JennyMorgan

Water Rail is a lucky boat in that she has been in sympathetic, capable ownership for a large part of her life. So true, was down at Broadland Boatbuilders today, St Olaves, where there is a lovely HW built sailing cruiser up on the bank with a clearly obvious six foot oblong of rotten planking in her side. Without looking inside I suspect that the area of rot corresponds to the area where there is a bunk within the main cabin, an area that has been excessively lined and probably to such an extent that ventilation was next to nothing. Got into conversation with a passerby who turned out to be a boatbuilder and we chatted about that particular boat as well as some of the other wrecks laying about. He went on to tell me that in his experience such damage is more common than I probably realised and inflicted by well meaning people who treat their boats as houses rather than boats, fitting them out with a complete disregard for the all important ventilation. I'm sure that this particular boat will be saved but there are regretfully many that won't.

Agreed. Unless its possible to pick and choose syndicate members then I would suggest that syndication on WR is not the best way forward. As for charities, enquire by all means but I'd be very wary of that route, not least the subsequent H&S requirements and liabilities surrounding any public access demands.

The other week I priced up the average annual cost of a 110 year old sailing cruiser over a ten year period of ownership, your costs for WR are about the same, frightening!

For the first time in many a long year I regretfully won't be under sail this Christmas although I shall have my fart-fart boat to pootle around in. That picture makes me quite envious!

Self sufficiency afloat is good, all the best people do it!

Regretfully not into bondage!

Braced and ready for the fevered onslaught

Indeed I believe that at Reedham they are turned off rather than have them tripped out thus requiring resetting. Mind you that was pre the upgrade. Relying on the posts at anytime is unwise, in my opinion. Best regarded as a bonus. Suitable clothing is the answer, says me sat here in a sheepskin jacket and fingerless mitts!!

And so back to the Broads, and maybe another bit of sadness. Due to family & work commitments by daughter has decided to sell her 110 year old Broads sailing cruiser. Yesterday was taken up towing her up to St Olaves for her winter storage, since Hannah has now had an offer it will probably be the last time that we lay her up and the last time that we look forward to fitting her out come the spring. On top of that arthritus is taking its toll on yours truly and whilst I enjoyed a perfect trip to St Olaves and back I now know that my boating is becoming harder and harder. Its an hour and a half trip from Oulton Broad to St Olaves with a boat in tow. We set off at about twelve thirty hoping to arrive at low water slack so going alongside would be easy, which it was. Oulton Broad had a few white horses running against us but four horse power was more than enough. Incidently we left Water Rail moored up at her new home on the Broad, not quite the same without Liz aboard. It was to prove a good day for birding, literally thousands of geese circling over the Share Marsh as we went along Oulton Dyke, a few herons too and we lost count of the Marsh Harriers that we saw during the day. A kingfisher or two plus a rare Moor Hen plus a dramatic dog-fight between a Rook and a Marsh Harrier made the day that much more interesting. Who says that the Lower Waveney is boring, it isn't if you keep your eyes open. On the way back the Herringfleet otter came out and accompanied us for the best part of a mile. The lighting was warm, unlike the wind, the reeds glowed, especially when a bank of dark clouds came in and set them off. At one time a full rainbow followed us but the rain held off. We arrived back at Oulton Broad with the last of the sun, by the time I had hobbled up the garden it was almost dark, the end of a good trip, despite aching bones. The only other boats that we saw were a few boats on their home moorings, otherwise we had the river to ourselves. Other boats add interest but that aside sollitude does have its attraction, especially with the winter sun. Well layered up, topped off with windproof hats and jackets, we couldn't have asked for better conditions, wonderful! The Broads at their winter best. Only six months to go before the butterfliers start to come out !

It will be a sad, empty house that Griff returns to tonight. Only advice I can offer is to go out and buy another dog asap. Griff will be able to blow the money that he's saved on fags! Me, I don't own a dog and haven't done for very many years. My dad & I used to shoot and also had a golden retriever. We also had an incredible stash of ex WD ammunition left over from WW2, dad was one of those who would have gone underground had the dastardly Hun invaded but since they didn't and whilst the arms and explosives were collect the ammunition wasn't so as kids we shot at anything. Acually it was dad who shot at a rat in the chicken run, a bullet richocheted and killed our dog, we were all really heart broken. For that reason I have never since owned a dog, I wouldn't want to go through what Griff is going through. He has my deepest sympathy. Perhaps if we had gone out and bought a new one but we didn't. My thoughts are with you, Griff. Hop on the mighty Tiger and head North!

That is sad. have had some good stuff from there and it always seemed busy but that is during the summer months. I would imagine that their winters are long though. Regretfully too many landords fail to allow for the fact that many if not most riverside businesses are seasonal.

Re Macie I can only sympathise with Griff. The loss of any dog is sad, the loss of a good working dog is more so, the break up of a team as well as the loss of an understanding friend.

Two scenarios speing to mind here, half price deluxe moorings at WRC for visiting NBD boats (£10.00) and the WRC booking office being swallowed up by NBD. Suspect that WRC will otherwise continue pretty much as it is now but perhaps the yard will concentrate more on private boats and maintenance whilst leaving hireboat building to Wroxham. We'll see! Meanwhile galloping gentrification will contnue at a pace at WRC!

Hello Puddleduck, I take it that you are a Ludhamite. Although not from Ludham myself I do wonder if my use of deli's might not be relatively typical. We don't use any of our local deli counters for day to day eating but we do treat oureselves when on holiday or having a day out or special occasion, such as were our spasmodic trips to Throwers. Perhaps the average good folk of Ludham treated their local deli similarly?

Child groom then?

A child bride?

Nigel, as I read your comment it looks like Throwers has not yet been sold whilst earlier in this thread it appears that it had.

It was the fresh food aspect of the store that made it worth visiting. I note that the turnover was £600k but with the minimum wages. high business rates and low profit margins I rather suspect that selling up proved all too attractive!

https://www.rightbiz.co.uk/buy_business/for_sale/231513_norfolk.html The original building looks ready for a tad of attention! It will be a sad loss to Ludham. My wife and I generally managed a few visits a year. Coming from a family of shop keepers I can only say that there are easier ways of making a living, hence I only spent a few years in the family business, a grocer I was not! Was a time when a well managed village shop could be a little gold-mine but probably not now.

As a day-boating local I suppose my perspectives vary from those of you sleeping aboard a motor cruiser for days on end. Mind you, I do agree with ZimbilV on a number of issues. Firstly, twenty quid a night to moor up, blow that for a game of soldiers! I like both James and Len well enough but what they offer is geared to making pots of money. I always hesitate in saying hello to James just in case he charges me for returning my greeting! Some folk are prepared to pay £20.00, I'm not but since I move on, either to go home or move along to a 'wild' mooring for the night I suppose the dosh is not an issue. However my family and I do use the pub and restaurant and we find the menu more than adequate, good quality and fairly priced and the same can be said of the booze. Perhaps not the cosiest of Broads pubs but we like it well enough. Not at the top of our list of favorite watering holes but nevertheless we look forward to our visits. In a nutshell we like the Waveney Inn and happily take our friends there. As for the toilet block, agreed, it's tired and this last summer we both thought that much of the site was shabby, in need of some tlc. However it was clear that improvements were under way. The shop, until this summer we normally bought something, not this past year. Not what it used to be, mores the pity. Be interesting to see how James copes with both the WRC and NBD.

As regards the BA in fairness they have stated that the new toll differential is effectively just a gesture of intent and in that I believe that they are right, indeed in that they deserve support. I am no scientist but I can appreciate the gesture. Time for a consultation? We need facts, not guesswork. Granted that I don't like the stench that some boats pump out in some quantity but is it really harming me or the world that I live in?

Thank you for keeping us updated. I'm afraid that the Authority has increasingly taken to issuing dictates in the manner that you have illustrated. I just hope that in the future the BA becomes abundently clear as to what is and what isn't statutory. To that end perhaps some sort of reference to the relevant Act/Byelaw/paragraph/section be included at least as the small print.

It would appear that he is something of a fanciful voyeur!

Ha ha, having read the proposals for next years toll I rather suspect the rise will be not less than 3.5% and perhaps 5%.

Wonder what it will be next year, if JP gets his way?