MotorBoater

I try to keep an eye on the avian fraternity through various webcams. They seem to have all but disappeared from Potter Heigham but Wroxham appear to be holding on to the swans, although I think they are visiting upstream from the bridge periodically. Around 20 suddenly arrive gliding under the bridge to reclaim their territory. Might be me but numbers seem slightly down elsewhere, maybe they are off foraging in the reeds and marshes.

Maybe we could have a thread on "Whatever will they think of next" !

They forgot to mention the reappearance of the Fen Tiger in Cambridge and new sightings of the Loch Ness monster, obviously thanks to lockdown, they are a bit further away but would surely add weight to their views.

Look Tosh do what you have to do for your own sanity as much as anything else. If anyone takes offence it will probably be one of those who still haven't figured what it's all about. £50 million raised by Captain Tom and a couple of private donations and now we are told they can't spend it on what the NHS need most - PPE. Go for it for the RNLI, they need the money and can use it. It should be as much about getting your exercise as the money.

John Wayne said, in She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, "Don't apologise Mr Cahill, it's a sign of weakness". I happen to think it's a sign of strength. This usually puts me at odds with every politician, CEO and chairman in the country but I am now used to being on the outside looking in. Anyone who expected we will get through this without mistakes is in cuckoo land. To imagine that there is some kind of "Bible" or ready reference guide to refer to, however many rehearsals, is unrealistic. Since it's likely that a number of those people present in 2017 are no longer pushing the same buttons today, as then, I hope that one outcome of this is that these testing scenarios are run yearly and not just when somebody thinks it might be a good idea. Clearly mistakes were made early on and we have been playing catch-up ever since. The main inquest will follow much much later and people will need to be held to account. Will we hear about it ? Probably not, apologies are a sign of weakness. I don't see the efforts made in regard to PPE and care homes as reactive, rather as corrective, apologies are a sign of weakness. Irrespective of my views on government by NGO committee, it has been made clear that the guidance to police officers was never intended for publication and it is equally made clear that the government guidance hasn't changed. In years gone by it has not been unusual for the government to adopt a limited form of censorship over the media of the day in times of national emergency, and maybe that is what their antics are leading to, but I think Facebook and Twitter (Amongst others) will be a problem there. Those directly involved in this struggle, and those indirectly involved through family members, obviously deserve our thanks and support. Those who lose family and friends deserve our sympathy, all of them warrant our prayers. I see nothing in this thread that undermines the struggle that the frontline heroes are going through, or the respect in which they are held. I see plenty of evidence of so-called loopholes but no suggestion that advantage should be taken of them, only the wish that government should take note of them. Sorry but here comes the big BUT..... The year 2001 saw the introduction of a new concept in British politics, it's not so much that it wasn't around before that but that was when it gained a popular name - "A good day to bury bad news". For those who need reminding I suggest you follow this link to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1358985/Sept-11-a-good-day-to-bury-bad-news.html If you really feel the need to indulge in a little bout of navel-gazing that of course is your right. Are you really saying the supposedly superior human brain can't handle more than one thing at a time ? If I am right in thinking Vaughan, Marshman, JM and others have their eyes on a bigger picture then they are to be applauded because someone needs to. If someone does indeed "pick a day to bury bad news" about the Broads you can't then say you want a replay because you weren't listening ! Finally I would add a word about the performance of the Banks, but that word might get me kicked out. So I repeat - THE GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE HASN'T CHANGED !

This has been going on for years, and I do mean years, everything from drug enforcement to speed limits, and now lockdown enforcment. This is what I referred to days ago as being governed by committee. It's the wrong committe, why bother electing a government when NGOs make the important decisions. (For those not aware NGO = Non Governmental Organisations).

If this makes it to facebook and twitter I see trouble ahead

I'm sure I saw that approx. 30,000 had applied but less than 5,000 had been signed up so far. Apparently they are looking for 80,000 people. Maybe they should make sure all bases are covered here first. Only then will they know how short the labour force will be. "Passengers on board the aircraft will be required to maintain social distancing guidelines and will not be allowed to leave Romania if they display any symptoms of Covid-19." They need to be tested, not waived through if they look OK.

Vaughan, it seems to me you are one of a few who are uniquely placed to describe the highs and lows of ordinary life on both sides of the (English !) Channel, from a recent historical perspective. How about it then ? We can't be that bad, I believe even Macron lived here for a time.

The wife has just spent three days of the last four watching Midsummer Murders, afternoon and weekends. It occurs to me that in spite of DCI Barnaby's best efforts there can't be many residents left so I think that might be a good place to self-isolate. The village shops and pubs are still open at the moment. Where would you like to be - if you couldn't choose the broads !

Only noticed them Thurs. Wish I was next door !

Just finished a virtual tour of the south coast by webcam. From Bournemouth round the coast to Southend. I have to say the quality of the cameras is variable, to be polite, but they all show the same thing - deserted beaches, one or two people here and there but that is it. The papers are probably looking for a riot somewhere........ Jumped up to Norfolk, even quieter to be honest, as you might expect, I described Potter Heigham as scary earlier but now even the birds have disappeared. If it wasn't for the occasional movement you'd think everyone has left. At least Wroxham seem to be hanging on to their swans, around 20 of them. I think a couple moved into their boat (Red Canopy) opposite Barnes on Thursday, still lights at night, that's the nearest they'll get to a weekend away. I just hope they haven't travelled far. Couple of pics from Great Yarmouth today at 1pm:

Can't help feeling that rocking chair is in the wrong place !

ECIPA, there is much in what you say and no-one would begrudge a cycle ride to work especially with the reduction in bus services, however that doesn't account for the cycle riders who just happen to pass, or are in, large open areas (Like the huge sports field next to my house) that can't be shut down. Your last paragraph appears a reasonable response from a reasonable man. The problem is the people NOT doing their best, and that is not only cyclists. My point is that the cyclists should be held to account like anyone else and not excused as merely fitness aficionados. Your last sentence says it all - figure out what you can do, and when to do it.

If there should be a move to ban cyclists I think they will only have themselves to blame. I am motivated to post this having just looked out of the window to see, yet again, a cyclist ride by - on the pavement - with a knapsack on his back, at about 20mph. I would confidently lay a bet on whether A&E departments see more cycle or canoe related incidents. That is not really the issue. If we are supposed to refrain from any activity that adds to emergency service use then both activities are to be discouraged. Cyclists can walk like everybody else. If the guidelines say exercise locally why are these people allowed to ride miles into the countryside, if they are staying local why do they need a backpack ? Drivers are pulled over daily to explain their journeys, what about the cyclists ? I get the arguement about canoeists getting their exercise but they can use their feet as well as their arms (Unless disabled) and if we are all in this together then start acting like it. Any apparent bias is down to not owning a bicycle and has nothing to do with sitting at red traffic lights whilst cyclists blithely ride straight through, or being nearly flattened several times by cyclists riding at speed on the pavement - honestly. I hope this is not too much of a deviation.

Nothing I have seen on this thread lately settles the conundrum, expressed elsewhere, as to whether members preference is for the fluid under their keels, or that behind the bar........Then again perhaps it does !

Sorry, I forgot: Coronation Street goes boating.

Far too wide a choice here. More like: Coronation Street More Coronation Street Yet more Coronation Street Repeats of Coronation Street Weekend summaries of...........Coronation Street !

Unfortunately this assumes the morons can read

Bit of shake at full zoom.

It might only apply to tier one customers but when you click on home delivery to book a slot it now says 1hr slot or priority slot. Mine had a choice of tomorrow or not at all. It will vary from branch to branch I guess.

Miracles do happen ! It seems Tesco have finally checked their emails from the government and realised 1.5 million people have been catergorised as Tier One and require assistance. I 've had an email this morning saying 75,000 out of an initial 110,000 names supplied are Tesco customers and a system is in place to give Tier One people priority delivery slots. I have been able to place an order this morning, after weeks of trying, and delivery is confirmed for tomorrow. This means no-one in the house has to go anywhere as the wife is no longer running around town picking up bits here and there. Maybe the heavyweight pressure from my MP and others, plus government departments, has persuaded the major supermarkets to invest their extra profits in uprating services. Finally, lockdown means lockdown, at least for us.

Unless you are a tiger I suppose

The report on this I saw didn't detail how they discovered the tiger was infected, I doubt it stood still for a nasal swab. More seriously though, if it turns out that the cat family are susceptible to this virus, we should be afraid, very afraid. Cats by their nature roam all over the place, we've had feral cats locally, living in the open country beyond our house in the past, for instance, not to mention all the domestic varieties. I, for one, am hoping the diagnosis is premature.

Hi, Apart from three motorboats that came up from Barton Broad and turned right for Stalham/Sutton the only boat we saw was a medium to large sail boat that looked like it was having trouble getting in at the village end, but it was mostly out of sight as there is a slight bend there. I thought there was another boat there but when I looked again it was gone - assuming it wasn't a mirage ! This was Thurs 19th.