addicted

I can just remember when meat came off rationing. my nan, who lived with us, took me shopping and we stood outside the butchers and she told me to look in the window and pick anything I wanted and I could have it. It was a big event. I remember I chose a lamb chop! Carole

We use cash just for the purchase each morning of our papers and I use cheques to pay my visiting hairdresser. I use internet banking only to check that all is in order and for any transactions I go to the bank personally as although our local branch closed we still have branches in neighbouring towns that are easily accessible and some functions are possible at our local post office so at the moment we can manage things to our satisfaction. It's not so much that I don't trust modern technology, it's more that I don't trust myself not to make a hash of it! My keyboard skills lack much to be desired. Carole

That really does look good Sam. You must have felt wretched when you found ll that hidden damp damage. Let's hope that is the last of nasty surprises for you on Mermaid and it's all plain sailing from now on or should that be cruising? Carole x

Reading the above, as a parent of a baby boomer my generation has had to cope with all the changes mentioned and it gets harder practically every day. For example I can no longer park my car in a car park I've habitually used for 40 years or more because some twit decided to make the charge payable only by the use of a smart phone and I don't have one. I don't have one because I simply couldn't get on with the one I tried for a few months. It was anything but smart! I spend an inordinant amount of time these days on trying to find ways I can avoid being scammed while almost every other call I receive on my land line is from someone who is hell bent on doing just that! In other words all,these changes are not necessareily for the better. In fact I find life pretty difficult these days Sorry, rant over. Carole

Tony and I used to run a pet shop and it was quite a common thing for a youngster to be brought in by a parent to buy a hamster and be paying for it with money saved in their money box. It could be a bit of a pain to count the cost out in coins of small denominations. Even more so if the required pet was a rabbit, complete with hutch and all the accompanying required equipment! Carole

Saturdays Child was our previously referred to boat .She was Hot Gossip in those days, When we bought her in 2008 she was called Mr. Mullett. We hope you enjoy her as much as we did. Carole

We went to the boat last Thursday. Our first visit since October! The marina being flooded prevented us from getting on board till now. I must say we found it really hard not being able to get there right through the winter. Our normal winter routine is to go and check the boat every 2-3 weeks or so.We spend a short time on board and then go off for lunch somewhere, then home. it makes for a nice regular day out to break up the long winter months and we really missed it this year. We were dreading what we were going to find after all the flooding. The boat was undamaged thank goodness just filthy! Top marks to Ferry Marina for the level of care. Our first tasks involved getting unpacked and stowing everything away which took a while. The boat was surprisingly clean inside and no damp, the damp traps having done their job well. The boat didn't even feel particularly cold which was fortunate because the problem we had with our central heating at the back end of last season still hasn't been resolved due to the flooding preventing access. Sadly we have now discovered we need a replacement unit as all other remedies have failed. That evening we had dinner in the newly re-opened Ferry with friends and a lovely evening was enjoyed by us all. Because the season came to such a sudden end last year we were unable to fit the winter cover and the canopy was left exposed to the elements thus very dirty and will need cleaning when we return. The weather got very cold during the rest of the weekend and our little heater struggled to cope and we were happy to go home first thing Sunday morning. Hi-Jinks were most definitely absent from Hi-Jinks on this occasion. Carole

I mourn the passing of being able to wear my mink immensely. Nothing is as flattering on a woman or as warm. When my mother died I gave her ranch mink coat to a charity shop knowing I would not be able to wear it and being unable to bear throwing it away My fraternal grandmother was a courturier and furrier to the court of George V and queen Mary and when I was about 2 years old she made me a fur coat for the winter, ( not mink I hasten ro add!.) Each year she would insert new pelts to allow for my growth and this saw me through the majority of my chidhood, saving my parents a lot of money. No doubt the zealots previously referred to are the same kind of fools that released mink from a fur farm into the wild where they have wreaked havoc doing untold damage to the ecosystem. Carole

No.2 granddaughter has become very aware that the dawn is getting earlier. She recently changed her job and her new job was too far away from home for her to commute. So she has moved out of her parents' into a house local to her new job and is sharing with her old room mates from her days at uni. She is loving both the new job and the digs.The only problem is that her room is at the rear of the house and in a garden backing on to hers is a resident rooster! So her nights are anything but relaxed as he is up and crowing in the very early hours. Poor Phoebe! Carole

Tony antifouled our boat himself each year for many years until he found an antifoul with longer life and now has it done every 3 years or so. Do exactly as Smoggy says and definitely wear a mask especially during the prep as it's reputed to be carcinogenic. Carole

When we first boated on the RGO. in the 80s It was managed by the NRA this was altered when in the 90s it was taken over by the EA. From then on the standard of maintenance from the boaters' point of view deteriorated hugely. For example locks were altered in such a way that prevented eels accessing their traditional breeding grounds. Which in turn led to the complete diaappearence of the eels and all the numerous trades connected with them It seems to me that the Broads are being run by an organisation headed by a man who appears to have his own agenda overseen by an authority whose idealistic ideas are far from practicable and very far from prioritising people. I sometimes think that if I never heard the words" back to nature" or "wild life" again it would be too soon. We frequently hear the term endangered species. The endangered species is us! Carole

I fully intend to grow old disgracefully, I should be able to manage it alright, they say practice makes perfect and I've had plenty of that! Neighbours should meet the expectations required of Victorian children seen but but not heard. Carole

Limited abilities? These days I'm pathetically grateful for any remaining abilities. as Bette Davis is said to have remarked Old age is not for cissies. Ain't that the truth. However the alternative is no great shakes either I suppose. Carole

Thank you for finding the time to give us those details. Ian and his family popped into my mind on and off all day on Friday, However I couldn't have imagined how amazing everybody involved made Ian's send off, It sounds to have been a wonderful occasion and one he truly deserved. Carole

Very much thinking of Ian and his family today. Hope all goes well. I really miss him. Carole

Just as we were going to bed last night,my daughter texted me telling me to watch the Graham Norton show. As I'd probably rather stick pins in my eyes I decided to record it and watch it today.Good job I didn't ignore her request as I would have missed her performance in the red chair . Carole

Our post office is excellent, Along side the post office they sell all manner of stationary items , greetings cards and small gifts, bric -a - brac etc. At Christmas they will offer to put the stamps you have just bought on the pile of Christmas cards they see you carrying. It recently changed hands after the postmistress died of covid during the epidemic. The previous incumbents were also very good. Carole

I had a replacement hip 5 years ago it hasn't hampered my use of our boat in any way. However I regularly set off alarms on going in and of stores Carole

We bought our present house as a new build in 2004 and it's insulated to within an inch of it's life! During the winter we are mostly at home all day. The heating comes on at 7.00am and goes off at 9.30am, then again at 4.30pm and goes off at 8.30pm. The thermostat is set at 22deg. The hot water comes on for 20mins at 7.00am and at 5.00pm. we often turn the heating off during the evening as it frequently gets too warm . all internal doors are invariably left open. Carole

This is dreadful news. Ian will be immensely missed by so many people other than by his family. I really began to believe he had beaten his many problems. Tony and I send our deepest sympathy to Marina and to Alan and his sister. The world will be a poorer place without him. R.I.P.Ian. Carole

So delighted to hear this. It must be a huge relief to you all. All best wishes for a continued recovery. Still got fingers crossed. Carole

Yesterday a beautiful pink rose came into bloom in our back garden and to day an enormous bloom appeared on a Camelia in the front garden. Bizarre! Carole

That's what we've all been waiting to hear. It's wonderful news. I'm not uncrossing my fingers just yet, still willing him on as are we all. Carole

So very sorry to hear this Alan .We've been hoping so much for this not to be the case. As with all his forum friends our thoughts are with you and your family and we'll keep right on hoping for that miracle. Tony and Carole x

Hi Alan, this is so sad to hear. When I log on to the forum each morning the first thing I do is look to see if there is an update on your dad. needless to say this is not what I wanted to read. He is really up against it by the sound of things. He is such a fighter if anyone can beat this it's him. Sending all our very best wishes to him and your family., Thanks for the updates. Tony and Carole