JennyMorgan

I read this one as suggesting that KFC itself does not see a 3 as good enough: http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/kfc_on_mile_cross_lane_in_norwich_closes_amid_hygiene_concerns_1_4558062

Mark, I don't know the boat well enough to recommend a minimum weight but if, for example, you have a fifteen kg weight and it sticks to the bottom then tie the rope as short as you can and then drive the boat backwards, if there's room, and break the suction that is holding the weight to the bottom. Hopefully it will then be a doddle to haul aboard. As a rough guide I'd go for a pound a foot as a starting point. That said we do carry a 50 lb weight on a 26 footer, just in case. If the front is difficult for pulling up the weight from then why not lift it from the stern, no rules saying that you can't.

I'm told that the little purple ones are very helpful but best avoid the unlicensed ones on e-bay.

This morning I biked through Oulton Broad on my way to the boatshed that we have 'Spray' in at the moment. Just out of curiosity, as I passed all the village centre eateries, I noted that all them were proudly displaying their 4 and 5 ratings on their doors. All except one, the Waveney. I don't doubt that the Waveney could make the grade but I suspect/guess that it requires considerable investment. I agree that if an establishment is that bad then it will be closed down immediately. However proprietors are given advice and encouraged to achieve a 5, nothing wrong with that, is there? Except in extreme circumstances proprietors are given the opportunity to improve their standards rather than loose their livelihoods. That seems entirely fair to me. On the other hand we, the customers, are also given the opportunity to avoid eateries with low standards or less than very good facilities, that too seems entirely fair to me. Proprietors are given the opportunity to improve whilst we are given the information allowing us to make an informed decision, what is so wrong with that? The rating system is obviously there to encourage higher standards, shouldn't that be applauded?

The rating system does not relate to the quality of food, rather it relates to hygiene. The Waveney at Oulton Broad appears to be rated as a 1 yet it's food quality is excellent, witness earlier comments. However the nearby Lady of the Lake has a 5 & the food is also excellent. It's all down to choice . . . . . . . .

Perhaps part of the problem is that a number of pubs were never built to include much in the way of catering facilities. Catering has always been very secondary to drinking thus some kitchens are both small and fragmented, making use of odd spaces between the bars & bogs. That some of these pubs produce good food is sometimes something of a miracle in my unqualified opinion!

Got to say that I have eaten at the Waveney and thought it perfectly reasonable. However, having been shown the kitchen and preparation areas, and unless these have since been improved, I can understand them not having a five. In the meantime, out of preference, we use the Wherry, the Commodore and Broadland Holiday Village.

https://www.norfolklive.org/our-cameras/oulton-broad-wherry-hotel-hd/

In my neck of the woods the Waveny at Oulton Broad has just one star whilst the Lady of the Lake and Geldeston Locks have five! Well done both of 'em!

Frightening, a primary school with just one star!

Charlie, that is an easy one to answer, both as a country and a society we have moved on. I mentioned the MOT, do you really think motoring would be safer without it? No different with the hygiene standards in my opinion. No system is perfect but the star system must surely have saved lives and that can't be bad.

Either a place meets the standards or it doesn't, that really should be the end of. Whether it is a new business, a business aiming to rebuild itself or whatever, it should still meet reasonable standards. No different to the MOT really. By awarding 1 to 3 stars the inspectors are hardly condoning poor standards, more like they are giving businesses the advice and encouragement to do better. Perhaps that encouragement would be more effective if more customers chose not to frequent low scoring outlets or outlets that don't display their star ratings.

Nice one, just needs an NBN flag! Thanks for sharing your project with us.

Keith & Poppy, exactly right. As a matter of professional pride I'd expect a food outlet to settle for nothing short of a five.

A few surprises here: https://www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk/council/broadland-district-council*- Having been in & also having good friends in the trade I can only say that achieving a four or five is not unreasonable or difficult. Personally I always check now. A three hardy fills me with confidence.

'Fraid so, felt the need to edicaet all them funny furriners wot hev emiggraeted up hair frum darn Sarf or up Norf, espec'ly them doozy buggers wot tork that quere tribety Inglish squit.

I must bow to Vaughan's rich heritage but here in Suffick we generally refer to Norwich as The City, 'we goo upper Ci'ee'. As for Norfolk, or Nor-fick, well, what do I know, being a Suffick bor wa we ter skewell wiv orl them Norfick farmer's sons.

The speedboat racing on Oulton Broad was cancelled today because of the wind

http://www.broadsnationalpike.com/2016/05/blessed-u-turn-imminent-on-houseboat.html

Rob, I suspect they chose the low-loader option but Broads boats have traveled down to the Thames by sea. For example Broad Ambition took part in the Royal Jubilee Parade on the Thames a few years ago. On another occasion a hire boat went to sea, ending up being moored to Southend Pier. Norfolk wherries have also been to places like Southampton Water, The Fens and also Holland. Famously a number of Broads boats went to Dunkirk during WWII, indeed my father took one across, thankfully he came back otherwise I would not be here now! So long as the weather is kind then I suspect that most Broads cruisers could make the trip.

Perhaps they turned right at Gt Yarmouth and right again at South End?

Puggy wimmin wot niff a bit, now yew torkin!

Iain, undoubtedly and unarguably this is the NORFOLK Broads Network. The clue as to what constitutes 'proper' English is surely in that august title? Regarding 'mobbing', as used my Vaughan, a term that surely relates to women? Us men never 'mob'! Maybe gentlemen who wear skirts qualify?

He dew, dun ee! But anyone from North of Sutton Bridge tends to mob, can't help it, forriners!

Troo though innit!