NeilB

I won't be back on board for at least 2, maybe 3 weeks but will be on board over most of Christmas and through the winter. Looking forward to it!! Just had some covers fitted which appear to block almost all of the draughts from the sliding canopy, plus they give some privacy if I'm moving between the shower and main bedroom!! When I'm back I've a 7-day timer / controller for the Eberspacher to fit plus some lagging for the ducting. The original controller is just on, or off which is not very useful! The Webasto already has a 7-day timer. Throw in a 15 tog duvet and a hot water bottle I'm ready to go!

I’ve driven past twice today and seen 2 different boats being dragged into the shed, they are not wasting time on starting winter maintenance!

Transiting Ludham Bridge for me, most boats travel too close which does not give enough room if you have to wait for someone to come through the bridge. Throw in boats jostling for moorings makes for extra fun.

I do like a good summertime sunset, sunrise is good but, apart from winter, it entails getting out of bed far too early for my liking... I normally sit in the cockpit with a beer, red wine or whisky depending on my mood and the drinks cabinet contents!

Look like the A11 is going to be painful into 2025 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-63268783

To be pedantic the Nanni service manual actually states "Check the raw water pump impeller. Change if needed" https://www.peachment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/User-Manual-N2.10-N2.14-N3.21-NEW-VERSION-Aug-13.pdf My new Volvo Penta states to replace every 2 years / 400 hours.

I don’t think I can describe it better than Gracie’s post. There’s something about Norfolk that keeps drawing me back and now I’m lucky enough to live here. I’ve fond memories of holidays here dating back to when I was a toddler and hopefully my children will have too.

I did'nt move onboard until late June although I had a couple of chilly nights back in March. She has an Eberspacher producing warm air and a Webasto giving hot water and running 4 x radiators, I also have a 2kw oil radiator and an couple of small 600w ones which are ideal for overnight in a bedroom when on shore power. At present my marina have not increased the cost of electric so it's still fairly cheap. Producing heat is not a problem, it's keeping it in so I've a cover being made for the canopy which should stop the worst of the draughts. I'm glad I went for a larger boat though as it give's enough room for my children to have their own cabin when they visit. Plus room for larger fridges/ freezer and washing machine. I'll let you know how I get on in the depths of January and February!

It's all done and dusted now Gracie and I was joking back, no offence anywhere so please leave it up. I'll accept the kiss on the cheek though....

Sweden is work, living on a boat is down to a divorce. My wife got Hatfield House and the Queen Mary 2 !!

Now why did a certain film pop into my head, bunch of chaps on an adventure along a swampy waterway.......

With the boat show followed by a week in Sweden I've been the one doing the rambling!! Rosie will have rambled up this slipway by now! I've spent a couple of nights in Warwick at the office and have just arrived at Cromer Country club for 3 nights at £45 per night. I've not been here since my old boss owned a property here back in the late 80's, not sure what the site is like as not had a wander around but my studio is fantastic. Loads of room for 2 adults, fully fitted kitchen including dish washer and washing machine, I would say it's been fully refurbished in the last year. I've paid £145 for basic hotel rooms before so I'm really pleased with this, especially as I have some clothes that need washing and wasn't expecting to be able to do these until Friday! Fast 90mb wifi as I'll be working as well. On Friday I'm staying at a friends holiday cottage for as long Rambling Rosie is being worked on.

A friend who has a holiday place nearby said there was a rumour about some moorings being made available, only a rumour though.

Mostly cook on board but I've only fresh ingredients for one more meal on board, so I'm booked in at Sutton Staithe hotel at 7pm tonight. Not been for a few months so looking forward to it. Cupboards will be pretty bare as lift out day, (at last), is Monday so I've been running tings down.

Just got home at 4:15am as the M11 was closed!! Told my boss I won’t be working Friday! The bread was more of a sour pancake but good for mopping everything up!

All this talk of food….. This is what Ethiopian tapas looks like! Don’t ask what it is as I don’t know but it was delicious! Hotel was very good, used to be a shipyard but may look familiar to those of you who remember Porridge! Sat in the airport now but flight is delayed so won’t get back to Stansted until about midnight, back on Rambling Rosie around 2am I reckon!! Might book the day off work!

When I drove it there was no way I could film at the same time hence filming someone else. We actually diverted through the islands to avoid the worst, more lobster pots as the season has just started but a lot calmer.

A little wet and windy today, spent all day on 4 various boats with different engines / features. Dodging rocks and lobster pots in some unpleasant weather. The last video is on a little 28ft single engine boat which was a little lively! IMG_0554.MOV IMG_0560.MOV

So do I, this is all training for work so cannot complain!

Works a bit of a struggle today….. Still playing with boats, off for a tour round the archipelago off Gothenburg tomorrow.

There is a dual station Alphacraft 42 design which had a sort of sunken / flush mount handrail, could it have been one of those? They were not very good so most yards retrofitted proper handrails.

To be honest, I’m not sure that’s much of an upgrade. The Connoisseurs have had a tough life and not much in the way of upgrades, although a couple have been fitted with bow thusters. We had one a couple of years ago and the bow thruster money would have been better spent on cleaning the hull / superstructure, ensuring door handles were not falling off, sliding canopy working properly, updating the interior ect.

Normally 7 days a week during the season, may have had staffing issues though.

Sutton Staithe told me they would be stopping weekend pump outs and fuel from November, just for the winter.

I'm afraid not, it's going to be a tight squeeze!! There's still lots of holes where there shouldn't be holes etc. I also noticed they were advertising for a wooden boat builder to join the team!