Wussername

Not so long ago I used to help my grandchildren onto the boat They now help me. It seems only yesterday. Once I'm on the boat I'm OK. Sometimes the cry goes out. Let grandad helm the boat., its all going wrong. Secretly I feel valued, in reality I know that it will not last long. I hope that they don't abandoned me completely.

Or your Labrador decides to roll in it.

Is it? There are many who do not share your blinkered view. Where there is an opportunity to question, to try and improve, help those who who are in need, comfort those who have suffered loss that there are those who care, who wish to make a difference for the future. Those who recognise a need for compassion and understanding and a willingness to assist in in a solution however difficult it may seem.

I agree FF. There needs to be a conversation. We must never,ever, have to have to be confronted with this episode again. Ever.

Quality Accredited Boatyard

A difficult and soul searching time for many. We must not be influenced by the BBC of all people.

Sometimes the most simplest of suggestions are the best. I also believe that it is important that all the holiday makers are involved in the trial run. Safety, disciplines, communication and consideration are all part of boating. Not just the individual who has hired the boat. Everybody should be involved and made aware of their responsibilities not only for themselves but others, friends, family and of course other boaters.

I don't know about you guys but financial commitments have just started for me. Not an awareness. Actual. Every single expenditure, no matter what, every thing has gone up. Your river Toll, what is it 13%, 14% ?. Think yourself lucky that is all that you have to worry about. Do you guys get a different gas bill, electricity bill, telephone bill, rates bill than me? Car fuel bill, insurance bill's. It will be next year, not this year, when the reality sinks in. When the real impact takes place. When people, like you and I are forced to conform to financial restraint. Punch will have finished dancing.

Not me. But I was with my grandfather all those years ago, in a sailing cruiser, under full sail, a similar maneuver. I think that he was with drink at the time. 😃

QFE Atmospheric pressure at aerodrome elevation (or at runway threshold)”

I have seem some catastrophic moorings in my time. Unbelievable. Most from hire folk who have not been instructed on even basic understanding. I must not forget the private owner who has migrated from a modest hire boat to his ultimate dream. With little experience.

I agree completely. This forum allows you that ability to comment freely, some do not. Action is not our concern or our objective.

Boating, or rather helming a boat, albeit sail or motor, is never ever, about getting it right. May I mention a strange analogy, it is with regard to flying an aircraft and I have done that as well although I have to say I am not a pilot. On an approach, heading whatever, visibility, height, wind, QFR, on a VFR approach (Visual Flight Rules) things go wrong. It would seem to me that one is always correcting a mistake at 800 ft. Same with boats. Experience does not only tell you how to moor a boat. It also informs you that it is not going how it should. So, you adjust. Calmly. Some do not. Go around, no shame in that. Try again. Wind, tide, visibility, hazards, all enter the mix. Therefor it it is never ever about doing it right it is knowing that it is not as it should be, and what to do about it. That is experience and you cannot teach that. Fear not, it comes very quickly and in time you will become a boatman. You may with justification ask the question. Who are you? Just an old Norfolk man, nothing special about me I can assure you. All I did was move boats, stern on moorings mostly, all day on turn round day, Oh! and also trial runs. I have done more stern moorings than any of you in my life. They were all perfect. The ones that were not were carried out by my mate who looked like me.

A post which should concentrate the minds of many. I hope HH that your excellent post will assist those who must eventually question there quest for financial reward in the short term over sustainability for the future.

Hi Bluebell. I try to make an informed judgement with regard to the present situation. A place of divided loyalties, of intrigue, character assassination, pontification,. We need direction which is sadly lacking.

Who has made their feeling known? Which FB group? What BA actions? I just wish for transparency why smoke and mirrors. I find it most confusing. Tell it as it is?

Thought it was Sole. Who mentioned Skate?

Great start to your story, to your journey. Thank you for sharing, and what a wonderful picture of that little boy steering the boat. How important he must have felt. Is that not indeed how we all started.

Ah! Lulu, in order to assist in a stern morring at Ranworth you have be a member of The Ancient Order of the Boat Hook. Clearly you are not.

My friend is parishioner of Ranworth and Woodbastwick and it would seem that he is entitled to moor at Ranworth Staithe free of charge. He does not own a boat but has use of a boat. Mine. He has very kindly offered me his space, to which he is entitled. I presume that as a parishioner the 24 hour rule does not apply. Tootle Pip!.....trot on!

Well done you guy's. A shining example to us all in paying the charge. Your Full English, courtesy of the BA will be served at 0800 hours.

Not Sure, anybody else?

Norwich a Fine City. At one time road signs on the A11, before the A47 bypass, would herald this declaration of pride. The roundabouts on Newmarket road and on the inner ring road used to be ablaze with colour from plants and flowers from the cities greenhouses at Earlham Park. Norwich of course is a fine city, you risk a fine wherever you park. no different to any other city I suppose in this day and age. It has changed enormously in my lifetime, no longer are cattle to be seen driven through the streets to Norwich market. Industry has gone, the shoe industry, Caley Mackintosh/Rowntree Mackintosh, Colmans, Laurance & Scotts, Bolton & Pauls, to a great extent The Norwich Union Ins Soc.. The city a shadow of its former self. However, you must not be discouraged from visiting, by car, by train or boat, by boat with a passage along the River Yare and finally the River Wensum. Parts of the Yare are magnificent and so is the Wensum. The nearer that you get to Norwich, to the old centre of the city, with its bridges and Cathedral, and its history, the experience is amazing. You should be able to navigate through Foundry Bridge up to Bishops Bridge, alas the hire boat can no longer proceed further. But you make walk along the bank, with the Cathedral as your custodian, past Lollards pit, do not linger, past a swan pit, for the benefit of the Bishop of Norwich. (do you know him) and then you may journey through a most delightful part of the old city. Elm Hill, lanes leading to the famous historical market, next to the Old Guildhall. Not far from The Maddermarket Theatre built in 1794 originally as a chapel, still presenting plays and modern productions. Indeed Old Wussername, in his youth once trod the boards. I remember it well. The roar of the grease paint, the smell of the crowd. They never asked me back.

I used to buy Bally shoes, in the day. 1960/1970, Five or six pairs. Manufactured in their factory on Hall Road, Norwich. retail price three or four hundred pounds. They were rejects. why I do not know. A friend, an employee, purchased them for me, at a discount price. For me £5 or £6. I could only afford a few. A waste of money, sure very stylish, none of my mates knew fish from fowl. Not for a Norfolk boy I'm afraid. A different world. I do not think that I impressed anybody, at least I thought I did, in my naivety I was happy with that.

Quite a feat or is that feet.