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Hi Ruthie As Freedom has said I assume you are with Pacific? We have hired from them for the last four years, I really cant speak highly enough of them, although they are a business they make you feel you are borrowing a boat from a mate, they are that friendly Not the newest boats on the river, but I like the older boats they have more character, but well maintained and spotlessly clean! We always head for The Ferry at Surlingham first night, for several reasons, it's imho the best pub on the broads, food and beer excellent, lovely river garden, dog friendly and if you ring or email them you can book a mooring. That takes away the stress of where you moor first night As Mouldy says Norwich is a great city, but I dont stay there overnight anymore, get up early, get into Norwich see the city and get out! You can head back to Commissioners Cut at Thorpe or Brammerton/Surlingham It's good to go with the tides but I don't let it affect where I want to go, ok you may get a £20-£30 bill for extra fuel, which over the cost of your week is negligible imo! Starting off from the Chet will be fun! It's a bit narrow and twist and turns but you're going slow, just keep an eye out for the bigger boats, which you can normally see long before they arrive, slow down and let them pass, it'll take an hour to get to the The Yare which is very wide! The only other tip I will add is move your day, get going early and moor early, it was bus when we were there 2 weeks ago and August can be very busy In addition to the Yacht stations, you can pre-book moorings at Reedham Ferry and River Waveney centre

I must say I find this thread very interesting, I'm glad I'm not the only one besotted with their pet, my mum and dad had goldies throughout my childhood, she must have been on her 6th or 7th when she died at 92, my sister now has Meg! I remember that they used to be Stubblesdown and Camrose, the former being the darker gold, I'm not sure if that's still the case? We decided not to have a dog until the kids were older so our first dog was Amber a cocker, I wanted a goldie but my wife wanted a smaller dog, Amber became available from the RSPCA which I have connections to (I'll explain more later) We lost her at 13, three years ago the week before we due on the broads, she jumped off our bed and broke her back leg in four places! The vet said it looked like she'd been hit by a car, we had 3 choices, put her down, amputate the leg or have it plated and screwed and in a cage for 4-6 months! She was 13, I loved her dearly but option 2 and 3 couldn't be done to an old dog, so the vet came to our house, we put her in her favorite spot in the garden we held her as the vet put her down! I'm not ashamed to say we all cried for hours after the vet left with her As I said I have an affiliation with the RSPCA, my Granddad was chairman of the local area, my mother spent many hours chasing and rescuing stray dogs, she said she could never go abroad because she wouldn't know where to take any dogs she found. I used to do door to door collections (remember them?) often having doors slammed in my face with the word 'dont give to animals' We were without a dog for 3 months, absolute torture, when a friend told me of a cocker they were monitoring at the RSPCA I wont go into too many details, but this dog was being mistreated, but didn't want to part with her, I found the address drove down there with my daughter with a grand in my back pocket I'll leave out the middle bit, but I left a thousand pounds lighter but my daughter cuddled her all the way home! Technically not a rescue, but we rescued her! Unfortunately she's not without her problems, she's the most loving dog I've had, but she needs to know you for several days before she's friendly, so we have to be careful when she's approached, but she is getting better She often comes to my office with me and she loves everyone, quite often if she hadn't been on her bed for a while, I go looking for her only to find her on somebody's lap! I wish Griff and everyone else on here happiness with their pets Below my two 'girls past and present, the one of Amber was taken at Salhouse just before she disgraced herself by going into the muddy ditch!

Totally agree I moored there waiting for the tide to change Sunday week ago and was pleasantly surprised how easy it was Never moored there before, had planned a stop over for the dog at Polkeys Mill but it was full! I’d be happier mooring there overnight than the Fishermans at Burgh Castle, they looked very ‘harsh’ last year! I heard good things about the Berney, somehow in 10 years circumstances never allowed me to use it, I guess I’ll never get the chance now 😢

I was at Womack Straithe last week when at 8am the Ricko bathtub next to us started his engine and ran it for a while, all totally legal (I think) However, it kept setting my CO2 detector off, in the end I had to take the batteries out, we then left earlier than planned (remembering to put the batteries back in) He seemed a decent guy, I could've said something but as on holiday I didn't want to have a confrontation Now I know he didn't really do anything wrong, but I don't do that, I start the engine get the ropes ready and leave, probably 3 mins, I turn the engine off once the ropes are secure when we moor, again 2-3mins and adjust if necessary when the engine is off In the morning we cruise for a bit, Mandy then has a shower, she then takes the helm while I shower, I'm lucky there are two of us, I just dislike diesel engines running! I can see the both sides of this problem, the answer is be reasonable and considerate

Oh, just to add Brinks did do a pump out and let us double moor on the river front to a boat they were preparing ( two day boats thought it wise to come through the gap between us rather than going round, got to say the day boats were more of a pain than usual) The guys in the yard were fine and let us stay for a while to wander up to Wroxham Also on the pubs the Kings Head at Ludham was also excellent and most welcoming even if two kids in the play area thought it fun to continually slam the gate! Parents did nothing, maybe I’m getting old! 😉

Just got back from 7 days away and managed to eat every evening except Beccles where we had a Chinese takeaway, the Bear and Bells was closed and Waveney Hotel only allow dogs in the garden and the weather was unsettled we had a couple of drinks though Horning was a disaster Monday lunchtime, got moored opposite the Ferry and rowed across Ferry were only doing full meals and didn’t have real beer but a pint of Stella went down well, whilst at the bar someone complained that they had wait over an hour for their food so we drank up and went down to New Inn which I rang before we went away and got no answer and they didn’t reply to the email I sent them The New Inn weren’t doing food until Wednesday so down to the Swan We were registering track and trace with the reception when he wandered off halfway through to sort a problem with a customer who was complaining they ordered drinks an hour ago but not had them, we waited 10mins to come back but didn’t so we decided to go back to the boat for lunch But on the whole the pubs performed very well and were very welcoming Special mention for Surlingham Ferry, Stokesby Ferry, Malsters Fur & Feather and New Inn Rockland We had a couple of toilet problems whilst away (one my kids didn’t get the flush system🤭) Brinks office were very ‘off’ with us but Herbert Woods were fantastic, I know which one I’d be more inclined to book with in the future But had a great time!

Has anyone got a telephone number or email address for the New Inn the number listed didn’t connect yesterday but I am in the North York Moors! theyve probably got a different code up here! 😉

We have a cocker spaniel and have been pulling a dinghy for about 5 years We haven't found it a problem, can be a bit inconvenient at times but for me worth it to me to open up mooring opportunities for pubs We always have the dog in a life jacket and although she's not keen on being 'air lifted' into the dinghy she's ok with it Having said all that we probably only use it once a holiday, but at £25 from Pacific, it's like taking out an insurance policy I expect we may get more use this time when I expect the broads to be rammed!

My favourite pub, Ferry House at Surlingham is open on the 4th were up from the 11th and have booked me both Mooring and table! So only have to worry about the rest of week! does anyone know of takeaway restaurants that deliver to moorings? we have both son and daughter with us on this trip and prefer not to cook on board! My cooking skills are limited and most cruisers don’t have theroom for Mandy to create! 😉

Ok, I'm going to bang that drum again! Pacific are wonderful people and just cant do enough for you, I book with them every year Just not certain what a novice would make of that first journey down the Chet?

I have two reps that seem intent on auditioning for the part of the policeman in Allo Allo! ive tried to show them the type read edit facility on emails but it’s lost on them! 😉

I unfortunately never managed to visit this pub, the first few years on the boards we stayed north, when we did go south for some reason we didn't visit and by the time I got round stopping there it was closed! However, below is a copy of the pubs description from a dog friendly website I use, sounds like a pub I could have enjoyed BERNEY MARSHES Berney Arms Inn Address: Berney Marshes, Great Yarmouth, NR30 1SB Tel: 08721 077 077 The pub is warm welcoming and friendly it has only one drawback it is only accessible by rail, foot or boat, your dog is greeted as warmly as you are. He/she will be offered a biscuit while you peruse the menu. Excellent food. If you visit by boat and have disabled family members who cannot manage the steps up and down to get in, the landlord and landlady are happy to fill your own plates with their delicious food and bring them back to the boat. Now thats service for you! Added 5th March 2010

i just started to read this thread and started to 'like' a few posts, I hadn't realised it was written 3 years ago until a few posts in! My god, could've been written yesterday, you won't find anyone more anti racist than me, and I'm quite prepared to tell people when they are, but you cant re-write history! What are we going to do next, go into libraries and rip pages out of books? We need to remember the past, to help us be better more educated people in the future

I've been in Belmarsh! Fortunately it was only day visits as I worked for an aggregate and concrete supplier who delivered to the main builder! Can't remember now who built it, Taylor Woodrow? maybe Balfour Beatty!

I grew up on the Loose Road, the pub opposite the Bowling club is the Swan, and was my local for years run by George and Ann, they were great characters, my grandparents lived in the village, never heard it referred to as Loose Anyway however you pronounce it, the village is beautiful I spent many hours as a child playing in the stream and valley

I must have come to see you play outside the Chequers in Loose on a number of Boxing Days I also remember a radio dj once giving a 'shout out to the Loose Womens Institute! For anyone not familiar with the place its actually pronounced - lieu - s

I heard on the radio this morning that Boris has said pubs and restaurants could reopen sooner than expected (whatever that means) after landlords stated they wouldn't be able to open while the 2m rule was in force I'm assuming by that the social distance rules maybe relaxed I've agreed with Fiona at Pacific to move by booking 2 weeks to 14th July, I'm hoping that pub gardens might be open with certain rules in place, if not, and I can go on the boat I may be asking for advice on shops on the broads as my knowledge is the pubs

This is possibly naive of me but I paid my balance to Pacific last Friday, I also had an email conversation with Fiona where we both hoped there maybe a loosening of restrictions before we are due to start the holiday I did this for two reasons, I trust Pacific to do the right thing (plus it is in my contract to do so) all my dealings with them has made me believe they are honorable people, I also did it because they probably need an ejection of cash at this time and I can afford to invest in them Until I'm am told officially by the government that our holiday isn't happening I will cling to the belief that I shall have my broad fix, although I accept as broad pub lover that part isn't going to happen. If we do get to go, I'm thinking of taking a second car to help transport the provisions I'll need to get me through the week!

This is a very interesting thread and one close to my heart For about 30 years I worked in the Aggregate/Asphalt industry for several of the big companies, it was fun to start with, I'm a bit of a maverick and certainly not a yes man, I did very well and reached senior management positions and was 'headed hunted on two occasions. The top brass used to put up with my somewhat wild behavior, both in board meetings and my 'entertainment' budget By the mid to late 90's thing had changed, the old style directors had gone and had been replaced with accountants or 'bean counters' they found my 'methods' not what they expected but I got results and built strong sales teams that respected me, so they put up with it I think they must have finally had enough when I was made redundant in 2005, we had to apply for our own jobs, and I lost out to a child barely out of nappies, but he always said yes at meetings, I consulted a solicitor who told me what I had thought, that they had adjusted the matrix results to get rid of me. He said we could go to court and we would win, however it would have cost me most of my redundancy, so his advise was wipe your mouth take the cash and get another job! That job is the one do today, General Manager of a small family business, in fact both owners were my customers and really good friends, I now do a bit of everything and love it, both owners have since passed away and I now run the company with one of the owners sons, who looks at me as his Dad's mate, I am well rewarded and respected, I treat the son like a friend So at 62, do I want to retire? no I bl00dy dont! however, I have discussed this with the son, next year I will probably go just 3 days a week but cover for him for holidays etc As I see it now, I will probably do that until either the mind or the body goes I am still working during this situation, supplying materials and haulage to essential works, we have been quieter as you would expect and I have had a few more days off, fortunately I have a few projects to do in the garden to keep me active, and I'm lucky we bought a house with a big garden all those years ago, however these jobs wont last forever and I'm dreading having nothing to do as I like to keep busy Maybe when this is all over and I semi retire and have 4 day weekends every week, I might persuade Mandy to get a boat on the broads!

Hopefully I've put this in the right section My daughter came back from her 12 hour shift in her care home yesterday really happy Apparently Dominos pizzas rang the care home to ask how many staff they had working at lunchtime, they then turned up with pizzas for every carer, cook and cleaner etc I dont know if this was just the local Sevenoaks branch that did this or if this was a national thing At a time when all is doom and gloom I thought what a nice gesture to make Has anyone else got heart warming stories like this?

As I said on another thread my wife is an ANP in a doctors surgery, she now leaves the house at 7.30am and doesn't return before 8pm, she should be home at 5.30pm My daughter is a carer at a Nursing Home, she should have been on annual leave all week but has been in for three 12 hour shifts because they were short staffed I am so proud of them both! All I do to make money, sometimes I feel the rewards are wrongly distributed

This excellent news, we always go to the Malsters when on the broads, when I can't get moored at the staithe I row across from the Island The beer and the food has always been good quality, hopefully they will continue to book moorings, and now they are dog friendly (hopefully) I wont have to worry about the weather Apart from Sonia from the Ferry House taking it over, I cant think of a better result for me! Now, all I need is Covid -19 to be gone by 26th June and I'll be a happy boy! So will Mandy, she's an Advanced Nurse Practitioner at a GP's and hasn't been home before 8pm for 2 weeks, her surgery should finish at 5pm! Looks like I will also be cooking breakfast as well, if we get away!

So sorry for your loss, despite Lottie coming into our lives and it being nearly 3 years ago, even now when I look at a picture or remember something she did, I feel a lump in my throat and a tear in m eye They never leave you completely This was Amber

Our little Lottie looking inquisitive and enjoying her position last year on the boat

Never hired this boat, but I did hire Blue Horizon which had a moulded stool as a upper helm seat, a cushion placed on top did the trick, I'm 6ft didn't have a problem I'm sure you'll have a great time, also as there are a few of you, you can helm in shifts while the others look after the toddlers (I know which one I'd rather do) We've got our 26 year old daughter with us this year, the biggest problem I've got is keeping her away from my wallet!