kpnut

You could always revert to your youth and hitch hike! I managed to get to Norway once for 10 days skiing for well under £100. A long time ago. It was £29 return on the ferry from Newcastle if you just slept on the floor, I think £16 return on the train up to Voss and equivalent of £3 a night on the campsite (it was VERY cold, February). And by working two hours a day in the ski hire shop I got free skis and boots and lift pass. I took all my own food, dehydrated chicken supreme and angel delight! Just had to buy milk. Would I do that now? No!!! Most expensive thing was the beer, even then (1990’s) it was about £5 for 1/2 litre.

Maybe in some places, probably ones that only have locals going. Certainly not where I’ve spent many many years skiing, in Risoul and Vars. Discounted yes, free, unfortunately not. After more years than I can easily remember telemark skiing down those slopes and in all the wonderful, fairly benign off piste there, I had to finally give up when having a big operation on my back. Maybe a good thing, as perhaps my knees were getting a bit past it. I would seriously like to go again though, but not sure I trust myself to be sensible and take it steady.

Once when in a bathtub hire boat, I found a wild mooring past Bramerton on the way to Norwich, not as far as the flyover. On the opposite bank to Bramerton and if I remember right there was an old building and a track nearby. But at low tide we ended up more of less on the bottom. It would be ok there though if not right up to the bank like I was to get the dogs off. I know I’ve marked a few possible spots on my map on the boat, but can’t remember the locations off the top of my head. I’m sure others have mentioned before about a wild mooring spot above Beccles old bridge.

That’s what I will do too. When I go up to my 30 yr old son’s house in Scotland next month, I’ll put an Easter egg in one of his kitchen cupboards. And tell him on Easter Day, as I doubt he’ll have found it beforehand!

Be careful - retirement routine can get tedious. Much better to keep flexible and mix it up.

I suppose when I was young I spent a lot of time out in some quite remote places, on Dartmoor and the Scottish highlands and places like that.

I took my two to a event like that when they were about 12 and 7. It woke an interest for both of them, and where we used to go on ski trips in the alps all the apartment blocks were called after stars and constellations etc. Looking at the night sky on really clear crisp cold nights in the alps was magical. Maybe you can answer this for me Peter. I remember the Milky Way was really prominent when I was a child, but now it doesn’t seem to feature much, even in the dark skies of Norfolk when at the boat. Has it faded? Or am I just not looking enough? Or is it only at certain times of the year?

I have two friends who’ve both been on my boat with replacement hips. They seemed to manage fine. I suppose it’s all dependent on your actual mobility; with new joints you might well be more mobile than other people with their old worn-out ones.

That’s really unlucky news from Bern. I can’t even imagine what’s involved with sorting it out. My very best wishes to you Bern (you’ll read this once you’re bored enough in the hospital to read the forum). And many thanks Steve.

Another successful trip ticked off Helen. Many thanks for writing it up, always interesting to read a different perspective. You always take really good photos too. I ought to get up earlier to see these sunrises; I need more willpower!

At least you don’t have to warn guests that if they’re in the shower too long, they’ll flood the floor as it comes up over the shower tray without them noticing. Mine simply pumps out with a jabsco like Vaughan said, after I’ve finished. Makes a racket. I always think everyone nearby will hear it too.

Seems it’s not the first cold I’ve had in many, many years after all. Covid test was positive. I only did it as a precaution as I’m meant to be going beating tomorrow, so for the sake of others, thought I should as someone was bound to ask! That goes explain the achiness and lack of energy mind you. How do we know that covid tests haven’t morphed into testing positive even if it’s just a normal cold? They’re both extremely similar viruses I thought.

My potential apologies for tonight Bern. Think I need to get snug in bed to nurse a filthy cold. If I can’t get to sleep, I’ll come along, at least for a while. First cold I’ve had in many, many years.

Ah yes, perhaps that’s where she got it from. I’d forgotten you’d seen it on your stay in May. Have a good final full day. It goes so quickly.

That is one luxury I do already have Neil. A remote control; wake up, press button A and away it goes (or did😂).

Deepest condolences to Marina, Alan and family. Although Ian’s health issues have been immense, he was so upfront and stoic about them. He’s no doubt helped numerous people with his openness about them. And all through it, he always seemed to have other people at the front of his mind, with the lifeboat support and fundraising. I have great admiration for him, even though I’ve never met him. It’s comforting to know he rallied a bit in his last few days. We’ll miss you Ian, even though your choice of football team was very misguided!

That’s it - no more boating for me until the boats had a repaint. I hoping for the 6 weeks estimated, but more realistically am thinking I won’t see in the water again till April 😢 Yesterday was spent tidying the boat up, clearing the decks/roof of mudweights/rhond anchors/mops etc etc, clearing work surfaces etc and then covering upholstery, beds and floors with dust sheets. She’ll have her windows taken out as part of the job, so anything to make it easier for the work. Also partially winterising (antifreeze in engine raw water, empty water tank and taps open, toilet flush inlets closed and flushed with antifreeze, tubular heater on thermostat in engine bay, dehumidifier on) in case the lift out is delayed into a properly cold snap. Hope I haven’t missed anything! And handing in the keys, boo hoo, it felt rather final!

Many thanks to all. I won’t go through each one quote by quote. Sutton Staithe put me on to Panks and I rang them. So that’s an option. I also found the website Smoggy posted, excellent information. Very handy phone number to have, thanks OBB. And MM, and Mouldy, I have the Chinese/planar/autoterm route in mind should it be necessary, but really hope it won’t be. Karizma, mine is the same model. I watched an excellent video by two ladies who service their Eberspacher on a regular basis. It really doesn’t look hard at all and coupled with info from Smoggys website regarding exhaust fumes/gaskets etc, gives me a very good clue as to what to do. The main issue is the recoding. My controller has no visible means of finding the error code so I need the reader. I thinking of changing it to one that does. I know Richardsons engineers can find the error code as they did it once before for me. So once I know that, and get it unlocked, I’m minded to give it a go myself. Failing that, my plan might be to ring that number for Jeff, and Panks again for a price. I also have the option of bringing it home to Yorkshire and get it seen to in Hull, as the boat’s conveniently shut up now for lift out and paint work for a few weeks so time is not crucial. My gut feeling still is that a good clean out will solve the problem. Many thanks all, and I’ll keep you all posted for future reference.

Good idea. I don’t envy you working outside in what has been an extremely raw and drying wind. Think it might get a smidgen warmer from tomorrow.

Re: washing up drainer. Catherine got this one for the boat. It’s superb, just right for all the plates, a pan etc and enough room left on the drainer itself for mugs, cutlery etc. I’ve cut a piece of that non-slip holey rubber to fit the drainer so nothing slips or rattles. I don’t think Catherine got it from Amazon and this isn’t the exact one, but it’s something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/simplywire-Drainer-Kitchen-Cupboard-Organiser/dp/B084CT49ZN/ref=asc_df_B084CT49ZN/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=427902915300&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6648927202801188920&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046261&hvtargid=pla-884930502698&psc=1&mcid=7283b46bd08139e4975fac8b70c492df&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=99265826363&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=427902915300&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6648927202801188920&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046261&hvtargid=pla-884930502698 I’ll ask her where she got it from.

I agree about the signposting! Nice walk though. Specially the riverbank bit, past that lovely little mill cottage. I thought you might have been round at Neatishead yesterday as you weren’t on Irstead. The boat nearly steered itself in your direction, but my head said to go to Sutton, fill with fuel and get back to Stalham to have a nosey at the heater and start packing the boat up for her lift out. Hod you enjoyed the beautiful day today, sounds a good day for that walk as the windchill was a bit less than the last couple of days.

Thanks Howard. I wish it was that. But I really don’t think so. It’s always started just fine without the engine and the batteries are topped right up tonight on shore power, but still no luck. When it first went wrong yesterday pm, it was on at the time and had been for a number of hours. It just turned itself off and has been playing up since.

Had a very cold night at Womack. The diesel heater started playing up late afternoon, running for 3/4 hour then stopping. I could start it again after a while. This morning it started once, which was nice to warm the cabin before getting up. But after it’s 3/4 hr, it switched off, and wouldn’t go again. It let me start it again halfway up the Ant for a while. The batteries are fine, there’s fuel in the tank. So I wonder if it’s not getting enough air somehow and cutting out after a while through overheating, or the brains are in a muddle and it just thinks it’s overheating. Either sooted up or dust etc has got in and built up is my guess. Anyway, I decided to go back to Stalham a day early so I could have a good look at it and hook up to cheaper electric than the posts on the river moorings. I hoovered out the unit, but couldn’t do much more than that. I was hoping to check the glow plug but haven’t got the right tool to take it out. I’ve now watched a couple of really useful videos about how to service the Eberspacher, which I’ll show Tony. I reckon I could have a go at that. If he agrees, I’ll remove the unit next trip and take it home to do carefully and systematically. If I make a mess of it, I’ll have to pay for it be be serviced by someone. I’m fairly sure there’s not a big problem with it. So not the warmest night tonight. I find fan heaters make a lot of draught and so I’m sitting virtually on top of my oil filled heater! Other than that excitement, the weather today was glorious. Cloudless sky and sparkly water. Windy though with a BIG windchill. It’s a shame I couldn’t take Finlay out for a much longer walk than what he got.

So pleased you’re having a great time. and I’m looking forward to reading/hearing all about it.

No point me saying I’ll let you know, as I won’t be going under till about midday. You’ll beat me to it. But I will take a photo and let you know in case you delay till Wednesday. The snow amounted to about a teacupful! I had an excellent excuse not to go out in the chill. Once moored up at Womack, a fellow mooree from Richardsons came for a cup of tea.