Polly

Yes care is needed. Brilliant had a sister, Emerald, and herself was renamed Gannet (???) for a while. It was confirming that Emerald had been broken up that settled a clear identification for Brilliant there is a drawer labelled with her name but a bit more confirmation was available.

The Orwell at a wild guess, Pin Mill if they have splatchers! Fox's if they want the glamour of Ipswich Woolverstone for a great base, Shotley for a choice of rivers and sea at the fingertips.

About that 'non-existent ' Origo oven.........um just checked and it might as well be so. £1000+ !

Brilliant has her mod cons mostly hidden away. On shore power the toaster, kettle and induction hob can come out of a locker and be used, as can a small infrared heater.. Mostly when off our mooring we are off shore power, so then we are back to basics but iPads and phones charge on the hidden 12v sockets, and we have a 12v cool box, which comes aboard. There is a gas cooker and that is a concession to modernity, admittedly; maybe an Origo might be more in keeping with her 1930s fit-out; actually, I liked the meths cooker on our old boat, if meths ovens existed, gas would be off the boat. What makes her homely are oil lamps and beams in the cabin ceiling, it's lovely to wake up in a wooden cabin. Snuggly duvets and new mattresses mean that late breakfasts on Brilliant are the rule. As she is 1930s and built for relatively wealthy hirers, there is a wine cooler in the bilges that adds to the comfort and very is well-used! The acid test of 'home from home' is maybe that the cat really loves the boat-except when we are sailing!

Lovely what a sweetie! Stay with the lifejacket training, if she is used to it, then you will not have to establish it later .

I am currently reading 'Watching the English' by Kate Fox. It's a popular anthropological study and both readable and funny. What she characterises as the 'Pub Argument' very much fits this forum. She suggests the Pub Argument, (not fight btw)is not to be taken too seriously; is rather illogically free ranging, has off topic elements; is combative/ competitive over almost nothing on occasion; is spiked with mock insults, irony and broad humour; importantly nobody wins or loses, they just buy another round and maybe drop/change the subject.

That is ridiculous! In what way is our private boat 'commercial' ?

Shouting does you no good...all the lemon drizzle went even though I shouted 'yes'

A lot of us are here for all the reasons Griff mentions.. And stay . Lemon drizzle? YES please!

They have fetching little backpacks with leads these days Barry. Our family's small has a dinosaur backpack.

We had toddler and baby aboard. Lifejacket at all times and a line on the back tied to the boat to allow a bit of wandering but no overboard activity! Travel cot is good. Very sensible. I'd not use the car seat idea. Seasick? On the Broads? Nah! I'd avoid transferring baby ship to shore in anything whatsoever except your arms and a lifejacket! I'd not do Steve's dinghy sailing unless solo with an adult left with baby at all times, but I am a born pessimist!

Will do

Robin, we'd love to have you, but Brilliant isn't entering this year, she is lovely but slow and we don't want to damage her, she got a bumped nose 2015., no great harm done but she is an old gal. We did consider/are considering another boat, but nothing other than nebulous at this stage.

It's sad to hear of Terry Wogan's passing, I always enjoyed his broadcasting style and humour.

You wouldn't want that out in a force 6!!

Here's hoping!!! Well done Gordon and Jamie

I am but Viking's is more genteel!

I love dogs and cats....and kids. what I can't stand is ill manners on the part of owners/parents

Maybe the military adage about 'very' poor planning has passed them by.

We made a Viking boat for a carnival and had a uphelliya in the school car park, the kids loved it!

Please can I have the Hathor and a nice big merc on the tender?

1050 metres in length would certainly not get round the bends on the Ant

Another one bites the dust!

Id like to be able to fly. Sailing is a bit like flying and I enjoy that. I've done a bit of para-ascending, and loved that. Also like going on airyplanes, so yes, definitely flying.

God's own county, Neptune can't get a look in there..:)