GeoffandWendy

I agree with you Alan, all these incidents, can be a bit of putting for new visitors to visit Norwich by boat. We intend to spend a couple of days in Norwich, after we have handed our boat back, so we can explore this lovely city. However, we will be staying in the Northern Broads for our holiday, as there seems so much to see and do, for a weeks visit. Maybe we will get to do the Southern Broads, next year, by booking a boat from Brundel or somewhere. But even then, I doubt we will spend the night moored in Norwich, we prefer the secluded quieter places, to moor up for the night. But this year, its two holidays on the North Broads.

Same here in the Midlands, It is another sunny day. Yesterday, we were out watching the Herons, busily rebuilding their nests, with at least twenty pairs, coming and going with mouths full of twigs, a sign that Spring is definitely on the way.

Thank you. Actually it is not an Orrery, it is a Tellurium. An Orrery is a model of the whole Solar System, showing all the Planets, orbiting the Sun. I also have a model of one, but it is packed away up in the loft at the moment. This particular Tellurium can be seen in the video below, which explains how it works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQcxoEv8Ft0#t=205

Very nice Paul. Likewise to Polly and Timbo for showing us their creations. With my love of astronomy, I decided quite a few years ago to build this all brass working model. The parts were issued on a monthly basis, where you received four issues together. It cost just over £300 for the whole set of parts, but paying on a monthly direct debit, it doesn't seem too much all at once. Since then, I have come across another weekly part build of a German U-Boat. Being an ex submariner, I have always had the notion to build a model submarine, but there aren't any models of British submarines, except the odd smaller airfix type kits. So I decided to start collecting the parts for this four foot long, U96 Type 7c German U-Boat, featured in the film Das Boot. Presently, I am waiting until I have all the hull frame sections, before I make a start on it, otherwise building as you get each part, only takes half an hour or so, until you get the next parts, four weeks later. So once I have all the frame parts, I will get down to completing that part of the build. Once I make a start, I will keep you all informed of my progress, if you like. Submarine Parts.

I can remember Gas Street Basin in Birmingham, back in the seventies, when it was nothing but a forgotten part of canal history. Full of rubbish, rotting barges from a forgotten era, hidden from view, unless you knew it's whereabouts. Today, it is a thriving area, with lots of new apartments, shops, pubs, cafes and moorings. It is a delightful area to spend a few hours, watching the bustle of a thriving area, once again. I'm sure Norwich could be revamped with careful thought and planning, if money was to become available. City areas, where rivers and canals, were the life blood of the communities once thrived, are slowly being redeveloped into areas, where people can enjoy waterside amenities. I am sure Norwich, will at some later date, get it's own waterway development. It just needs to get it right and money to make it happen

That's some mean piece of kit!

Enjoyed reading your posts Jon and looking at all the photos. You seem a very busy man, with plenty of work to keep you going. Do you ever get a spare moment to yourself? All the best Jon!

Being both retired, we could go any time, but we chose mid April, for a few reasons. 1 - The hire prices are within reason, allowing us to have another visit later in Sept/Oct. 2 - The clocks will have gone back, making for lighter evenings and wildlife will be busy, nesting and rearing their young. The trees will be getting their Summer foliage and everything will be looking much fresher. 3 - The kids will be at school, so peace and quiet, not that we don't like children, we do, but we prefer it when it's quieter.

I got a card from some one called Wendy. Never heard of her.

Wendy says they are very well done.

Most of you will have watched Robin's videos on his Captains Blog, which introduced Wendy and I to booking our first boating holiday for a week in April on the Broads and also joining the NBN Forums. Since then, we have booked another boat for a week in late September/early October. Besides Robin's excellent video blogs, we came across a few more video's that in our opinion, deserve mentioning. All three of them are by the same person, but for anyone who has not yet experienced a Broads boating holiday, they will certainly help to whet your appetite. Some of you or probably most of you, will already have seen these videos, but for those who haven't just sit back and enjoy. Just click on each link below.

Nice one Geoff As long as the bed doesn't squeak, that's all that matters! Have you a cure for Wendy's snoring, I sometimes have to wear ear plugs. It's not just that keeps me awake

I was always led to believe that boats were allowed to run on red diesel, like agricultural vehicles, where the tax is a lot lower than road diesel. Or they used to be able to use red diesel. Or has this changed, if so when was it implemented? Going off the prices quoted here, it seems that ordinary road diesel prices are being charged, and that red diesel cannot now be used for pleasure boats. Maybe commercial boats are allowed but not private run boats, including hire boats. Can someone explain please!

Good point Iain! Just drive off I suppose and hope that you were not caught on cctv : We have a new Hyundai i10, which is easy to park anyway, so no problem, you can get in places that bigger cars can't.

So sorry Iain, I promise from now on to behave myself. Actually I got my fingers mixed up whilst typing, during a senior moment and Haggis somehow got mentioned. ANYWAY! Wendy & I love Haggis

Thank you Geoff, for the pictures. As long as the armchairs are comfy, then that's ok. Most boats seem to have settee style seating, rather than individual armchairs, but I suppose the beauty of these, they can be moved to where you want them. Just hope the bed is ok, as I am 6ft. Can always sleep in the knees up position or diagonally corner to corner, with Wendy sleeping on the floor Sorry dear I will sleep on the floor then and you can have the bed.

A very warm welcome Alistair and Sue from us old pair (you are never too old ). It will be a first for us on a boating holiday and we are gong mid April and again late Sept/early Oct, so we might see you on that one. Anyway, do enjoy your holiday, as I am sure you will. As far as this forum goes, everyone is here to answer any questions you might have and all are very nice and friendly. as well as a few teasers, not mentioning any names but one lives in Haggis Land It was watching London Rascal's videos, that got us hooked on having a broads holiday. There is plenty to read about on here and once you reach the magical fifty posts, you get the honour of becoming a full member by bowing down and grovelling to some of the hierarchy on here who have to propose and second you.

Hopefully Iain, if all goes well. As long as London Rascal approves, : he might think I am trying to better him. But our video's will feature more on some wildlife as well as covering our holiday and places we visit.

Each to their own I suppose, but regarding maps etc, I think we will suffice with what we have for our holidays. But if technology makes it better for you, then why not have all these gadgets. Not to say that we won't be using any gadgets, as we will be bringing, three camcorders, two digital cameras, spare batteries and chargers, plus 1 powerful pair of binoculars 30 - 160 x 70 with tripod, for stargazing, and two smaller pairs 10 x 50 for bird watching.

Where there,s no sense, there's no feeling, could apply to me sometimes! Better wear a crash helmet, cos knowing me, I will bang my head. lol!

I don't have an Ipad, tablet or Iphone Clive, just a laptop and desktop computer, so I can't use these sort of apps. My mobile is just a bog standard pay as you go, without internet access, which is all I need really. I can text or call anyone, so that's all that matters.

Thank you Clive, I would appreciate that if you could. Not that we are really bothered what colour the furnishings are, I was just curious as to why your brochure and Hoeseasons brochure show different colours for what I assume is the same boat. Having said that, I am glad that those tub chairs have been replaced. My dentist has those in his waiting room and they are bloody uncomfortable.

I know one of these boats (Star Gem 4) has been covered before, of which I have read through all the comments. We have booked one of these boats for our very first Broads Holiday in April this year. How many Star Gem Boat's are there? When we booked through Hoeseasons it was for Star Gem, which showed that the seating had two Blue moquette armchairs with blue curtains. The four poster bed was in red, as was the driving seat. The exact same boat (Star Gem) in Richardsons Brochure and on their website, showed the arm chairs and curtains to be in a dark red or maroon colour, same as the bed. In the report on a previous page on here it shows black tub chairs, aboard Star Gem 4 I am a bit miffed as to what boat is what amongst these Star Gem boats. Are they all different regarding the furnishings and if so, how will we know which boat we will be getting. The invoice from Hoeseasons just states Star Gem, without any number. I am aware that these are oldish boats and assume that the decor has been changed over the years, so it looks like we have booked a Mystery Boat, of wait and see when we get there.

Well it was definitely not Scouse!

Just to cheer you up a bit, there is another Friday 13th next month and another one in November