Mouldy

Sunday 22nd September I usually am up at about 04:15 to get ready for work, so enjoyed a lay-in until about 05:30, before pulling some clothes on and making the essential morning cuppa. It was a glorious morning, with a little mist laying over the fields and a clear sky. I readied my camera in anticipation of the sunrise whilst Iain and Debbie (the wife) took the dogs for their morning walk. I went out as the sky began to colour and probably spent about three quarters of an hour taking pictures of the rising sun, before heading back to the boat. The others were back with the dogs, so we started the engine and cast off just before 07:30, heading for Breydon Water. With the engine revs set to little more than tickover, we were making good progress, helped by the ebbing current and wasn’t long before we were going through Reedham. I was slightly worried that we would arrive at Yarmouth much to early, but in the end, we turned at the yellow post at about 10:00. The Bure was still emptying, but it wasn’t too bad and we made steady progress past the Yacht Station and the ever worsening eyesore that is Marina Quays. There had been plenty of craft heading south, but not many heading the other way. As we progressed towards The Stracey Arms, I spotted Russell Thompson heading in the opposite direction, solo helming aboard Royall Commander and shouted a greeting as he passed, to which he responded. We would eventually meet up with him later in the week. I knew that the Broads Boating Company had taken down the water hoses at the riverside at Acle, so turned into their basin and stern moored to fill our tanks. Once done we headed back up The Bure, destination Potter Heigham. I felt the pull from The Lion as we passed Thurne Dyke. The promise of a glorious meal there was very tempting, but we had plans to be there later in the week, so resisted the temptation and carried on up The Thurne. The difference in the volume of river traffic between the southern and northern rivers was very obvious, with many of the moorings already taken as we headed into Potter, but we managed to squeeze into a suitable space in the ‘quiet’ mooring closest to the bridge. We all got off, ready for the short walk to Lathams, where we needed to get a couple of bits and pieces that had been forgotten during the visit to the Co-Op the previous day. I headed for the bakery to get some cakes (they sell London Cheesecakes that I am very fond of) and joined the others before returning to the boat. The weather was turning and it started to rain, so we elected to stay there for the evening. The wife knitted and I read, whilst Iain and Rachel attended to their children. We enjoyed a dinner of baked gammon, with white sauce, potatoes and broccoli, then played a couple of games of crib before retiring for the night. It had been a good day and I fell asleep thinking about our plans for the following day.

Friday 20th September We left home at around 18:15, heading for Brundall. I needed to see the proprietor of the yard where Norfolk Lady is moored on Saturday morning to discuss what needed be done when she was lifted the following week and to get prices, so it made sense to go Friday evening and spend the night on our boat and be there ready the following morning. We were making reasonable progress, but were delayed in queuing traffic where there had been an accident near the monument in Elvedon Forest and eventually arrived in Brundall just before 21:00. We stopped at the Chinese to collect a takeaway, before heading the short distance to the yard and boarding our boat. We watched TV for a while before turning in at about 23:00, tired but happy to be away for an extended break. Saturday 21st September We woke early to a beautiful morning and got showered and dressed. Paul, the owner of the yard, arrived on time at 10:00 and we discussed the work to be completed on Norfolk Lady and agreed the cost. He had a boat in his shed, ready to be surveyed the following Wednesday and expected to lift ours on Thursday. In the meantime, our son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren, who were joining us for a break on Moonlight Shadow, had arrived in Brundall. It was around 11:00, so they all wandered round to the Co-Op, with my wife, to get a few essential supplies and I drove round to Broom to see whether Moonlight was close to being ready. The cleaners were just finishing and I was advised that as the boat hadn’t been used the previous week, the Broom engineers were not going to attend for the handover checks to be completed. I quickly checked the coolant and oil levels and satisfied that they were okay, began to unload the car. The others returned from their shopping trip and with the cars unloaded, beds made and other bits and pieces stowed away, Iain (our son) and I nipped round to the Brundall Chippy to collect fish and chips for lunch for us all, before casting off just after 14:00 to start our week away. We turned and headed in the direction of Reedham, with Langley Dyke the preferred mooring for our first night. When we arrived, there was only one other Richo’s craft there, but we were joined later by another three boats, all private. Iain and I fished for a while (no maggots drowned, Mr Nog, just bread to tempt the fish). Neither of us are serious about fishing, but we both enjoyed some quiet time, caught a couple of fish each and had a couple of bottles of beer in the process. It was a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours on a glorious, sunny afternoon at the start of our holiday. All too soon, it started to get dark and dinner was ready, so we packed away the rods and enjoyed a Spaghetti Bolognese. It had been an early start for all of us, so we retired early. I planned to be away at about 07:30, so as to be at Yarmouth for slack water the following morning at around 10:15.

Must confess that a Christmas party in September was a bit hard to take. I was glad that I'd finished my meal before they sang 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas.' I'd have choked on my dinner!!!!!

That’s precisely how I felt when we finished our last week on Moonlight Shadow in April. The only way to cure it was to buy a boat. Norfolk Lady is coming out of the water later this week for antifoul, hull polish and wax and some other bits and pieces (that have been planned since we bought her). I anticipate a severe pain in the wallet, but it is worth every penny to know that we can have our weekends away every couple of weeks and spend our holidays afloat, too. Regrets . . . . . . . . . . a few. Mainly that if you have an ambition, it needs to be addressed before time slips by and it is too late. We should have scratched the itch years ago. Hindsight and all that . . . . . . . .

Much the same as when we looked over her, before buying Norfolk Lady. The only difference from the outside was that the name that was on it at the time, had been removed. Obviously, I couldn’t see inside to see if there had been any internal changes. Not sure if the new owner was cruising with Boycee . . . . perhaps he knows more about it than I do

Probably our paths will cross again tomorrow. We were planning to go further up the Ant, but Johnny Crowes Staithe was empty (the first time I've ever seen it like that) so we hastily made the decision to moor. We'll be heading for Gayes Staithe in the morning.

We’re heading up the Ant tomorrow, so there’s a good chance that we’ll bump into you (metaphorically speaking).

Spotted Wiggy a couple weeks ago heading towards The Ferry House from Brundall. In fact, we moored next to him back in April at The Ferry House and had had a few words with him (friendly obviously). Also saw Boycee’s boat outside The Ferry House a couple of weeks ago, with what used to be Mr Nog’s favourite boat (Swan Royale), which has clearly found a new owner.

Hi Simon May have seen you at Potter this afternoon, almost opposite Woods yard. We moored at the ‘quiet’ moorings a few hundred yards downriver from there. We’re on Moonlight Shadow this week with our son and his family. Heading for Womack in the morning, for supplies from Ludham village, so we’ll be on the lookout for you whilst we’re on the Northern rivers.

My last car came with a can of sealant and no spare wheel and the current one at least had a space saver, which would at least get you home, but at a greatly reduced speed. I sourced a full size standard alloy for both, together with necessary foam inserts and tools, had a tyre fitted and replaced the other bits. The thought of sitting at the side of the road waiting to be recovered in the event of a puncture isn’t one that I enjoy. Removing the ability to carry a spare wheel is an easy way for manufacturers to get more money for their vehicles using weight saving and fuel consumption as the reasons for not fitting them as standard.

Greys fish and chips! Lovely.

Couldn't agree more. A wonderful time of the day to get going. There's something special about being first to disturb the calm, mirrored water as the sun rises. We did the same back in April, the last time we were on Moonlight Shadow. We moored at Langley Dyke (awful place!) and needed an early start to make slack water at Yarmouth. It was quite misty when we set off, but it soon cleared and turned into a beautiful day.

Perhaps you should of thought that through a bit more. Too many grammatical errors will have some people losing there temper. And as to were to put the apostrophe, well its enough to make you weep! By the way, what woz this thread about?😁😉

Excuses, excuses! With their money, they should . . . . . . . . . but it's a funny old game and a long season and I actually derive a lot of pleasure watching someone eating a large portion of humble pie. As much as it pains me to say it, I think that it could be another team from the North West who wear red that are in with a good shout (not Man United) and there are one or two London clubs who could be knocking on the door too. All will become apparent in May 2020!

Must have a look for one of those. I have a few bulges that could do with being reduced!!😁😁

I'm sure that there will be some unused weeks available on Moonlight Shadow that will become available between now and then, Helen, if you can take advantage of them. There certainly were last year.

There are still four of BBC’s boats for sale at NYA, Horning. They’ve only been operating with three hire boats this season, I believe and I recall that there was some concern earlier in the year as all of their fleet were still out of the water at Acle until at least a week into April. Perhaps some additional indication of the situation could have been the closure of Pedros at Horning. It’s a shame, but possibly a little too ambitious as a project, given the cost of building new craft.

Is that Broads Boating Company, then?

Pourquois commiquons-nous en Francais, sil vous plait? C'est trop difficile pour moi pour comprend. Je blame le Brexit!😉😉😁😁

Bit like Langley Dyke and Upton Dyke, then?😉

Oh, that too obviously!😉😀

Hi Alan That's right. I think the last time I bought a card it was £8, with £5 returned for the card once used. No mooring fee (unlike most other pubs on the rivers, refundable or not) and no charge for water either. You can book moorings, too as well as a table. Little wonder it is so busy! Malcolm

Going to Bargate to moor alongside that other blot on the otherwise wonderful landscape maybe. Wherry graveyard on one side and sunken cruisers the other.

Silent Night? Dont mention the 'C' word or Jay will chime in. By the way Duvet Know its Christmas?

They could be sold for a blanket fee to bolster the Forum funds.