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JamesLV
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Posts posted by JamesLV
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Don’t panic folks, I’m sure we won’t run out!
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The management speak game you mention is known as ‘bulls*** bingo’ in my circle of friends
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46 minutes ago, LondonRascal said:
I am sorry to go against the 'tide of feeling' but yes it was always an exciting time to get the Brochure, but that was then, and now is now and I much prefer the increased photos you get from looking online and the various research one can do for example talking about a boat on this very Forum and getting first hand accounts. But it is the fact too you can do this on your terms and book when you wish - no talking to someone, waiting in a call quire or needing to remember to call when their open which may not suit your lifestyle.
As to those people who do not get online, then in the main it is down to them not embracing it years ago. The Web is not a new invention after all. Let us just presume that the average Joe was a later adopter to the Web and did not get online until 1999 with Freeserve or AOL. This is 18 years ago now, so someone who has retired and is for example 66 years old would have been 48 back then, hardly old and probably would have had gone to great expense to have bought from the likes of Comet or Tempo, a beige box to have in the front room or hall called a computer. This no doubt would be 'for the kids school work'.
What has happened is a great number of people saw it as some kind of new fangled thing that was pointless and expensive bit of equipment. It was slow, it went wrong after a couple of years and had all these viruses and issues that made it even more slow not to mention the fact most of us was on dial-up connections. Now that is not to say there are not people now in their 80's who have missed the technology boat, because they never have used one, but equally they are not likely to be the people off on activity holidays such as boating to book such online. But it is a shame that as many older people through natural progression have smart phones, Apps like those for paying the Gas Bill or Electric are not used and people shown the benefits and simplicity these provide.
There is little excuse now to not 'do it online' and things are so much easier, especially if you actually give up using the Web but instead use Apps on a tablet or phone. If I need a hotel room I will compare prices in an area using 4 Apps and pick the best, but it is all done on my phone with a few taps - far easier actually than going to the website, and indeed using the App as a registered user unlocks genuine price advantages and discounts over the website or unregistered users. Just opt out of all the email marketing rubbish meaning you get the benefit and they don't get your inbox to fill up with 'offers'.
If anything therefore, I await the first boatyard to bring out a dedicated App for their bookings further streamlining matters and, as I have noted the data availability on the Broads has been getting better since last year, so the App could work in the field so to speak, as more than just a way to book a boat. It could be a way to video call an engineer, or allow your location to be known to seek help. It might also be a way to offer discounts and incentives to customers who 'download the App' and have a short time valid QR code to be used in certain pubs that expires after their holiday so can be more tailored to their needs and further giving them an advantage (and incentive) to have got the App to begin.
Nothing is going to slow down and change now, but that is just how the world is.
Given their passion for innovation it wouldn’t surprise me if it was Barnes who were first to do the app
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Working for a printers, this is a familiar story, in the last 8 months I’ve seen at least 6 if not more long established firms go under, two of them being absolutely huge companies, the likes that printed Tesco club card statements etc.
Its a three-fold problem as I see it, the first instance being the rise of online marketing and e-commerce, the 2nd being how print is seen, for many years it had a value, and was almost viewed as a craft, now it’s seen entirely as a commodity, much like sellotape or paper clips, and perhaps the biggest issue is print management companies, aka print farmers, who walk into a big business like Coca-cola for instance and say “we’ll source all your print, and save you money” inevitably they don’t save anyone any money and just strip profit out the print firms to pad their own pockets, going from printer to printer as they hit their respective credit limits.
you can only sell a £10 note for £5 for so long...
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Congratulations Robin, I imagine you must feel in a slightly ‘odd’ place right now!
i very much look forward to “more, as it happens!”
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2 minutes ago, Hylander said:
Got to thinking in the night (not a good thing at the best of times) about this business of keeping the grey water on board. Fine for a couple of days but what if you have two weeks on her. I cook from scratch everyday, shower, etc, we top up with water everyday, well it does not take much thought to realise that if you are putting in water every day and it is being stored on board, it must be a huge tank. What happens when it fills up. How do you know. When you sink? What brain box thought of this system. Yes you can have pump outs but you cannot have a pump out for the grey water can you? Wouldnt suit us.
I’d assume it either has 2 separate tanks, 1 grey water, and one erm, human waste, or it all goes into one?
i know when I hired Fair Jubilee with its domestic flush toilet and full size bath (not sure about grey water but I think that went into the tank) that survived a week without pump out.
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Just now, chameleon said:
what time? not on my tv listings page
8pm, channel 4, set to record
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53 minutes ago, marshman said:
So no mobile signal? Try broadband next! Even 5 miles from Norwich I cannot easily use Iplayer!!
I feel your pain, the small downland village I live in used to be terrible, however in July we got fibre, I’m now hitting 74mb pretty much all the time, the difference is staggering. I do know it took many years of lobbying BT to do it though
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I found o2 to be excellent on th Broads, I went all the way to Stokesby, up to Potter, and across to South Walsham then back up to Wroxham, think I had a 4G signal the whole time
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Good luck Robin, fingers crossed!
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Certainly interesting to read your thoughts as we have Fair Ambassador booked next year, which is essentialy the same boat. I’ve never hired anything this style before so am a little wary as I’m a bit of a tart and prefer the sportier looking boats, but decided for once to be practical
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43 minutes ago, KingfishersTime said:
It has indeed been an excellent sunset. Almost Guy Fawkes night and could almost have been Summer the last two days.
Wow
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Though we have central heating, we very very rarely use it, our place is timber framed, single glazed and built in the 1700’s.
the kitchen is warmed by the cooker, the bedrooms and bathroom are never heated anyway, and the living room is heather using a log fire which provides more than enough heat for the rest of the place, most of my logs are free as my dad owns a farm, so out heating bills are pretty cheap. We do like our hot water though!
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Talking to the barman at the ship in South Walsham he said there had been a big salt push due the tides
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I believe we saw you out and about a few times, we may have even moored fairly close by you at Ranworth or Womack? We were on Brinks Omega with the black patterdale terrier, keep the story coming (which reminds me, I need to update mine from being notes)
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A few years back when there was all the talk of stopping the usage of ‘cherry’ (red diesel) in leisure craft I was wondering whether buying one of the Maxxum sports cruisers was worth a punt (you’d save about 1/3 vs. the diesel equivalent), as it happens, glad I didn’t as the rules never changed, but I do still love a big engined ‘small’ boat.
The US ‘lake’ boats do have a certain appeal
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I’m a big fan of sports boats, and I wouldn’t sweat it, you wouldn’t have joined up here if you were of the mentality that didn’t fit in!
What’s ‘under the hood’ as they say?
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Lovely looking boat I have to say!
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Always!
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Welcome!
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I had meant to put it in there, but I think I forgot!
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I had to help some fishermen get off the bank at Stokesby who were pinned on, I gave them the tried and tested full rudder to bank, let stern flair out then reverse back, straighten up and forward as I was taught on my first time by a very helpful private boat owner named Terry
Ex Alpha Boats To Enter Bb Fleet?
in Broads Chat
Posted
That otter I believe is quite well known, then Barman at the Ship in South Walsham and a ranger we spoke to both mentioned said otter!