SwanR

Buttons how are you enjoying Goosander? It's interesting that there aren't more forward steer cruisers as syndicate boats. We spotted ourselves on someone's video once. I watch a lot of people's YouTube videos of the Broads, especially if they ever coincide with when we were there ... then I watch them that little bit more carefully!

No problems on Chrome for me at the moment. I always like to have another working browser just in case I need it. I'm using a Mac and flip between Chrome and Safari.

Been a dry morning where I am, although the clouds are looking threatening and I could see that it was pouring with rain in London on the lunchtime news. Luck of the draw perhaps with a showery day. We nipped up to Lowestoft yesterday and it was mild with bright sunshine and blue skies. Plus the air quality was so clear that you could see the wind turbines turning out at sea and the buildings in the distance at Gorlestone. Some days they're hidden in the murk.

It's amazing what you can do with the camera on a phone these days. So many people don't even bother with having a separate camera. I know that I often carry both around when we're out and about because photos on my phone are so easy to use online but I like the quality from my little "point and shoot" Lumix. A beautiful way to start the day Chris.

Another very interesting instalment Helen. Looking forward to hearing how your design between the pieces of glass works out. It looked lovely, very eye catching. Great that you can go back to learn more ... and taking Graham with you. :)

On the subject of alternative Christmas trees, here's the Fish-tive Christmas Tree from Coble Landing at Filey last year.

Interesting. Checked out Herbert Woods site and found that the description for this boat includes "Will not pass under Beccles Old, Potter Heigham, Wayford or Wroxham bridges. Will pass under Ludham bridge subject to weather and tide conditions." That's the first time I've seen any of the hire yards include Wayford Bridge in their list. And they've added a warning about Ludham Bridge as well. Checked out one or two other sites and found similar on Norfolk Broads Direct. About time they added Wayford Bridge to the list really.

Wow! It's amazing the amount of work you do on BA. In full admiration of all the skills you all have to be able to complete all this work yourselves.

Totally agree with that Simon. We've used it as a first night stop when we hired from Brundall, quite a good distance for a first run. And after the noise of Loddon and Beccles being close to roads, it is such a peaceful spot. :)

I picked up on that comment as well Scraggs. Along with something they said in Lowestoft, I thought they were being quite insulting. I haven't watched it all but am surprised to see John Sergeant so much in his element, hadn't expected that.

Love your red boat against the waves on this Helen. Looking forward to hearing how it turned out. :)

Enjoyed seeing all your photos. Funny how the Broads has this pull, that no matter how many holiday tales you read, and how many times you see the same places, we all still come back for more. I don't think syndicate ownership would work for us either at the moment ... but who knows in the future. So please do keep writing up all your trips. Must be strange to read someone else's tale when other syndicate members are out on "your boat"!

Wonderful writeup and photos. We have certainly had some glorious weather this autumn and it must have been lovely to be out at such a quiet time. Haven't been to Goodies for a while but it's certainly a regular stop for us as well if we're heading that far up the A140. We always succumb to a bag of fudge which is opened as soon as it's paid for!

Happy Birthday Simon ... hope you enjoy your day ... even if it's not on the boat!!

Fantastic photos. What amazing weather to be afloat. :)

It comes with experience and practice Robin, just like stern mooring a boat! I have to admit that the all round cameras are very useful on the Qashqai for being able to see the positioning of the car to the space and everything around you. When it's busy like that there's no chance of finding that nice easy space miles from the entrance to the shops but you can drive in and reverse straight out with nothing around you! Your best option while you're gaining confidence might be to ensure that you get to the shops just as they open or at other far less busy times of day. You'll feel more relaxed about the whole thing when you feel less under pressure because of traffic all around you. And as the others said, just like when mooring a boat, back in, pull forward, change the angle, back in again ... and repeat as many times as you need to.

So here we are, November, and the caravan is now closed up until next March. The site remains open but the caravan gets very cold in-between visits. And if we don't get it drained down and sorted out, then we risk invalidating our insurance if we get frozen conditions, burst pipes, any damage etc. Plus our journeys from home would be in the dark now that we're into those late autumn and winter months. All in all, we're very happy to consider the season as March to early November and leave it at that. We'll probably go up for a day at some point next month just to check things over before Christmas. To round off this season I have put together some more photos and short video clips. Avoiding copyright issues with the music can make it harder to find something I like and that I feel fits the atmosphere that I'm after ... putting these together is a new hobby for me now but it's all done on iMovie with music that I own to accompany the footage. You get to go along with my musical taste!! Whilst we only got out on a day boat this year, we have got our old favourite Swan Reflection booked for four days in March and I'm already looking forward to that. Before then hopefully we will have the Nogs Delightful December Tale to follow. Not to mention any lucky syndicate owners who might yet have some time afloat this year ... yes Jay ... I'm waiting for your next write up already ... and the video!! ;) My thanks to those who have been interested enough to read this topic and take a look at my videos ... here's the last one for 2018 then.

When we hired from NBD (or Faircraft Loynes!) they put a bin on the boat with two halves, one for recycling. It did take up quite a bit of room and we kept shuffling the bin around, but it did encourage us to keep as much as we could for recycling which we then put in the appropriate waste disposal bin in the yard when we went back.

I was thinking about whether the situation with regard to boat waste could be likened to any other leisure industry. With holiday camps and caravan sites, the owners pay for the collection of waste. That's the case at the site where we have our caravan. So is that what happens also at marinas where owners have their permanent moorings? Not that you could necessarily be out on your boat for an extended time and keep all waste for disposing of back at base, I understand that. As for facilities at public moorings, one could argue that this is the same as any resort where daytrippers come, spend their money in the local economy, and leave their rubbish behind at the end of the day, handled therefore by local rubbish collection? It's a shame the same commonsense can't be applied. If you want to attract visitors you have to provide facilities for them.

Just as on the boat, we share the driving when we're out and about. None of this sexist nonsense in our house!

The question in relation to hire boats has come up before. After all, how do you know where the last person on the boat moored the night before you took it over. That could happen in many places. Plus, as happened to us, we moved from Ranworth Island to the staithe one morning just to get water and some shopping. We were only there about 15 minutes. By chance, not by planning, we ended up back at Ranworth that night and this time got on the staithe. The next morning we were asked by someone checking the boats registration numbers, to move on as we had been clocked there the previous day. Yes strictly speaking we were there twice in 24 hours. And anyone could claim the same story as we did. But in reality there has to be some trust and some allowance for use of services ... or maybe not! In one of the Rascal's videos some long while ago he moored briefly at Paddy's Lane, then went back onto Barton Broad, then moored back in the same place. Should he have done that? Strictly speaking maybe not. Did anyone care? Not on that occasion as far as I know.

At least having done the A47 you have proved that you can drive in a straight line! And it was a bit cheaper to fill up than Independence!

Very pretty and very intricate by the sound of it. Do you have the perfect place to hang it at home?

Congratulations Robin! Great news. It's one test in life that makes such an immediate difference if you pass.

Loved it Jay, brilliant! Very atmospheric. :) I will look forward to more.