TheQ

I greeted the postman while sitting inside the post box.... Or to be more precise I've built new walls either side of a new gateway. Built into the walls, I've built a bin cupboard one side, and the other I've put a letter box ( above) / parcels cupboard (below), I was sat inside bolting bearers to the wall to hold a shelf.

The cleaner water has little to do with it being the broads, NP or no NP, and much more to with national / EU legislation on cleaner waters.. The More boats has a lot to do with the general increase in prosperity since the BA came into being (yes I know it's a bit Carp at the moment). Also think it has a lot to do with fibreglass. They need nowhere near as much maintenance as woodies, so more people are prepared to buy something that can sit in the water doing nothing. The larger boats is just consumer demand for home comforts they just don't want to rough it any more.. again NP or no NP makes no difference. More Fishermen, that is also due to more leisure time, more spare cash and the cleaner waters..

Any of SWMBOs Dogs... Woof Woof..

03:00 Woke up with painful back after yesterdays digging, went down stairs.... rapidly... my feet went out from under me half way down, left arm /elbow caught over bannister till I slide down and hit the pineapple on the bottom up right, bruises also to right hip. Painkillers now obtained for two reasons.. Futher painkillers with coffee before I left 08:00. Drove to the sailing club carefully, much frost on the roads. Flags up, Buoys put out, bacon butties consumed. Weather, wind, west north west, not a lot, up to 25 mph as it felt like it. Absolutely clear skies till the last race. When scattered clouds appeared. Frosty to start with and not much warmer later. Race 1 course 4P, 2P. Tide going out gently. We started in the middle of the river in 5th place unable to get where are wanted 'cos the others got there first. The wind was coming over our front starboard ( right) side, we could just hold our course straight up the river. We did have an overlap on 4th and 3rd place, and slowly overtook them. Once we got fully alongside we were blocking their wind and so got well ahead. The lead two boats had got a good lead but once we turned the 60 degree right turn we were head on into the wind and started tacking. We were slowly gaining on the leaders but didn't catch them before the left hand turn round buoy 4. Genoa in spinnaker up... Only it didn't there was a complete foul up with the rigging, ( my fault) some how we stay ahead of the next 4 boats but didn't get it sorted till they were along side us just before buoy 2. They had the advantage sweeping round the buoy in front of us putting us in 7th. We fairly rapidly overtook one boat. Setting off after the others, we gradually caught and overtook two more boat and rounded the bend to find the third place Boat doing circles (720 degree turn) he had obviously accepted a penalty for infringing the rights of the second place boat. We just managed to pass them before they completed the penalty. They followed us to buoy 4 round that and Genoa in spinnaker up. It went up this time, and away we went. There was a huge mess of ropes in the bottom of the boat, which took most of the time to buoy 2 to sort. It was fairly in uneventful for the next lap, but as we approached bouy 2 for the finish two boats came up between us and the wind. There was nothing we could do and the went past. So after rounding buoy 2 we finished 5th. After an extra 5 minute delay to allow the last boats to finish and have a coffee. Race 2 wind has a bit more west in it. We started in third and followed the first two boats keeping pace with them. The change of wind. Meant we were all being forced towards he left hand bank. We thought we were lucky as where we approached the bank was a small bay meaning more time till we tacked. We tacked and.... Stopped... we had run aground... Luckily as we had tacked, we could hold the Genoa on the wrong side of the boat, while I leant out healing the boat, so lifting the keel out of the mud, the wind dragging us sideways off the mud. During this two boats went past, we started following, but were slower, we must of had mud stuck on the keel. It took several hundred yards before the mud washed away and they had gone some distance ahead. At some point during this, the burgee halyard broke and was tangled up round the top of the mast which didn't help. In the tacking up to buoy 4 we overtook one boat, then rounded the buoy, a successful spinnaker launch meant we got away from the boat behind. The boat in front decided to stick to the right hand bank in search of stronger wind. We took the short cut across the corner and it paid off We came along side heading for buoy 2 . But that meant we had the inside for rounding the buoy we rounded ok and we were back to third. We were however a long way back and although we were gaining, we were nowhere near the first two boat at the end of the race.. After that, it was down mast, untangle the burgee, repair the string, up mast. Then cheese rolls and coffee for lunch. Race 3 We started in 1st.. just.... we chose the left hand bank and the second boat the middle at the start. By this time the tide was coming in so it was a 50/50 choice, we had the right choice, and slowly went ahead. When we first tacked we were not far enough ahead and we were forced to tack back as they had right of way. That gained us a few more yards on the bank until we called for our right not to run into the bank. They were then forced to tack, allowing us to do so. When we tacked back they carried on a bit more hoping to stay above us after their tack. However we got some wind and got away. After rounding the bend we continued to increase our lead, this continued for the rest of the race so we won the third race.

Fire rated sealant required.. https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-intumescent-sealant-white-310ml/5689r?_requestid=295534 Circulation pump not needed for single matrix radiator in SERIES with the calorifier first.

I have read of people doing this, using secondhand heaters out of cars, I believe at one time the old mini heater was a favourite as it's easy to get out of the car. The only problem I know of is the heater outlet from an engine normally bypasses the thermostat, therefore, if you put too much cooling (ie radiators) in that line it will take a very long time for the engine to reach operational temperature. I certain was intending to this, until I changed to Diesel Electric unfortunately all the water plumbing is inside the "Silent pack" casing Ie the raw warer goes in and it comes out already in the exhaust. i am loath to interfere with the casing and there is not a lot of room inside the box...

Lottery money comes with a lot of government induced ties. They actually control where the general placing of the money goes...

There have been traffic lights around the cremated Swan since 2nd of October and will remain till the work is completed. (long wait!!!) The swan end wall is supported by scaffolding, The house end wall has be removed down to eves level It apppears the inside of the Swan has now been cleared out and there is now a holding timber some of the old girders in place.

The New slip road to Rackheath on the Wroxham road is now open. Most of the cones on the Coltishall road roundabout, so it is now a true roundabout..

Whilst NOT denigrating the RNLI in any way, most of the rescues on the Broads are by Hemsby's Independant Lifeboat http://www.hemsbynorfolk.co.uk/HemsbyLifeboat.asp who are equally worth your support...

Sunday Breakfast was had, . Then two more painkillers before setting out to the sailing club. On arrival one of the rescue boats had already left to go up river to the Wroxham club and tow back three boats. I finished getting one more out , loaded up with buoys and helped put them out with others assistance. After bacon butties and coffee.... Race one, wind north Westerly occasionally Westerly, up to 15 mph very sunny. Course 5P, 2P,1P. 1 was by perci's island, 2 at the clubhouse 3 at the first bend up river from the club, 4 at Black horse broad entrance, 5 up river at Dydlers mill. 1 During the pre race manoeuvres we saw 6 rods on the bank apparently unattended and apparently with no lines out. We swept past their rods 3 feet away, not seeing any lines but there obviously were, as all the alarms went off and lots of swearing came out of the tents. We started in 5th the wind meaning it was fairly easy to sail straight along the left hand bank. Fairly soon we overtook one boat but they are beginners. Then we overtook Bernard fairly easily to windward, which was a surprise. This put us in third, ahead Toby a good sailor but with an inexperienced crew today. We had just reached the 60 degree bend to the right and started to have to tack rapidly from side to side of the river we soon overtook Toby, but he came right back and overtook us. A couple of tacks later and we were tacking alongside each other for several tack. This slowing us down while the leader was getting away. Eventually we broke away and started gaining on the leader. Meanwhile John, who was late for the start, had been gaining. We rounded buoy 5 in Genoa up spinnaker. Now as the tide was coming in and we were heading down river I kept us close to the bank. But the leader Gary sailed down the middle of the river, so we slowly gained as we rounded the left hand 60 degree bend I cut across the river shortening the corner but also keeping out of the tide which is at it fastest round the outside of a bend. Cutting inside Gary we then we're between the wind and him so blocking his wind, so we swept past him into the lead. As we then went across the river to the right hand bank again we dropped the spinnaker and pulled out the Genoa, we held the lead, until a gust from behind brought him alongside just as we reached the 90 right at the club house.. holding inside bank was a huge advantage as we turned, Gary hit the highest tide against him as the river narrows.so he slowed and we turned round buoy 1 clear in the lead which we held for the next two laps... Race 2, wind slightly less, and occasionally more Westerly. Course 4P, 2P, 1P.. Just as we attempted to turn for the line the beginners were in our way heading parallel to the start line, then they turned for the line, but it was too late. Two boats Gary and John were gone. We had to pass the beginner then try to catch up. The catching up took most of the time getting to buoy 4, but we didn't pass them. Rounding buoy 4 up spinnakers again and with the big bird flying we kept to the bank again and slowly passed Gary after cutting across the river. John blocked our way at the corner so we went below, as we all moved back across the river to the right Gary went above John. As a final insult to John the beginners followed us. John went down to 4th...(for a short time) With John and Gary fighting each other, we got away a bit. And got an easy run to buoy 1. Rounding that we were struggling up the bank and had to put in a tack. The others did also then we tracked again and we're slowly forced across to the Swan right hand bank. We were glad to hear the shortened course signal, we really were forced to the bank by the wind as it had a bit more north in it . We would have like to be a bit further out the tide was supposed to be still coming in... Then as we approached the fishermen again I was leaning out on the bank side and said Up UP, to he on the helm as he looked out on the left looking at the buoy and when to tack for the mark. But just as we turned for buoy 2 we.... Hit two of their rods oops... We just made the buoy and then finished. John just behind us got a shift in the wind and tacked earlier avoiding the angry fishermen, but was able to reach the buoy and finished second... After a couple of cheese rolls and a coffee Race 3, or for us there wasn't one, we again had won the trophy and everyone else packed up. The following dinghy race went on but struggled to finish as the wind died...

Norfolk is getting rid of all 150 PCSOs, closing 7 police stations and replacing them with 81 real policemen and 16 office staff. Seemingly the cost to the police of a proper police constable or a PCSO is only about a couple of hundred pounds different at around £43000 per year each. Much of the difference in numbers will be made by withdrawing PCSOs from secondary schools..

Me, many many times, SWMBO several times, well we were dinghy sailors at the time.. Shaver battery powered, dropped overboard while clambering out of my Lysander to go to the club showers ... One week later, New Shaver battery powered, dropped overboard while clambering out of my Lysander to go to the club showers . I went back to wet shaving after that... Watches several, used to monitor the count down till race start time, ripped off wrist by ropes during racing, the fish must be getting annoyed with all those alarms going off... Mud weight when the rope came off the cleat on boat,. An easy recovery with 30 ft of rope floating around. Hats several, all recovered except for one run over by a following boat.. A Rough Collie called Baron Blue Moon, well I didn't lose him, he chose to follow SWMBO who was he was devoted to. And she had just stepped off on the bank to hold the bows into the wind while I sorted out some rigging. Of course once she stepped off the boat swung out and he didn't make the leap.... Trying to get 70lbs (when dry) of wet Rough Collie out of the water is difficult, now our dogs wear life jackets... They have a handle on the back....

So your real name is Robert Thompson your have been found out!!! http://www.robertthompsons.co.uk/_shop/gifts--small-items/cheese-board/

Only primary and secondary schools existed when / where I was at school. All distances one way. First primary school 3.7 miles, so bus.. Second primary school lower site, 900 yards, walked Second primary school upper site , 400 yards walked, but we had to walk to the lower site and back in classes for dinner. First secondary school, 1.5 miles walked or biked. Second secondary school, 15 miles on another island, bus. ( Yes there was a causeway between the islands) Third secondary school, car 1 hour, ferry 3 hours, bus 2 hours, ferry 10 minutes, train 2.5 hours, bus 15 minutes. And reverse to go home ( end of term only.). However from the council school hostel 1.5 miles to the school Walked.

Ive just re read my first line, and it's wrong, it should read "I know the exams are a lot easier NOW, THAN in the past from when I used to help,"

Over the last 4 hours waiting for the next resistor or shunt to warm up and at lunch time, I have taken the 3 mock exams, Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced.... That was a blast from the past... it's 40+ years since I did exams of that type or did any training of that type.. I rushed all these exams... Foundation, Time allowed 55 minutes, did it in 5 minutes and scored 21 out of 26. That actually would be a pass. Intermediate, Time allowed 1 hour 25 minutes, 20 minutes for this one, and got 8 wrong out of 45 Questions, can't seem to find if that would be a pass or not. Advanced, Time allowed 2 hours, I took about 30 minutes, 12 wrong out of the 62 questions, again I don't know if that would be a pass or not. All exams the failures were mostly to do with regulations. I must admit many answers in Intermediate, and Advanced were dragged from the back of my memory or educated guesses, I couldn't say for sure I Knew them.. However a little bit of revision and a book on the regulations should see me OK... My conclusion is that the foundation exam, if you have any intelligence, it should be, with a little training, an easy pass. Intermediate and Advanced, if you don't have a background in electronics (Particularly analogue communcations or Radar like me ) then you have some learning to do, But not beyond the ability of many people. That's another thing on the to do list then.. Currently waiting for a 1.9M Ohm resistor to settle so I can record it's value... ah 1.8998744M Ohms..

Actually I believe it was the Aston Martin Le Mans team testing racing cars, which handily was just a couple of miles from the M1. I pass 4 schools every day, after work, during kicking out time. The biggest problems are, The parents opening car doors, The parents dragging their kids through the traffic to the cars, The parents trying to all park at the school gates, The parents thinking road humps (platform type) are pedestrian crossings.. Ps I was a member of the Tufty club ... 1962?

I know the exams are a lot easier in the past from when I used to help, G1FC, And G3RAF (FC meaning Flying Corps so you can guess how old that licence is) Sadly on the three occasions I organised going for the exams, the RAF posted or Detached me, so I never got round to taking the City and guilds licence (that would have been around 1977-1980). I might just have a look at the RSGB site at their new exams..

They have no powers, they merely record the numbers and report them to the police, should you come to the police's notice more than one, then you may recieve a visit / letter about your behaviour. Although having seen some of the cowboys using the radar guns should I recieve a letter from the police, I'd be threatening libel / slander. One occasion I saw them fireing the gun from car to car and then over moving cars, to try to get everyone. So, A. They weren't holding the gun steady in use, so there own movement can add to the vehicles speed. B, They were firing over moving other vehicles, and contrary to many peoples belief the laser / radar on them is not a parallel beam, but spreads, which is one of the reasons there is also a maximum range..

Snow... yes you heard snow, I went to the car at 05:50 and the roof was covered with scattered white stuff. the roof of the car was also frozen though not the windows. I carefully checked and it was Snow not hail.... Once on the road I could see the odd lonely flake decending, for the first couple of miles, then nothing else, no drizzle or anything. So Norfolk has had it's first snow of the year

B.A. don't allow SORN'ing

Some years ago. One of the competitors in the 3 rivers race was along side me, going under Acle bridge. Their back stay, caught an obstruction in the water. When investigated by BA a very battered BMW was found down there that had been missing 5 years. I think what happens is that cars dumped in the river wash around, until they hit the old ford/ remains of previous bridges and then eventually get noticed... I've lost two electric shavers and numerous watches over the years. I've also been present when a soda Syphon was pulled up in the bucket of a digger, the next scoop brought up a tray and glasses..

Donny 1 Rothy 1....not so insignificant... Today I was 2/3 of the way towards either of them, at Spalding, that is at Spalding Model Railway Club's annual exhibition. I enjoyed this show, it was better than last year's, much excellent modelling. At 11:00 it all came to a halt, as we stood for the 2 minutes Silence. The military layouts displayed poppy's as did many others... We will remember them.

It must be crowded down on Horsey beach as some were swimming a few feet off Eccles beach the other day..