Chelsea14Ian

I too try my best to encourage people to go south .It saddens me that boat yards on the south have reduced,leaving very few left. I worry that investment in the south will also reduce. However as I said I've never seen many if any day boats from Brundall in Reedham.Of course I don't know what route Brooms will advice customers on there day boats.

Most of our time boating has been spent on the southern broads.And I don't recall many day boats from Brundall, seen in Reedham.

We went last Autumn. It was busy,you could see lots of locals there.Always a good sign.We opted for there Tapas,which was very good.Maybe best to book.If coming by car, take care leaving the car park.Its a bit of a blind spot.

Very true.Very noticeable when we were in Chambridge the other week.Here in Martham grass is quite long.In fairness the other week they cut the verges from near Hemsby through the village also between Horning to Wroxham.

So is there space for visitors and day boats, close to the pub?

Next few days appears to be s bit cooler,with some rain.Weekend could be much warmer.

We brought a new one for Mermaid,at Boulters near Wroxham. I think Norfolk marine also sells flags.You can also buy on line.

Today is our Anniversary and Alan's birthday. We called down to him and Dave last Friday to give him his presents. We had lunch at the Lacon Hemsby very nice too.Then we had a little drive up to Poppyland at Waxham. Its a look back to the 1940s.Theres also a little shop,selling just about everything .Also a little restaurant .Worth a visit. A few photos.

I've said this before, but when at Cove,Brundall our first night was always at Berney Arms.Often nights had a slight mist,adding too the magic of breydon. I'm sure if you looked hard enough you could see those sea monsters. Or was that the booze from the pub.

What's your favourite first night moorings?

I have more!

Meanwhile here in Martham,it's been a very busy day for some.

Living and working in London most of my life.I thought I knew all of London.Many times people would mention places I had not seen of been there.Still it is a big place.

Now we all clearly love the broads. This may be a bit unfair,but where what is your number one favourite part/place of the broads?

I'm still reading some posts. Clearly you've all enjoyed you time on the broads.Since moving to Norfolk I'm surprised talking to our neighbours,our knowledge of Norfolk is better then many of our neighbours, apart from native Norfolk folk.We put that down to us not only boating,but also travelling around Norfolk and Suffolk.

All very good and interesting. Now photos if you have any from the past.

This may have be covered before.Why not talk again about our live of the broads. I've said many times before.I first came mid sixties twice on Martham boats. Then October 2021 we moved to Martham. From then went back in 1974 then another long gap a day on the boat with Alan and Dave.That convinced Marina that boating was lovely. Let's hear your story. Ian.

I like kids,but I couldn't eat an whole one.

We went to the boat today,first time since my treatment. We were going to do cleaning,but we needed fresh water and top up fuel.Im still trying to get to grips with reversing and mooring.It is different from Sweetkingfisher. Partly due to us only so far taking the boat out on short trips.After water and fuel We went to Barton Broad then back.From there we went to the garden centre at Stalham and picked our own Strawberries 🍓. A few didn't make it.I had to see if they were good.

Another sad sight paired with Berney Arms.The best thing he could do is sell both pubs to someone who cares.

No perhaps they want another 13%.

I mostly agree.There are many well known personally. Just recently the swim across the channel for the little girl with a horrible skin condition. What I don't understand is some recent ex MPS who appeared to have done little apart from appearing on I'm a celebrity. Then throwing toys out of the pram because they didn't get an honour or something that thought it was a good idea to have a Christmas party when millions of us couldn't see our family and friends. There is a system in place allowing anyone to put forward those they think deserves an award. As for me. All my life I've been involved in voluntary work. I get more out then I put in.Its very rewarding. In part I think it's due to my mum.My father passed when I was 18 months old.She often had two jobs,she worked hard.I wanted and still do want to give back over the years my commitment to voluntary work has reduced over the years.When I was at Belmarsh I was also a Elected Director of Thamesmead Town .I was good at keeping three balls in the air. Since moving to Martham and helping when I can at Hemsby. Many there work very hard not only with the Lifeboat also in the village. It is very much a community.

Think in fairness we were and I think still well thought of.Over the years we brought to the attention of Governors the Home Office etc.We had the ability to high light problems,that others who took some things for granted. We often could get the Governor to resolve problems that we raised and most Governors worked with us.That said if a Governor didn't want to accept our reports we could go direct to the Home office.We did have teeth and we used bite if really necessary.

Just missed out on a MBE. My vice chair got one.Still I never entered into voluntary work for honers.I did so giving something back.

forerunner BOV Board of visitors IMB Independent monitoring Board. It started in the 1800s. Visitoring Magistrates. Following concerns of the state of prisons and prisoners. Each Prision in England Wales and Northern Ireland has a IMB.Belmarsh is a large prison (local).So a mix of those Cat C,D B and the most serious Cat A.There was 21 of us.We were appointed by the Home Office.All volunteers. We received travel costs.All my time there nearly 15 years I lost money,but I found it interesting. We would check on a rota basis weekly the state of the prison.Take Applications from inmates,take to staff.If there was an incident we attended making a written acount of the incident,that has been used in courts in the past.Each mouth we as a group met with the Governor and each year an annual report to the Home Office. It was perhaps one of the most interesting things I've been involved in.