[Mud Weighting Overnight]

20 hours ago, Broads01 said:

I was put in the same position as you in 2018 with Richardsons, BoF and it still niggles me now. Thank goodness for the sensible operators who continue to offer solo hiring.

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.

[Mud Weighting Overnight]

8 minutes ago, marshman said:

Yes to Woods End Staithe but room for one boat only!

Anywhere outside the posts on Barton is ok - they make it obvious generally where you cannot go. Generally the main part of the Broad is ok even up to the reeds apart from the shallow area on the east side half way up marked with green buoys. The only area I would be wary of is right down the S/W bit towards the Neatishead arm but before you get to Gays Staithe - outside of the posts it is getting weedier.

Blackhorse - at the moment it is generally ok but last year later on the weed growth was pretty heavy in spots so just keep your eye on it. Its not the green strandy stuff but stringier and builds up, and more like matt weed - similar to Wroxham towards the bottom end and also right up the top.

Enjoy mudweighting - its still the best!!!!!!

Thank you! 

I agree, mudweighting is the best 👍

 

[Mud Weighting Overnight]

 

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

[Liveaboard Facilities]

32 minutes ago, Ricardo said:

To be honest it no where near as set up to live afloat here compared to the canal system , some seam to think its a good idea to leave folks with huge problem's even getting water in winter , me I'm kinda self contained as in I can do the laundry onboard , parcel delivery is tough but its easy enough to find companies on eBay that do click an collect to Argos n maul wise that's relatively easy as are doctors and dentists , the water situation is really a the bug bearer i especially in winter , its rather stupid that in the 21st century councils and BA can't provide even this most basic of essentials 

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.

[Liveaboard Facilities]

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

 

[Single Parent Hiring Boats]

 

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. 

[Single Parent Hiring Boats]

4 hours ago, FreedomBoatingHols said:

As not everybody is on the FB page (I am not any longer due to over-modding), please allow me to confirm Freedom's position on hiring Solo or to lone parents. 

The overriding point is one of safety.

Whilst we will hire to solos and lone parents, it is not a guarantee.  

We will ask relevant and pertinent questions at the booking stage to determine experience and skills and we will discuss the matter internally before accepting a booking. 

Newbie solos are unlikely to have an overnight booking accepted. Likewise for lone parents of toddlers or children who require a great deal of their parent's attention. Also, we will not hire large boats to solo pilots. 

This has never changed for us and there is no outside pressure or influence (currently or anticipated) that will cause us to review this. 

 

 

 

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

[Can Anyone Recommend A Reliable Taxi Company Around Acle?]

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

 

 

 

[Single Parent Hiring Boats]

5 minutes ago, Jocave said:

Ever so slightly different circumstances but how does this effect me hiring with a disabled partner, ok the booking is for two adults but as the wife is pretty much wheelchair bound she does not helm the boat nor assist in mooring, so I am in effect solo hiring, can't really see any difference to a single hirer plus the fact I have other things to take care of ie the wife, never had any questions asked before but would like to think this decision won't affect us, well I hope not anyway....

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. 

[Single Parent Hiring Boats]

39 minutes ago, charlesa said:

Dear BoF,

as per my post a while back please give the girls at Martham a call.

They will be more than happy to help a solo hirer.

Say Charles suggested them to you and take a Janet, Judith or Juliette, all centre cockpit.

Make sure you bring a rope from each end up to the centre cockpit whilst under way and Bob's Your Uncle !!!!

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

 

[Single Parent Hiring Boats]

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.

[Can Anyone Recommend A Reliable Taxi Company Around Acle?]

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

[Forum Security]

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.

[Let Off Steam In Here !!!!]

1 hour ago, Philosophical said:

And that was the instruction from HQ, only take him to customers are friendly and happy with the product; except I somehow never got those emails?

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

[Richardsons Best In Britain!]

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

[Let Off Steam In Here !!!!]

1 hour ago, Philosophical said:

When you got bored having fun with "the latest muppet from HQ" in the office, did you you ever have have even more more fun by taking them out into the "field" with real customers and real problems?.

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.

[Let Off Steam In Here !!!!]

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!

[Let Off Steam In Here !!!!]

2 hours ago, MauriceMynah said:

Edited to add...   I rather like Naga too

 

 

Sorry, who is Naga?

[Let Off Steam In Here !!!!]

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! 

[Let Off Steam In Here !!!!]

4 hours ago, Timbo said:

I've got to get these added to the list:

Households with multiple cars without the provision to park them. I'm sick to death of not being able to get in and out of my own drive for neighbours parking their multitude of vehicles across my drive or on my drive. Out of nine households in my culdesac only four households have vehicles. My immediate neighbour and I have a car each and the remaining two households have nine...that's NINE vehicles between them including five cars and...

...What's with the sudden lark of bringing works vans home? Why in God's name would you think is feasible to park two, that's TWO, long-wheel-based huge vans outside a terraced house alongside your TWO estate cars AND a WINNEBAGO, while your equally dim-witted friend and neighbour already parks two cars, one long wheel based works van and a camper van and then your countryside destroying friends and family try to park a succession of various 4x4 vehicles all kitted out for an expedition across the nearest farmland just for the sake of getting their 4v4 muddy?

...and finally
Men who dig up roads...again. The Gas Board are currently laying a new gas main and digging up the entrance to every property in the area. Well, that's what the nice, pretty young ladies with the jaunty prows and rakish transoms tell us as they knock on our doors on a daily basis. However, looking through my window I notice that the only time these 'work gangs' have taken their boots off the dash of their vans and stop reading the paper or playing with their mobile phones is when a supervisor turns up once a week. As an archaeologist, I am well aware of the time it takes to stick in a trench and I would have finished the job four weeks ago...on my own, with a trowel!

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.  

[Wayford Bridge Public Moorings]

Thanks folks, greatly appreciated.

[Wayford Bridge Public Moorings]

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!

[Let Off Steam In Here !!!!]

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. 

 

[Let Off Steam In Here !!!!]

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!

[Let Off Steam In Here !!!!]

2 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

I'm afraid so Bof 

Oh, boll***s!