JennyMorgan

Back to the Broads and another picture of that whatever it was going to Cantley. Reproduced with permission.

Not on the Broads, actually off Maldon. Was quietly sailing along aboard my Drascombe when this beauty came belting along. Whether a Norfolk, or even a Suffolk wherry, a trading boat was generally built for purpose. This Thames barge is no exception, such craft have evolved, often over generations, and have a fascination and a beauty that is very easy on the eye. The same can be said of many of the surviving wooden hire cruisers.

My father had a bakery and used flour from Cranfields of Ipswich. Handy for yours truly as it allowed me to take several trips from Ipswich to Norwich and Beccles, lucky me!

Grain ship to Beccles, over to the left. Of course the Beccles bypass bridge prohibits anything really high.

Just once but that was all about actresses and actors. Whether they have their all embracing dictator in charge I really don't know!

Don't know about the WI! In this instance we are dealing with a quango, unaccountable, often untrusted and largely unelected. Dr Teflon in charge!

There have been a number of incidents when the Authority has marked its own scorecard so to speak. When not marking directly it has certainly controlled the published outcome of reports. In one instance I attended, as a member of the Navigation Committee, a national park review. Under the leadership of the Nav Com Chairman we didn't mince our words, we had one opportunity and we took it. The published result had next to no resemblance to what we had collectively submitted. If ever you try complaining, to an MP for example, the complaint is simply forwarded to the BA for their comment which will be suitably doctored and whitewashed. As for being an appointee of BA senior management, it runs rather deeper than that. Appointees tend to be carefully selected and being pliable and suitably helpful to the cause is seen as being entirely desirable. The gist of SteveO's posting is spot on.

I rather suspect that many millions will totally ignore any rules that impact on their Christmas day get togethers so maybe Christmas day is the day to take the bull by the horns and winterise your boats, not sure why but it sounds like a plan!

They have paid some pretty amazing travelling expenses in the past, go for it!

Tom is a decent bloke and unlikely to dig himself a hole!

What I find distasteful about this is that it appears to apply solely to the Authority members but seemingly not to the Authority officers or its executive. I'm sure that Tom will correct me if I am wrong. The ethics by which we now have a self declared, quasi national park are less than creditable, Heron has raised an entirely valid point.

Ho ho ho, underhand and manipulative control won't come under the heading of ethics! It should, but it won't .

In principle a creditable move but will anyone listen to such a person let alone take any criticism onboard? I'm sure that they will, provided it strengthens that man's level of control but otherwise I really do doubt it. There have been at least two incidents when Authority members stood up for what is right, both members being shown the door but both subsequently finding a way back in, (Knight & Hempsal). The Act dates back to2011, does that mean that the BA has taken nine years to respond? Another, pointless seat polisher? That man does nothing unless it helps his cause, another tool of control. This new position should not be needed.

Like what I've been telling folk for the last ten years or more!

That is a absolutely right. The other factor was the invention of the pub-co, where previously pubs were governed by the holiday trade they were now governed by head office and the bottom line, pubs became shabby and their garden furniture fell into disrepair, sort of Beauchamp Arms style. The Broads became less inviting. The same happened to Great Yarmouth's sea-front, it was all take-take-take rather than taking care. Winter was all about maintenance and taking pride in what was on offer, those days died late in the 70's, with a few exceptions.

Vaughan mentions 22% interest rates, my bank was more kind, I was hammered with 21%. At that time I was achieving about 10% profit in my shop and 22% in the pub. If I was lucky I managed to turn over my shop stock about six times over the summer. That was hard work, I only survived by working for Hoseasons Brochure Dispatch during the winter months but survive we did whilst many of my friends did not, indeed we continued until 1978 and left with cash in our pockets to reinvest elsewhere. In fairness to Hoseasons, we had belonged to Blakes, Jimmy & Co operated very much as a club at that time. In effect we were working as a co-operative with our fellow Hoseasons yards. We were sad to leave Blakes but they were on a downward slope at that time. Hoseasons guaranteed us two weeks more than we achieved with Blakes the previous year. With eighteen boats that was 36 weeks extra, not to be sneezed at, we actually achieved more. Jimmy was a good friend to us, his very personal touch worked well for him as much as it did for us. Blakes was struggling. Where Hoseasons went wrong, in my view, was in eventually pandering to The Sun, in going down market in an effort to take on the budget airlines and package holidays. The demographics of Broads Holidays changed overnight, on top of those 22% interest rates that was the end for us and so we pulled out of the Broads. Hoseasons did up the average standards by introducing minimum standards, for some that was standardisation but for others it was a guarantee of quality. That resulted in below standard boats being sold off, and one or two yards subsequently left and along came the budget Red Whale fleets. I don't know that that helped. All that said, I miss those days. It was a lifestyle that was great to be a part of.

https://www.edp24.co.uk/features/hoseasons-holidays-remembering-the-genius-of-james-hoseason-1-6930991

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/norfolk-sailors-return-to-the-broads-after-guidance-change-1-6931035

I really can't be bothered to read through the pages of this thread again or indeed HMG's rules but I can't help feeling that you are not adhering to the spirit of the present lockdown if not to the letter of the law.

Lack of mobility is a growing problem for yours truly. At one time I thought nothing of a thirty mile bike ride or a ten mile hike but those days are regretfully behind me. I still go for a couple of miles slow stroll but cycling is no longer an option. No one warned us that our bodies would eventually fail us, as has happened to both Lynn & I over the last couple of years. That has come as a bit of a shocker, understatement of the month!

Chris mentions that the Paston Way runs past his front door, in my case its the Angles Way. With the first, and now the second Lockdown, I have met numerous new faces who have taken to walking or cycling the footpath. I've made several new doggy friends too! It is a good world when complete strangers warmly return greetings and offer to help if needed. If nothing else this accursed pandemic has given good folk more time for their fellow beings.

My wife and I have a good friend, not only has she lost her husband but also her two cats. She's now so alone and dreading her first Christmas by herself, even though she has an invite to share the day with us. The present lock-down won't end just because Boris says so.

Those who have had the jab will be having a suitable logo tattooed on their foreheads. Those without will be expected to carry a bell and to pronounce that they are unclean.

Likewise in the hospital where one of my daughters works as a pharmacist.

Standing in a queue at a take-away is permissible, even in the rain, at least it is South of The Wash!