Malanka

Speaking as a private owner post hirer. I have had cause to drop in to Silverlines yard to gain easy access to Peachments just behind. We called, asked if we could drop in, despite there being a single space in the yard ( it was packed and it was a windy summer day) they said of course anytime. We arrived and Mr and Mrs were sitting on the wooden bench outside the office eating sandwiches out of silver foil packets, they were welcoming , helpful and so happy with life it made my day to meet them. Wonderful people. M&F

Jim also quite likes sausage casserole with chicken butter rice and meatballs with spaghetti sauce too. Garlic bread with both of course. m

No surprise to many of you I suspect however we plan on cooking on board most of the time the occasional deck barbecue and once in a while Tapas ( wonderful) or a pub. In the autumn to combine two threads sitting in the stern well, music playing food on the go talking and enjoying life is rarely beaten as a good evening. We have a fully stocked larder under the sink, a pan drawer under the cooker and can make anything we like and frequently do. One of the most memorable was steak, chips with salad and home made onion rings I shared with Jim (bluebell) at one may get together in Salhouse. We also have a Yorkshire pudding tin dedicated to the boat so Fiona who is queen of yorkshires ( I have photographic evidence) makes a full beef roast with roasties and so on. ok that’s done me enough food talk time for breakfast.

Anyone even thinking about using a diesel system should invest in a battery powered CO detector. After our fire we religiously keep the batteries fresh, and yes we have run it overnight but very infrequently. Boats in sub zero are like tents, surprisingly warm. Don’t forget you’re sitting in a medium that unless it’s exceptional will not drop below 4 degrees. it’s not nearly as chilly as you might think M

Just a quick point, no dog or pet of any sort should be tethered by the neck in the back of a car. Point one this will not restrain the dog from having head severed from body by the force so what was the point they will still take your head off on the way through. Point two harnesses are cheap offer full restraint capability and work. our hairies travel in my car ( cabriolet) regularly with full chest harness and an ISO registered seat attachment device attached to the top back attachment point of the harness. Some have a lips some carabiners ( ours) they are super. Incidentally they wear them 100% of the time on the boat too.

Hopefully will get some more done this weekend. Heading down to Yarmouth Tuesday morning was quite an adventure as our underwear drawer was filled with exhaust water and the bilges likewise. That’s just a teaser more to come, emergency stops at Tarmouth YS included with extensive use of gaffer tape the boating persons fix all product

Eww want it want it want it ....

Now that the cat is out of the proverbial bag, coming later in the tale is video of being towed through Wroxham Bridge with 6ft 6 on the gauge. Then being towed in a Bridle, all the way up to the shed via Horning Regatta which we went straight through the middle of, no pics or video as I was concentrating on steering whilst being towed by Robert from Sutton Staithe Boatyard who kindly came and brought us home. Our drive died just exiting Bridge Broad so we coasted without power into a mooring opposite the entrance to the Broad between two other moored boats. Justin was amazing doing a fair impersonation of Cpt America whilst holding both mooring lines and pulling a dead 10T plus boat into the side. He was one of our heroes that day. More to come but profound thanks to Doug and Hele. All will be clearer with some patience as this happened on Saturday and Robert towed us from the electric points in Wroxham. Doug/Hele and Nipper are how we got there. Another Hero M

Sun and clouds the weather folks said, just perfect cruising weather, the doggies hate it too hot and we humans hate it too sunny. Malanka does have a built in sunshade in the canopy top, we regularly cruise with top up and sides and back down, this saves many a neck or ear from sunburned crispness. Fiona and I have now centered on the “weather radar” app, other apps are available, however we find the radar picture with accurate times for downpours or just drizzle very helpful in planning what we intend to do. Heading down the Ant with my new speed app (Aweigh) gleefully informing me of speed, map location, tide times and tide status, we were happy. (other speed apps are available) As the old lady has been plugged in whilst staying in the shed we didn’t have to drive for long at all, so we planned a slow pootle (this is a boating term meaning slowly going nowhere and not caring about it) down to the 24hr moorings opposite Wroxham Broad. Having decided we intended to spend the following evening at Coltishall lock. Of course this being Norfolk and a quick view of the weather changed the plans to be a gentle pootle back to the Womack Dyke Wild mooring so lusted after by Ray. OK back to topic, on our way down the Ant with the chug chug chug (more on that later and Shhh to those who know what happened) accompanied by the shriek of a kingfisher as the little blue darts fly past just skimming the water, or the gentler calls of a mummy otter to her little darlings hiding in the reeds, both of which we heard within the first 5 minutes. OK it helps that the little blue dart has taken up residence in the shed and the otters think it’s an otter assault course, but bear with me this is a tale. Coming up to How Hill a little “flutterby” gently glided past on silken YELLOW WINGS, yes, a Swallow Tail had graced us with its presence. Right Fiona and I said to each other that’s us well and truly Chuffed to bits with the wildlife so far. The sun was low in the sky as it was still before 10 am, but the temperature was warm and a light breeze blowing. The sun sparked over Barton, the three of us held our breath as this time last year we set off across Barton with it blowing a hooley and the Boat canopy parted company with us in five very graceful somersaults before crashing into the Broad with a big splash. We needn’t have worried, sparkling water and the gentle warm breeze had calmed our imaginations, at about this point I made my first enquiry of the day, “is it beer O’clock yet my love”. “No, it’s half past ten, you have to wait until at least 12”. As the tale goes on this exchange will appear a few times… Our pootle continued as we passed good wild mooring spot after good wild mooring spot, all unoccupied apart from the one that shall remain nameless. We remained resolute in the face of such opportunities and the beautiful vista tempting our plans, almost to breaking point. As we approached Irstead, the woofs became more interested and restless as we chugged along, this is due to the resident woofers who like to woof at passing woofers, who of course woof in return. This exchange of woofing is crazy noisy and a whole lot of fun. This is Boris preparing to woof. We continued down the river and headed slowly via Horning to arrive after beer O’clock at the 24 hr moorings opposite Wroxham Broad. FULL (of the dreaded dayboats) and occupied, we enquired of the residents if they intended to relocate and determined that in two or three house a spare spot may be available. OK plan B, let’s head over to Percy’s Island and then watch the world go by. The day was sunny, the mood was high so off we went back to the Island. The reason for wanting the Wroxham location was that although I had stayed there (cleaning pictures were taken there), Fiona and Justin had not. Plus points being the woofs can get off for a pee and run up and down unhindered by anything other than falling in. So, after executing Plan B we settled down with a couple of chilled Corona’s, a few snacks and our Meercat heads on. Over the next couple of hours the need for the Meercat awareness became clearer and clearer and my anxiety levels became higher and higher, “we have to move guys, staying here it’s only a matter of time before we get struck by someone, plus I’m a bit tired of bobbing about like a cork in a bucket”. Our closest approach was a huge Harmonious Style Cruiser (hint hint), with full chat bow wave, whining transmission and a breaking wash came tearing past us less than two feet away, you may think I am exaggerating, please believe me, I am not, 2ft is a generous description. So, we went back to plan A and headed to Wroxham, we arrived at virtually deserted moorings and breathed an huge collective sigh of relief. We moored up let the woofers off for an explore. The sun was shining, the breeze had dropped to nothing, and we just hit the relax button, and slobbed out reading books and “chillin”. Towards the end of the afternoon our partners for the evening arrived and although they were new to boating with a little help moored up expertly and settled in a for a good evening. Chillin at Wroxham mooring Tomorrow we would head for Womack Dyke for more chillin where we would be harassed by Ray who passed us at least twice hoping we would move on (just joshin LOL)

Yes you did

Yes you did M

A good point re the wash created, as anyone familiar will know we (Malanka) actually make less wash at 4/5 mph than the Rangers do. The boats of the 50's and earlier were designed to cruise with minimal wash created at 7 or 8 mph compared to more modern cruisers. Always makes me smile when I see the "low wash hulls" cranking out a terrible breaking two level wash struggling up against the outflow at Reedham. Go back 50 years they worked very well then.. Martin

Summer cruise 2021 Where we went: Wroxham Broad Mooring, Wild mooring Womack, Pyes Mill Loddon, The Water’s Edge Brammerton, Hardley Mill, Fleet Dyke South Walsham, Wroxham above Bridge. Home…..Eventually. The Pre amble: This was to be our first “extensive “ trip out post pandemic rules loosening, we had had a few false starts, bad jab reactions, sickness and general, ”can’t spare the time”. This year has the added complication of Fiona now working at a vaccination centre, so its not just my diary that must be juggled and cajoled into shape, now there were two. Saturday morning dawned a little blearily for me, I had heard Fiona leave for work but didn’t actually surface for long enough to say hi bye see you later kind of thing. My second “I am on holiday” celebratory rum and coke the previous evening was most definitely the issue, and I just needed various porcine products and a big mug of tea to set things straight. Today was packing, planning, and list making, designed to ensure full availability of all required equipment, clothing and accessories necessary for a successful Broads trip out. Our last few weekends had been pitiful, camera no charger, charger no camera, no binoculars, no butter, no eggs and so forth. We put this down to the lack of the 1200Km drive which up until very recently was our standard out leg. Lists made, bags packed, provisions for dog support made, dog dropped off at said support, it was time to collect Justin from Stevenage Station. Why Stevenage I hear you enquire, well as you asked, I will explain! Justin has just completed his 2nd year at Hull Uni and we haven’t seen him for a long period of time so we “asked” him to come and “enjoy” a break with mum and Dad. Stevenage whilst a strange choice of pick up location for Kedington Suffolk, however it also has a direct connection with Hull so it’s a useful alternative to 4 stops touring the south east of England to get to South Suffolk. His siblings would not be joining us mainly due to lack of available holiday time, so the three of us plus Boris and Monty the Airedales it was to be. · Boris on the right seen below, is now ten years old and has been boating since he was a 4 month old puppy · Monty on the left seen below, is four years old and has been boating since he was a 5 month old puppy. I won’t say we don’t notice them as that’s clearly impossible, but they have their own routines when onboard, honed after many years of boating with the aim of getting precisely what they want when they want it. More specifically, “it’s light, we’re on the boat, it’s after 06:00 (just), time for a walk please? The Start: Sunday morning dawned early as it always does in the UK, 18 years of living abroad have made us soft and getting used to early mornings and late summer evenings which most folks in the UK take for granted is a real pleasure after living further south in Mainland Europe. Where the long summer evenings don’t happen. Plan was to pack car, put dogs in car and go, I had the woofs and the cold box, and Fiona had big bags, food (boxed) and Justin. Departure time 07:20 not bad, usual shenanigans on the A11 and A47 however we arrived at 09:10 and proceeded to unload cars and load up Malanka our home from home for the next as it turned out 9 days. (Hint trip planning was 7 days). We watered the old lady, she didn’t need any more preparation that that as Sutton Staithe Boatyard had prepped both the fuel and the pump out situation two weeks previously on my clean the boat weekend trip with my new toy (Cordless Power washer) See below for results on the deck accompanied by liberal application of Muck Off. So primped and prepped it was time to go, and so out of the shed we went into a lovely sun and clouds vision of sparkly water pleasant temperature and Sunday

Great boats and always somewhere to put the dog! M

Hi guys, just a quick heads up that the island has suffered over the winter and the geese ducks and all manner of wildlife have loved it. The moles launched a very successful invasion campaign and have consolidated their initial beachhead. The heavy rain and high water have also had free reign and the message is, still a beautiful spot, well worth the visit and take your wellies. M&F

We also have 13kg Propane. We have two on an auto change over 2 into one regulator. Never ever ran out in 11 years. chained up in a gas safe metal bin they can’t move in. Last BSS insisted. M

Same here M

We get over 50mpg in eco mode in the Mercedes cabrio. In full nutter mode using all 207 horses who cares but it sounds and feels great. Taking 30th off and going for a float long enough to wash off all the bird sh1t acquired in the shed. M

Blue Green Algae of the obnoxious variety aren’t actually algae at all they are bacteria, Cyanobacteria to be pedantic. They grow when Nitrogen and Phosphates are in abundance, it’s warm sunny and the water isn’t mixing. they also grow when the ratio of Nitrates to Phosphates changes, as with all bacteria they are mostly always there just waiting, patient little devils. Funnily enough excessive use of nitrates and Phosphates causes Eutrophication ( did so in the 70s in Scandinavia) which is quite the opposite of a bloom as everything dies. Brits got blamed ( who remembers the acid rain “scandal”) for air pollution until some useful guy did some proper science and found the real cause. Still it doesn’t and didn’t stop the blame game as you still find folks believing it now almost 50 years after the truth was outed. Only use a soft wet cloth to handle the fish and no algae issues. M

HEM, We remember the charge for radio and tv, and the compulsory window insurance and child insurance. Belgium was worse and Switzerland OMG, whomever said was low tax had never been a B resident. M

The huge profit they make from BBC international is a large contributor to the total they spend . BBC America and all that ( yes it has adverts). 1.35Million for presenting footy. Give me a break. 1.35Million to present breakfast on radio 2 Give me a break. The issue of the cost of the BBC is irrelevant as other countries just tax you to have a radio or tv. And it’s generally more than the fee. The issue is making it a criminal offence which is the real national scandal. Anyone who believes the BBC is not biased should rewatch the last election special on the BBC, it’s actually hilarious. The BBC makes and has made historically arbitrary decisions about what constitutes bias or a suitable counter argument. That is NOT their role, that is to report the news. We pay and have BT soon to be Sky, some stuff is good some less so but blanket acceptance of it’s all bad or it’s all good as in this thread is behaving in exactly the way the BBC does. Nowt like folk eh M

It’s on a pound coin system like the one in Wroxham. Clean and fast

Love the part that describes the EA as a competent authority. How on earth, this one or any other, can the EA grant a license to do anything to such a body as NE. Remember them. Let Norfolk flood. Hmm Not a competent body amongst the lot of them. Dogma, agenda and decision based evidence making. Lordy you couldn’t make this up !!! M

It’s under the law or rather convention of equity alongside common law the foundation of justice in the UK M