Tempest

Monday 14th September On the Monday we headed up the Bure and then the Ant and stopped off at Ludham Bridge to visit the Bridge Stores, grab some breakfast at the wayfarers cafe, which again we were slightly disappointed with as it didnt seem up to its usual standards and we just put it down to the current situation with COVID and the potential issues around getting adequate stocks................ There is a shinning light to our breakfast issues which comes later. The meal at Pedro`s the night before was exceptional as each of the 4 of us chose 2 items each and being the greedy sods we are we then ordered two additionals which was more than plenty for us all. We also had an evening of G&Ts and found the surroundings really enjoyable. Prior to going to Pedros though we did go across to one of our favourites on the broads, the Acle Bridge Inn, but on this occasion we only had a couple of pre-meal drinks, which didnt stop Roxy and Yogi becoming stars of Facebook as they took photos of our dogs and put them on their facebook pages But back to Monday..................... We then made our way to the moorings at Barton Turf for a lunch break and again to give the dogs a walk, before making our way to the Sutton Staithe Hotel for evening meal Again the menu appeared to be a reduced one, due to the current issues, but the food was good and plentiful and we just love the green here and the dog friendly atmosphere in the pub After food and a glass of wine on the boat we settled down for the evening

Sunday 13th September I am an early riser, so it was no surprise to everyone on board when I was up taking Roxy and Yogi for a walk around the lovely village of Reedham and even stopped to take a picture of the wonderful Owl carving We had a sausage and egg sandwich each from the Post Office which has a little cafe inside and to be honest we werent keen as it was only when we were presented with our sandwiches did they tell us the egg was actually pre-boiled eggs sliced and put on the sausage and we all found the sausages to be a bit fatty for our tastes and the bread was the thickets bread we have ever been offered in a sandwich. Finally it was very hot either so all in all a bit of a disappointment. We we soon off towards Breydon Water It was a glorious day! Once through Great Yarmouth we headed up the Bure towards Acle, but decided to call in at the Ferry Inn, Stokesby to give the dogs a leg stretch and have a quick pint to quench the thirst!! Before long we were back underway again making the short trip to our destination which was Pedros Dyke as we had booked a meal there this evening

Just got home after another fantastic week on Moonlight Shadow: Saturday 12th we travelled from our home in Bolton (yes...the very same one!) with plenty of masks, sanitisers and gels to keep a liner clean! We soon had the boat loaded up and we were off down river towards our first stop of the trip which was to be Reedham Quay as we planned to cross Breydon the following day In our party on this occasion was my wife Julie, my son Mike, his girlfriend April and our 2 Newfies Roxy (7 year old black girl) and Yogi (1 year old brown boy) We sat outside the Lord Nelson for a drink, then wandered down to the Ship for what was supposed to be one drink as we planned to get fish and chips from Reedham Chippy as we had heard good things about it The plan, didnt go to plan, but that was only because their was a 60`s event on at the Ship with Elvis and Abba tributes being sung and the atmosphere in the beer garden was too good to leave behind. We eventually left around 7.45pm as we knew the chippy was closing at 8, but when we got there they were actually closing up and as such we only managed to get some sausage, chips, peas and a couple of scallops as we were resigned to their last offerings before closure. Nonetheless the food was good and retiring to the boat to relax after a long day was a good call in the end, eventhough Julie really wanted to stay at the ship longer!! This is MS moored at Reedham Quay Roxy and Yogi chilling at the Quayside We had a couple of Rum and Cokes on the boat and retired for the night

Just a quick glimpse of a brilliant week Will post a full update of the trip when home Currently at Oulton Broad Yacht Station chilling after a wonderful Chinese

Would love to meet Helen and Graham, but we will probably be on the road back around 9am on the Saturday, as the Friday we intend getting back to the mooring around lunch, hopefully refuel and pump out and give her a good clean ready for yourselves and then off to the Yare where hopefully we will see MM In the morning we need to get away early as I have to be back in the north west in the afternoon You have a wonderful time also and we will make sure we look after MS for you Take care

Off to Brundall tomorrow for the start of another week on Moonlight Shadow with my wife Julie, son Mike and his girlfriend April with our 2 Newfies Roxy and Yogi It seems so long ago since we have been on her ( February 2020) after missing out in June due to the lockdown I really need this break, in fact we all do and no doubt our beloved Newfies will be as excited as us to get back The weather looks kind and whatever the world throws at us, we are just going to relax and enjoy the beauty of the broads and the time together in a place we adore. Will take some pics and post a few updates over the week, which no doubt will have a few doggie pics and stories Take care all and if you see us by all means come and have a chat

Cant wait! The weather looks rather good, which is always a bonus Enjoy

best wishes for a speedy recovery and all goes well

Just giving people the heads up that we will be on Moonlight Shadow from Saturday in case you wish to avoid us as we are travelling from our home in Bolton Interestingly I am a club secretary for a grassroots football club in Bolton with many teams (senior, boys and girls) and a great community spirit (CMB FC) and we have risk assessments in place, I am the dedicated COVID Officer for the club and we follow, FA, Local Authority and Government advice and are still operating I am also the league secretary for a grassroots football league in Bolton, which has 615 teams over 8000 players around 1500 coaches, 100 referees and thousands more volunteers, family and friends watching each week www.bbdfl.org The league is still operating throughout the imposed lockdown as we are designated as a sport that can continue due to the guidelines that we have put in place The rationale for that being that the FA have submitted detailed plans to DCMS around the safeguards that need to be in place to minimise the transmission of the virus and allow the sport to continue, whilst placing conditions on those involved which includes my club, its members and our league RIGHTLY SO!! Those conditions have been circulated by the FA and includes all clubs must have a COVID Officer responsible for ensuring that their club adheres to the policies, all clubs must have risk assessments in place for training and matches and all persons must adhere to those risk assessments and no more than 6 persons may congregate as spectators in any one location whilst all spectators must adhere to social distancing guidance. Equipment must be sanitised prior to activity and on the conclusion of activity and participants are encouraged to sanitise their hands again prior and on the conclusion of activity. This week one of my teams (U15s) have gone into 14 days isolation. Why? because a mother of one of the players was feeling unwell and went for a test which came back positive, as a precaution all the squad have gone into 14 day isolation, including parents and any persons who had been in their company This is all we can do, follow the advice, act when we have to do and get on with our lives, in my humble opinion So I just wanted to provide some information from the frontline on how we, even in a hotspot area, are responding.

Life Jacket has now gone to a good home...............well it will when collected!

Dogs life jacket Medium size with adjustable straps Free to good home Yogi kindly models it for you but it wasn't bought for him!!! My parents bought it for their staffy, but it was too big, more sized for Labrador or alsatian size dog We are down on the Broads from Saturday 12th from Brundall until Saturday 19th September and are going north over the week. We will happily hand it over to someone who will meet us to collect it Just private message us to make the arrangements

All the very best wishes for the future and I hope you get to realise your dreams of a Norfolk home closer to your boats soon

We will be visiting the Yare on the Friday for our last evening, as our son will be with us and never been! So if around be nice to see you

Just been through the most traumatic time in our families history, after losing mum through cancer in November and my Nephew in May we laid Dad to rest on Friday, who went into hospital for a routine prostrate operation a couple of weeks ago, which incidentally came to notice when we were last up on Moonlight Shadow with Dad as he was up every 5 minutes, bursting but couldn't pass much Mum and dad have been coming to the Broads since the late 70s and passed the bug onto us Sadly when he went in they found he had terminal cancer and he passed away peacefully 7 days later He loved MS and his last meal on the Broads was in the Ferry House, Surlingham and we remember him remarking what a wonderful pub and meal as he had generally been a northern Broads visitor in the past only going south on a couple of occasion's We are next down on MS week commencing 12th September and we are going to go north and visit some of mum and dad's favourite locations, but on the Thursday we intend going back to the Ferry House to toast mum and dad and thank all the people who my parents met and made Norfolk such a special place for them both

You can moor in the Pedro's marina (formerly Broads Boating Company / Horizoncraft) for £10 with a discount off the food bill if you book a meal My brother moored their last week

The tide timetable looks favourable for a good early morning crossing with slack water a good few hours after sunrise I love a crossing early in the morning as you have the rest of the day to enjoy and can get a good way up the Bure, Ant or Thurne http://www.norfolk-broads.org/tides/tide_report.asp

Feedback after the first week Most venues were very quiet Malsters at Ranworth and Kings Arms, Ludham faired the best with the systems they had in place with one way in, then through the pubs to place and receive your order and exit Most of those who had sit at your table and wait for a staff member to take your order, then bring it, then take payment, then go back inside to get your change, then bring your change out faired worst with some customers waiting 20 to 30 minutes to get served Early days and I am sure some of the first week issues will be ironed out, but to make it viable for the business and appealling to the customer, whilst remaining safe, the right balance needs to be found

In my opinion it's all down to market forces Supply and demand If the demand wasn't there, prices would fall and when demand is high prices rise My son will soon be leaving his home for 28 years (at last!!!) as he has bought a new house from belway homes at a whopping 197K! The property is called "Lambeth" My first house was 14K! But all future Lambeths on the same estate are now priced at 220K Why? The first Lambeths on the estate have been snapped up and belway have "re-evaluated" the pricing structure and up the prices have gone, whilst some other properties have dropped slightly as one product offsets the other That's good business in my opinion and ensures that the estate continues to grow and the company is able to prosper I don't see any difference to a boat yard balancing the books and maximising the income from the products or services they have at their disposal

Good news Grendel, which hopefully will help to ease her mind

Barnes Brinkscraft created a list https://barnesbrinkcraft.co.uk/blog/pubs-shops-and-cafes-open-in-the-norfolk-broads-2020/?utm_source=Barnes+Brinkcraft&utm_campaign=75dd2c614b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_03_11_03_50_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_10d1a611e8-75dd2c614b-39275211

Watched everyone including the "baking" specials and Julie and I take our hat off to Dave for his endeavours. We loved every minute and they gave us many memories and laughs.. Also they gave us hope for the 4th July... The day the lockdown is eased and the Broads is available again for those who love the area Thanks Dave!!

Doubt that!

Yep... Its called contingency planning which every reputable organisation should do Glad to see this is happening

I am a live and let live kinda guy and like to see stag and hen do`s on the broads and the many pirate flags flying in the wind as excited families head up or down river. (Usually on Richardsons Challenger for some reason!!) I enjoy the peace and tranquillity which is always in abundance on the broads, the towns, villages and local pubs I enjoy the dogs walks, the sound of sails in the wind as the yachts glide by and the sight of a wherry in full sail or being pushed through Ludham Bridge by a pilot I love the sight of the young, the athletic, the old and those with disabilities enjoying various elements on the rivers At times people do things which makes me shake my head, speak to them about it or report them to the authorities, but these a few and far between as the vast majority of people enjoy the area with the greatest respect given to others and the surroundings So a little perspective needs to be had.

Week commencing the 4th July might be a tad busy.... Bit like when McDonald's and Primark first opened again!