Broadland Memories new web site

[Brian]

http://www.broadlandmemories.co.uk

Has just been updated with some fantastic pictures of the Norfolk Broads dating back to the 1930`s

A great web site to enjoy the past

[Guest]

those pictures are something special the lovely old cruisers there just something about them you fall in love with

[AdnamsGirl]

Hi

Many thanks for the link to Broadland Memories!

For those who don't know the website, it's an archive of photographs, personal memories and history of boating and the holiday industry on the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, from the Victorian era and the birth of the boating boom right through the decades of the 20th century. It was something which started out as a hobby as I felt that all of this fascinating, and historically important, material should be gathered in one place for people to enjoy and hopefully discover a little bit of Broadlands past from. From humble beginnings in 2006, it now seems to have taken over my life and become a full time job and is still very much an ongoing project with new additions being added on a regular basis. I hope that it will one day provide a complete social history to life and leisure on the Norfolk Broads!

Along with the photo galleries, personal memories and historical overviews you can also find various other sections including Then & Now, old postcards and newspaper cuttings, advertisements and boating documents from way back, and old town and village maps showing long lost boatyards ...... just to name a few items!!

For those that do know it and maybe haven't checked it out in a while, the site had a major revamp earlier in the year and, since then, has had some fascinating material added including a stunning collection of over 100 photographs of Broadland and the fishing industry at Great Yarmouth from 1903 and 1904. Now that winter is here I will be catching up with adding more items to the website, along with a few more changes I need to make to the layout, over the next few weeks and months!

As ever, if anyone has anything which they would like to submit to the archive, be it old photographs, memories of holidays or life in Broadland during the 20th century, etc. etc. then I would be very happy to recieve them through the contact page on the website. Whilst I cannot guarantee to display everything I recieve, I do my best to add as much as I can to the website, but EVERYTHING that is submitted is kept and stored digitally in several formats so that it will be preserved!

Thanks again!

Carol

[AdnamsGirl]

Hi

My apologies if anyone has tried to access the Broadland Memories website this morning as it has been offline for a while!

Basically, I had to upload the entire site afresh this morning (which took 4 hours!) due to some major changes I have been working on over the last month or so. The majority of these are not something that most people will notice, but just things which will make my life a little easier when it comes to adding new stuff to the website. For example ... I currently have 27 pages in the 1900-1950 photo Gallery and, because I had a numbered link at the top of every page to every other page in that Gallery, it meant that if I needed to add a new page I would have to upload all the others too! This took some considerbale time so I have now changed the way that the pages link to one another.

Things you will notice are that there is now a link to the sites search facility in the header buttons on every page and the paper & Ephemera directory has now been added to the main Archive page. I also got rather distracted by completely revising and re-writing the Pre 1900 history which is now very much expanded! There are also new additions to the various Galleries too with more to come over the next month or so.

I have not had time to check the entire site yet ... but I think everything has uploaded successfully! However, if anyone notices any problems (missing pages, photos, news cuttings etc) then please, please let me know via PM or email so that I can sort it out as quickly as possible.

Many thanks!

Carol

[AdnamsGirl]

Hi all

This is somewhat of an experiment as I don't know how much interest there will be really, but I have decided to start a Broadland Memories Blog: http://broadlandmemories.blogspot.com/

It will run alongside the main website to let people know about latest website updates, new submissions and give sneak previews of photos and other items which will be added to BM in the future, as well as providing a place where I can link to other interesting web pages, photos videos, news items etc online which relate to Broadland's history. I don't really have the time or space to be able to do this sort of thig on the main website so thought I'd give blogging a try! There is no link to the blog from the BM website at present, but I will try and sort that out later. I was quite surprised by how easy it was to set it all up and it's incredibly quick to add new posts ( once I'd finally got my head round how to customise the blog page!).

Anyway, I'll see how it goes ... if there is little interest or takes up too much time then it can all be deleted at the press of a button!

Carol

[Guest]

"Broads" hobby websites now abound, and most are mediocre, but your particular theme is still unsurpassed Carol.

I vaguely remember you asking for ideas feedback when you first started it up, but it's now a shining example of the plus side of the web, free and interesting specialist information, well structured.

[NorfolkNog]

Looks very good to me Carol!

Like the main website its well written and well presented and whets the appetite to delve deeper. I'll add it to my favourites!!

[quo vadis]

Very interesting site

[jillR]

looking good

[AdnamsGirl]

You are very kind Strowager .... the concept of having a "specialist" website does sound a bit dodgy though! It's always nice to get some positive feedback (which thankfully it mostly is) although the website does still have it's knockers because of the software I use and the "messy" code it produces. In fact somewhere on the web BM is hailed as being a prime example of how not to build a web page!

But it works for me, and hopefully the majority of people who visit, and I wouldn't have been able to do what I have done any other way. The main thing is that it's all out there for people to see, and as I have always said, it's the womderful contributions from everyone who has sent me photographs and memories etc. which make it what it is.

Many thanks Howard - I can't claim credit for how the blog is presented though as I just used one of their off the shelf templates!

As I said, I don't know how this one will work out .... I am often sent photographs which may take me a while to get onto BM, possibly because of the research/ cleaning up etc needed, or maybe because I am not updating the relevant gallery immediately. Sometimes there are some wonderful images amongst them, or some puzzles, or an important event in Broadlands history and I would love to be able to post them on one of the forums, but don't have permision. I am hoping that with the blog I may be able to do that there instead and can hopefully get some feedback or more information on the images. I have been planning on doing away with the mystery page on BM as, to be honest, I haven't really made much use of it .... the blog will hopefully fill that gap too. I also make copious scribbled notes when I am researching photos, but have no real system for filing them! The blog will also be a sort of notebook for me as it is fully searchable ... in fact I can also include the blog in the main BM search button so that it will search both sites with one hit! There are likely to be the odd photos/ postcards, or bits of information which may never make it onto the main website so hopefully it will just increase the resource.

A prime example of the sort of thing I want to add arrived in my inbox yesterday. I was sent a lone photo which was taken in 1965 on a Broads holiday ...... it shows the thatched roof of the Ferry Inn at Horning ablaze! The chap had an interesting story to accompany the photo too. Now, obviously, this will end up in the 1960s gallery on BM, but I have some 80s/90s photos, and a three or four collection of photos from 1900-1930s to add before I can even think about updating the 60s gallery again. With the blog, I can at least get some of these historic images out there straight away (Horning picture added a few minutes ago!).

Anyway, many thanks for all your support ... it is greatly appreciated!

Carol

[NorfolkNog]

Hi Carol

Dramatic picture of the Ferry fire! I do like the blog idea, it’s in a similar vein to the Wherryman’s Way blog which I also enjoy reading. Hopefully as you say, you can drop things in as and when and its very convenient.

Hopefully the copyright thing isn’t too much of a problem, as it’s not for profit hopefully people wouldn’t mind too much?

I think BM works very well, I’m not sure what the significance of the code thing is but the site is easy to navigate and loads quickly so it seems to do everything it says on the tin!!

Keep up the good work!!

[boycee]

Great site Carol-you must put countless hours in to produce & maintain it-I have just browsed it for nearly an hour and not touched the surface yet-Excellent

Alan

[AdnamsGirl]

The Broadland Memories Blog has moved .... if you have it saved in your favourites then please click on the link below and resave it, or go to it via the link on the BM Home page.

There seems to have been sufficient interest in it over the last couple of months to continue the blog, so I have been looking into ways of self hosting it which means that I will have full control of the content and the site, and will hopefully also make it easier for visitors to leave coments. (Although they will be moderated! ). I hadn't actually planned to do it just yet, but whilst waiting for the new web design software to arrive I looked into using WordPress .... I downloaded it on Tuesday and managed to get it all set up and working in a day. Yestrerday I managed to import all of the exisiting blog posts across from Blogger, with a little bit of tweaking, and it seems to be running OK. I had hoped to spend a little more time getting to know the software and learning how to customise it further, but have really been forced into going live with it today as, ironically, I discovered some major display issues with Internet Explorer in a post I put on Blogger last night. It appears to be yet another png problem but was affecting both IE7 and IE8 on a friends PC. I deleted the post from Blogger and I give up! Blogger seems to be full of bugs and quirks and WordPress has been a little more straightforward to use. It looks rather different but I'm sure I'll get used to it!

The new URL is: http://www.broadlandmemories.co.uk/blog/

Our postie delivered the new web design software this morning so I will be looking into installing that and hopefully getting the main website up and running in it over the next week, so that I can hopefully address the IE8 display issues. If there are any display issues in the WordPress blog then I shall scream!!!!

Carol

[AdnamsGirl]

Yikes ... I've joined the social networking revolution and you can now follow Broadland Memories on Twitter should you be so inclined:

https://twitter.com/norfolkmemories

Now all I have to do is work out how to use it!

Carol

[NorfolkNog]

Hi Carol

I’ve signed up for it so hopefully will get your ‘tweets’

Not signing up for Britney Spears though!!!

Good luck with it!!!!

[jillR]

hi carol

Now all I have to do is work out how to use it!

i think i may leave that till the winter

good luck with it.

jill

[AdnamsGirl]

Not signing up for Britney Spears though!!!

Go on Howard ... you know you want to!

I don't expect I'll be tweeting too much but can at least link to blog updates etc. so it might raise awareness of the archive a bit. More than anything it's a means to follow others on there as I had been checking out some of the F1 related tweets regularly anyway so this just makes it easier for me ..... I suddenly seem to be following an awful lot of local breweries mind you!

As someone who's never really been interested in this social networking thing, it's surprising just how many Broads based businesses, charities and organisations have a Twitter presence, so it may be useful ..... or just another distraction!

Now .... what's Britney got to say today ......

Carol

[AdnamsGirl]

Not signing up for Britney Spears though!!!

Go on Howard ... you know you want to!

I don't expect I'll be tweeting too much but can at least link to blog updates etc. so it might raise awareness of the archive a bit. More than anything it's a means to follow others on there as I had been checking out some of the F1 related tweets regularly anyway so this just makes it easier for me ..... I suddenly seem to be following an awful lot of local breweries mind you!

As someone who's never really been interested in this social networking thing, it's surprising just how many Broads based businesses, charities and organisations have a Twitter presence, so it may be useful ..... or just another distraction!

Now .... what's Britney got to say today ......

Carol

[NorfolkNog]

Go on Howard ... you know you want to!

I wouldn't mind but she appeared when I logged on!!!

A useful thing is that you get 're-tweets' so for example the local CAMRA branch re-tweet brewery bits, so its quite good. So it might work quite well Carol as your tweets might get passed on and re tweets might come to you if that makes sense! I will get to grips with it.

I'm still not signing up for Facebook though!!!! :

[NorfolkNog]

Having signed up for Twitter I can honestly say it has proved really worth doing.

I’ve been reading Carol’s daily Broadland Memories tweets which I have really enjoyed. I like the ‘bite sized’ format. Carol’s username on Twitter is norfolkmemories. Well worth a look.

I’ve also ‘signed up’ for Broads boatyards and several quality Norfolk brewers!! Still avoided Britney Spears though!!

[AdnamsGirl]

I'm back at the helm of Broadland after a year long break due to family responsibilities and health problems ... it feels good to get started on the website again. Fingers crossed it stays this way for a while. Last year was a rather difficult one to say the least.

 

Anyway ... I have a bit of a dilemma.

 

In the past, Broadland Memories has largely been funded out of my own pocket with a handful of DVD sales helping things along. Unfortunately, a change in household income has meant that I just can't do that anymore, as much as I'd like to. Website hosting costs are minimal thanks to Craig Slawson, so that is not an issue. What is a major issue at the moment is the fact that I need to upgrade the software I use as I've noticed a few display issues in newer versions of Windows. I'm still stuck with XP on the main PC I use for the website but a recent upgrade of laptop has highlighted some major problems that need addressing. Essentially, I think I may end up having to rebuild the website from scratch again when I do get the latest software versions. It's probably time for a redesign anyway. Not to mention needing to upgrade to Windows 8 on the main PC this year! XP seems to be seriously struggling to keep up with software updates these days.

 

I've always said that I wouldn't have advertising on the website and this is still not a route that I want to go down. I have always been very conscious to avoid any hint of commercialism with what I do. It is strictly not for profit and will always remain so. However, if I am going to continue to run the website then I do need to get some funds from somewhere. I've noticed that many privately run websites of a similar nature, and forums too, have a "donation" button for visitors to help with running costs should they feel so inclined. Again, this is something that I always said I didn't want to do, and I actually hate the idea of having to consider it, but I'm in a position where I don't really know what else to do.

 

It has also become increasingly difficult to compete with collectors for old photographs and cine footage over the last couple of years. I still put in bids with what I can afford, but rarely end up being lucky now. I always think it's sad when I know this stuff will then never see the light of day, hidden away in private collections. Any additional funds going into the website Paypal account would certainly help with this side of things too, but my priority at the moment is the desperate need to upgrade the software etc. that I need to actually create and run the website.

 

Is a donations button an acceptable thing to have to help with Broadland Memories? I'm just very conscious of the fact that donations can sometimes be a rather controversial subject and don't want to land myself with any more hassle or headaches. I just want to keep doing what I'm doing with the archive.

 

 

Your thoughts please

 

 

 

Carol

[BroadScot]

Hi Carol,

 

Without being too nosey, costings may give folks a better idea, what monies you require to upgrade the software. I am 110% sure members here would assist you in your quest. Windows 8.1 is good and not difficult to operate, even for a numptie like me!

 

I suspect you will receive lots of feedback on this. If you don't wish to go public pricewise, PM me or Jonzo please, I do hope we can help you.

 

Iain.

[JawsOrca]

Hi Carol,

 

Firstly I love your website and you have done a brilliant job. It's a true asset

 

I'm happy to help technical wise.. Please pm me and I'll see what I can do (although I don't have a huge amount of spare time right now but later in the year I should have). 

 

As for a redesign maybe consider using a free blogging website (such as wordpress (https://wordpress.com)) you should find it easy to set and manage and it's compatible with most browsers so takes a lot of the stress away. Obviously it's not fully bespoke in terms of design but you may find it adequate.

 

As for advertising, I think most people are used to it now and I don't think it's detrimental to a website.. As you have discussed there's a couple of ways you could go down. 1. a donate button like this forum has which links to paypal. 2. bespoke adverts again like we have. 3. You could consider google adsense (http://www.google.com/adsense) it's good if you have lots of hits, it's easy to set up and maintenance free (I used it one website and It paid most of my hosting fees).  I'm sure many people enjoy your website to and would without hesitation offer to help  

 

Best regards, Alan  

[BroadScot]

Oh my appols young Alan, I forgot you are not just a boat rebuilder, but do Techy stuff for a living! Nice one young man.

 

 

Iain.

[ranworthbreeze]

Hello Carol,

I am sure that members of not only the NBN but the other two main forums would be willing to hit a donation button if you place one on your excellent website.

Regards

Alan