Mouldy

March 25

8 minutes ago, floydraser said:

Just found out I'm a veteran at 67. Yep, according to the Camping and Caravan Club's definition we qualify for veteran membership. You need over 25 years consecutive membership and be of pensionable age. It's not automatic; you have to apply for it. You just have to ask yourself do you mind feeling really old or do you want 30% off?

Reminds me of when the wife and I went to Devils Bridge back in 2016. I’d celebrated my 60th birthday just a few months earlier and when we went to the kiosk to pay to get in, there was a concessionary price for ‘Seniors over 60.’

Yes, it made me feel old, but the feeling of saving money was even better! 😁

March 25

10 hours ago, Norfolkangler said:

Sadly your right, I guess we are jost old coggers.

Maybe we should be grateful for small mercies. I moved from north west London to Milton Keynes in 1977. The reason was purely so I could afford to buy a house. When I moved there, Milton Keynes was really in its infancy. Some of the famous grid roads were already laid out and building of the shopping centre and some of the many housing estates was underway. Aside from the three existing towns that were already there, Stony Stratford, Wolverton and Bletchley, all of the planned development was to be on land previously used for farming. When completed, the projected population was to be 250,000, however, according to Google, the current population of the new city is over 288,000. This equates to just under 8,500 per square mile.

Reports, again on Google, suggest that the anticipated population will rise to somewhere between 315,000 and 326,000 by 2030 and potentially 500,000 by 2050.

The current average population per square mile in Norfolk is less than 500. As for light pollution, we have no street lighting in our village and the sky on a clear night is a star gazer’s delight.

I know where I would rather live.

March 24

10 hours ago, floydraser said:

Memories of lockdown:

A very empty Sainsburys; empty of people and empty shelves.

Queing very quietly around the car park of our local Aldi waiting our turn. I took a picture at the time but can I find it? . . . . . . . . .

Yep, remember it well. Almost silent in the supermarkets, where you were only allowed in on your own, so no children screaming and running around.

Deserted roads on my way into work, involved in the logistics industry, so classified as an ‘essential worker’ and being given a letter by my employer to produce to the police incase I was stopped and questioned about the necessity of my journey.

Feeling slight miffed that NHS workers were being clapped on Thursday nights, but feeling forgotten as they weren’t the only people who were doing their bit in very trying times.

Wondering what fate would befall me when I caught Covid in early April, before much was known. How bad would it get? As it happened, despite dealing face to face with drivers from across Europe, with absolutely no masks or sanitizer available at work, not too bad although I still can’t drink Coca-Cola, smell onions or garlic four years later.

Returning to work after two weeks with Covid, but being sent home for another week, as I coughed in our office causing panic amongst my colleagues.

Having to work even longer hours, due to many of our team being furloughed to save the company money, but having an even greater workload, due to panic buying in the shops.

Strange times indeed, but how quickly have we’ve forgotten the people who worked through it, to keep us supplied with essentials and keep us well. Some folk have very short and selective memories.

March 24

1 hour ago, YnysMon said:

I’ve been wondering if next week will suddenly become busy.

I spoke to George at HPC a few days ago about turnaround servicing for Moonlight Shadow this coming Friday, as it’s a Bank Holiday and they have nine hire boats starting on Friday afternoon.

If that is typical of the hire yards generally, Easter weekend looks as if it will be busy at least.

March 22

10 minutes ago, Bikertov said:

I will shortly have to pay my toll for A Frayed Knot, to cover next year.

Being on the River Great Ouse it comes under the Environment Agency rather than you guys who are under the BA.

Our increase is only up 2% from last year (I believe it went up 4% last year), but the toll is higher than the The Broads to start with.

We are charged by boat length, not area, and I will be paying £609.86 (being 29ft, so in the 7.5m - 10.0m band)

For comparison, mine is £517.16 for the same size boat.

March 22

Fairly certain that The White Heron at Brundall has pool and darts in their ‘sports bar.’ If you go there, remember that it’s cashless, so payment by card only.

March 20

47 minutes ago, YnysMon said:

Another early start this morning. We set off from Loddon at 6am. Currently traversing the New Cut on our way to Beccles.

The Chet needs a bit of love and care. There are several sections of Pye's Mill that are marked off with hazard tape as the quay heading looks dodgy, and in the lower sections several bends where the reeds are growing out onto the river, narrowing it considerably.

It’s only a couple of years since The Chet was dredged. If the channel isn’t widened soon, it will become increasingly difficult to navigate, especially on the bends as you near the junction with The Yare.

It’s also disappointing that the moorings at Pyes Mill are falling into disrepair. I’m not a big fan of Loddon basin. I try to avoid stern on moorings, as I don’t really like being the meat in the sandwich between other boats and issues at the car park which resulted in the toilets being pinned as Loddon Drug Store on Google Maps (pin now removed) have done little to enhance my opinion of the mooring. We’ve always preferred to moor at Pyes Mill and walk into the village, which has much to offer. It would be a massive disappointment if those moorings are lost.

I do enjoy cruising The Chet, though. To me, it’s kind of The Ant of the southern rivers and relatively easy to get to from our base at Brundall.

March 19

1 hour ago, NorfolkNog said:

I can see Jean's point of view here. Certainly in my experience of visiting pubs, owners are mostly very responsible and keep their pets under control. Although we don't have a dog ourselves we do like dogs and Mrs N usually has dog biscuits in her bag. Many pubs have a sign to say dogs must be kept on a lead . . . . . .

Correct. Most folk in a pub wouldn’t even realise we had a dog with us. She is really well behaved and lays down by the side of our table.

To be honest, I have a bigger issue with children who run around in a pub and treat the establishment like a big playground. I always wonder what the parents would say and how they’d react if one of their offspring tripped a waiter or waitress and had hot food or a tray of drinks spilled over them.

I realise that they have a lot of energy to run off, but there is a time and a place and in my opinion, the inside of a pub isn’t the place.

March 18

50 minutes ago, chrisdobson45 said:

. . . . We are back for easter, the forecast doesn't look too promising.

The state of the weather is open to question at any time of the year. As Easter is relatively early this year anyway, the chances of it being good are probably a little less than usual. As for the forecast, they struggle to get it right for tomorrow, so predictions for what will happen in an eleven days time should probably be taken with a pinch of salt (whatever that means).

We certainly hope to be afloat over the Bank Holiday. Certainly feeling deprived of opportunities over what has seemed such a long, wet winter.

March 17

12 minutes ago, ZimbiIV said:

Griff, is an easy job.

Just sign your life away to the nearest dealer and they will tell you how much you still owe them.

paul

Prestige brand and prestige prices! Should be spelt Ow-di. Could be worse - could have a BMW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . oh, forgot, he has! :default_coat:

March 16

If you’re not match fishing, I always wonder why the need for a keep net. Surely, it’s best for the fish to be released as soon as possible.

March 16

Maybe they’re turning over a new leaf:

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24188171.broads-authority-rethink-use-money-navigation/?fbclid=IwAR052vdmFCmdaCbn6H6ncTpmWxCkB5YzGg04eH-IWnzBoFYqrvivmB6xzzU

March 15

35 minutes ago, Hylander said:

Just a thought, how wide is Neatishead, was wondering what is the longest boat you could turn up there please? I agree turning on the ropes when it is safe to do so is a win win situation.

Thinking logically, if there are two cruisers with a 12ft beam moored opposite each other and there is room for another with a similar beam to pass (just), I’d guess at about 38 - 40ft, allowing a little extra for fenders etc..

March 15

1 hour ago, oldgregg said:

There's a few Supreme Commanders floating about...

Wouldn’t really be any good any other way! :default_coat:

March 15

24 minutes ago, Matt said:

So there are now two Tideways?

No. The original one was sold to a private buyer.

March 14

2 hours ago, MargeandParge said:

Just paid over 700 sobs and they asked me if I wanted to buy tide tables. I nearly ( but didn't) said "a copy of The Big Issue thrown in would be good as I may be able to pass it on and eat this month. "

Kindest Regards Marge and Parge

Hmmm! Think yourselves lucky! I went to the bloody dentist on Tuesday for three fillings and came out suffering from serious GBH of the wallet. £670! Yep, £670! Unbebloodylievable!

I should have guessed before I went in when I saw a stable outside with the horse’s name on the door - Black Bess!

At least the toll isn’t as much. Just thankful that we have a more compact boat!

March 13

March 13

Just seen this on the BA website, stating that their yacht stations will be manned from 24th March. I guess that means that the mooring fees will be reintroduced a little earlier than expected at Ranworth, which may cause a few people to get caught out, thinking that they will be applicable from the beginning of April.

https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boating/facilities/yacht-stations

March 13

15 minutes ago, ExSurveyor said:

Whitey has a thunderbox direct into the tank below.

With a manual type I would guess it needs a good flush to clear it to the tank.

Moonlight Shadow has two Thunderbox loos, flushed with water pumped from the river. To be fair, I think they were fitted extensively to hirecraft, back in the day. They are generally reliable, don’t block easily and fairly cheap to maintain. The downside is sitting on top of a tank full of ‘slurry,’ but if you don’t look too closely and keep them maintained , they’re fine. We do find that they have an appetite for seals though, which we’ve found need changing annually.

We used to have a manual Jabsco loo on Norfolk Lady, flushed with river water. It did use more water to flush than a Traveller loo, but depending on where one was on the system, the flushing water could sometimes be a little sour, leaving the loo a little whiffy. Our new macerating toilet is much cleaner, but I think uses even more water to flush than the Jabsco. Additional care has to be taken to avoid blocking it, though, which would be an issue when there’s only one toilet on the boat. Water usage on NL isn’t a problem. We have two large tanks and with normal usage will last us three or four days easily, including showering every day.

March 12

10 minutes ago, Robin said:

Hi Mouldy

We had the same issue on Kingfisher as it has a 200liter tank, the carbon filter helped however the easiest and best solution is the add about a liter of blue loo concentrate every time you have a pump out. we have not had any smells since doing this. ( just add to the loo for the first flush) Boatyards only add enough for a small holding tank and some yards water that down.

Thanks on the tip. I do know that Paul at the yard adds an extra jug of blue when he does a pump out, because the tank is big, but even then it was becoming a bit noxious as it filled. We haven’t tried it with the filter fitted yet, but I’m hoping that it will help.

March 12

6 minutes ago, Lulu said:

Jabsco with what i think is such a complicated system (for me to remember anyway) - pump water in, do your thing, pump out. Im just used to a foot pump and its gone arrangement on Luna 😂

Yeah, I think you mean you have a Jabsco manual flush loo and you possibly had a Traveller (Thunderbox) loo on Luna. Not sure if you’d be able to fit a Traveller toilet, as the holding tank is directly under the seat. You could convert to a macerating one, similar to the one Paul fitted in NL, but we find that they use more water than a manual flush.

If conserving capacity in your black water tank is a priority, just remember Griff’s saying: if it’s yellow, let it mellow, but if it’s brown, flush it down!

Fortunately, the waste tank on NL is massive - so much so that we’ve had to have a filter fitted on the tank vent, to try and stop the obnoxious odour that developed after a few days use.

March 12

22 minutes ago, ExSurveyor said:

3 to 5pm,

Great time to hold the meeting 😂

That should exclude anyone who works or has children but will appeal to certain academics and the retired.

I guess that hiring the venue in the evening would (a) cost more and (b) attract the wrong audience.

Isn’t it good to know that the future of The Broads and navigation in particular, is in such safe hands! :default_coat:

March 12

1 minute ago, grendel said:

perhaps- just maybe if the Broads Authority are no longer sending letters and using emails instead it could make sense. Otherwise it just seems to be petty vindictiveness..

and to give no explanation why lacks common courtesy.

I do admit i snorted into my coffee when I read

"the two organisations share many common aims - primarily the desire to promote the Broads as a premier destination for sailing and boating."

Really? since when have the broads Authority displayed the desire to promote the broads for sailing and boating, it always seems they want rid of all the pesky boaters.

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