Markw

Caister i think...

Very interesting read - thanks for that... i tend to stay calm around any buzzing thing and let get on their merry way - however, because i am like catnip to mossies - they tend to be the only things that i cannot stand.....

You can thank the likes of Gareth Bale for the man bun.... and as for the 'pantyhose' - no thanks.... (not in public at least)

Think it has been mentioned elsewhere in this thread, but since when did we stop using the words 'going to' in a sentence and replaced them with 'gonna' ? - even news presenters say this now and it really does infuriate me.... just so lazy in my opinion.

Welcome Dave - as very much a part time fisherman - i will watch out for some welcome advice...

Welcome from us as well.....

Lovely write up so far.... everytime we mudweight somewhere i am convinced we will end up somewhere else by the time we wake up - all the others boats seem to look a lot closer come the morning - but never had an issue (so far)....

David - lovely read and superb pictures from the drone - very nice... Thanks

Lovely pictures Cal - thanks for posting

Lovely write up - very enjoyable. Thanks

Funnily enough - that is the part i am waiting for as well.....

Neil, One i have used previously (and only 15 mins from Brundall by car / taxi) is the following; P W Angling, 59 Long John Hill, Norwich NR1 2JJ Excellent shop - only 2 mins off A47 - decent (ish) parking directly outside. Opens 8.30 - 5.30 Mon / Fri and 8.30 to 5.00 on a Sat (closed Sundays) Mark

As fairly regular (ish) hirers over the years - our enjoyment in definitely being on a boat and the cruising in between destinations - we are equally happy to moor remotely on our own or in a (relatively) busy staithe / yard (so long as no idiots etc...) - we just enjoy being on the water - but we are not able to get back as often as we would like.... when we do though - we tend to be out of the main season if we can (March & September for us).

Interesting - mine is Consul.... very common apparently - 12% of population and as i am a project manager in the IT industry - a lot of the points make sense....

Possibly Stalham area ? (although i could be very wrong)....

Well, we love a drink or 3....prefer the bubbly stuff these days,but there is nothing better than cruising along with a glass of something favourite in your hand... always in moderation though and knowing your limits is the key thing - but we have always managed and will continue to do so.. For us, on any holiday, it is part of the relaxation and enjoyment - we have even been known to make the odd cocktail or two whilst we are moored up..

No - none of the windows open - in the galley and the head there are extractor fans - but unfortunately no opening windows...

Englebert Humperdinck - The Last Waltz - not even close to the type of music i like....

Hi, Yes it does still have the sound system (which was great when we had the DVD on - very impressive) - it still does have an Ipod dock - but it is of the older style fitting (not for the newer lightning connectors).... Mark

This takes me back - one of my very first cars was a Dutton Phaeton (in orange...) - being young it was actually my daily driver - i then progressed onto a couple of Westfields as the 'disposable income' increased - the last one being a very nice example - trouble is it got to the time when it would only come out of the garage on decent days - if i had the time - think the last annual mileage between MOT's was just short of 400 - so decided to sell and made a nice profit considering i had owned it for 4 years and had done virtually nothing to it...

We have been out in September for the last 2 years - but as we tend stay south - we have never had any issues with moorings....and is always nice to see the rivers a bit busier....

Hi Hylander, Yes - the canopy is divided into a number of sections - basically you can end up with the whole canopy rolled up - or individual sections (think there are 5 in total). They are held in place by elasticated straps/rope and very easy to unhook & unzip.... Mark

Hi all, We have now hired Broom Captain on 3 separate occasions and have been asked if we could post some pictures of some of the internal features of the boat - so here goes.. Bi fold doors fully open into saloon Saloon seating lots of storage either side of TV with DVD player First seat on left is reversable Galley - storage behind taps as well as cupboards to left and below sink & oven Gas hob - gas oven & grill Full size fridge - door will easily hold 2 liter milk bottles and more importantly - 3 or 4 wine / champagne bottles - great ice compartment will take full size bag of ice Really powerful shower - decent size to stand in Full electric flush toilet - can be a little cramped Circular bed - raised with side steps - good storage either side and under end of bed Small wardrobe - will hang shirts etc Additional storage in bedroom Helm position - side panel will slide open and allows you to step outside - not as easy to get back in mind There are lots of additional storage spaces all over boat - for example - the 3 steps down to the galley all open on hinges - with good storage space. In the rear of the boat there is also a large storage locker that stays perfectly dry where we usually store all our bags / cases / boxes etc (forgot to take pic). The only thing i will say about thus style of boat is that it can be a little awkward to get onto the bow of the boat - you need to undo the rear canopy (depending on which side you want to get onto) - and then step through the canopy onto the side (have a look again at the first 2 pics and you will see what i mean) - but it has never caused us a problem. Incidentally the mudweight is nicely stored in a locker in the bow of the boat. Am happy to answer any questions either through here or by pm about the boat etc.... Hope the pics answer some of the questions. Mark

Monday 12th March Had a bit of an eventful nights sleep – fast asleep Jules suddenly wakes me telling me someone is on the boat as she can hear them talking…. A few seconds to gain my composure and I realise I had left the VHF on at the helm and at 2am in the morning – someone was on channel 16 (we did see a few fishermen out & about in the evening) – I was duly shoved out of bed to turn the radio off…. Of course then we were both wide awake for a while…. Anyhow – lesson learned. We did not have to take the boat back until 10am – but still had to get everything packed – so by 8am we were both up – coffee & tea consumed and set about packing / tidying etc – before heading off at 9.15…. Always hate this last trip back to Brundall as we know we would much rather be staying – but time it was – went past the fuel hut & turned the boat around as this enables the fuel filler and pump out to be on the correct side for Malcolm at Brooms – tied the boat up and again – no one in sight – lol… Was just about to ring the bell for service when Malcom and one of the lads appeared (think his name is Shaun). Brooms changed the policy slightly last year on return – all boats moor upto the fuel quay – they are then fuelled / pumped out / water refilled before one of the lads then takes the boat into the yard – you stay on board - it is only then that you are able to collect your car keys and start unloading your bits & pieces (previously you could do this whilst the boat was being fuelled etc – but I think something happened previously with people trying to reverse their cars where the fuel hut is). All the above duly done (again - we were the only ones there as the other boat that had been out at the weekend was already back in the yard). Malcom sorted the fuel refund out – a paltry £20.00 – but we had covered some miles and we had also had the heating on for the majority of the weekend… so to be expected. Shaun had said that we could moor where we had left on the Friday – and he was more than happy to let me do it – ‘just tie the boat up – come and collect your keys and leave the boat keys in the ignition’ were the instructions. This was done & by about 10.30 we were pulling out of Brooms and on our way home having spent an absolutely lovely few days again on the water. This is the first time we have been out so early in the season, but apart from the inclement weather (obviously much better than previous weekend) and the fact that some of the facilities and pubs may not be fully operational / open as yet – we absolutely loved being on the empty rivers – having our choice of moorings without having to worry about having to get somewhere early to guarantee being able to moor etc – we are back again in September for another long weekend and whilst we have other holidays booked in the meantime – cannot wait to come back…. Took some pictures on the last morning whilst still at Rockland Hope you enjoyed the read and the pictures – we will post some pictures of Broom Captain in the Hireboat Discussion thread. Just as a final note - (and not broads related - but boat related) we are off to Fort Lauderdale again in 2 months time - this is our view whilst lounging in our 'yard' watching the world go by.. And we get some temporary 'pets' for the time we are there.... Mark and Jules

Sunday 11th March Woke up to a very misty Acle – but very peaceful – we had been the only ones moored in the yard all night and there was still only one other boat moored on the river. Plan for today was to head back through Yarmouth and across Breydon – and overnight in Rockland as we have done previously – then it would only be a 30 min trip on Monday back to Brooms to hand the boat back. Slack water at Yarmouth was due at 11.51, so we headed off at about 10am (had our bacon & egg sarnies before we left today) – again on the run to Yarmouth we only saw 1 other boat – and got to the Yacht Station at 11.45 – perfect timing – and still had a foot clearance under the bridges. Went past the yellow post – turned right and onto Breydon – lovely… Journey was quite uneventful all way across Breydon & through Reedham – saw the other Broom boat that was out for the weekend at the Reedcutter moorings – passed the Beauchamp Arms and headed upto Rockland just before 3pm – we turned into the short dyke – again – not a boat in sight – headed down into the staithe where we turned around and headed back to the short dyke moorings – we prefer to moor here on our last night as we always like to cook on the boat at least once and love being able to look out across the fields as the night closes in. Not a soul in sight... Ready for the new season.... Crossing Breydon... And safely moored up at Rockland