ChrisB

I have a couple on the boat. It is enjoyable to sit on the bank and watch the world go by. I would bring them, if you don't have them you can't use them.

I find the approach to Wroxham Bridge much easier if you get well over to starboard nice and early. By that I mean a good hundred metres before the bridge, as you get nearer being already to starboard you can concentrate on the Keystone and getting it spot on your centre line. I have a "Windy Bridge Height indicator" on my pulpit. It is set to the height of my windscreen in the up position, it has the added benefit of a burgee as well. I bought mine mail order from Jones Chandlery in St Ives (Cambs) I marked where it should go in the rail clamp using a cheap laser spirit level.

Anything that will reduce the possibility of loss of grip is good on a boat. Please do not take this folks the wrong way! But I have seen some of the summer footwear in Tesco, Stalham, by crews heading towards a large large hire yard that are only fit for the bin, cheap hard sole trainer type. If you enjoy the Broads, if you enjoy hiring a boat anywhere, invest in a proper pair of razor cut sole, deck shoes. It could just save you the terrible events that occured at Acle within the last week.

This is a wonderful thing, that many might not know the uniqueness of. Henry VIII did not close down St Benets during the disolution but combined the Abbacy of St Benet with the Bishopric of Norwich. So to this day technically the Bishop of Norwich is not just an Anglian Bishop but a RC. Abbot. Sir John Fastolf and his wife are buried at St Benets he is the Falstaff of Shakespeare. The Cross that can be seen so clearly across marsh and from the river came from the Sandringham Estate.

You were at Lound and you are returning to Oulton. You could simply drive south. Or you could small circular taking in St Olaves and Somerleyton or a bigger circular taking in Burgh St Peter, Geldeston and Beccles. Unless of course you hopped over on the Reedham Ferry. You win I give up.

Two large bolts meeting in the same nut made an excellent "Cap Bomb"

A hankerchief string tied to four corners and all led to a sizable bolt made a good parachute.

I have been hedging, friends know I am always hedging, I have lots of hedge, I have enough hedge for six households not just me. I filled my two brown bins and went to get a spade to compact it in the bin. I then remembered Judith. We would get the kitchen steps, I would steady her and hold the bin and she would get in in her wellies and jump up and down to that beautiful Milligan refrain. " When your feeling low down and can't find r-o-m-m-a-n-c-e, jump into a dusbin and dance" I am on my phone so can't do a link but get Spike Milligan's dustbin dance on YouTube you will love it.

In the pre-Proctor days when masts were mostly wood and had to be varnished owners were more inclined to frap in order to protect the mast.

It still carries the banner " Britains Best Selling Boating Magazine" So maybe it is just me, my age and failing memory. Do you remember when a Mars Bar was as big as a Sand Faced Fletton and just as heavy? Always had one taped to the mast in my dinghy racing days.

Looking at it I would say both. Remember the private ads in alphabetical order, columns of Westerlies, Macwesters, Hillyards, Corribees etc for sale, all gone. Readership must have declined and that will send advertisers running away to find other outlets.

The Postman has just been delivering that once most read journal of the impoverished sailor. Frankly it nearly went in the recycling. It was so thin I thought it was junk mail. Talk about a shadow of it's former self. I have cancelled my direct debit. Suppose I am getting old I remember Denny Desoutter.

Maybe that is how long they took to get round. They were in Zoe.

This is the one you are looking for, it's a bit of a Broadland issue as it has other titbits as well.k

For someone who would go in a pub everyday except Christmas day I never go in a pub now. I would stop and have a sandwich and a half as I would be driving. I started not going when I could no longer get my sandwich. I don't want a half a fathom of Bagette and a 5 litre bucket of chips on the side. Funnily enough this thread got me thinking when I last went to a pub and it was on the last day of the last holiday that Judith and I had before she became ill again. That will be two years in September. By coincidence It was one of the first that I ever took her to and even stranger I know it is a Jenny Morgan (Peter) favourite as well. This painting hangs in our dining room, it is stylised but you will recognise it Peter.

One of the companies on the Shannon sent out a VHS with every booking. You also had a lecture theatre presentation on your day of departure. I am probably talking 30 years ago not sure now.

It is normally the halyards against the mast. In other words the bit of string that pulls up the sails and is then made fast normally to a cleat on the bottom of the mast. I can tell you it is not peacefull in a marina if it is blowing and you have 100 yachts doing it or live near a sailing club dinghy park.

I moored in a marina in Poole Harbour in the late 70's so you are talking 40 years now. If you failed to "frap" your halyards the marina staff would fit a nice pair of shockcord ties with plastic balls on the end to stop any mast tapping. You would receive an invoice for £50 which was a lot more money then.

About 4 or 5 years ago a new chandlery opened in Wells opposite where The Albatross is berthed. It only made about two seasons and was not stocked like Standard House at the other end of the quay. What it did stock was what I can only describe as half canoe half inflatable dinghy. Transomed to receive a few horses. I fancied one but then put on my sensible suit (I have an inflatable that never gets used) but I had not seen one before or since. Downside was I think it was about £1000.00.

I was talking to a Happisburgh helper this morning who was on his way to their summer fete. I mentioned burgees and he said that they got some stock and cleared them via Norfolk Broads Forums. So what I saw a few days ago in their packets are not burgees but the small staff flag which is about 16ins X 8ins. In other words the top one Not the bottom one. Sorry if I have misled you..

For outboarders like me this is the bit of kit they use on one of the Palling RIBs. Beautifully fabricated but not cheap.

I thought non-readers might be interested in that the August/September issue of Classic Sailor goes long on the 3RR.

Dreadful news, and once again a reminder how quickly things can go wrong when on the water. There have been some awful incidents in the last few years involving propellers I am afraid they don't take prisoners.

Happisburgh RNLI shop had some 2 days ago. The lifeboat station and shop, is, and has been for quite a long time at Cart Gap opposite the NNDC car park due to the loss of the old slipway via erosion. Smallsticks cafe (named after the way the land was carved up in the past there) is well worth a visit, they go a really quite presentable cream tea.

I was thinking of visiting a few old haunts next year and looked at a few of my favourite small out of the way hotels only to find they are sold out already May to September 2018. Maybe it is the value of stirling.