Sundog

Laura - I do hope despite the time delay you discover this post, as I can provide some detail for Sundog's last year or so. Vanessa, my wife, and I bought her around June 1974. She was then owned by the people who owned the wherry yacht Olive (or was it White Moth?!) and was moored at their property which was about a mile or so from Gt. Yarmouth along the Acle straight on the left heading towards Yarmouth. I think we paid £500 for her. We got married in the August and the first night was spent on her. By that time we had her moved to Wheatfen Broad, Ted Ellis' (the naturalist) property. We had a very interesting evening on our wedding night, somewhat worse the wear for alcohol we had to take everything about half a mile through the woods and then across the Marsh! Very memorable! Vanessa was teaching at Bungay Middle Schòol, and I was in my final year at Keswick Hall College of Education. Our intention was to do her up and we started a lot of work in that regard, whilst living aboard. We had her moved to Geldeston in September 1974, as that was nearer to Vanessa'so work, and lived on her very happily, despite the damp! The wood burner was brilliant! In the December we went to the West Midlands to visit Vanessa's family. Whilst we were away she sank! She had a plank removed, well above waterline. But a strong wind blew her onto the bank and as the tide went out she was held there, tipped and flooded! We came back to find all our possessions, including wedding presents, either floating or sunk! We had her pumped out and managed to refloat her. It was clear we couldn't live on her for sometime. But our intention was still to do her up. There's lots of details I could give in that regard, but sadly have no photos. But then a few weeks later Vanessa found she was pregnant and VERY reluctantly we decided to sell her. We sold her to two young men who worked on the rigs and so we were told and thought had the money to fully restore her. We went to see her a couple of times. On one occasion she had been hauled out and was on the bank, the next time she was burnt out. I don't cry much but I did on that occasion. She was truly magnificent and if I could rewrite history I would not have sold her. She still has a very special place in my heart. My eldest son, Ben, was conceived on her; that's how special and personal she is to me. I would be very happy to answer any further questions. Hope that's helpful and fills in a few gaps.