JennyMorgan

That and perhaps a major attitude shift by us mere mortals. We have become brainwashed into relying on our cars rather than our legs and public transport. Urban tramways perhaps, small, frequent and convenient? Town Centres have become no go areas for cars thus are increasingly dying. Electric cars are not going to alter that. We need to rethink how we access our infrastructure because cars are not always the answer. The population and car ownership is increasing whilst town centre car parks are not!

Some heartening responses, apart from the to be expected sarcasm from the usual suspect. I have no doubt that this welcome edition of the Bulletin has been written with care, e.g. no mention of the BNP, no politics or red rags for us touchy, justifiably suspicious bulls. Let's be positive, the road sign debacle is proving a step to far, public opinion does matter, a corner is perhaps being turned. The way forward is together. Being realistic, just for a moment, let's just hope that this not just a flash in the pan. What next, a rebirth for a reformulated, largely elected Broads Forum perhaps, or am I expecting too much too soon?

Broads Briefing highlights the good work being done by the Authority. No mention of the road sign project! https://mailchi.mp/225b12bc919d/broads-briefing-january-2020?e=259d8798cf

I'm not known for winning races, I tend to be distracted and lose interest , but on one occasion, on a race from Oulton Broad to Beccles, I found myself in an unexpected second place from the front rather than the more usual back of the fleet. Not sure if I had a misplaced, uncharacteristic urge to win or whether mischief got the better of me. The boat ahead of me had a very friendly golden retriever on-board, we'd been in a good humoured tacking dual for several miles, there had to be a way past but it just wasn't happening, I was continually out-sailed. Eureka, the solution was obvious, my crew and I slapped the side of out boat and called 'here boy, walkies, Lassie, come to uncle Peter etc etc' until Fido jumps overboard and swims towards our boat! How cruel could I be, deserting Fido in his moment of desperate need, his owner having to relinquish his well deserved first place and rescue his dog. I gleefully sailed past and into a glorious, undeserved first place!

An intentional 'whites of their eyes' job, perhaps? Whoops, sorry, mocking the afflicted, must watch myself!

I was in a shipyard yesterday, enjoying and involved in the banter that is often part and parcel of the working environment. The subject of one topic was a good friend of mine, a bloke I knew as Steve. It soon became clear that his workplace nickname was 'Squeaker', he had a tendency, when talking, to slip into a falsetto squeak. Squeaker has departed this world, did I take offence on his behalf? No, it was banter and banter can be less than respectful.

That brings back memories! Was out fishing with a friend in the early hours when a boat drifted past, presumably the tide had risen and lifted the mud weight. We yelled out, as would any concerned angler, a crew member rushes out to see what was going on, not quite as naked as Marshman, he still had a condom on! Darling, did the boat move for you?

Top that anyone? Innocents aboard!

Thank you, Chris. Strange how such events stay with us as they do!

I started at this end of the thread and worked my way back to when the tone of the thread became skewed. It is a changing society that we live in, seemingly we now all walk on thin ice, aware that we will undoubtedly, often innocently, offend someone. Having been involved with various forums now for many years I can say with great feeling that a thick skin is an obvious attribute. It's not just an NBN thing, it's forums in general. Beyond that, and I've said it before, if folk don't like what they are reading then, for heavens sake, ignore it. Heavens, if I were to take offence at some of the comments aimed my way then by now I would be a disturbed, dribbling wreck! Oh bug*er, appologies to all those unfortunates who dribble!

YES!!!!!

I keep in touch with a lifelong friend who moved to Australia nearly fifty years ago. We shared a somewhat irresponsible coming of age and now, in our mutual dotage, we occasionally remind each other of what have become classic moments in our formative years. One such event involved a now departed member of the gang, namely our friend, Charlie, RIP. One classic moment was when we turned the cruiser that we were staying aboard around during the night so that the water hose would reach the empty tank. We were moored outside Coldham Hall where we had enjoyed a memorable 'lock-in' after a hard day's racing in the annual, spring regatta.The dearly missed Charlie woke up in the morning, after a serious skin-full, not knowing that the boat was by then facing the other way, that the shore was now on the other side. Charlie stepped ashore, only the shore wasn't where it had been when he'd passed out, by heck he quickly sobered up! Thankfully we were moored near to a slipway where the by now very cold Charlie, it was early May, was unceremoniously beached.

This can only be an opinion but I have long felt that the Authority maintains the navigation because it has to rather than because it wants to. Regretfully I see navigation as being subservient to the Executive's prime interests, the BNP obsession being one of them.

I have tried various anchors on the Broads over many years and found that most simply drag through the silt. The worst offender being the traditional Fisherman's Anchor. Mind you a Fisherman's Anchor is perfect for lobbing into the reeds for a secure hold. The one anchor that I do recommend on the Broads is a Bruce Anchor, excellent hold in mud and easy to clean, just tow it from over the bow.

Agreed, as far as the Broads is concerned navigation and cultural heritage go hand in hand. For example stone that was used for building Norwich Cathedral arrived by water. Then there was also the Loddon Boat: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-23526192 I wouldn't wish to witness this being taken away from us.

Thank you for that Ray, thought provoking stuff. As I see it there is sufficient cause to warrant a rerun of the petitioning that attended the Broads Bill. Only this time it would involve rather more than just the Broads. Ramblers, anglers, farmers and users of other waterways, just for starters.

I hear through the grapevine that the BNP signs have been removed from Reedham. Whether nicked or officially removed I don't know. I do know that some signs were erected without any agreement between the BA & relevant Parish Councils, perhaps Reedham PC has now objected?

I was surprised, maybe not really, to read recently that Authority meetings no longer have an 'any other business' facility which would allow members to raise questions such as to the vandalism of the BNP road signs and how is that project progressing? All matters have to to be formally submitted for consideration so many days before meetings thus ruling out any 'unhelpful to the CEO' type questions. How and why members have allowed this deplorable level of executive control to develop is way beyond belief!

You jest, surely! As a one time street planner down in Brighton you might expect that blessed man to know about signage. Err, perhaps he does!!

As something of a Luddite and simpleton that comment seems to beg the question as to why the stopgap? Why not put all our resources into hydrogen rather than into a system with a very limited life?

Fred, I don't know you from Adam but you come over as an exceedingly wise old bird! As part of the wider picture the Broads is relatively small, subject to blind eyes in government departments with bigger fish to fry. A fact long relied upon by minor quangos and self appointed demigods.

If my local town is anything to go by then the majority of cars are parked in the streets, often some distance from the owner's house. A system of power points, akin to parking meters, might provide a solution but even that would require a culture swing of biblical proportions. Some mobile phones can be charged just by being laid on a charging pad, perhaps the same system could be developed for cars, even to the extent of them being charged as they drive along? As for boats, they could pick up power from above! We would need a tidal barrier in order to maintain water levels otherwise contact might be lost as the tide drops.

Inevitably there will then be an aging and increasingly large fleet of static houseboats on the Broads, unlike today, of course! A business opportunity for an electric tug service perhaps?

All very true. In my case, if I were to have a motor cruiser, it would mean some 130 meters of hefty extension lead if I go from house to mooring, I dread to think what the cost would be. No doubt that there would be calls to see such cables being laid underground. Maybe steam is the answer!

There has been a clear increase in interest by people wishing to join such groups but regretfully some have no obvious paper trail so are rejected. Such groups tend to restrict their membership to friends and known applicants. The control obsessed man at the top clearly learned a lesson after the Broads Bill. All a bit sad really.