Turnoar

A few moons ago I rented a flat for a couple of years which looked over Townhouse and into the basin; sad as it was to see Morning Flight resting on the bottom there was an air of calm every morning and evening whilst I crunched my corn flakes and sausage cassoulet respectively, even with the new park beyond a very nice place to live. A few more years prior to this chapter I had become acquainted with the Jenner brothers Bill & Jack who had fought a war and come back to nothing, I think their father had been unable to hang onto the yard for them. Bill did make me smile when he said that having later set up their own yard also in Thorpe and ordered supplies sometimes they never got a bill meaning it was almost certainly lost in the JoT account!

I’m normally critical of Mrs T for not making her mind up however not being that well travelled this has got me thumbing through “ Rollocks to Alton Towers Uncommonly British Days Out” for ideas so here goes with the possibilities. Sealand would keep cold callers at bay but I can’t fly a helicopter so impractical, a bit closer to home perhaps a houseboat at Covehithe which I liken to a broad next the sea, The Moorings at Hickling which with a balcony broad view and a split oak barrel bar plus a wet boatshed ready for the lifting of lock down.... on reflection probably best where I am now, home sweet home!

Staying in can be relaxing....

One turned up in Northrepps a few years back, around 2010 but give or take a couple of years. Didn't get to see it unfortunately but not for want of twitching!

If within guidelines cycling is seen as being dodgy then I think we can safely assume that the fruit fields will rot this year, just can’t see how pickers will avoid congregating, but then again with borders open, planes still flying In and out who are the powers that be trying to kill? I mean kid. I’ll keep cycling for an hour a day.

MM, they still have the recent insured flood risks which happened to settle up for. They will have other reasons too I’m sure, I don’t doubt premiums will not fall and could even rise along with mean sea level and taxes. I for one am looking at what I can do to keep something aside for a much needed break on the broads as I think the virtues of such a holiday are obvious, isolation opportunities in beautiful surroundings and quiet save for the wildlife.... going down to one car would have its challenges in our household but that’s what I’m planning for, bus and bike!

Thanks for the heads up, the You tube version is cut, will record in full for a change!

In the early 80s I can recall a wooden motor cruiser being privately based at Hickling which someone later told me was originally Lionheart. Looking at Craigslist I see she was Wards then Hearts but seems to have more the look of a Hearts design albeit from the twighlight years of woodies and as modern as they got before grp became defacto. Nice looking boat but would have trouble shooting Potter now, I wonder what became of her?

Surprised it’s open. Remove the bins. Locals exercising take your rubbish home. Shut the site to reduce the risk of people grouping. Check the walkways when all this is over and then start a campaign. Now is not the time.

The Cringles. Strictly a club but one which many a holiday maker visited.

Thanks for this signposting Vaughan, it made thought provoking reading, whilst still being at school I can recall this slump with many being laid off from the hire yards and going self employed or to the private yacht building businesses in the area such as Hardy, Broom and the Oyster builders. The outcome of COVID-19 looks to be potentially dire, I for one am attempting to support hire yards through postponement as opposed to outright cancellation. Im guessing from other posts you must have spent half your life in France and ‘left hand drive’ as a consequence, whilst the idea of the tools and some cash to boot en voyage to warmer climes may seem a romantic adventure to some it seems like it was a fait au compli, but one which worked out okay in the end I hope? if anything at all is left of your yard at Womack then I think it may now be the custodian of my grandfathers Norfolk punt.

One way we can help the NHS is not adding to the problem. Notwithstanding the borders remaining open it looks like flights in and out of Norwich may finally have halted. If they haven’t then an update from the local media would be appreciated to understand the criticality from a public health risk point of view, economic justification holds no water given the gravity of the situation, we all want this ill cured to prevent further losses of loved ones. If the flights are to assist with averting the health risk then I applaud the brave pilots and co pilots who are putting themselves at risk to help us.

The borders to going abroad are not closed though. So we may be given the all clear before there is even such opportunity to ‘keep’ them closed. As this sorry saga has progressed the risk areas have highlighted themselves e.g. construction site workers etc. . How long before all the manageable risks are eliminated? The airports should close to passenger flights now. Essential travel only.

Norwich airport still flying to Amsterdam according to their departures board. Presume this is to get expats home and/or medical staff if they commute?

Pleased to report the builders merchants had locked down today, or at least shut the gates and restricted entry. Should calm the panic buying of 4x2, tile spline, Portland cement, sharp sand, wheelbarrows, grp “onion” cess pit... which reminds me please spare a thought for the key essential worker of the countryside when quietly going about your daily business, aka the honey cart driver! Tanks for relieving our rural dwellers of their sewage waste, to our members you're the foulth emergency service.

Well, just as joe public finally seems to be taking notice someone is busy bolting the stable door... are airports now shut for non-essential travel or are they being kept open for key workers In which case such flights could be chartered. I hope the builders merchant at the end of my road is shut tomorrow, it’s been heaving with 2 man gangs all day, perhaps they were tipped off by the owner that they would be closing in the near future? Praying the tide turns for the better ASAP, victims being cremated with no funerals and loved ones present to say cheerio is unimaginable. The damage is being done and businesses are being thwacked broadside. Can it get worse I wonder?

Attended petrol is back! At least in one garage at Wisbech. Wonder if it’ll catch on?

They’ve looked like that every time on the odd occasion I’ve ventured in Paul, even the cat food has been gobbled up. The farm shops I’ve biked past appear to have spuds etc. aplenty and I’m braced to give the rhubarb it’s first pull to stew into ice cube trays for my morning porridge. Roll on asparagus season, still got some wild blackberries in the freezer from last year too. Run out of sloe gin though...

JM highlights that we’re not fully locked down yet, albeit National Trust have seen sense given that Joe Public took the mick when offered the freebie, planes are still flying in and out, the minority is all it takes to keep feeding the fire 🔥 Popped down to my local shop earlier for some milk, kept my distance, after a couple of bargers unwittingly queue jumping the shopkeeper politely told a chav to wait his turn. I expressed my disbelief that people cannot have seen the advice, he replied that he’d given up explaining to customers about giving him and everyone else space. At this rate it’ll be 18 months before it’s business as usual, I regret to say that I think enforcement is the only way forwards, the idiots of society will not accept advice.

I’ve been out on my bike for an hour or so this morning, after 3 days of home working the rig amortise was beginning to be felt so 15 miles of mainly country lanes. Quite a bit of traffic and the odd other cyclist and jogger, opportunity for a socially distant “good morning” across the road and some iron faces who on reflection could be cold or ill so no offence taken. Mrs T hasn’t been to the nearby gym since last weekend so she’s ordered a rowing machine, might indulge as my morning swims are out the window. The mother in law reported Sheringham Park was heaving so gave it a miss, I suppose with the cafes etc being closed and a bit of marketing the masses will corongregate...

Credit Aronline, project Utah publicity photo. Drive out to the PB at Hickling for one of the directors, maybe the one who lived in Cromer? My dad had one in the 70s, remember being in awe of all those dials and toggle switches!

Pipe dream.... as rare as the Locksley Lozenge!

I’ve got the North Walsham end of the canal covered, just checked on “Spirit of Jill” and she’s is safely aground still by the traffic lights, might see if there’s room for some seed potatoes!

Hope the windows in the freeboard are shut tight before she goes seawards! Is it a coast hop or a sea crossing?

Cloud.... who brings a lot of sunshine into our lives following the passing of our two previous sibling cats last winter. She is a dog that has been reincarnated as a cat, they are known as puppy cats for reasons 8 months in I fully understand!