Polly

I think the Fleet Dyke lead was a well intended but false trail? Hemsby Inshore FB looked into the drone pictured hotspots and found shadows.

Hooray for the OU!

https://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_changing_education_paradigms Looking to the future, you might like this clip. I use it quite a lot.

Ok, I too got bored and zoned out of the question. I did pass 11+ my clever brother didn't. It had a significant impact on our life chances. 11 is too young for that selection. That is why comps were introduced. I don't think these have worked though as they levelled down rather than up. 1944 Education Act intended there to be three choices, Grammar, Technical Schools and Secondary Mods, by and large the Techs weren't built and the system was much to poorer as a result. Grammars didn't suit the practical learners, who drifted down the streams and then out too soon. The techs would have nurtured engineers and designers so much more successfully. Sec. Mods were labelled as second rate, although many did heroic jobs, the kids already had dented self esteem in many cases, and that's hard to overcome. i think selection at 13 and that triple pathway would probably have been better, in fact really good. Maybe we should suggest it?

I too have had cataracts diagnosed and was slightly 'bricking it', you guys have cheered me up no end!

Perhaps we should ask Coo Wee what he does with his.

The rivers are fairly busy, but not August type busy.

This year, JM we have a busy diary, so have to make sure that when we put Brilliant to bed in November, all the preparation is done in advance.

We had a couple of free days so made a dash for the boat on Friday. The normal two hour journey took 31/2 which cut into our time, but by 3 we were sailing on Black Horse Broad. We had one other boat for a while, then we had the place to ourselves entirely, magical! There was a cunning plan to enter the New Inn quiz so next stop was a quick hop into Horning and a friendly welcome from Gus as he helped us moor up. Chameleon was already tied up and Pat kindly provided a coffee from the bar, and we were able to catch up with her and Mike. Back to the boat to tidy up before dinner and we were visited unexpectedly. This is a lovely aspect of having a classic boat, we get to meet people and show off our very special bit of Broads history. Our first visitors came armed! Two small people who had seen us arrive were really sure Brilliant was a ship, therefore a suitable plastic pistol was being toted by a sweet four year old girl. accompanied by mummies, they came aboard and forgetting the thing, just got excited at the kid level bunks and beamed ceilings. Then two very pleasant women asked for a chance to look around, bitten by the bug, they are considering the purchase of a classic saily themselves. Hope the pockets are deep! All this led to it being time for food. Steve O and Nik O of Windmill Lady had arrived with diminutive pooch so we got settled on the verandah and all ate. Four curry meals and two lamb shanks, all beautifully cooked went down well, and set us up for the quiz. We modestly called ourselves 'Brilliant', and did, in fact, win, which was secondary to having had a really good laugh together. The New Inn is now one of our regular stops, the new landlady has set a super tone and the food is always good. I slept late, for me, but staggered into breakfast before 9 because the bacon butty was calling me! We then did a quick food shop in Horning , and got underway by just gone 10. Mike and Pat escorted us past the Swan and up the river a short way, but the weather was threatening so they decided to turn back and head for their mooring. We dropped the mudweight on Black Horse, hoping the rain would pass over and we could get some sailing in for the last time this season, it didn't, the heavens opened! We sat it out for a while, ate an early lunch and set off for the mooring revising the job list to forget any varnishing planned and get the sails off and stowed for the winter instead. Back at base we packed up, stripped the sails, took out the first two mattresses and were ready for home. Two mooring neighbours stopped by to say they had been to Bacton Walcott and Happisburgh and been in sunshine all day, so our rain was really local! We have another couple of visits to make yet, to tuck Brilliant up for the winter, and then that is it for the best year on the Broads yet.

What a great show! The production values were so high, and, while Jay was awesome, several of the other dances were close to that standard too. yippeee ! My daughter and I have applied for tickets....along with 4.5 million others (!) so we aren't holding our breaths.

Good point, JM

Hope it was moored! One of Lord Paul's friends lost his drone because the boat was moving ; on running low on battery the drone remembered where it was launched, and landed there with expensive results.

I have a concern about running these and other motors on moorings. We are a low freeboard and canvas sided when moored. It scares me when a neighbour runs stuff because we are very likely in the path of his exhaust. Yes we have a CO detector, but not all sailies will be equipped with one. If you are moored by one, please check where your exhaust is in relation to them. Zingara's skipper will have an expert view on this with a knowledge of both sides of the equation, I'd be interested to know if my concerns have foundation.

Check out Lily the Black Bear FB for some awesome research on these fascinating animals. Unlike brown bears, black bears are not predators and have a complex social structure. Gordon Buchanan did a fab series called 'The Bear Family and Me' about this research project which is like Diane Fossey's work in the past.

Blimey Doug what a cautionary tale!

Hello and Welcome

Just have to make do with a baked bean supper and do a Sod's Opera aboard.

Hello and welcome.

Yes I loved the cave in Wyre Forest Grand Design, coming from Kidder myself, I also loved listening to them all talking. Wyre Forest is a very special place. Nostalgic. When they trailed the episode, I was thinking Kinver Edge where there are cave houses I remember as being inhabited, but that's over the county border Doh!

Yes Brilliant also has a long keel. They are supposed to snake along rather than twirl like dinghies can.

Brilliant/Spray are some way ahead of yer 18 footer in terms of cramped legs, trust me!

You just need one that points well. I think, Alan.

Stay with your Drascombe JM, my decade on Rondonay tells me that the cabin on the kite, with no standing headroom, will play havoc with aching knees.

Nice little boat, you'd have to think a bit about how to manage the centre plate to reduce the 4 ft draft in some places.

Eddie Forever!!!