Mouldy

Isn’t that true for most of us? I think we’re often oblivious of places that are nearby, concentrating more on places we visit on days out or holidays. Maybe we just take our everyday surroundings for granted.

It’ll be a Heritage 36 from NBS, surely, or if not, one built on those moulds.

The company my dad worked for had bases in NW London and Woking. We’d often sit at Chertsey, watching boats cruise past on The Thames when travelling between the two on a Sunday during the summer. I think I was in my second year of secondary school and there was a school trip planned to visit Holland. I really wanted to go, but it was quite expensive and my parents couldn’t afford to send me. In stepped my grandparents, who said ‘where would you like to go instead?’ ‘I’d like a holiday on a boat like those we see at Chertsey’ I replied. And so it was. A week on a Caribbean Cruiser from F B Wilds in May 1969, aged 13 (just). My Nan hated water and was petrified before we went, but loved it so much, she made my dad call into Hoseasons office in Lowestoft on our way home to book for the following year, where we met Jimmy Hoseason. Sadly, my Nan died just a couple of months later, but we went the following years (1970 - 73) with family friends. I went without my parents for the first time in 1974, aged 18 and again with my then girlfriend and parents the following year. Circumstances got in the way until 1987, when I took my wife for her first boating experience on The Broads for a week on a Connoisseur 2 berth. We returned later that year (the day after the hurricane, that wasn’t) for another week. We went again the following year with my parents and aunt on a 42ft Connoisseur, when the wife was 7 months pregnant! Another break, whilst our son grew a little and we hired Tramontana from Gale Cruisers in Chedgrave in ‘93 and again in ‘94. We had two weeks with my parents on a C45 Connoisseur in ‘95 and were back again in ‘96 on Royall Sceptre. In fact, we spent at least one week a year afloat every year until 2008, apart from 2002, when our holiday dates clashed with us moving into a new build house. A break again then until we hired Royal Commander in 2014, with our son and his girlfriend. They came with us for the following three years on Grande Girl 1. In 2018, we saw a share in Moonlight Shadow advertised at a very attractive price and bought it, although we already had a week booked on Gainsborough Girl a month later. It had always been an ambition to own a boat ever since my first Broads holiday and the opportunity finally arose in 2019. Due to the wife’s diligence, we had sufficient funds to buy Norfolk Lady and achieve something that I never thought would be possible. Four years on, and she still brings great joy when we’re aboard, despite the headaches experienced over the years (not to mention expense).

I’ve just had an interesting conversation with a lady from the Blessed Authority regarding the rather overgrown moorings at Short Dyke. It turns out that those particular moorings are part of a rewilding project in conjunction with the RSPB, and the grass will be left long at that site, although there should be access ways cut through the long grass at various points, to get to the footpath. I’ve also been told that the grass has been trimmed back where it was overhanging the moorings. With regard to Kate’s list, apparently there is no longer a schedule for cutting the grass - it’s now left to the rangers to decide when they need to be tidied. So glad that despite the toll increase, services to navigation appear to have been reduced. In case anyone ventures across Bargate and notices the excessive weed growth across the broad and particularly along the dyke leading to the Church Fen moorings, it is on their schedule for the weed to be trimmed, but there is no timescale proposed. We went across on Sunday following a route directly across the broad between the dykes and my route was marked by a trail of chopped weed as we crossed.

Give you that, Ray, but don’t ask me to polish that one too! 😉

My var’s turn for its MoT today. The nearest main agent is in Norwich, so I dropped it off this morning before 10:00, collected a courtesy car and drove to the marina to give Norfolk Lady some much needed tlc. The grey/green parts of the superstructure were compounded and waxed, leaving the roof over the helm to do hopefully next week. It was hard work, but the old girl looks much better for it! The car passed its MoT with no advisories, by the way!

Took the wife’s car to the main agents in Thetford yesterday morning for its first MoT, which it passed with no advisories. To be fair, for a three year old car with just 25k on the clock, I expected nothing less. Back home, after some lunch, I took my bike out for another ride, trying to build up the mileage, ready for its first service. It’s been limited to 4000rpm (equivalent to 52mph in top gear) up until now, with the digital rev counter flashing like a strobe light if exceeded, but as I passed the 300 mile mark, I was grateful to see that I can now use another 1000 rpm, allowing me to reach the dizzy heights of 65mph! Maybe, the next 300 miles (until the first service) won’t take so long!

Just read on FB, that there was some kind of rave happening at The Beauchamp Arms yesterday afternoon. Must be the owners way of causing further stress to the BA! Im guessing that the HERAS fencing was to prevent the revellers from falling in the river!

And having done a bit of Googling, I think that many of the plants that are overtaking the path from Short Dyke to Rockland Staithe may be Giant Hogweed, which apparently are an invasive species that can be dangerous to humans as well as dogs.

A few years ago the EA ripped up a lot of this type of quay heading and reprofiled the river bank. The idea was to reduced erosion of the banks by replacing the quay heading with banks sloping at about 45 degrees with no piling. These sections were often used as semi wild moorings and their loss was generally not popular at the time. Not asking for manicured pathways, but trimming the vegetation back two or three feet to allow someone to walk along the path without having brush through nettles etc. surely isn’t too much to ask. Maybe I should have included my wife in the photos to give an indication of the height of some of those plants, but many were three or four feet taller than me. Get it, Kate, but this is supposed to be a made up path, but will soon become impassable as it’s swallowed up by the towering triffids that line it. It was noticeable how few people were walking along the bank at Short Dyke yesterday, which is normally frequented by walkers and dog walkers. Obviously the weather may have had some part to play, but I wonder if the challenge of negotiating the path now deters folk.

You’re not wrong there, Kate. We walked round to The New Inn for a welcome libation and a light lunch from the Short Dyke moorings. The path has always been well maintained, but yesterday was something of a challenge, with weeds towering possibly nine feet tall overhanging the path. I’m not sure to whom I should write, as I don’t know who is responsible for the path, but it won’t be long before it becomes virtually impassable.

That’s very true Gracie. I’ve been hiring in my own name since 1974, but only joined a syndicate five years ago and an owner four years ago. I always treated a hireboat as if it was my own, always trying to return it in a better state than when I took it out. Weve spent a good few Saturday afternoons at Pyes Mill and I have to say that Pacific look to give very thorough handovers, including side on and stern on mooring and from our experience when hiring, Summercraft we’re also very thorough. Thinking back, Gales at Chedgrave and Russell Marine were excellent too. All were, or are family run yards, so I do wonder if that is the difference.

I was under the impression that the pub was owned by Mr Hollocks, so how would increased rent be applicable if that is the case?

Must be quiet for no mad dash back up The Ant to Richardson’s on a Saturday morning. When we were on Moonlight Shadow back in April, we spent our first night (Friday) at St Benet’s moorings. We were passed by plenty of Richo’s Fleet, doing well aver the speed limit between about 07:00 and 09:00.

And Loddon Marina. Just think how attractive that is when you walk past!

Agreed! In all the years I’ve been visiting The Broads, I’ve never set foot in the place. There’s something about it that just doesn’t encourage me in. Mr Hollocks clearly has another cunning plan in mind. No doubt we’ll read all about it in due course in the EDP.

Cruised past The Beauchamp Arms a short while ago and noticed that new measures have been installed to attract passing visitors. It’s now closed to visiting boats with a copious length of HERAS fencing.

Maybe we don’t pay enough! Having lost the moorings at Langley Dyke, from our base at Brundall, there aren’t a huge amount of options for decent moorings when we only have a weekend on board. We tried for Hardley Mill last night, only to find it full, so stayed at Cantley. This morning we decided to head for Short Dyke (Rockland) to spend the rest of the day and arrived a few minutes ago to find that ‘no mow May’ has extended well into June and almost into July. What’s the plan @BroadsAuthority? Do our tolls not cover a bit of strimming to maintain the few moorings we have left on the southern rivers?

I suspect that to many people, both hirers and owners, speed limits are only there as a guide, much the same as on our roads. A small percentage have no regard for them whatsoever, some folk know they’re there but think that adding an extra 10% (or so) won’t matter, some conscientiously control their speed using an app on their phone and some have no idea and potter about at whatever speed they feel appropriate. Do we honestly think that imposing a speed limit on a short stretch of river, when so many craft are not even fitted with a GPS speedo, just a guide stuck to the dash using Dymo tape (remember them?) based on engine revs, will have any effect whatsoever?

Don’t feel too bad about it! I’ve never been called either.

I’ve spent the last two days watching some people make a ruddy mess of our living room. Fortunately, they tidied up after them, but they’ve left a huge hole in the carpet! To be fair, it was planned. With just one room left to decorate, it was time to get it underway. This is the first property we’ve had with a fireplace and chimney, so we decided to have a log burner installed. One of our neighbours had some similar work done, so based on their experience, we got a quote, which was less than I expected and they duly turned up yesterday to start. The first thing to go was our already disconnected and rather old fashioned gas fire, followed by the fireplace and hearth. The aperture had been lined with fire board, tje chimney swept in preparation for the installation of the liner and the chimney breast has been re plastered. We also took the opportunity of getting rid of the hideous Artex on the ceiling, by having it skimmed to leave a smooth finish. Just got to wait for the plaster to dry before I can pop the lamps back. The contractors have taken relevant measurements for a granite hearth to be cut and are due back next Friday to finish the work.

Gents toilets at Looe in Cornwall are 20p to access, even if you just want a jimmy riddle! Stand up, no paper used and cold water at the basins (I suppose I should be grateful for that). It’s pretty much the same everywhere now.

Get that, but fixing one issue and creating another isn’t helpful to anyone. Do they not test the updates before releasing them, or is that the end user’s responsibility?

Sorry Sam. Had to laugh. What’s that old expression - ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!’

And me!