JawsOrca

You are not a happy chef, whenever I watch Gorden Ramsey I fully see you there :P I know ma will agree too!

Who's that Mark?? ;)

I don't I stand up to her... She's lovely, apart from when she cuddles me with after she's painted and I'm in my work stuff... grr She did miss a bit though.

I think it's a caravan park from southpark or some other film/tv show. We are staying here: http://www.parkholidays.com/our-parks/hampshire/solent-breezes .. I'm sure it be .. nice... won't it?

Yup.. 1st class all the way.. .at the nearby shady acres caravan site.. huff..

Good news for us! I just booked our stand at southampton for september :)

Nice to see the post back on track.. I've learnt something new about dredging which I didn't hear before.. Thanks chaps.. Makes sense, once again nice to read informed posts from many contributors, these are the types of posts I come here to read. Please keep them coming! Marshman, thanks too for updating my "Facts", I hoped I had stated these were not facts but my interpretation of what's the BA are up to and shouldn't be read as Facts but nice to know thought my interpretation was only slightly of.

Geez this seems to be the longest good bye ever.. Can we draw to a close, I'd say it's hardly a helpful post.

Shame to see your post has descended beyond civil debate and thus indicate some other motive thus my views of the are strengthened more toward the negative of the subject.

I don't want to reopen a old post but am a bit bored so I thought I'd share my views as I don't want to put into a box or misrepresented by others. Posts like this which (I trust and assume) intend to add arguments to a debate are really what broads forums should be about in my eyes and is really what I come to see on the NBN etc Obviously what one reads on the internet should be taken with a pinch of salt unless the poster has any attributes of accountability. Indeed people "say" things for many reasons, arguably the main being for personal self gratification (I'll hopefully explain below my reasons for posting). The whole debate over the way BA manage, the CEO's position, the planning setup, the rebranding exercise to BNP, the concerns over rights of navigation impacting with nature (aka Sandford) is all very very complicated from my ill educated view, by all means I'm not going to pretend for one moment that I understand, nor I understand the politics of the minority individual's involved but certainly the more comments adding to the debate I believe enriches the debate and helps the majority understand. From what I read in the forums, facebook groups, newspapers, websites and hear on the ground, I am concerned, somethings not right, my view of the organisation isn't a positive one, here's what I understand; The B.A got involved in a legal battle to remove a long term livaboard community from an area close to norfolk, yes there was planning issues, however the manner in which it was completed was questionable in my eyes. The B.A got involved in long and expensive legal battle over this. The B.A undertook a rebranding exercise to National Park, when it was already (kinda) a member of and in my eyes this wasn't required as I believe the Broads are internationaly reconised as just that and then wasted lots of money going to court over this. Their are many stories over strange planning decisions, yet appear to do whatever they want when it's there own use, such as tent's on thier own land. The B.A wasted lots of money on a boat used on Breydon water, yet it's too tall to go under the bridges at low water and isn't usable for recovery options on the mud flats. The B.A sold of patrol boats only to build new identical ones. The B.A consist of unelected officer's whom are not accountable to anyone. The B.A remove officer's/staff etc whom appear to disagree with a certain view, the B.A then seem to public defame such individual and try to affect their businesses. The B.A in my eyes do not do enough dredging, they do not pay enough to retain moorings, they do not do enough to encourage tourism and help local companies, (neglecting the BNP situation). The B.A do not engage with the community, they are not at any local event's. Engagement with the CEO on other forums have clearly been scripted and his response is avoiding answering concerns again and again. The B.A purchased a cafe at Acle and their plans to change are a waste of money in my eyes. The B.A close down the Broads Forum over claims that they wasn't My positive view: The broads is value for money, I believe the private tolls are affordable. The majority of public staff I have met have been professional; I've had long chats with Joel in the tolls departments. Most rangers give a friendly wave. One ranger was exceptional when we had an issue. Therefore my reaction to the BA is more negative than positive I am concerned about the way they way. I would like to some type of public investigation. I think it does help though to understand posters background if they are putting evidence on the table. I understand JennyMorgan's position and although perhaps may have a personal grief with the BA and DrP, I believe his facts are based from valid sources. Paldine always backs comments up with worthy references. I am worried that those that are showing a positive B.A are working for the BA or have some other association, BatraBill are you associated to the BA in anyway? Once again, the more input the better. But I can't believe for a moment that the current BA can be described as a positive force.

Lol thanks Mark... I knew we had it somewhere.. I must admit thats a nice bit of carpet there..

Robin, having suffered the pain of too many boats, how about looking at just getting a GRP inflatable RIB with a 9.9 on the back and sticking on the back of Indy, there are lots of accessories out there which makes something like a small(er) lighter RIB easy to launch and recover from davits of swimdeck.. Get a decent console one and it makes for a good tender. We have always had a RIB on the back at home and it takes seconds to launch and is nice for a quick run out when you want to.. Although cost wise you will be looking at the same price.. again you wont have the insurance worry as it's a tender and if you consider the amount of use you really will get out of it it's easy to dispose of once bored. We recently considered moving over to a small boat tender here but went back to the RIB idea. However saying this the teak carpet looks lovely in these old boats... doesn't it Mark... now where's that before and after picture of a certain Broom Scorpio...

Strangely there is no way we can see to exhibit at Brundall boat show, it seems its by invitation only, we would love to exhibit although we had a better than expect number of enquiries at this years horning boat show so next year hopefully! If anyone did drop by our stand and made an enquiry please do bare with us, we will get back to you as soon as we can, all the team are currently out taking templates and fitting whilst we have this amazing warm weather!

Thats what happens when people takes pictures of me... grrr..

One good thing about boating when the rivers are high is that you actually learn your boats height... I know I can get under ludham bridge when the waters over the footpath so in the summer I don't even blink. All seriousness though, I understand that there the rivers are very high at the moment and are breaking their banks, It looks like Beccles flooded yesterday. I would discuss with your boat yard before venturing too far and proceed only if where you are comfortable. Also take some wellies! I've had customers reporting that the fens is having problems too, also the upper thames is currently a no go zone as the river streams are too strong. The medway here is the same but that's nothing unusual as the EA just flood the place for the fun of it.

Glad you stayed Richard.. The NBN in general is a friendly place, it's certainly the go to place for up to date news and gossip on the broads and a the debating place.. Everyone on here has the passion for the broads which sometimes does explode but I think in general everyone's thoughts are in the right place. I'll help with your liveaboard blog.. Let's go with the winter section first.. It's cold... bloody cold.. Like toilet water frozen cold and icicles forming on the inside of the alloy boat hatches... but going anywhere with heating is like walking into the centre of the Sun.. you landlubbers really like to have the heating on max.. roll on spring..please..

Welcome to the forum from me! If you need any trimming requirements, please do not hestiate to contact me.. full details at www.trimnet.co.uk

I've not been following the forum for the last couple of days.. Just a quick message to Labrador to say I'm so sorry to hear of your lost too.. pets are family.. period. My thoughts are with you. Please do give me a wave if we see you on the river.

Griff, as much as I want to bite my tongue and probably should any by all means no hard feelings here, but I have to disagree. With work I meet loads of boaters all over the country (and europe), some of which are liveaboarders and some have lots and some have very little. It's not an easy life for some but the majority of boaters are hugely friendly, rich or poor, including some of the unfriendly ones on the broads. Is a large part of the problem could be that the broads and inland boaters perhaps have a problem of perception themselves, they consider themselves to be better than everyone else...?

;) I only dipped my toe in the water ;)

All honesty (although is suspect you've seen) that could be anyone.. considering the bin setup here in the broads national park...

I think Charlies signature is our fallen member "Ian's" emoticon as a memory to his work on the forum.. The no no is relating to adding fuel on the National Park fire...

Apparently the YBW forum has similar and it's renowned for staying clear off.. If this means such "things" are restricted to there and less on the main threads then that sounds a bloody good idea if you ask me.. Perhaps members only and even another place where notifications can be turned off for those who really don't want to see such comments.

Can all but live in hope..

welcome from me too! P.s.. don't tell the Wench that she's missed a bit when she's painting.. I thought she would throw the pot.. ;)