Bonzo

BS: I think the expression is "high winded". A friend gave me one of these tinned excuses for a pie that he bought for a quid from somebody in a pub. I purposely left it on the bus on the way home, I am afraid I am too polite to tell him what I think of the product. I now feel guilty that the bus depot was possibly short of a driver next day.

Jeff: Keep looking mate, one has to have an aim in life. Do you have a microscope?

Broad Scott: Pastry! Is that what they call it? Yuck! If I ate one those things again I would end up with Montezuma's Revenge for a week. You don't want to be near me if I get that! Then again, the raggies might appreciate it on a calm day.

Oi! Don't drag me into this. The RSPCA would prosecute you for feeding a dog that muck. Pukka or Peters pies for me any day.

Perhaps an answer to the problem is for boatyards negotiate a discount for their hirers to rent a dayboat when visiting. I know it would mean that the hirers would not be able to stay overnight at Hickling, Horsey and Somerton but at least they could experience the beauty of the area. The dayboat companies may see an increase in trade and perhaps may need to increase their fleets.

Have a great holiday. Kind regards.

Despite one of my earlier posts which was somewhat tongue in cheek (Belfast's guns and Tower Bridge) I think Potter Heigham Bridge should stay there for evermore. Perhaps I am a bit biased on this subject as my boat will pass through the bridge at any state of the tide. When you look at the mooring facilities above the bridge they would never accommodate the number of boats that would go there. The amount of smaller craft that will go through the bridge limits any impact on the wildlife.

I have never seen a bird run down and killed by a boat, they usually just flutter up and follow the boats looking for food scraps. Having boats on a broad does not harm or discourage birds from being on the water. Boats rarely approach the reeds so there is no problem in disturbing nesting birds. I daresay it is the little men in camouflage jackets hidden under piles of vegetation with expensive cameras etc that are source of the problem. Having a boat in their pictures really does spoil their day. Lets live and let live I say. Stinkies, Raggies, Walkers, Canoeists, Twitchers and Fishermen, just enjoy the Broads and stop picking holes in each other's pleasure. The Broads is big enough for all of us.

I can't see why anybody in their right mind would want to close Hickling Broad to navigation. A few boats chugging down the main channel and the odd one swinging at anchor does not make the slightest difference to the wildlife. Even the sailing which is a great amenity has very little impact. The water birds just get out of the way.

I could be corrected on this but I did read somewhere that a conviction for an offence on the Thames is a criminal conviction.

Didn't see it. Too much cloud. Virgins were pretty scarce here in Essex too.

Grants haggis it was. Excellent!

Ah hah! I have now cracked it! A friend gave me a good quality can of haggis the other day. among the four different dishes I made from it was haggis hash. Just replace the corned beef with haggis. It really comes out a treat. If I can find some tins of it there will be a supply on my boat this year.

That's the Thames for you. Behave like an idiot there and they not only throw the book at you, they throw the whole ruddy library!

Personally, I think it is a good idea. Many country roads are on National Speed Limit. The problem is that many of the roads are too small, have blind bends and not adequately surfaced to accommodate cars travelling at 60 mph. As a careful driver I usually travel at 40 mph on country roads even if the limit is 60 mph. Only if the road is wide and fairly straight will I travel at 60 mph. Certainly there will be savings in regards to not having to patch up the many drivers who just read the speed limit regardless and not the road conditions. We, the taxpayers usually pay for the driving mistakes of the more reckless drivers. Yes, lets save that money and plough the savings back into the NHS to give a better service. My Local Authority set a 40 mph limit on country roads quite some time ago and I do not find it a problem. You just need to start you journey five minutes earlier which is no problem.

MM: Sounds like you have been on the Norfolk Nog too!

MM. I hope you had a Milky Way or a Mars to chew on to fend off hunger.

Whichever type of pressure cooker you use they are great on a boat. They are magic for heating up meat pies if you havn't an oven. Just put half an inch of water in the bottom, put the basket in upside down, wrap the pie(s) in foil, close and bring to 15 lbs pressure for five or so minutes and let cool naturally. You get a nice hot pie but unfortunately the pastry is not crisp as it would be in an oven. Those little Fray Bentos meat puds should fair well in a pressure cooker too. Just remove the top and cover with foil to prevent large messy bangs!

Welcome to the forum. Have lots of fun.

Hi. What a good idea! Perhaps the map publishers could pick up on this and manufacture ready made products.

Personally I think it is a good idea to have cycle routes along the riversides. Cycling is a good healthy way of enjoying the countryside. there are a few provisos that I am going to add. Please note that I am a person who likes a good plod on a cycle around anywhere off the roads and not too fast at that. 1/ The Local Authorities should fund the project. Cycling has nothing to do with navigation so why should any funds come from boaters? 2/ Priority should be given to walkers on the paths .On many river and canal towpaths and indeed in some country parks some cyclists have a definite attitude problem of superiority which needs to be curbed for safety reasons. 3/ Racing should not be permitted. Having cycled many river and canal side paths and Country Parks seen what goes on I do know what I am talking about and we definitely do not want this in Norfolk.

Hi Geoff and Wendy. All you need is the ordinary coarse fishing licence. In general, fishing on the Broads is free. Some public moorings state "No fishing from these moorings" but I believe this is only from the bank. No doubt somebody will correct me on this point which appears to be ambiguous. By the way, try a bit of cheese as bait. I had a couple of nice bream on it last year, one four and a half pounds and one three and a half pounds. Size 8 hook and bait around the size of a broad bean seemed to work. Tight lines in the new season.

Well, DF it just goes to prove you can't please 'em all. Also, apologies to all those on diets (please don't report me to the Weightwatchers Police). Yes, corned beef was used extensively during the war and after the war too. I still remember rationing and my mother always had some in the cupboard as I do nowadays. I love the stuff. Anybody for a corned beef and Branston pickle doorstep sandwich?

Still on the theme of corned beef, here is another delicious recipe using non perishable boat supplies. Should feed two so multiply if for more people. Fry a finely chopped medium onion until translucent in olive oil and add a clove of garlic if you like garlic. Add a medium sized can of corned beef and stir until broken up. Add one and a half chicken OXO cubes Add a can of chopped tomatoes and half a teaspoon full of oregano, seasoning to taste not forgetting that the corned beef is a bit salty. and so is the OXO Simmer for ten minutes and thicken with tomato puree. You can add this sauce to any kind of pasta that you like, not just spaghetti. If you want to really go to town and you are serving more people you can add a can of ratatouille for a chunky sauce. Enjoy!

And Norfolk used to be such a quiet place.