ChrisB

I have only ever seen a Vulcan once in flight, very low over Poole Bay when we were anchored in South Bay, Studland. Someone said that it must have been having work done at Airwork Services of Bournemouth but I would have thought their runway at Hurn would be too short. Used to see all sorts of interesting aircraft over the bay when Airworks were busy, quite a few old types being readied to be sold on to other countries.

As Judith and I were planning to leave Norfolk for Sussex prior to her being diagnosed with cancer for the first time I still brouse the property pages. This one bedroom in the high street is up at present for £475K. Being in the high street it does not overlook the harbour, ones with a view go for fortunes. I love the tiny "Sea-level rise ready front door" . What fun it was to see visitors roll up their trousers and take their shoes and socks off to retrieve their cars from the incoming tide. Chichester Harbour still pulls at my heart strings but I think it is a bit late for me now! Also living in a place is very different from visiting and West Sussex has become very crowded. Probably best to stick to North Norfolk!

Great Pictures Peter. They bring back many memories as we also did much of our courting in and around Chichester Harbour. The first picture was taken in Sept 2015 just before Judith was ill for the last time. This was the area that the gun punts were pulled up into, Southwood Farm was a few hundred metres further on. The last two were taken in 1968 in Sussex Nr Goodwood. The MK111 Spitfire had just replaced our Herald Convertible. Happy, carefree days, so much water was to flow, under so many bridges in the 48 years that followed.

If Lowestoft is 1890s I doubt Birdham Pool predates that as a marina. As a reservoir for the Tide Mill it would probably, maybe a few gun punts were moored there! Do you remember the gun punts that used to be at Bosham in the sixties? There were a couplein the reeds where the road goes round the end of the creek and a couple more nearer to the channel by Southwood Farm.

I have heard or read that is so. The "Pool" is actually the pool of an old Tide Mill the building of which is still by the lock so it could easily be the first Marina . You have to also lock in and out of the much newer Chichester Yacht Basin that was created in the 60s. It is a lovely safe haven about 7 miles inland from the open sea and the famous or infamous Bar.

Their centre cockpit yachts were very popular and built across the the range of their larger yachts at 6, 9, and 12 Ton. I suspect their refered tonnage to be "Thames" which is in feet, length - beam x beam squared divided by 188. Never did understand this rating but maybe someone here could explain. PS.. Birdham Pool..very much my old stomping ground along with Bosham and Itchenor as it was JM's.

I am not sure, I just remember them afloat opposite the quay with guys working on them across the way from the old Truckline terminal. They seemed absolutely vast as we passed them in our Centaur.

Got these in my weekly news letter from The Nancy Blackett Trust. Hillyards of Littlehampton certainly built them to last. She looks as good for the 2019 season as she must have done when launched in 1931. This refit was by Robertsons of Woodbridge.

This thread has got my grey matter going. Poole is synonymous with Sunseeker. However the really big story in the 70s/80s was George Steads Southern Ocean Shipyard who built the Ocean range of fast "World Cruisers" in 60, 70 and 80 foot versions. I think something like 70 were built about half being the 60ft. I am pretty sure the 70 was the first "Maxi" racer.

We watched the rise of Sunseeker in the 70s and early 80's. Before we moved to Ridge Wharf up the Frome towards Warham we were in Holes Bay at Cobbs Quay. In those far away days Martin Sadler (son of David of Contessa fame) was building his first Sadler 25s at Cobbs and he would rope in Rodney Patterson the Olympic Flying Dutchman gold medallist to help with demo sails. Happy days, The Poole scene was great to be around, very different from today. Sadly a drying marina coupled to a bridge lift, that did not happen in very hot weather , a young family and a 120 mile drive home sent us up the river to Wareham. Tides we could cope with, but not getting through the bridge until late Sunday evening was too much.

I don't know much about them except being a sucker for round sterns and double enders they have always attracted me. There was a nice one for sale a while back at Neil Thompson's yard when he was in Glanford prior to his move to Wells. Their production run was quite short , just in the 80's. The company in Fordingbridge was owned by the boats designer, Micheal Hawes. Both the 19 and 24 had a very good name for build quality being very heavily laid up, using encapsulated lead ingots for ballast and having top quality woodworks. There was a 24 at Ridge Wharf, Wareham when I moored there in the 80s, The owner described it as "A poor man's Fisher" I believe there was a rumour that Cornish Crabbers or another West Country builder of small yachts was interested in aquiring the tooling and rights to the range but I don't think anything came of it.

We had a cold and wet 10 day voyage on the RGO. From Ely on one of Bridge Boats Sunrays, (Alpha 29 sport bridge). Fitted with a very slim boiler heating radiators it was superb, not only keeping us warm below but drying our constantly damp clothing, towels etc.

The Skanner 19 is one of my favourite pocket cruisers. As J.M. says " A proper little ship " I wish you many happy days aboard her.

But crossing the Pennines on the Leeds and Liverpool takes some licking on inland waterway voyages.

Love the deck lights, a good safety feature that looks cool to boot!

I have long held the belief that ethical government ended with The First World War. The last hundred years has seen the whole political system become the preserve of the "Career Politician" whose priorities are firmly :- self first, party second, with constituents and country a poor third. A solid foundation, provided by experience of real life is rare these days, many entering politics by securing jobs in political research groups directly from university. One only has to look at the number of key policy changes made in the last ten years to see a total lack of understanding of the real world. The changes to pension legislation, benefit payments and more seriously the EU Referendum will be very damaging to all IMHO.

Everywhere I moored always wanted a year up front. But I am with you, much prefer the flexiility of a rolling 3 months instead of being "locked in" to a place for a year even if it worked out dearer. Think what potential savings there are when you decide to give up ownership, as I have done.

My sincere condolences to Clive and their family. Chris.

Got it, looks good, many thanks.

I normally take a relaxed pootle up the A15 when going North. However I have to go to Hawes. No time for sightseeing and lunches etc so will sit on the A1. I intend to join near Newark using the A17. My question is :- "Is this the best way" Not been there since being in Norfolk , from Buckinghamshire I would go M40/M6 and come in from the other side!

I still rest more peacefully in a bunk when attached to a CQR by 4X the depth of BBB calibrated chain.

According to North Norfolk News, The Swan at Ingham will be re-opening on The Ides of March. That is the 15th for those not up on their Julius Caesar.

With retirement age stretching ever further towards the horizon one wonders if age should also come into the equation. I know at nearly seventy I can't lift what I could 10 years ago. My wheelbarrow and two sack barrows (one folding for in the car) get more and more use.

Took my mug of tea out on the terrace this morning in my PJs. Herewith daybreak in Noth Norfolk. 20190227_061258.mp4

And they do breed very early.