JennyMorgan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09l5kf0

Trains, wherries and the Broads, what more could a man wish for? An accompanying pint of Broadside wouldn't go amiss!

Does it matter if water does get into the bilge? As I say, it's what a bilge pump is for. As for leaking stern glands, at best no more than minimal if properly packed and maintained.

Some strange answers, other than Vaughan's recent wise input. If I had a wooden boat that leaked then I would do something about it. If I had a glass boat that leaked then I would do something about it. If a salesman told me that a glass boat should have water in the bilge then I would take everything he told me with a pinch of salt. Some older boats have a shower where there is a likelihood that that will drain into the bilge, but that's what bilge pumps are for. If a boatbuilder told me something then I would listen to him over any boat salesman. Do I trust salesmen? Leading question!

John, have a good one, you deserve it as does everyone. Can't help you with the pub, sorry. Telly & a bottle of Woods might be good! Me, well, we have grandchild number eight, only a few days old so I shall have my work cut out!

And so it should be, in a packed lift or aboard a small boat!

What I do find offensive, and entirely unnecessary, is the use of foul language by total strangers. I'll talk to anybody, I'm not choosy, but why does total stranger, after only a matter of minutes, feel it acceptable to introduce the dreaded 'f' word into the conversation? In some instances every other word! If we were discussing unelected, unaccountable quangos then I might have some sympathy but we are generally talking boats, Broads or fishing, nothing that deserves being sworn about so why do people do it? Anyway, we are talking our forum, not an easy task, but restraint all round is no bad thing.

I worked at Ladbrooks, Warners & Haven over the years so I was neither. Monty Mouse was from Pettits at Reedham and we took his roadshow around several independents as well.

And she, like Vasa, was to rise from the sea-bed thus proving the durability of wood!

A reinforced, armoured stem head, by the holly whatsit you could do some serious damage with that!!

For many years I specialised in child portrait photography including working in holiday camps as part of the Ents (entertainment) team as 'Flash the Photographer', terrible, isn't it, but it was great fun. Part of the act, if you could call it that, was to meet the kids on stage and they would have their photograph taken with Monty Mouse or whoever. To break the ice and win over the child I'd ask if they were being good & most would laugh and say 'no', bingo, I was in! 'Does mummy tell you off'? A gleeful 'YES' was what I was after and generally got. 'Does mummy use naughty words'? 'YES' again but even louder!! 'What does she say'? The trap was laid, child on stage, mum covering her eyes in the auditorium and expecting the worst, which generally came, yes, that awful word and the spotlight was ready to pounce!! On one occasion spot lit mum stands up and shouts 'No, I effing don't'! The house came down, I was friends with the punters for another week! Innocent fun at a time when it was still a bit daring to swear, at least in public. Now it's every other word, effing sad really, and entirely pointless.

Oulton Broad. The 'free quay'.

Oulton Broad again, roundabout 1890.

Oulton Broad, early 1900's, 'dead dog corner'.

Believe it or not this is the site of the Oulton Broad Yacht Station.

I wish that I could!

Now't wrong with 'bugger', much used in Norfolk and often as a term of endearment! 'He be a rum ould bugger', even our children might be called 'little bugger-boos!' Now we'd never refer to our nearest and dearest as a meadow lady, or the three lettered equivalent.

Oulton Broad 1880's

Oulton Broad 1880's. Looks like the oarsman is feeling for the bottom so I guess the sailing boat that he is towing is on the mud, nothing new there then!

Quite right too! What has changed is the make-up of the fleets, at one time the holiday boats far outnumbered private ones. People came to the Broads for a holiday, for an adventure, for most it was something entirely new. Today private boats far outnumber hire boats, now many people now come here just to relax, to unwind, to enjoy their own boats. Regretfully for many there isn't quite the same carefree holiday atmosphere that there was over half a century ago. In reality I don't suppose the Broads is any less enjoyable, just that perceptions and expectations have changed.

Gosh, I don't recognise Beccles in that! Personally I always enjoy my visits there. Sitting on the bank, slurping ice creams, criticising all around me, great!! No, just not so. Of course there are some critical buggers about, but they are not endemic to Beccles, they could be just about anywhere, the miserable buggers!

Back then it was all something of an adventure and the Broads was more of a holiday resort than it is today. We were all in it together too. I also think that people in general were less insular than they are now. By the way, I thoroughly enjoyed the film, we put it on the TV and the quality is pretty good. So many memories, saw my old Sheerwater catamaran, long since burned up, poor old girl! No, it wasn't me aboard, I bought her for a few quid at the Wroxham Boat Auction, she was pretty rough but we had a great deal of fun with her. Ridiculous boat for the Broads but she could get a shift on and we enjoyed her.

The original Vintage Boat crowd were a strange bunch. We turned up to a rally once on a Broads sailing cruiser built in 1908. We felt like fish out of water! We didn't bother after that. However, in its new guise it's a totally different animal. Lots of aged fart boats though

The moment that you put an outboard on the back of a rowing dinghy it then becomes a motorboat and attracts a higher toll.