smellyloo

I guess today we would have thousands of people seeking professional councelling suffering from "Survival" syndrome!! Me I sought the solitude of my boat to get away from the endless media hysteria.

Just as you begin to think one side has persuaded you towards their augument the other side pops up with an equally compelling post. Long may debates like this continue as it helps educate us all in the complexities of managing a fragile landscape.

Being modded can feel a bit personal on occasions but usually it's because someone has taken your written word to mean something that you didn't intend. Some time ago I had a phrase modded, I had been referring to the time honoured slang word for cigarette in the Uk and the mod thought I was refering to an derogatory American term for homosexual. On asking my younger family why the word was frowned on I was told that that word is a no no! Oh well you live and learn. But "Cigerette ditritus Lil" wouldn't have sounded quite right for the lady that used to play the joanna at the Ferry Boat Norwich.

I'm not sure if thinking of getting a boat is more exciting than getting one. I think i'm fairly convinced on rear cockpit for ease of mooring & outside space. Based on armchair browsing my thoughts have nestled on: Shadow 26 (there seem to be some in my price bracket). Broom 29 (I would need to keep saving but they look very nice. Sheerline (sadly I think most 26foot +) are beyond my price range but they look an ideal match. As the boat will be shared with younger family members I think the older style boats, whilst great value, would be less appealing to them. As most boats in my price bracket are pretty old what cost might I incur re: replacement engines, rewiring & replacement batteries. Worst case senario, but assuming the hull is sound, I envisage the above items might raise their heads above the parapit. cheers

Good point .... it starts to make rear cockpit an attractive option, this usually has the sort of outside space i'm used to as in my old peggy.

Hi all Many thanks for your input it really is very usefull to listen to the experience of others. As I said at the beginning I'm really at the "thinking about it" stage at the moment. I used to have a pegasus 700 sailboat which I regularly single handed without issue. I realise these are much easier to handle then a broads cruiser as they can turn on a sixpence. I regulally cruise solo so it is very important that I can handle the boat alone. My experience todate suggests that the most important part of solo cruising is well thought out mooring lines of a good length. I've drooled over a few boats on-line. I quite like the brooms cabriolet type, and have seen a nice broom 30 with dual driving positions although it seemed very pricy for a 37 year old boat. The alpha single level types seem tempting but I'm unsure if a sliding roof will give that outdoor feeling that I would require. Anyway I'm enjoying my armchair browsing and when/if I decide to give it a go I shall look forward to the challenge of mastering the manouvers in a quiet/tranquil spot. One question though, do you think a bow thruster would be a useful addition or is it just the case of getting to know your boat well? Regarding size I'm thinking max 35foot ...... is this too ambitious for single handed cruising?

Hi, I've been letting my mind ponder as to buying a boat for the Broads. I know many of you have loads of experience with lots of boats so could you share your thoughts regarding the following requirements. I would need to handle single handed. I like outside space. Must have dedicated sleeping quarters. Oh yer .... a mobo. The space/experience on-board is more important to me than being able to pass under all bridges. Budget 10k - 30k. So what should i consider and what should I avoid? Single handed cruising is MOST important. Your thoughts/recommendations would be most appreciated.

My dog (on lead) was recently attacked by a loose dog in the park. The owners, who were hiding behind a bush, communicated that their dog doesn't like dogs on leads and will attack them. I politely pointed out that maybe their dog needed to be excercised in public on a lead. The point is if your dog is known to be likely to bother people, other dogs or livestock when on walkies then they should be kept on a lead.

To be honest in those days unless you were a member of the gentry conditions for the plebs & slaves were very little different regardless of skin colour. They existed to obey and serve their masters.

Yep, Dogs should be kept under control in public, on or off the lead, but I just wondered if leads were a requirement in st everitt's park. As most parks are empty for most of the year (with the exception of dog walkers and a few others) perhaps a "dogs on lead" control during the summer holidays (as on some beaches) would be appropriate.

I hope your not crying wolf just to increase your "Love" tally!

Are there signs stating that dogs should be kept on the lead? Some parks do others don't.

I can only assume that the lady in question was knowingly trying to cause outrage ..... these types are best ignored. Nelson will remain atop his column!!

Very well done indeed ..... seconds away from tragedy ...... The lttle girl could easily have been crushed between a boat and bank. There are wicked tides flowing through there.

I applaud all of the above. You shouldn't go boating if you want a completely stable floor.

I think we need to add another sign "Fly posters will be prosecuted" Assuming, that is, it has been erected by a non person.

it's cats that get my goat!!

I did, for a long time, think that the publically funded beeb was an asset ..... no more. It does have irritating adverts ...... for it's own programmes. There are settees full of "knowledgeble" pundits commenting on the sports coverage ..... usually at the expense of actual coverage. and Cliff Michelmore's "Tonight" has morfed into the sterile "One Show". I think the rot started to set in when Chris Trace (Blue Peter) behaved a bit badly!! So sorry beeb ..... It's a big NO from me!!

It's an odd thing but has anybody noticed that when you get into a huff about something, doesn't matter what it is, the more "whatever you are in a huff about" seems to occur? and when you stop getting the huff it doesn't seem to happen so often?

I think this is a very astute observation and may be a contributary cause for the discontent so frequently published. The "Broadland environment" that many moaners & groaners seem to want to enforce would be a very sterile & unwelcome environment to me.

I think we are approaching an era when public transport will be increasingly asked to provide an affordab;e and attractive alternative to making a trip by car. So I do believe trimming minutes from a journey may well help to make public transport more appealing but I think it is essential to reduce the cost of tickets to make it attractive for families to use public transport in favour of leaving the car behind along with the high cost of ever decreasing parking spaces.

Personally I found Hi Karate would drive the girls wild.

The humble stick. Could be a sword, a gun, a bow and arrow, a boat, nail two sticks together and it could be a plane. All you need to play "cowboys and native americans" (see what I did to avoid causing offence)

Yep, I had a couple of days on the Northern Broads at the weekend. Very busy around Wroxham. I'm pleased to report no dramas, no terrible tales of unruly behaviour. Just the opposite infact, two very accommodating crews willing to budge up to make space for me, even in the rain. Two fisherman happy to give up there swim to let me moor and lots of friendly bantor. The day boats are definatly governed to a max speed of 5mph and even have a gps speedo on board. So .... nothing to moan about i'm afraid, not even any dog poo or discarded rubbish! You never know I might even give it another go. You have been warned.

When I used to sail I tried to make way solely by sail power pitting my wits against wind & tide. Usually I was out to sail not to get to the next pub or mooring as quickly as possible. That said in tricky conditions, going against the tide and heading into the wind the next corner could be a real challenge .... particularly if a distant tree was upsetting the wind at a critical time. Under these conditions I needed to use as much of the river as possible to continue to move forwards instead of backwards with the tide. I tried to always indicate to other mobos which way to pass and on most occassions got a friendly wave and thumbs up. Sometimes an ocean going, privately owned liner would come by (i'm not jealous, no not at all) and occassionally they would steadfastly assert their position. This didn't result in a dangerous situation but by putting in an early tack I could be swept back with the tide many yards meaning I faced a further half hour of slow progress towards that damned corner. Now I could have switched on the engine and chugged round the bend in seconds ..... but that would be cheating and where's the fun in that.