heading, the rubbish bins are covered in signs warning boaters not to leave rubbish in them, and even the local Buck has closed yet again..that's another can of worms altogether. Incidentally, the spies are out in force. My neighbour encountered an individual photographing and cataloging all of the boats in the vicinity last week. He challenged them, and the 'spy' was reluctant to reveal anything at all, except that he wasn't working for the Broads Authority. TSA Town Council confirmed that he was nothing to do with them either. It wasn't you was it Paladine? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Such a smug comment from John Organ in this article. I still think the issue won't go away. This company is as shady as they come, the result of Government Legislation banning clampers. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Think I will stick to this 'Official' Forum then Strowager ;-) Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I didn't realise mentioning another forum was such a crime. Sorry Paladine. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Slightly off topic but it's nice to actually be able to debate on here rather than on the 'other' forum which I feel has lost it's way and is only fit for discussing one's favourite chip shop now. Long live this forum! Who decides that the oter one is 'Official' anyway? It's pompous for sure, but official?

I now know the identity of the person with the dinghy involved in the alleged incident a long way away from River Green in a private Marina, and I would imagine we haven't quite heard the full story. It certainly has nothing to do with River Green, as I've stated before. I'd suggest politely to Branden that if you have any issue with the person involved I'd discuss it with the owner of the marina rather than give bait to the 'anti brigade' on here, since it has no relevance whatsoever. Back to the debate, there is only 1 dinghy (to my knowledge) that is regularly chained up on River Green. The owner is away frequently and I'll guess he does this because of joyriding drunks. We've nearly all had problems with them down here. In view of the potential issues - especially with large chunks of the quay heading blocked off by the BA in breach of their contract - I'll see if I can speak to him when he's back and come to an arrangement with him so this doesn't have to be the case.

You've done it again Strowager. I noticed you used the word 'could' there. Why can't you accept that the two incidents are completely unrelated. You might as well have tried to connect two incidents in Wroxham and Yarmouth. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

What are you hinting at Marshman? All the likes of me wish to see is a fair representation of the area when topics arise. The fact that their are liveaboards in the area seems to bring out lots of negative comments and spin, and I don't really understand why. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Then why are you trying to suggest that an altercation in a private basin where there is no public mooring between two unidentified boaters has any bearing on a 24 hour mooring half a mile away? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk