Bluebell

Yes, I despair of all these organisations that lose sight of the original reason they were set up. They appear to become too PC. It’s not just the RNLI the RSPCA and other charities seem to concentrate on side issues along with paying large salaries and spending money that isn’t theirs on things they probably wouldn’t spend their own money on.

I was at Carrow Road today and the atomosphere was amazing. 27000 supporters way better than the 60000 at the London Stadium (so called) a couple of weeks ago. On the ball city!

I try to plan my journeys around the tides. For instance this week I went south aka “the dark side” (only kidding🤡) Sometimes the tides are convenient and sometimes, usually the return journey not so convenient. For instance travelling outbound slack water at Yarmouth was 15.30’ish. Convenient. Travelling back I left the Berney Arms at 06.15 for slack + 1 hour at Yarmouth. Not so convenient, but really quiet and so good running with the tide. I wasn’t passed and didn’t pass any boats heading north, but loads were heading south against a strong tide. The wash hitting my hull was enough to wet the decks and windows. Where I could I turned into the wash to ease the splashes. I suppose you can’t always plan to travel with the tide, but it’s great when you can.

I saw one of the householders at Reedham using the "boat waste only" bins and got a mouthful of abuse when I pointed out their "mistake".

Yeah liquid engineering was definitely Castrol. Castrol was owned by BP and subsequently bought Duckhams.

Probably says more about me than I would want to admit to😇

In my childhood Duckhams supplied a lot of motor oil to the boatyards of the Norfolk Broads. This little known product “Adsil” was also sold to ease saw blades on damp wood. I remember as a kid Ernie and Alan Royall using it on timber for their wooden boats. I found this one today in the garage - must about 50 years old!

Oops! It was such a long time ago I forgot that!

What about this: https://www.watersidemarinesales.co.uk/boats-for-sale/bell-boats-lady-bew.html

Airdraft = 7 ft! Probably won't fit under PH. I'm looking at 6'9" and struggling!

This is very interesting. Does the ex pilot know the airdraft for the Aquafibre 28 Opal? It would great to go through that bridge.

Hi Martin I need to return to you a plastic storage container formerly used for meat balls. Where are you planning to be over the weekend? I have to do some maintenance on Chiltern Lady Thursday/Friday a.m. so could catch up Friday evening/Saturday a.m.

A bit off topic I know, but we had a weekend in Whitstable and not knowing the area well saw two fish & chip shops - one with a lengthy queue and the other empty. We queued! And well worth it, the owner was like a cabaret act and handed out small cones of chips while we waited. Ate them on the beach, followed by a pint of Spitfire. Lovely.

I think I'll get an eye patch

Having moored overnight at The Ferry House Surlingham a couple of years ago, the crew i.e Mrs Bluebell (aka as the home based admiral) departed by road leaving me to return to Potter Heigham solo. I calculated that departing at 04.30 was the optimum time to catch the tides. So for the first time I used the nav lights and rather than disturb the neighbours, untied and pushed out into the ebbing tide - no engine - only firing up the Nanni once clear of the moorings. Probably not to be recommended on reflection, but nobody died! Once I got my night vision sorted I enjoyed running with the tide, but on approaching Brundall the number of properties with security lights either permanently on, or coming on when triggered really proved a challenge. Watching the sun come up around Reedham - priceless. Just one of many happy memories of boating on the Norfolk Broads (not a national park).

So do I. It's just good manners!

Oh yeah, I forgot about the no synchro, on first. Probably been driving autos too long ha ha!

One of the things on “my list” is to watch a village cricket game on the Broads. One that I can get to from a mooring on foot, say a 30 minute walk. Anyone got any ideas?

I started with a Ford Anglia 100E (1956?) in 1967. No heater, 3 gear change, wipers, but no washers. Soon changed for a Mini van😎. Cars didn’t last long in the sixties, must have had about two a year! Company cars followed, Vauxhall Viva, Vauxhall Victor (column change, bench seat and yes, the gear stick came out in London having to drive back to Canterbury in second). Vauxhall Cavalier was the last before setting up in self employment. A mk 3 Cortina was followed by a Peugeot 504, then a Volvo 240, a Volvo 740 and a Volvo 960 estate. Bringing us up to date in 2000 I bought an Audi A4 avant, big mistake. Soon changed for an Audi A6 avant and another and another. In 2012 changed to a Q7 and updated to another in 2015.

This was Gay’s Staithe on Saturday morning. It was full Friday night. So maybe Ranworth was photographed last week. Just saying... Can you spot “Billy No Mates” at the end?

My first meet with NBN. Thanks for making me welcome, had a very nice time. A special thanks for cooking my burger ( with onion rings AND chips - you know who you are )👍 Looking forward to next year and hopefulily on the river soon.

Filled in as if I was there today-weird really as I was in Brighton(well Hove actually)😎

So does our 16 year old Garmin. Any advance on that?

The last two or three times we’ve been to Stalham we have been unable to moor at the Staithe. There are two boats one named Pelican and the other with lots of flowers on the decks semi-permanently tied up there leaving little or no chance for a casual visitor to visit the town. We have taken advantage of Richardson’s kind offer to moor in their yard free of charge and have spent a few quid at the local shops and cafes (oh, ok and the pubs!). Cannot something be done to free up these moorings for visitors?

I’m glad to hear that you avoided being hit over the weekend, unlike a certain boater on another site. Not wishing to be too controversial, I thought the standards of boatmanship were pretty good on our trip out, apart from the usual speeding. We did see the rangers warning boaters of speeding at How Hill. Roll on our next trip out!