Markw

We are having a long weekend on a Broom Captain in 3 weeks time - has been at least 3 years since we have been able to get back onto the Broads - very much looking forward to it

My guess would be £125.00

Chris - we have hired from Brundall (Brooms)for the past 4 years or so... on our last night we always head for Rockland short dyke (if heading back to Brundall from the south that is the first turning to Rockland Broad) - lovely remote moorings - decent walks etc and only 20 mins back to Brundall in the morning - there is of course the option of heading further down into the staithe - just add 10 mins. Sure there are other options depending on pubs etc - but works for us and never had any issues getting onto the moorings.

Had exactly this just last week - as always, i never click on any links - either on phone or within emails - went & checked my EE account just to put my mind at rest - all fine of course. It just really annoys me - the whole scam thing these days.

Some of these scams are getting very complex - especially anything IT related. If you have a look on YouTube - search for baiting scammers - there are many people actually catching some of these scammers out & completely wasting their time, even turning the tables and connecting back onto the scammers computer and supposedly deleting all their files - it is very entertaining to watch & judging by the comments - many people have been caught out... The scams are really complex - in a nutshell - scammer calls to say they are from Microsoft or Apple (as most people use either / or ) usually & that your computer support is ending & they owe you a refund. They ask to connect to your system (via Team Viewer or similar software) - ask you to log into your back account online - they then 'upload' a form / page for you to fill in online - they ask you to type the amount of the refund in and as you are doing this they add an extra zero or 1 and hit enter before you get chance to query it - bear in mind this is the refund to you - supposedly - during this time they take various screenshots that you are sharing with them to make it look like you have been credited too much money into your account & start threatening legal / police action if you do not refund it to them. How do they want the refund? - in store cards (such as Costco etc) - they want you to go & get store cards & give them the card codes over the phone - they even stay on the phone whilst you drive to the store... etc etc etc - presumably then they are selling these codes online to others... This really does sound so far fetched - especially as i type it - but there are many people on YouTube catching these guys out & recording the calls / screenshots etc - go have a look. I work in IT myself and was amazed at the lengths they are going to....

Merry Christmas all.... have a good one... Mark & Jules xx

On the topic of Insurance - for years both my wife & i had company cars as our daily drivers (mainly due to fact we both worked for a large vehicle rental company for 15 years or so) - so we never needed to worry about insurance etc. Having then been made redundant 3 or so years ago - and finding ourselves working in a completely different sector - we then had to source our own cars & of course insure them. We had our house policy with Aviva and just went to them - so easy to do (especially online) - quotes were comparable to others - and they also were great at accepting 10 years plus of no claims on our 'work' insurance policy - employer kindly provided a letter stating our driving history with a company car. Have had to make a couple of non fault claims over the last year - but all sorted quickly (last one i did all online - including uploading all photos of damage - was approved same day - including hire car booking & body shop phoned me next day (as was a Sunday) to sort collection of the car - cannot fault the service at all...

For the last 3 years we have taken a couple of weeks in Fort Lauderdale on the east coast of Florida each May where boat hire is actually pretty much 90% private owners - it is as easy as hiring a car - but mostly focused on day hires here & there rather than a week at a time - although one guy i was chatting to last year when looking to book again, and mentioned that i might take it for 2 days - was more than happy for me to keep it at our villa we had rented overnight (had 100ft of waterfront dock - on the main intracoastal waterway) - without blinking an eye. Booking is all done through a website - all rental agreements / legal agreements with them - obviously the owners pay fees etc - but it does seem to work really well. We have hired different boats over the last few years and never had a problem. Pic of last one below

I was going to ask the question - with boats sat on the mud - presumably with the props and rudders now sunk in the mud - is any damage ever suffered because of this? - or with the mud being very soft - do boats tend to be ok?

Just catching up as well.... very shocked and sincerest condolences from us as well... Mark & Jules

When we returned our Hireboat last Monday (17th Sept) - Malcolm did the usual fuel etc and as i walked into the hut for our refund i as usual said nice to see you etc and the fact you are here year after year... he said unfortunately that he would be gone this week as he had been unsuccessful in reapplying for his position (his words were not quite as eloquent as that) and that was that basically.... I have been in a similar position some years ago - with the same company for nearly 15 years and more than twice had to apply / be interviewed for a position that i was already in (or very similar to) - usually happens when companies are downsizing and if there are no voluntary redundancies (or the company is not offering a redundancy package) then they are obliged to allow people to apply for other positions within the organisation etc etc - most of the time it is a 'tick box' exercise to keep within various employment laws - but a process has to be followed...

On countdown now - about to finish work in London - train back to South Sheff.....- pack car tonight ready for 07.30 departure to Brundall tomorrow morning - really looking forward to this weekend....

Understand what you mean now.... my hat on.... lol

Very true & there is obviously a market for them as like you say - the boatyards would not make such an investment (i would hope) - they must be very well appointed inside

Agreed...... although we do like / appreciate modern day luxuries when we are on the river - still want the boat to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye....