YnysMon

Homelessness is indeed a National problem. I don't want to get political, as it’s a situation that seems to have got progressively worse under several governments, but it’s seems incredible to me that we have so much homelessness’s now when it’s was almost unheard of when I was young. And yet, on the whole, we are a more affluent society that we were in the 69s and 70s. Just judging that by the things that most of us take for granted nowadays. My Mum got her first car in 1966 and we didn’t have a phone in our house until about 1972.

I fear that many who opt for a boat as as a home, when that’s just about their almost affordable life, get stuck into a very poor quality of life. Some boats are relatively cheap to buy, not so cheap to maintain.I can’t imagine what it would be like to live on a boat that is deteriorating around me, knowing I don’t have the money to fix it. This may be completely unfair, but I have an idea that our Pozzick might have been a live-aboard pet. He’s certainly been very well loved by someone. We don’t think he’s been abused as he’s so trusting. Maybe he belonged to someone who couldn’t afford to feed him any longer? If that’s the case, I’m sure they must be missing him. He’s quite a character. Thankfully, he’s really settled with us and he and Seren get on well, despite being opposites in temperament.

Vey unusual business plan! I’ve never, ever seen anyone sat outside the Beauchamp Arms, despite attempts at prettying the outside area up.

We do provide our owners with the contact details for a cleaner. It’s up to individuals to organise that if they wish. When we first joined the syndicate the weekly valet was part of the package, but we voted against that in a previous AGM (2019?). The reasoning behind the vote was that many of us preferred to clean the boat ourselves than pay for a valet. So, now we have a choice.

I didn’t post earlier today. A boring morning of cleaning. At least we were spared the trip around to Boulter’s. I’d heard from another boater yesterday that Boulter’s pump out machine was broken, so asked the Manager of HPC if we could get a pump out and refuel. They were going to be too busy with their hire fleet this morning, but said they would be able to sort that out for us in the afternoon after we’d left the boat and sent the invoice through to us. I’m so glad we moved to Horning. The team there are so helpful. I’ve posted elsewhere that we went to the Upton White Horse after we’d vacated MS and found they were just starting up their weekend beer festival. Looks good. We had a lovely lunch before making our way back home.

After we left the Moonlight Shadow today we went to The White Horse Upton for lunch. They were just kicking off their beer festival. It goes on until Sunday with live music from this evening. They had quite a selection of ciders too.

We didn’t get carried away by MS this morning. We went to Caister on Sea instead and had a beach walk with the dogs. Alec has gone out on the paddle board this afternoon and Graham has made a start on cleaning the exterior.

Thanks for letting me know. At least we exchanged waves!

I think the tides are high. Usually after coming through Great Yarmouth and starting up the Bure there are mud banks visible beyond the posts. We couldn’t see the mud banks yesterday, and when we moored at Upton the river wasn’t much lower than the quay heading, which was concerning. This morning there was barely 8’ under Ludham Bridge shortly after low tide. However, when we came back downriver this afternoon about an hour after high tide there was about the same clearance. I was expecting there to be less. In short…seems high, but as usual I’m confused!

Another complete change of plan. Shortly before 4pm we decided we'd like to do something different tomorrow, so we left Neatishead and have just arrived back at Horning Pleasurecraft. Springer's Retreat has been spotted! We just passed Kate's family moored at Cockshoot Dyke and waved.

Upton wasn't that great last night as the forecast 'moderate' breeze sounded more like an almost gale at three in the morning with rain lashing down. At least the wind was pushing us off the mooring, though our bow rope was creaking something chronic. Should have used springs at the bow, not just the aft. We had a short cruise to Neatishesd this morning. I'm only posting as we are on The White Horse at present. My phone has zero signal on the Staithe.

Dogs need exercise. You can't forever keep a medium to large dog on a lead. We had a lovely walk around Thorpe Marshes this morning. The state of the paths was excellent, thank goodness.

We are bonkers. Yes, we did cross Breydon, and at an ideal time. It is possible to leave Norwich shortly before high tide and get to Gt Yarmouth about half an hour after slack and observe speed limits on the way. Managed to moor up at the mouth of Upton Dyke bang on the time for sunset too, and just as the rain stopped. How lucky was that! It's been a long day though!

Large dog on a small shelf...

Today has been busy so far. Rockland to Commissioners Cut, a walk with the dogs through Thorpe Marshes, then to Norwich. Now leaving Norwich. Where we end up depends on how long it takes us to get to Polkey's Mill or Berney Arms. There's an early evening slack at Yarmouth. You never know...we might do the crossing this evening.

Moored at Rockland St Mary, having had a fairly early start from Worlingham. Signal isn't brilliant here so we popped into the pub for a lunchtime drink and some WiFi. Shame I forgot to post whilst we were there!

Settled at Worlingham for our final destination today.

Happy anniversary, and a happy birthday to Alan. We visited Poppylands when we had a weekend in Norfolk to celebrate my birthday a few years back. We had a lovely tea there.

Nah, we are too lazy. Besides it's absolutely rammed with excited kids having a wonderful time. Adults trying to do lengths would just be annoying to everyone else.

I didn't get through David Blake's 2nd one and haven't read the rest. The Murder was a bit too sadistic for my taste.

Author Elly Griffith's. Main characters Ruth, a forensic archaeologist, Nelson, a police detective. Mostly set in North Norfolk, occasionally Norwich, one in Walsingham. Books so far: The Crossing Places The Janus Stone The House at Sea's End A room full of bones A dying fall The outcast dead The ghost fields The woman in blue The chalk pit The dark angel The stone circle The lantern men The night hawks The locked room

Moored up outside the Lido in Beccles waiting for the tide to get back under the bridge.

Nooo! I'm loving the long days. Coo! Just think...by the time the clocks change I'll be retired! Alec has just returned from a paddle board session.

We were up and away just after sunrise this morning and reached our current destination, Geldeston dyke, around 7am. Low water was around 6.30 in Beccles . It turned out we didn't need to get up so early as there was plenty of room under the old bridge. It's extremely weedy in Geldeston dyke. By the way, it's the first time I've heard a cuckoo sing out in July. I heard him yesterday evening and again this morning around 5am. Southern Broads look to be very quiet so far. Although Somerlayton was full yesterday that was mainly because people were awkwardly spaced. There were no boats at North Cove or Worlingham as we passed this morning and Beccles looked more than half empty too.

We noticed Evening Shadow was reversing in the Herbie Woods basin to a likely spot, but we couldn't see that many spaces from the river. We only wanted a fleeting visit to Latham's to look for a mat to cover our escape hatch. We are using the paddle board to cover it again this evening, so we weren't that fussed about not being able to moor up. For those who don't recognise the 'Easter Island ' head carving, we are on a wild mooring on the Waveney a few river bends upstream from the Waveney River Centre. There is a wonderful moon this evening. More like carried away by a moonlight reflection than a shadow.