floydraser

Watched part 1, I'll watch the others later. I also have fond memories of Woodbridge. I bought my first boat, a Seal 22 Sinbad from Andy Seedhouse. I kept it in his yard for 12 months and had the best view accross the Deben from the cockpit. I hope he's still around? I am also fascinated by the Bell and Steelyard. The timbers of the yard are original and it used to weigh wagons in and out of the quay. Oh, and the Adnams shop.

Hope the levels are low when I come over next week; maybe I'll be able to pick my phone out of the mud!

"Ones", in the plural? Mine has a large input, large output (pump out), and large vent to the side of the hull. In addition there's a smaller diameter flush which has a cap next to the pump out. I replaced this with "Bosphorous Sanition Hose 19mm" from Lee Sanitiation. It's 19mm id, 27mm od and I have a bit left 39 inches long which is yours if you're not in a hurry.

OK until they have to put out a mayday. I can already hear a Tony Hancock routine....

I only know Ranworth. Get there early or at a lucky time and you can see the broad from the car. If not, it's a short walk from the alternative car park, and there's a cafe with outdoor seating.

"They were twins, but only one of them was identical. The trouble was that you couldn't tell which one was identical because they both looked the same." - Victor Borge.

Oh dear, as an apprentice Industrial Photographer in 1974 I was using an old MPP and a Sinar P monorail with 5" x 4" glass plates.

Over here in Leicester we have the National Space Centre and Richard III. If it brings in the punters and it's not bolted down, someone will nab it!

Thanks for that, I had no idea there was an elevated railway, found it on Youtube now. My late brother hated Liverpool. He used to deliver there as a lorry driver and said the dockers did 10 minutes work followed by a half hour tea break. For anyone interested, at the other end of the Birkenhead/Queensway tunnel, at the Woodside Ferry terminal, there is an interesting museum with a WW2 German U-boat chopped into 3 bits.

Lovely clear photos. The flood level markers are a bit frightening.... In Southwold I recommend going into the Adnams shop and telling them you've never tried the Triple Malt whisky. They do tasters. Then drive to Woodbridge, go into the Adnams shop and tell them you've never tried the Triple Malt whisky. Then get the Mrs to drive back to Southwold, go to the Adnams shoop and sell them you've never shyed the trimble top whiskam......then back to Woofbrim and sho on....

I did wonder if any forumites were about. Next time I'll try and be less shy...

I guess it's something that comes to all of us and we try not to be too serious about it. When Father in law was alive the TV was quieter, still loud but he had the subtitles on all the time. Mother in law used to shake her head and say, "His hearing's getting worse". Since he passed 18 months ago she has the volume louder but no subtitles!

This reminds me of something we have just gone through with my 91 year old Mother in law: her hearing has been deteriorating (the TV was deafening to most of us!) so it was decided we would apply drops. The recipient usually has a bit of crackling in the ears but eventually it should clear. She went completely deaf for two days. Lesson learned: do one ear at a time. There has been an improvement though; we can now hold a conversation in the same room as the TV. In our case there are 4 siblings to share the work and our days are Mondays and Fridays.

No but we will definitely go back. It was a bit chilly with a fresh breeze so I'm guessing it wouldn't have been as pleasant as it could be at the top. Now we know that Ranworth is just up the road we'll most likely plan a longer visit later.

I hope this counts. It's also a bit of a thank you to the forum for tourist information. The weather forecast said it was going to be fine for the whole of the jubilee weekend so we planned to trundle gently over to Brundall on Friday and stay until Sunday. Then the forecast changed so we shortened the plan to Saturday evening. We came home Saturday afternoon... Someone on the BGM facebook group instigated a jubilee gathering on Friday afternoon which gave us chance to meet a lot of the friendly folk who moor with us as neighbours. We retired early while some stayed for karaoke and such into the night. A great crowd though, and a shame we may not be there next year. Product placement is an effective marketing tool; if you read about PG Tips for long enough you will start to believe you should be buying it. Similarly, I have read so much about Ranworth on this forum that I was almost compelled to go there on Saturday. First surprise: it's only 7 miles from Brundall. So where is the great divide between North and South rivers? I'd guess there probably isn't one, it just sounds like it when written down. I was told to make sure I climbed the church tower. On the way over we thought we had found the church when we came across this: The church tower and small graveyard at Panxworth. Reported as being derelict in 1847, rebuilt, then pulled down again in 1969. Some interesting grave stones. As we approached Ranworth the church didn't look very open (it was 10am) but we managed to get “pole position” parking, overlooking the staithe. I noticed Papaver and thought someone has chucked a whole lot more money into his hole in the water than I have mine. Money well spent in his case. It wasn't that warm and the wind was a bit keen. Some hardy souls were having a late breakfast outdoors but we decided to have a look around and earmark it for a return later in warmer weather. We bought a couple of bits from the shop and noted the walk to the wildlife centre. Wroxham Barns next. I didn't expect much as I knew it was aimed mainly at families with young children but even so it was disappointing to find some units unoccupied and some closed. The appeal to Mrs Raser should have been newly opened “Just Sew Small”. A well stocked place but very expensive. Coffee in the Courtyard Cafe was OK though, probably the first time we've bought drinks out since lockdown. Into Wroxham/Hoveton to see if I could melt my credit card in Angling Direct before she could melt hers in Emma's Boutique. Sorry lads, I lost again but I'm sure there'll be a return match. It started to rain as we got back to the car so after lunch at the boat we had a steady trundle home. Thanks to all for the tourist information, this is why we don't go abroad; there is still so much to see right under our noses.

Does anyone know if the A11 Wymondham roadworks have been suspended for the Jubilee weekend? They say they have suspended a lot of roadworks but I can't find reference to these.

I think you've slightly misinterpreted my first point which was in regard to the OP basically saying he could afford to live on terra firma but wouldn't rent on principle. The bit about not being so visible we appear to agree on. I too have to hold back on the subject so best we do.

Probably produced by the same people who did the Susan Calman series which also featured dodge geography! It kept repeating they were featuring Norfolk. No, you featured Norwich and Great Yarmouth which just happen to be in Norfolk. Should we assume they had a hand over where they were taught how to cast off and moor up? The cynic in me has noticed that a lot of these modern "travelogue" shows are no more than a series of adverts. I was waiting for the token forager and lifeboat rescue. Don't think I'll bother with the rest of the series.

I think that living aboard should be about a choice of lifestyle and not saving money. I have seen it done on the Broads but by people with deep pockets. The trick is not to look like a liveaboard and blend in with the surroundings, then folk may turn a blind eye.

Absolutely. And the when someone goes overboard the instinct is that you are leaving them behind, so reverse. This was illustrated to me a few years ago when viewing my first choice boat, a Freeman 33 Sedan. There were two circular repairs in the transom and when I asked what caused the damage I was told that a previous owner had a swim platform fitted. One day his Mrs fell overboard while mooring so he put it in reverse. The platform hit the mooring and poked two holes in the transom. We don't know what happened to the lady but as it never made the news she probably survived. The Freeman has two props...

Thanks for this thread. As a couple we've always done the "something else" but was me who introduced the boat. Every year we visit a few different areas of England and this year we have joined Historic Houses to hopefully add to our enjoyment. In March we blew the cobwebs out of the caravan with a visit to Malvern. we took a decent stroll up the hills on one day then visited Little Malvern Court and it's lovely gardens. Last week we were in Devizes. Corsham Court holds several fortunes worth of paintings by Van Dyke and Reynolds, as well as a fair bit of Chippendale furniture. Definitely no veneer in 'ere! Walking along the Kennet & Avon from Sells Green to Devizes we saw a few prestine wide beams but unfortunately there's still a large number of less well maintained boats blotting the landscape. Next is York at the end of June then back to the Lakes in September. We have a short wheelbase VW camper on order which we plan to use to go further afield from next year. That'll be Scotland then. It should be good for long days out mostly, then the odd night away. We'll still tow the caravan with it for longer stays but will probably have a tent or awning for the longer tours.

I vote here for a Tilley Airflo. Very comfortable even in hot sun. Best investment in clothing I ever made. I've now bought a winter Tilley with a flap that comes down over the ears!

Managed a trip over on Tuesday 17th May, in between family commitments. The Wymondham roadworks didn't seem to be a bother so arrived at around 16.15. The plan was to stay for two nights and return late Thursday. I was really hoping to get there early enough to sand the caulking I had put down last time and get the first coat of varnish applied. This would mean (weather permitting) I could get at least another couple of coats on this trip. It's only a very small area but it would mean a vulnerable part of the rear was once again waterproof. Did that, then put sterilizer in the water tanks to work over night. I put the cover back over for the expected overnight downpour, which only lasted 5 minutes from 23.00! Wednesday I managed to replace some wooden quadrant, painted the horrible woodwork above the bed and applied more varnish to the deck. Having forgotten the Fry Light again, I used the excuse to nip up to Roys (how much??) but accidentally slipped into Angling Direct and bought some terminal tackle. I actually had to nip into Norwich because I have found it easier sometimes to order stuff click and collect on the way to the boat or nearby. On my last trip over I called in at Toolstation in Thetford as my local branch couldn't supply, and the Thetford branch has easy access from the A14. This time it was Euro Car Parts in Hall Road. Wednesday night's forecast included quite a monsoon so once again the cover was applied and I slept “upstairs” in the saloon due to the smelly paint in the bedroom. The noise started at 01.30 and went on most of the night. I will NEVER understand why anyone would want to live on a boat. Thursday all I had set myself as a target was another coat of paint, another coat of varnish (making a total of 4) and apply a repair patch to the repair of the cover. I had repaired the tear in the cover a couple of years ago with strong, black tape from Screwfix, putting it on both sides of the material and sewing round the edges. No, I'm not sewing your button on. The weather and direct sunlight had taken it's toll on the tape so it was time to repair the repair. I found this Flex Patch online and it looked worth a try. One box contains three bits of repair tape: 1 x 5” square, 1 x 3” square, and 1 x 2” x 8”. In the pic the yellow strip is the 2 x 8 with backing still on. The 3 x 3 is the clear patch on the fabric. I used a combination of them to cover the tear but if you use it be careful; once you've removed the backing the next thing it touches is where it's going to be stuck for ever. There's no second chances, no re-applying it and it takes no prisoners. And that's if you can get it off your fingers to start with! Looks promising but time will tell. I forgot to take a pic of the final repair though. Toolstation have it at £9.99 per box or Euro £4.49 for the same thing??? The only difference is that one gives the sizes (approximate) in imperial units!

Wymondham A11: My Tom Tom satnav doesn't know about these roadworks and scheduled me to stay at 70... After reading here I decided to aim to go through "off peak" and hit it northbound at 15.30 Tuesday. After a steady 40 for the most part we slowed to stop/start for the last 1.5 miles. It actually added about 10 minutes to the journey. Coming home yesterday I hit it southbound around 14.30 and made a steady 40 all the way through. About 5 minutes added. I wouldn't want to do it at peak times though; there's one slip road open and where they join seems to slow everything to a crawl. Not many lorries though. At Asda we would have known about it and these days that probably means drivers are ordered to avoid it, satellite tracking making sure they do. I would have headed straight for it for the overtime value.

Unfortunately, I didn't make the trip due to medical reasons. I'm going to try again next Tuesday. I'll report then unless we hear before.