addicted

Yes you're right about never jumping off to moor. I learnt that the hard way. or maybe I should say the wet way! On a previous occasion on the Ouse I jumped onto a section of the bank that unbeknown to me had been undercut by the river and a whole chunk of the bank collapsed into the river taking me with it! My husband hauled me out muttering something about a diet being required! . Regarding my original post, I was hoping that maybe someone had been hiring a boat at the same time from the same yard and maybe would know how the injured lady fared. Because it was obviously a bad break probably involving both bones in the lower leg, we've remained rather concerned as to the outcome. There were two families on board and fortunately they were at the end of their holiday rather than the beginning so not all was lost.

Last August we moored at Acle to take down our canopy, radar arch etc. in preparation for going through Yarmouth and were waiting for the tide when a hire boat came in in front of us. As one of the "crew" jumped off with the ropes she fell foul of the uneven surface and the crack we heard was her breaking her leg. We did what we could to help and very fortunately, the next two ladies on the scene were nurses. One of them took charge in la really proficient way and stayed with the patient until the arrival of the ambulance. Does anyone out there know anything about this incident? We have often wondered what the outcome of this was as it looked to be a pretty serious break. I don't remember the name of the hire boat but I think it was hired from the company adjacent to the Acle road bridge. Regards Carole

What I started to say before I got interrupted by a phone call and then timed out before I could edit was Don't be fooled by appearances Iain Some days I feel 160 and as for being active most days my bones and muscles would much rather I wasn't! regards, Carole

Don't be fooled by appearances iain some days I feel more like 160! as for being very active - these days the bones

it is often the case with new build the phone line is put in place during the build I knew what our landline number would be before we even moved in. I also worked for the company back in 1900 and frozen to death - when it was the good old GPO.- as a "hello Girl""Strange we were known by that epithet,as it was strictly forbidden to say" hello" when working on the switchboard. In fact every type of call we could conceivably have to deal was carefully scripted and we would have to be word perfect before we were considered qualified. regards, Carole

Couldn't agree more, I'm a firm believer a good paper trail. It may be seen as old fashioned today but still produces results. regards, Carole

A close friend re-located last year from north London to Cambridgeshire. He was buying a new house that was still in build. in May (shortly before he moved out of his old home He duly informed BT of his circumstances, explaining that he would be without a house until November and was told that they wouldn't cancel his contract with them rather they would suspend it during the time he was unable to use the facility and to inform them when he moved into his newly built house and normal service would be resumed. Oh if only! Foolishly he did all of this over the phone so no written confirmation. In the event when he finally moved in in December and tried to get a land line connected he was informed that there was a large unpaid debt from non-payment of charges between May and December at his old address and until this was paid no land line would be supplied. It took almost 3 months to get it sorted out during which time he was without a land line and practically climbing the walls with frustration and rage!. A couple of months ago he decided to buy a Sky package and left it to them to make the switch for him, a few days later he received a call from BT asking him why he was l leaving them. He was happy to tell them in precise terms. Whereupon they promptly offered to reduce his monthly rental charge by more than 75%. His response is unprintable here!

If we had water coming up under the saloon floor I think I can safely say we'd be sitting on the bottom! As technically, the saloon is at 1st floor level, the engine bay being directly below - the cockpit being above and to the stern. Hence I doubt a carpet could hide water ingress In the saloon, but thank you for your concerns. regards, Carole

Many thanks, much appreciated, regards, Carole

thanks so much for that Frank, I'll pass it onto my other half, regards, Carole

On the back of having White carpets (yes white!) and having looked after daughter's dog for month last season,we are probably going to have to re-carpet this season and HWATBO (he who aspires to being to being obeyed) is worried that the the average carpet dealer won't be familiar enough with boats to know what's required. So I've told him "worry not there's bound to be someone on the forum that knows just the place to go". We're based in Brundall and will need the new carpet to be over sewn at the edges. Any suggestions? regards, Carole

Our first boat was a Shetland 760 one of only 3 built apparently, with a very large petrol engine that coughed politely each time it came within sniffing distance of a fuel pump. There was a gas water heater sited in a cupboard in the cockpit that conked out regularly during use and a shower that was such a palaver to use it was easier to advise folk not to linger down wind of us! Boiling the kettle was a very efficient and the only way of heating the saloon. It also had a gas fridge that, because of the petrol engine,was a definite no no, Ingenious ways of keeping food fresh and wine cool was the order of the day. I actually enjoyed the challenge. The old Flavel 2 - hob/oven/grill,l cooker was the best and most efficient cooker I've ever had, I adored this boat and we kept her for 6 years and and never felt the need for any more mod cons. What she lacked in gadgetry she made up for with charisma in Spades! The boat we have now has every convenience you could wish for but hey! I'm 30 years older and being retired now use the boat much more and for much longer periods and I feel the benefit of l these mod cons .Horses for courses, regards, Carole

Although since becoming a boater 27 years ago it has always been on the back of being a boat owner We did hire boat on the canal du midi about 10 years ago. We had a great holiday, but I didn't retain any particular affection for the boat. A thing of beauty she wasn't! And the heads were a bit on the squalid side if we are being honest. But would I go again? absolutely - in a heartbeat! We hired from company called Connoisseur who have now gone believe. We are always mindful of how very lucky we are to own our own boat and never more so than when we pass a hire boat with everyone huddled inside out of the pouring rain and remember that's their holiday probably for the year whereas we have the luxury of saying to ourselves let's hope the weather picks up soon in the certain knowledge that we will be on board the boat if and when it does. regards, Carole

back in 1995 we bought a Fairline Mirage AC that had been badly neglected, we took her to the great Ouse and we spent every weekend for the next 6 months restoring her to her former glory. We threw everything out, uphholstery, cooker, w.c. , fridge - we even took out the head- linings in an effort to lose the overpowering smell of rancid fat which was truly eye-watering. No effort or expense was spared and at the end of it she looked magnificent. And she gave us many wonderful seasons. Fast forward 11 years I had an illness, the treatment for which left me very debilitated and struggling with the height of the freeboard. Getting on and off was a real problem and I was forced to face the possibility that I may not improve so a change of boat was inevitable. A soon as word got round that we were prepared to sell her she was gone within days of us making the decision to let her go. I've never been so miserable in my life, It was as if the family dog had died . I literally mourned her departure! It took 2 long years for me to get over it. We had a narrow boat built meantime which was so appalling that the company took it back 10 months later and gave us a full refund. after which we acquired another cruiser. having recognised that narrow boating was not for us. I totally understand how some of you get proprietorial and attached to boats you have spent happy holidays on. I never think of a boat as an inanimate object. I try not to get too attached to our present boat. as I never want to go through that again

we have a boat that although not a huge twin screw has an air draft that prevents us from accessing the Upper Ant and thus Barton Broad which is a real shame. We visited that part when we first came to the Broads in 2010 and had a boat with a lower air draft. However within 3 months of arriving on the Broads we changed to our present boat which we like enough to make up for not being to get to some places Although high, it is very much a river boat rather than a sea boat having 115 hp engine and being 1050 metres in length. One advantage about the height is being able to see over the reed beds to some of the beautiful surrounding countryside which was lost to us on our previous boat. So having a restricting boat has it's advantages., regards, Carole

While we boat on the Broads we don't live locally so can't legitimately comment on the rights or wrongs of any Norfolk road building scheme. Do agree that housing estates all seem to look the same. However what's new about that? Just look at the suburbs of any major city and I have to think our ancestors said exactly the same thing. Built in the early 1900's, streets and streets of identical houses. Today we say they have "character"compared with modern builds But what did our ancestors think of them I wonder? Very likely the same as we think of the stuff being built now. We bought a new build on a very small development 12 years ago. So do I miss the character of an older property? of course, but do I miss the big heating bills and on-going maintenance? Absolutely not - we now have more dosh and time to spend on boating - it's a no brainer! regards Carole

So nice to see the tributes to Peter Applegate. We are also on our 2nd Sheerline having bought our first in 2008. Great boats and great company to deal with. We saw the new boat at the boat show and it's a beauty We hope they have great success with it .We are going to the funeral tomorrow and will tell Liz,James and Gary about the kind comments on this forum. I'm sure they will be very gratified. regards, Carole

Thanks for the correction, I obviously misheard the day of Peter's demise. I think I was too shocked to take it in properly. We too are on our 2nd Sheerline We had a 950 first and on arriving on the Broads in 2010 realised the absence of locks meant there was room for something larger than was possible on the Ouse and bought Peter's own boat the 1050 aft cabin that he had designed himself and had built for display purposes and personal use when time allowed. You're right they are lovely boats and very well built with after sales service second to none. Regards, Carole

We went to the London boat show yesterday and while on the Sheerline stand learned the very sad news that Peter Applegate who, together with his sons James and Gary,ran Wroxham Marine, the builders of Sheerline Boats,died on New Years Day. An untimely death of a thoroughly decent man, He will be sorely missed. His funeral is on Thursday, We are beyond saddened by the news. Tony and Carole

Hi Ocean Dawn, If your boat was on the river Great Ouse, We know it well and have spent many a happy hour on her. She was moored behind us for years when we were on the front at Ely marina 1995-2007. I'm not surprised you had to throw shed loads of dosh at her though she was in need of some tlc. her previous owner prided himself on his boat handling abilites deservedly so, I've never seen anyone handle a boat better. regards, Carole

Ivy Farm? Never heard of it. Sounds just our sort of place. if I wash the mud off me wellies and iron me dungarees will they let me in do you suppose? Seriously, this is what is so great about this forum. We've been boating on the Broads since 2010 but in the short time I've been reading this forum I've found out so much interesting info' that I would never have found out otherwise. Thanks everyone, Regards, Carole

Crikey Charlie you must qualify for shares in the place with all those visits! We've never used the carvery but always ordered off the menu is that where we're going wrong do you think? regards, Carole

Well Charlie all I can say is that you have had better luck than we;ve had. On our experiences. we'd do a 30 mile detour to avoid it! Shame really as when we're moored at Oulton it's very convenient. After our first bad experience we went back to give it the benefit of the doubt and it was worse! Regards. Carole

Does anyone know what the situation regarding the Red Herring at Oulton Broad is? It was always our favourite place to eat when moored at Oulton Broad. amazingly good food and atmosphere but the last few times we have been they haven't been open but it doesn't seem to be abandoned either. Regards Carole

Hi Alan, I.'m referring to last summer are you referring to more recent times? Regards, Carole