Happy

My Jaguar xf is metallic black and looks just the same as yours did but I am going to wait until the wife wants to use it and she will take it for a hand wash and wax due to embarrasment!

Would seem to me that the Kings Head need to get a life! Friendly dogs welcomed in most pubs. Lets hope they suffer from it in £'s!

When we were moored at Beccles this was a regular for us, in the days when Alan looked after the moorings and lived on the Dutch barge. Certainly would not be going there now!

Wakey wakey now!

Well, we don't have a boat anymore so pottered around the garden. Wife came back from shopping and said 'do you fancy a pint'? Just got back from my son and his partners pub. took the dog and had a couple of beers. Watched him work on his own (unusually busy for that time of day) and quite proud of how he got on! Just glad to be drinking, not serving! I fancied a pub once, so glad I did'nt try it! Cheers.

I remember seeing some of the boats that were offered - quite grim in my opinion. I do think it may have put some hirers off forever! Just my opinion of course.

Where's Grendal?!

I thought it was one that had survived the floods last year!

The dog looks like he could well deserve the name, bless him!

Also the Romney Marsh Mountain Rescue Team. Set up by my mate Mike. Now departed unfortunately when he fell down the cellar steps at his newly aquied pub in Scotland a few years ago

No actual hire boats now just cottages and 5 house boats which as you say are still in good condition. They also have quite a fleet of day and picnic boats, again all in great condition. A nice very friendly yard.

Now feeling too old for actual 'real boating' anymore we were looking to hire a houseboat on the Broads. Fortunately a member posted something on here in January mentionig Simpsons boatyard at Stalham Staithe. I 'phoned them and booked a week from 8 April on Maud. That was the good news! On the way from Folkestone in Kent we stopped off at Stanstead Services. Comming out the traffic was so busy that it took us 30 minutes to re-join the M11. As soon as we rejoined the main traffic the car came up with 'low coolant' - back to hard shoulder. The AA sent a recovery truck to get us off the motorway within an hour. He took us to a services about 15 miles away and an AA man came to look at the car. Whilst he poured water into the header tank it was pooring out from somewhere that could not be seen. He asked us whether we wanted to be relayed back to Kent or on to Norfolk. We were on holiday so decided on Norfolk. After two hours and now dark the recovery truck arrived and we arrived at the boatyard at 22.15. Fortunately we had a key to gain entry and the accomadation was warm and clean. The following morning (Saturday) I spent hours trying to arrange a repair but all the places I found were shut until Monday! Sequal to this was that the car was relayed to a Jaguar specialist about 20 miles away on Tuesday for repair and we got it back on Thursday afternoon. I had never been to Stalham before but the Swan became our 'local' Great food and drinks. All the staff loverly. Anyway: the house boat and yard were brilliant. Did a lot more walking than usual and will certainly be booking again. With hopefully no breakdowns next time.

We had a good customer (friend) who contracted to a large concern that were changing all their red diesel fired heating over to kerosene boilers. They had hundreds of gallons of 'red' available free for our liesure use on the understanding we did not sell it. I did not have to buy diesel for our twin engined boats for a number of years.

So what are you saying - You did'nt realise I was th...at old! Regards Alan

I had a Stilletto from brand new. Brilliant little motor but suffered from overheating within about 3 months from purchase. The main dealer could not sort it (it was one of the first) so part exed it for a VX 4.90 when it was about 9 months old!

Or a luxury 'all inclusive' cruise

'Photos please. You know most of us are nosey b.....s'!

Will you be able to get under the bridge? Moorings at the swimming pool and further on to the Locks pub. Enjoy.

The weather here in Hawkinge is bright and sunny too (at the moment). But not like being on a boat! Have fun. Regards Alan

If you Google S24 Sealine there are a lot for sale on there!

Thanks for that! We fancied a week by the river and are in the process of booking a houseboat for a week in April with them. Cheers!

In over 50+ years of boating on the Broads in both hirecraft and our own I never ever found a space to moor there!

Hi. Enjoy yourselves. Have a great time. Nice to see you are still helping Steve out!. Regards Alan and Eve

Have you tried derby's quay - next door to hippersons?

"its always easier to reverse out" That depends on what way the tide is running, surely