.png.5ff10cca1d0967e44a17e4a2edde2a80.png)
Happy
-
Posts
672 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
3
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Articles
Posts posted by Happy
-
-
11 minutes ago, Vaughan said:
I already have, a few years ago!
I had just lost my job and so I had to cut out all non essential expenses, to keep a roof over my head. I wrote to the RNLI to apologise and explain, with the sentiment that I hoped to contribute again once my circumstances improved. I had already begun to have my suspicions about the way the Institute was changing and sure enough, not one of all these new office - bound managers with their official PC titles could be bothered to reply to my letter. I had been what they call an "Annual Governor" for over 35 years.
I am glad to say I am now back on my feet financially and can afford to donate to charity again. I have not renewed my subscription to the RNLI.
Their stated position always used to be that they refused to accept government funding as they knew best how to do the job of life-saving at sea and did not want to be bound by the restrictions and constraints of un - necessary rules and regulation. Now it seems, they have ended up burying themselves in their own rules!
I was in a very similar position quite a few years ago and wrote to them in a similar manner. No reply was ever received. These guys risk their lives to save others whilst the management sit behind their desks in total safety and reap the rewards. Only IMOHO of course.
-
5
-
-
39 minutes ago, NorfolkNog said:
Cracking day at the Bridge Inn
On the 23rd of this month five of us will be on Absolute Freedom and may well enjoy a pint or two.
Happy (aka Alan)
-
1
-
-
3 minutes ago, grendel said:
I have downloaded the official volvo route for the d5 engine on the v70 from 2001-2006, lets just hope the belt is the correct length for the official route.
Good luck!
Regards Happy (aka Alan)
-
8 hours ago, Seagypsy said:
Hi Alan, I dont think you ever lose the Broads bug. We are there 7 - 17 Sept on Ibiza 1 from Richardsons if you are there at that time look out for us
Hi Seagypsy
We are on a 'Boys Jolly' for 4 nights on Absolute Freedom out of Thorpe. Looked at Richardsons but did'nt fancy the croud
that would be leaving to go down the Ant. Two of the guys have not been on the broads before so I reckon they will be
addicted too. Have a great time.
-
10 hours ago, PaulM said:
Hello,
Ive been reading posts for a while on this forum now and thought it would be nice to join as I’ve much to learn about boating!
Ive always had an interest in the broads and owning a boat myself. I’ve lived in Norwich my whole life and spent a lot of my childhood in Wroxham. My great great Grandfather was Earnest Collins of Wroxham. I wish I could buy one of his later boats that my Grandfather would have worked on.
Around this time last year we (myself, my wife and our two kids aged 10 and 8) bought our first boat. A lovely Seamaster 27, this boat had been beautifully built and kept. I really did love Theodore 11, we all did! But unfortunately we realised relatively soon that she just wasn’t big enough for us to comfortably spend as much time as we wanted on the water.
the Seamaster sold earlier this year and has been replaced with a Princess 30DS, not quite as classically charming as the Seamaster but does the job we need it to do perfectly! It’s everything we hoped a boat would be and has enough room for our kids to grow.
we are moored at Brundall and love spending time on Surlingham Broad plus the fine selection of pubs towards Norwich and Reedham. This summer we hope to venture onto the Northern rivers for a few days. Our old boat is now that side so we plan a reunion with it’s new owners plus other friends are moored at the same broad also.
Anyway that’s enough introductory rambling for now!
Hopefully pics of our previous and current have loaded up.
Hi Paul, welcome to the forum.
I hired a Seamaster 27 from Aston boats in mid 60's (when I was in my prime!).
After hiring I longed for a 27 for myself and eventually managed to fund and purchase one I found on the Thames.
Whilst I loved the boat I then really fell in love with the Seamaster 30. I had three in total, all on the Broads.
The last one ("My Panashe") we kept at Beccles was a great boat, one of the last factory built, but we really
did not have the time to use her properly and with a three hour journey to get to her decided to sell.
However, still cannot get the broads out of the system and hiring a boat in September.
Good luck with your new purchase.
Regards Happy (aka Alan)
-
Not very full, is it?
-
7 minutes ago, SwanR said:
Waiting at the O2 ...
-
14 minutes ago, grendel said:
Morning
Likewise. But I am off to the pub................................................................ to clean it!
Alan (aka Happy)
-
1
-
-
Hi guys. Is the pub on the staithe still open? Be going on a 'boys jolly' (well old men really) end of September and propose to stop here on one
of the evenings. Have not been for some years and it did tend to close quite often then!
Any advice would be welcome.
Cheers Happy (aka Alan)
-
2 hours ago, grendel said:
I understood that if they are parked on private property (without the landowners permission) they are illegal and any speeding tickets can be overturned.
I see from research that they are now allowed (from 2015) to hide the van out of sight and can still catch people.
Yes, tell me about it! On the way home from the boat at Beccles a few years ago. I thought it was a 40mph limit and was doing 36mph. Apparently it had changed without me being aware. (Did not get up to the boat often enough, thats why we sold it.)
He was hidden behind some trees and could not be seen until 'on top of him' . Took a speed awareness course and saved the points but still cost me £86, a dear cup of coffee!
-
Rats
in Broads Chat
No! Could not catch it!
-
Rats
in Broads Chat
Some years ago we had a garage in Dover. One morning my son was carrying out an MOT on a people carrier that had been parked on a farm.
Whilst checking under the bonnet he stated that it looked as though a rat had chewed some of the wiring and as he was speaking the rat jumped out from under the bonnet, over his shoulder and ran out of the garage door.
He was pretty shocked. The owner of the vehicle (which was a wreck) could not understand why he refused to carry on with the test and only pacified when I did not charge him!
-
1 hour ago, Paul said:
No. The precise model I wanted is quite rare with only a handful for sale in the UK, so had to be prepared to travel. The warranty is provided by the AA and should any work need doing our local MB specialist will undertake it under the warranty so not an issue. I was very choosy about which dealer to use and in the end opted for a slightly more expensive car from a dealer used to dealing in high end sports and prestige vehicles. In fact when we went to view the car the showroom included two Audi R8's, a Lamborghini Hurucan and a Porsche 911 GT2. Not (sadly) that I was shopping in quite that market.
The vehicle's had a full inspection so we've done all we can. Alas when buying used you pay your money and take your chances.
Sorry! Assumed (wrongly) that you had purchased new! My apologies.
Happy
-
9 hours ago, Wonderwall said:
Glad everyone safe and sound. I wonder if the young cadet was sea sick?
If the person in charge of the lead boat was a senior cadet it did'nt show much about his/her training?
-
4
-
1
-
1
-
-
16 hours ago, Paul said:
After a week and a day on holiday it was back to normality for me today. 1st day back at school for Jamie so alarm at 7.15, run his bath, make his breakfast, press his uniform and get him to school for 8.40
Things changed a bit after that though. Home for a quick cuppa then a walk down the village. Time to drop into the garden machinery centre to talk about a possible new mower for next year then on the bus to our nearest train station, via every village in between. A journey that takes me twenty minutes in the car stretched to an hour and twenty minutes but I have seen parts of Leicestershire that, despite living here all my life I have never seen before.
I had just enough time before my train was due to get a snack from the platform newsagent, err no. The platform newsagent is now a solicitors office with the refreshment needs of passengers now serviced by two vending machines. One, all but empty could supply standard coke, but no diet, that was sold out or Fanta, all at £2.60 a bottle. The other offered a choice of Kit Kat, Mars or Twix at £1.40. No thanks, my dietry needs will have to wait for the buffet car. I could kill a coffee and croissant or bacon roll.
I was a bit miffed that British Railways no longer offer the "daytime first" upgrade, of which I made great use when I used to travel to London on business. For a few extra quid you could upgrade your ticket, subject to availability on trains between the peak hours. Sadly not only has it gone, but so have British Railways. I'm afraid I was not going to pay a three hundred percent premium for a half decent seat for a couple of hours journey (especially the as the connecting train had no first class anyway) . So peasant class it was, though at least the train was not busy and so I had a choice of seats "facing the engine", not that there is an engine anymore either. I noted with interest that there was not a single soul seated in first class. I can't help thinking that our supposedly beleaguered Train Operating Companies are missing a trick here. I'm sure I'm not alone in being prepared to pay a sensible supplement to upgrade.
My ticket was a barcode on my mobile phone. I thouht I had been quite clever using this new technololgy but after boarding the train it struck me what might happen if the totally inadequate battery on my abysmal Samsung mobile should fail, as it tends to do after not much useage. Having been fully charged when leaving home it was, by now, down to 77%, and that just on standby. I flashed the code at the ticket collector who cast a cursory glance at it. No way could he have read it and known that it was valid on the train I was now seated on. Neither did he have a clever scanniing type gadget to read it. I asked about the buffet car and was met by a startled gaze and the response "no buffet car". Great! I would have to wait until I change trains at Birmingham.
The train ran pretty much to time and arrived in New Street just a handful of minutes late. The app on my phone which held my ticket had updated the journey details with platform numbers. I would arrive to platform 6 and depart from 5b. Not far to walk then.
Wrong.
Some overpaid under brained dimwit has redesigned New Street Station into a series of "Lounges". Platform 6 was in one and 5b in another. You have to climb up to the main concourse, clear the ticket barriers then walk half a mile, back through the barriers and down to the platform next to the one you were on fifteen minutes earlier. To add to the delay the barcode on my phone would not open the barrier so the attendant had to come along with the key and unlock it for me. Repeat that process at the next barrier down to platform 5b. I'm sure it's no accident that the walk from one to the other takes you past the vast array of designer shops which now adorn the station. Not a buffet or takeaway kiosk to be found. There was one starbucks, with a queue out of the door. No time for that! I found my onward train to convey me to the heart of the "Black Country". On Time, the board said, and duly, ten minutes before it's scheduled deperture time the train pulled on to the platform. Again plenty of space so i chose a seat "facing" and settled down for the short wait for it to leave.
And waited
And waited.
Finally, fifteen minutes late it pulled away. A polite voice welcomed us aboard the train in near perfect Queen's English until the list of stops came to Dudley when a sharp black country twang could be heard. I think it is impossible to prenounce Dudley without adopting a "Dudley Accent". No apology or explanation for our late departure. It would have been nice to be told "sorry but the driver needed to use the loo" or "we had to wait for a clear track ahead". My train quickly passed under the M5, a trip which by car takes half an hour done in the blink of an eye and before too much longer my station was reached. I alighted the train and using the last of my fading battery mapped my walking route along the Walsall canal to my final destination.
The object of my 50 mile, four hour journey was the car dealership from who we had agreed to buy the new car I have been promising myself for years. After a false start earlier this month when having bought one the dealer called the day before it was due to be delivered that they had discovered a problem and were withdrawing it from sale, I decided I would go and collect this one.
Finally, the new car is sitting on our driveway alongside the old Honda. I hope it gives the years of trouble free service that the old workhorse has and hopefully will continue to do as we plan to keep it as long as possible as a dirty jobs vehicle.
I assume you went to a dealer that far away to save money? Lets hope that if you have a warranty problem then local dealer 'won't be too busy with his own customers' to deal with it?
Just speaking from past experience!
Regards Happy
-
If it can be 'thirded' I do too!
Glad you are back.
Happy - (aka Alan)
-
1
-
-
We went to our local garden centre yesterday to buy some rubbish bags after a hard days gardening, This was taken over a couple of years ago and has changed what had become a run down and tired place into something quite spectacular, but .................................... on looking round as we always do we came across their Christmas displays. Lights, trees, decorations and
the rest. Three months to go? Much too early I think. Easter eggs in mid December?
Just my opinion of course.
Happy
-
1 hour ago, boycee said:
Try Robert at Sutton Staithe Boatyard, tel:- 01692 581653
Boycee
Another person to try would be Steve based at Dereby's Quay in Beccles
Good luck.
Happy
-
17 minutes ago, floydraser said:
Cor Blimey! Five replies in the time it took me to clean the bathroom!
I was wondering how much interest there would be from the forum and I am now delighted by the responses.
So there may have been some hanky panky going on in the foc'sle then Chris? Well it's had a happy life then!
Thanks for the other info guys. I knew Seraphina had been restored and sold and it would be great to take a look around her. I never knew there was a Mr. Harvey and a Mr. Eastwood like most people I guess.
Now the good news for Wherrynice: Saturday morning (29-9-18) 5am I'm off from Leicestershire to Bowling, Dumbarton, where she is currently moored on the Forth & Clyde canal. Around lunchtime we go through the sea lock onto the Clde and up 4.5 miles to Clyde Boatyard. Monday she gets lifted onto a low loader. Tuesday she travels towards Norwich. Wednesday she arrives at Brundall Bay and gets craned into the water. We then have a gentle cruise - saluting as we pass Eastwood Marina - and round to Brundall Gardens where I have a berth.
I would like to say this is because of my sense of history but in fact it's more down to a happy accident, or it was written in the stars, take your pick. Reading these forums I always assumed it was very, very expensive to keep a boat on the Broads but it's not; it's just very expensive. Moorings near to me were either more expensive, not available or under an airport flight path near a motorway junction.
Thanks again.
Hi. We hired one of these - Santa Caterina - in around 1965 - must have been one of the first?
Can you keep us all up to date with progress on here as well?
Good Luck.
Happy (aka Alan)
-
6 hours ago, grendel said:
runners are being applied inside the cockpit.
Can you build me a real boat Mister?!
Happy. aka Alan
-
2
-
-
2 hours ago, LondonRascal said:
There are a number of things about Independence that make her very easy to handle given her size and weight but conversely a number of other things that make it a challenge for just two people.
Take her ropes - just about managable by one person when dry, get them wet and it really becomes a work out to handle them. Even her fenders are the largest of the Polyform range and weigh several kilograms each and these all need stowing. It means somebody has a lot of rushing about to do when leaving a mooring and a lot to do when arriving at one and it is far easier if there is a minimum of three. Me on Helm and two dealing with fenders and ropes independence also has some big blind spots from either the lower or upper helm so guidance vocally from deck crew helps with safety too
Having a bunch of helpers makes all the difference. I agree she is big for the Broads but makes very little movements on the rivers. I knew this when I bought her there would be such issues and am happy with this because she is a very capable passage maker. For cruising easily on the rivers I head over to Broad Ambition or Trixie at Stalham.
I was keen for a short run down the coast but when I was told about a recent hold up with he bridges at Yarmouth and a deadline to reach the Marina for them to lift Independence I could not afford any delays we therefore felt the best option was a lock booking at Mutford so that became the he first option. I hope of course that goes smoothly as well and Reedham and Somerleyton swing bridges work smoothly too!
Good Luck. Looking at the time you wrote this I assume you are tucked up in bed now.
We are about to drive to Stanstead for a flight to Southern Ireland for a ten day break - Ryanair permitting!
Happy aka Alan
-
1 hour ago, Wonderwall said:
I never knew you were meant to wait until it is docked. I've always just judged it so as I'm not too close to the ferry.
I have been going to the 'Broads' for over 45 years, originally on hire boats and then like a great deal of people
on my own boats. In all that time I did not realise that you were supposed to wait for the ferry to dock. I have always
let it get at least half way accross and then passed astern. It appears that I have been bloody lucky!
-
3 hours ago, Vaughan said:
In England it is young love : in France it is l'amour : and in a Morris Mini Minor it is impossible!
Oh no its not!!.........................................................?
-
'I wanna tell you a story'. In the early 60's my dad bought a timber boat, she was called "Useful" and I believe had previously been the Whitstable harbour launch. She was about 30' long.
He bought to use as a fishing boat in our free time off Herne Bay where she was kept on a wet mooring.
She had a Kelvin petrol/parraffin engine and the starter dog was so worn that when I tried to start her the starting handle would fly out and smash your knuckles on the engine bearers. Anyway we used her for the first summer and he decided to have her out the briny, fit a new engine and totally re-vamp her.
She was taken to a large building about half mile from the sea. Work began. A brand new BMC Captain was supplied and fitted by a local garage and a lot more work carried out by carpenters and painters (who happened to work for dad as he was a builder).
When the work was finished she would have passed for a new boat, she looked magnificent!
Time came for re-launching on Easter weekend the following year. She was towed to Neptune Jetty at Herne Bay and at high tide she was slowly pushed into the water - I will never forget that day - it was quite sunny, bit of swell and loads of people watching the launch. When we got to the stage that the water intake was below water the engine was started and we came astern off the trolley and headed for the mooring which was the other side of the pier.
It was not long before water started to be flicked up by the prop shaft as it passed through the new floor boards that had been fitted. We were about 450 yards offshore. I said to dad 'they have not connected the water outlet' how wrong I was!
There was a massive brass hand pump fitted which I tried to use but that did not work. By this time we had sea water over our ankles and were obviously going to sink.
I headed back to shore and we started waving and shouting at our launch crew who were still at the jetty, to which they and most of the other onlookers waved back!
Now the water was up to our knees and it was getting a bit frightening. I aimed for the beach next to the jetty and beached her, just in time I think. One of the local boatmen came over and said - 'How long did you soak her for?'
Puzzled looks on both our faces and we said, what...............................................?
About 10 or more 50 gallon drums with the tops cut out, were taken to the beach and pumped full of seawater on the next high tide and my dads yardman stayed with the boat and kept filling her with water as far as the lower part of the engine until she took up. In that time the hand bilge pump was repaired!
Anyway, after I think around a week she was re-launched and taken to her mooring and probably only made about a gallon a week thereafter.
For those that read this, I hope you enjoyed it. A lot was learned, and yes, we were very lucky and I will never forget it!
-
8
-
2
-
Not very full, is it?
If the person in charge of the lead boat was a senior cadet it did'nt show much about his/her training?
If it can be 'thirded' I do too!
Can you build me a real boat Mister?!
I have been going to the 'Broads' for over 45 years, originally on hire boats and then like a great deal of people
Oulton Broad Yacht Station
in Broads Chat
Posted
We used to call them up on approach having made a previous booking and they would always be there waiting. Great service. There would always be a few 'tinnies' offered, and welcomed, does that still apply?