YnysMon

The pork thing…I was taught that you had to cook pork thoroughly, so I was horrified to be served slightly pink pork a few years back. When I got home I did a bit of online research and found out that the ‘rules’ that govern what pigs can be fed have effectively removed the risk over eating ‘pink’ pork. The problem occurred when pigs were able to eat all sorts, including meat.

Well, at least they are doing something about it. When we were last there the ‘Mrs Grinch’ in me commented to Graham that the BA probably wouldn’t bother fixing it until the spring. That’s me proved wrong.

Haven’t heard of that. We’ll look into it. Yes, fortunately Graham has arranged all that. Just as well, as his Dad was hopeless with finance even before his memory became an issue.

It is tricky. Social Workers had arranged for a temporary Care Home place for Dad, so that his home could be thoroughly cleaned. However, Dad categorically refused to go. He thinks we are just trying to shuffle him into a care home permanently, which isn’t the case. The Social Workers came up with suggestions for a couple of companies who will clean the place whilst he’s ‘in situ’, and we have a quote from one of them. Now, of course, Dad is starting to complain it’s going to be too much of an upheaval. The trouble is, Age Cymru (Welsh version of Age Concern) won’t allocate us a regular cleaner until a ‘deep clean’ has been done. Graham spent the weekend doing diy jobs and I’ve been doing urgent cleaning jobs and sorting out his food cupboards/fridge and freezer. He had quite a lot of food in the house this time, but most of it out of date. It feels like painting the Forth Bridge though. Never ending!

If that's the case, it's sad. Managing a pub must be up there with other jobs such as working in the health service or farming as completely unrelenting and demanding. I feel very lucky to have worked in a 9-5 (ish) job most of my career.

Oh, and here is little video snippet, just to demonstrate how extremely laid back Pozzie is.

A few photos and a video of Pozzie and Seren from our trip to Graham's Dad in Anglesey these last few days. Thank goodness we were able to unwind taking the dogs for walks, as it's been a bit stressful. I won't include the photos I took of the maggotty meals that had been cooked and then forgotten about. The number of flies in the house was incredible. We mostly took the dogs to Penrhos beach for walks, as that was handy for the Travelodge we were staying in. We've decided we can't bear to stay in Graham's Dad's house any longer. Isn't that awful! Holyhead 'Mountain' (it's only about 700'). Eek - the flies!

Good to see you back on the Broads Mr and Mrs Nog. I'm slowly catching up having been away for a few days. That photo from Ranworth. Hopefully the temporary fencing around one of the water hoses means that the BA are going to fix it. Last time we were there it was leaking from several holes, so by the time the water got to the end of the hose there wasn't much to speak of. Doh!

I don't agree. I read reviews and there are lots of establishments that have glowing reviews, which invariably get my attention and custom. The negative reviewers who just diss a place because they were too fussy can be spotted a mile off.

Good news, hopefully. I guess you never know until they do open.As always, ‘the proof is in the pudding’. Good luck to whoever is taking over.

We headed up to Anglesey again today, another visit to my father in law. I’m pleased to report there was a nice dusting of snow on the Eryri (snowdonia) peaks. The wind chill on our beach walk with the dogs was next level!

So heartwarming to hear about his progress. Please keep on with the updates.

The indoor dining space was pretty restricted though, as another poster has observed above. That must restrict trade.

With the water levels having been so high recently, might there be another explanation?

Can people just leave off criticism of how many staff are employed in each department. How would you feel reading that if you were a BA employee? For most businesses (unless you are are one man band) staff costs make up the vast percentage of outgoings, so I don’t understand why anyone would be surprised. I retired from the OU on a scheme designed to shrink staff costs.

Ranworth was our haven this time around. I don’t think we’ve ever moored on the Staithe during the summer. To be honest, we don’t generally find stern mooring like sardines that appealing, though places like Loddon, Beccles and Oulton Broad where there’s electric are usually fine. I just don’t want to be sat next to a boat running their engine.

Our thoughts are with you and your bro-in-law Griff. Hope he pulls through. There’s nothing so precious as family.

That’s always happened to too, until this opportunity, when I was single handed, so don’t give up hope!

I love the Google pixel phone that I got a few months ago. It’s a ‘second hand’ one but I’m really pleased with the camera on it. The zoom that I used to take that photo of the swans is brilliant.

Ooo, I wish we had a largish estate. That would set us up nicely. Seriously though, the estate car that we have does help, plus trailer and top box. Having the dogs adds a fair amount of luggage, what with rugs and blankets that we need to cover up the upholstery.

Oo, er, yes. Will do that later.

Friday 17th Our final day. Although the water level had dropped somewhat, we decided not to risk driving the car around to the back of the boat, so we went to Ranworth again - Graham by car and me by boat. The water levels at Cockshoot Dyke have certainly dropped. I did enjoy this final cruise. At Ranworth. On the way back I popped into Boulter's to get our refuel and pump-out, which made us slightly late for our agreed meet-up time with Malcolm (@Mouldy) back at HPC. The lady who is going to do our re-upholstery and curtains had brought around some additional fabric samples. Malcolm and I eventually decided on a greyish-blue fabric (or is it bluey grey?). I'm sure it won't please everyone, but we thought it was the best option to go with our saloon seating fabric. There have been calls for a pattern, and not for more blue, but the sofa material has a self pattern and blue is the theme of the boat. After Malcolm left we had the most of the cleaning to do, so we didn't get away until about 2.30, which is after our normal leave time. Luckily I'd arranged for our turnaround check to be done next week, as the boat won't be occupied next week. We aren't on board again until March. Too long!

Thursday 16th We had planned to go on a visit to Holt by car today, but when we woke up this morning we just felt too lazy for that. The weather was pretty miserable anyway. After a very leisurely start, we had some porridge with blueberries then went by car to Latham’s. Their car park was still awash. We didn’t buy much there, the main thing being buying some of those disposable dehumidifying thingies to leave on Moonlight Shadow over the winter. Back on the boat, we had another brunchy type lunch, using left up mashed potato and carrot to make potato cakes. Meat version: Veggie version, with not very nice looking bacon substitute: After lunch we drove to the St Benedict’s (Horning’s church) car park. We followed the footpath from there which skirts a field and then took the lane opposite that leads to Horning Hall. It was very wet underfoot, and still drizzling, but nothing that our wellies and waterproofs couldn’t cope with. The dogs disappeared into a field at one point, which was a bit concerning, but other than that we had a good walk, turning around before we got to the end of the lane. Another lazy evening was had. I’d intended to make some quesadillas, but was too lazy even for that. We just ‘grazed’. Oy! You're in my seat!

Wednesday 15th We fancied having another try at getting into the BA Stokesby moorings today. It was a glorious morning to be cruising, but with a lot fresher wind than the BBC weather apps’ forecast of a ‘moderate breeze’. Shortly after passing Acle, we decided that we’d be subjected to far too much bow slap at Stokesby and turned the boat around to head upriver again. Acle moorings also got a pass. Clippersby Drainage Mill is having some good work done on it. I wish the guy would wear a safety harness though. We cruised all the way back to Ranworth. Ranworth seemed at first sight a lot busier than earlier in the week, though a closer look revealed that there were only three boats there, all moored side on. Fortunately, the boat moored near the taxi rank turned on their ropes to stern moor after a while, otherwise there wouldn’t have been room for the three boats that turned up later in the day. We had a hearty lunch. Sausage (Roy's meaty ones for me, veggie for Graham) with mash, carrots, broccoli and gravy. After that we took the dogs down Farm Lane again. The flood down the lane had only subsided slightly, but we had a lovely walk nevertheless. Seren does love her 'sticks'. Back on the boat we just relaxed. In fact, we both dropped off and had a nice doze. I woke around 3.30 and noticed that the wind had lessened somewhat, so we decided that we had enough daylight left to return to HPC. We did leave almost a £1 left on the electric post, but hey-ho, it was still the right decision. The sunset, as we were making our way back up the Bure was lovely, and what wind that was left was blowing directly onto our mooring, so no issues of being blown sideways. It always helps if the boat that is usually moored next to you (Evening Shadow) is out and about too. A very relaxing evening again. I reheated some of the roasted veg that I’d prepared earlier in the week, which we had with a warmed sachet of mixed grains and houmous.

Tuesday 14th November We left Ranworth shortly after sunrise this morning (shortly after 7) and made our way to our home mooring at HPC. When we got back to HPC we found the water levels had only dropped slightly. Seren still needed to be carried across to the car. The priority today was to get some more electric cards. We could have gone to Tidings Newsagents in Horning, but I wanted to buy a good stock, so that we had plenty for our next few trips and had enough to replenish the boat’s emergency stock, so I decided to have a trip to Norwich for the day. I had been wanting to go to Norwich in any case, to visit Waterstone’s and the fabric shop in Magdalen Street. I have some lovely red and green brushed cotton tartan fabric to make a pair of PJ pants for Graham and was in search of some red or green cotton jersey fabric to make a PJ top. Graham had plans to take the dogs for a beach walk at Caister on Sea. I booked an e-ticket for a mid-morning train, and we set off for Hoveton in such good time that we were able to visit Boulter’s chandlery (located in an industrial estate on the edge of Hoveton) on the way. I walked to the station from Roy’s car park as Graham was planning to pick up a few bits and pieces in their food hall. The view from the train crossing the Bure. Once I got to Norwich I turned right out of the station and walked the short distance up Thorpe Road to Yare House, BA HQ, where I was able to purchase electric cards. Yare House. After that I made my way to Waterstone’s. I really shouldn’t be trusted to visit book stores. Having intended to just buy one book (‘Caxton’, a book about the natural history of the area around the village of Caxton, near the Beauchamp Arms, that I had bought for a ex-work friend and also for Kate, both of whom had given good reports of it, so thought it was about time I bought a copy for myself), but I came away with four books. By that time I was finished in Waterstones it was getting on for mid-day, so I made my way to Tombland, opposite the Cathedral Close, to have lunch in the Japanese Restaurant Shiki. I sent off a couple of photos to son Harry, just to make him jealous. Whilst I was there Graham sent me a photo of his dog walk at Caister on Sea. After my delicious lunch it was time to visit the fabric store. I couldn’t see what I wanted in their displays, but a very helpful young man explained that their summer stock of cotton jerseys had been moved to their upstairs storage area. He brought me a folder of fabric samples and fetched down my choice of red cotton jersey. So my task when I get home is to make Graham a pair of PJs. Having had such helpful service in the fabric shop, I realised that if I walked briskly, I would probably be able to catch the 13:45 train back to Hoveton, which worked out fine. Sometimes you get days when everything seems to work like clockwork. I texted Graham to tell him I was on my way back, and by the time I had walked from the Station Graham had arrived back in the Roy’s car park. So, we arrived back at the boat early afternoon and had a relaxing time using the Wi-Fi to catch up on things like YouTube. This evening Graham ‘grazed’ on some bits and pieces that he’d picked up in Caister Tesco’s (vegetarian sausage rolls, a dip and olives), whilst I treated myself to a bacon butty, using the bacon that Graham had picked up in Roy’s earlier. What a relaxing evening...