BoF

I accept we are moving ‘off-topic’, but did you ever find out why Richardson’s took that decision? I was told it was due to ‘insurance issues’, but I felt that was a BS response just to make me go away.

Thank you! I agree, mudweighting is the best 👍

Some advice on mud weighting please? I have been solo boating since 2015, but domestic and work commitments, followed by the pandemic, have kept me away since 2018. That was the year that Richardson's stopped solo bookings and cancelled my booking just 2 weeks before my hire date. Whilst I accepted their right to change the terms of hire, their failure to honour bookings already made was, and still is for me, unforgivable. Fortunately, Bridge Craft kindly stepped in at very short notice and I was able to book ‘Golden Bridge’. I am returning to Bridge Craft and this hire is for ‘Tay Bridge’. I like to mud weight overnight and in 2018, you could do so on Hoveton Little Broad. Is this still the case? Are you still able to moor outside the marker posts on Barton Broad? If so, any recommendations? Can you still get to Wood End Staithe, and if so, is the public mooring still in use? Thanks, Chris

The fresh water situation, or lack of it, was very noticeable whilst I was up there. There was no water at Barton Turf or Salhouse Broad, I presumed because of the bad weather(?). There was the usual issue at Ludhan Bridge with people filling their water tanks, then wandering off for a walk, thus blocking access to the water stand, but that is probably another topic.

Hi, I had a great short break away on the Northern Broads from the 19th March on board the Golden Bridge out of Bridge Craft. Excellent service by the way. The rivers were empty and I noticed the number of Liveaboards moored up or out and about and this got me wondering about all sorts of ‘things’. I know there are numerous Liveaboards on the canals and they seem to have reasonable access to all the ‘normal’ services, such as marinas with a laundry for general use and some marinas taking pre-notified parcel deliveries for free or a small fee. There is a lot of information out there about where the nearest pharmacy is, where the nearest doctor or dentists are, that sort of thing. Is there anything similar for the Broads? Cheers, Chris

I have been reading this thread with interest and noted the comments, both for and against Richardsons. As one of the 'few' who had their solo hire cancelled, in my case within 4 weeks of the hire, it is not the change of policy that has caused my anger. As others have stated, it is Richardsons right to change its Terms & Conditions and I do not have a problem with that; it is the refusal to honour bookings accepted and fully paid for that has caused the disquiet. If Richardsons had honoured the bookings, the change of policy would probably only received minor comment and we would all have moved on; but they didn't, and therefore must accept the criticism.

As said by others, a sensible attitude and approach to the matter. Thank you Freedom.

Thanks for all the recommendations, I will start ringing round tomorrow morning.

I put a very similar question the Clive when we spoke. My wife isn't really into messing around in boats, previous trips have not gone as well as hoped, but she was willing to come with me so I didn't miss out. However, she is not fit or able enough to be of any practical use in crewing the boat, other than her ability to dial 999 if something happens. In answer to my question "What's the difference between me going on my own and my wife coming, when I would still have to do all the crewing single-handed anyway?". The reply was "She is over 18". Full stop! So it would appear that the abilities, or lack of, the second person is totally irrelevant, the only criteria are that they be over 18 years of age.

Thanks for the advice Charlsa, I will certainly bear them in mind for next year, but I have managed to secure a hire out of Bridge Craft over in Acle for next month. I have been to the yard many times, but never hired from them before. All the reports I have read are excellent, and they were very helpful when I called, so after the initial shock when I took the call from Richardsons, it's looking good. Cheers, Chris

I am one of the solo hirers that has had his booking cancelled by Richardsons, 4 weeks before my holiday. This would have been my fifth solo trip, the previous four all being uneventful. Whilst it is entirely up to Richardsons to change their policy, I felt that their refusal to honour bookings already made and paid for to be wrong, and said so. Clive was very polite, offering me an upgrade for the same week, or move the booking to later in the year, but would not accept that Richardsons should honour any solo bookings already taken by the company. It is a shame that Richardsons has managed to trash its excellent reputation in one go.

Hi, I need a taxi pick up from Acle Station next month and a drop off at Bridgecraft. I know it's not far, I just don't fancy the walk up that road with a big suitcase! I have been using All Abroad for the last few years, but both their numbers are coming up as invalid. Can anyone recommend a reliable taxi company please? Cheers, Chris

Hi, Has anyone else had an email with similar wording? "We have detected 3 failed log in attempts to your account from Chelsea, Royal Kensington and Chelsea, SW10, United Kingdom. If this wasn't you, someone else may be trying to access your account. These log in attempts were unsuccessful and we have blocked the IP address from further attempts so no action is required. You may however want to change your password for greater security, especially if you use the same password on other websites. If this was you, you can safely ignore this email and you will be able to sign in again at 17/11/17 00:08. " At the bottom of the email was a link to this address [redirectUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fforum.norfolkbroadsnetwork.com%2Fsettings%2Fpassword%2F] It wasn't me, but I have changed my password and user name via the main forum, not the link. Strange.

If this were America, I would take/plead (?) the 5th Amendment for that question!

Well done! I have always had the best service from Richardsons. Thanks!

Oh yes we did! To be fair, some did quite well, but the majority could not cope with dealing with real people who hadn’t read the ‘script’ that the muppet was on and could be difficult and at times aggressive.

Management Speak! I hated ‘Management Speak’ and always took the p*** whenever I could. Apart from playing the standard ‘Management Speak Bingo’ as we listened to the latest muppet with an ology down from HQ to gain ‘operational experience’, I had a ‘Management Speak Matrix’ that consisted of 3 columns of 9 random words, such as “holistically’, “horizon”, “cloud”, integrated”, “operational”, “forward”, “command”, “relief” etc. Once a file or report was completed and checked, I would ask a colleague for a three digit number, and using that number would pick three words, one from each column. For example, 258 might pull out “holistically”, the second word from column 1, “integrated”, the fifth word from column 2 and “operations”, the eighth word from column 3. My challenge was to then get the meaningless phrase “holistically integrated operations” into the report somewhere. Over the years only one senior manager ever asked what I was talking about. Great fun!

Sorry, who is Naga?

The local retards who have just staggered home from the pub and have started letting off fireworks at 23:10 hrs! Although we have a dog that after 10 years has decided that she does not like loud 'bangs', and fireworks fall into that category for her, I don't have a problem with fireworks displays, we know when they are starting and can take steps to settle her ladyship. No worries. However, I do have a problem with morons who have no consideration for anyone but themselves, and this bunch could fill a whole programme of 'neighbours from hell' alone. Fortunately, they are not our neighbours and their anti-social behaviour is something we hear about, rather than suffer. Until fireworks are on sale that is, then these retards just let them off at all hours of the night, as they are currently doing. There are young children in the neighbouring houses, but what do they care!

I could not have put it better than this! I also live in a culdesac. We have a car parking area and then you walk to your front door through the woodland and open stretches of grass. Its lovely, and a very safe environment for young children, who would have to go a long way to find a road to get knocked over on. However, over the years the number of cars per household has increased substantially, not just in our culdesac but in the surrounding area as well. People who cannot park in their road, now park in our car parking area. Or abandon to be more accurate. After numerous requests, the 'council' painted white lines to identify the parking spaces. There are still not enough for the local residents, even less when the numpties from other roads park there. Add to the problem the number of work vans that now appear every night, and its a nightmare to find a space after 5pm. That in itself is annoying, but what really gets me mad is a bloody woman, who does not live here, who is incapable of parking her great big estate car in one of the marked parking slots. She finds it impossible to do so and tends to use the white lines as the centre line to follow, much as an aircraft does coming onto an airport gate. She ends up straddling two spaces and just walks away. I and other neighbours have tried speaking to her, but with little or no success; she just does not give a damn.

Thanks folks, greatly appreciated.

Hi, Some advice please. I haven't been up to Wayford Bridge for a very long time; always meant to on my last full day before returning the boat to Richardson's, but never managed it. At some stage on my next trip I want to get up to Dilham and stop off at Wayford Bridge for a bite to eat, either on the way up or back down. So, Is there easy access to the Wayford Bridge Inn from the public moorings? Any comments on the quality and price of the food at the Inn? Thanks!

I love this thread! Mountain bike riders who come tearing down a narrow path through the forest with a dog being dragged behind them by a lead attached to their handlebars. Either walk your dog, or ride your bike, but not both at the same time you numpty! A dog needs to interact with other dogs and read its pmail, and it can't do either if it is being dragged along by some muppet on a bike. Oh, and show some consideration and get a bell for your bike so you can at least give some warning to others in the forest that you are tear-arsing down the path behind them! Just because you have a fancy bike, wear a helmet cam, are dressed in the latest 'gear', think you look rather 'cool' and are in the 'zone', does not give you right of way on any track or path.

I must have a tattoo on my forehead that only women can see that says "If you can't have a pop/moan at your husband/partner, please feel free to have a pop at me". This must start to flash when I sigh, sometimes I admit loudly, after waiting in the queue behind her as she chats to the checkout person, slowly packs her bags, chats to the checkout person, rearranges her bags, chats to the checkout person, remembers her purse is in the bottom of one of the bags, empties said bag, chats to the checkout person, dithers over which card to use, chats to the checkout person, uses the wrong pin, chats to the checkout person, remembers her pin, places purse in bag, says goodbye to the checkout person, starts to move then stops to retrieve her car keys from another bag. At this point, I sigh (again and possibly louder than before) and am rewarded with a stare that would melt concrete at 50 yards, a sniff and a "well really!" as she storms off. Is it just me? Tin hat on!

Oh, boll***s!