kpnut

I’d disagree a bit there Smoggy. Good poisoning bacteria can build up to levels that’ll cause harm before the food starts to smell or look odd. Dogs and other carnivores can eat far more rank stuff than us ‘cos their stomach acids are far stronger than ours which just kill the bacteria. I eat yoghurts which are so far past their use by date that the lids are bowing upwards. They splatter when you open them!

Like at Potter Heigham too. Loads of mooring after the bridge, let alone all those lengths up Heigham sound that are maintained on our toll money.

The difference between ‘supermarket fresh’ and actual fresh! My allotment veg lasts ages in the fridge, j washed till I use it, even lettuce etc, but the stuff from the supermarket only lasts a day or so before wilting. Makes you wonder just what they do with it as it usually does make it to the shops fairly swiftly after picking (if grown in this country, that is)

My method - Put the eggs in cold water. Heat the water to boiling. As it starts boiling (when you see the first bigger bubble break the surface, not the tiny ones that form first round the eggs) turn on a timer. 2 minutes for medium size eggs. 2 mins 15 secs for large eggs. Adjust timing in future according to your preference. Take out of the water immediately after that time ofherwise they’ll keep cooking. Eat asap, with soldiers (i don’t bother with that bit, I just scope out all the yolk onto bread or toast and spread it!). And Gracie, get a dog. They love eggs that have gone past their best. Raw, straight into their bowl.

Foods which can cause a problem with food poisoning bacteria are ones which are high in protein, and are moist. Just the right conditions for bacteria to grow and multiply. So a ready made chicken soup will have a ‘use by’ on it, (high protein and moist), but not a packet of soup mix (high protein but not moist). A tin of chicken soup is sterile jndide due to the canning process so won’t contain any acetic anyway (unless the tin is dented and might therefore have a microscopic hole in it, big nough to let bacteria in, but too small to let a liquid drop get out). ‘Use by’ is there for food safety reasons. Could have a build up of bacteria enough to do harm by that date (although I always go a few days over with no problem as the scientists setting the date have to err on the cautious side). If you buy stuff in the reduced section that has today’s date as a ‘use by’ it’ll most likely still be fine for s as day or so and it’s certainly fine to freeze it on that day for the normal length of time stuff goes in the freezer for. Just remember when you get it out of the freezer that’ll need eating within a day or so. ‘Sell by’ is nothing to do with consumers or food safety. It’s just there as an instructions for shopkeepers. So if I were you, I’d ignore it completely. The other one that’s being phased out because so many people throw food away when there’s no need to is ‘Best before’. That’s a date after which food might not be at its best regarding taste/texture eg crisps or cereal that might lose their crunch, a chocolate bar that might go a bit white in colour etc. It has nothing whatsoever to do with food safety as it’s used on foods that are either low in protein, or dry, or both. End of lesson!

At least they tell you the diesel price before you decide to fill, no one else seems to do so.

We need some high pressure to push the water down.

Nothing heard so far.

I think it was a bit chillier last night after those nice clear skies yesterday evening. No matter, I slept solidly again. We got going about 9am, destination probably Acle bridge. I was tempted by the look of Upton dyke on my way past but will save that for later. Approaching Acle I had the choice of all mooring spots bar two, but just as I was about to turn round in good time before the bridge, 3 boats in succession came through the bridge, so I had to turn nearer Bridgecraft than is ideal. I didn’t want to go through, turn and come back as it’d be just my luck that I’d meet a whole string of boats coming up and end up at the back, with all moorings then taken once back under the bridge. That was me well and truly overthinking it! Anyway, I turned, the first boat in the line nearly nabbed my chosen spot but then decided to veer back out into the river again at the last moment. And 70p on the electric for my efforts. Finlay had a run, then I was too tempted by the Dunes cafe so went in for a bacon and egg sandwich for a late breakfast. It was gorgeous, with tasty smoked bacon and very filling. I’ve also got a slice of rhubarb and custard cake for my tea. Treats galore! I spent 3/4 hour on hold to my doctor’s surgery, wasting some lovely sunshine, and then Finlay and I set out for a walk. Along the river past Mill House Farm to Acle dyke moorings. Someone, I think Broads01, said he thought they looked closed and I’d responded saying I wasn’t surprised seeing as they’d been underwater for weeks. I can happily report they’re now open for use again, £5. The honesty box has moved along the fence to the corner nearest the moorings (it used to be in the middle of the. private moorings bit in front of the house. The old subsiding house is no more, just the black barn conversion. So maybe they were just giving the moorings time to recover after the wet winter. Crossing the road by the Hermitage and wandering up Old Rd, I saw a new signpost. It showed a WW2 trail, with a little detour across the road into a housing estate where I found a pillbox, just there in the middle of all the houses! I lost the trail signs at the road junction so took the left road into the village. I’m pleased to say the Vault cafe is still running, I’ve never been in but have heard it’s good. Scooters cafe was open too and seemed busy. I couldn’t justify stopping in a cafe when I’d had that lovely bacon and egg sarnie. I find Acle a funny place, something and nothing, but I get the feeling it’s ‘on the up’. I walked up Pyebush Lane past the cemetery towards Fishley church, having caught up with the WW2 trail signs again. I know there are two more pillboxes up there. The photo shows both Fishley and Upton churches. I was pleased there was a breeze to blow away the smell of the oilseed rape flowers, urgh! I’ve no idea where the trail signs went again as I reached Upton. We turned left and sat by the village pond for a while, then stopped in at the White Horse for a glass of beer -this time a 4.1% greene king called Scrumdown. Quite hoppy and not too heavy. Then down to Upton dyke and back along the river to Acle bridge. 5 miles with no rush needed. This is a walk I’ve done many times, but there’s always something new to find, this time the pillbox in the housing estate. And nowhere was ultra muddy which was a real bonus. On walking down the bank on the Pedro’s side and looking across at the now fairly full moorings, I realised just how low my Horizon 35 is compared to most other boats. Maybe I need to build an upstairs to keep up! And Malcolm, Moonlight Shadow is 3 boats down in the picture. No-one on board to say hello to as I walked past.

Good idea. I’m three years in and just at that stage of repainting. I’ve racked up over 60 weeks of practice now. At a week a year in a hire boat that’s a lifetime and I still feel nervous for each mooring! But it has got easier, far easier, so as Helen says, keep practising. Go out on Barton Broad and go round and round, forward and back, use the channel markets as targets for reversing etc. You’ll get to know your own boat. Have fun!

Well Gracie, the first of those lingering lighter nights. This was 7.45pm. I felt that summer might one day come after all! And yes, there’s a boat cruising down in the second photo. In fact two boats, privately owned. I hope they found space at Ludham Bridge as it was pretty dark.

I think that must have been the case too near Ludham. I woke briefly in the night to hear the bilge pump working. I didn’t hear any rain though. Sounds like a couple of days spent in the best company, it’s wonderful they love boating so much.

Just realised you’ve changed your picture.

Thanks for the interesting read Helen. Southwold looks a superb place to visit. Tony has agreed a 12 day stay on the boat starting mid April, so as well as venturing through GY and south for a few days, I might suggest a day out in the car somewhere to break the trip up for him. Southwold would be a good one. I’ll be visiting Bungay in June as I have to attend a meeting there. That too looks interesting.

I was going to ask why there’s some Springer’s Retreat orange on Mermaid’s bow, spotted on the photo of the mudweight and Oby Mill. Then I realised it’s the life ring and mudweight.

Desmond really does know how to live well.

Don, I think you’ve got it. Thankyou. I was coming to the conclusion it was ground elder but that flowers a bit later.

I meant hogweed, not hemlock.

It does indeed Simon. I reckoned they were either all together or Hunters were having a laugh by recommending every hirer went up the Ant.

When I have a boatful of guests, the dehumidifier goes in the car, along with Henry hoover and the hose reel.

My ‘bible’ onboard also says pacific cruisers st Loddon on non-turnaround days, but that’s on the wrong river. And perhaps a self serve pump out machine at the Waveney river centre, no diesel though and I don’t even know if the self serve one is still there. Last time I used it was in 2019.

Goodchilds at Burgh Castle? I’ll be interested in any replies you get too. That’s the only one I know of and have never stopped there, don’t even know if they still do it. At Beccles I went to Quayway, opposite the yacht station entrance.

That explains it. I looked up the events diary on the website and it was certainly there, so couldn’t understand why I missed it so completely. I should have stopped and let the world go by at the church mooring and I’d have eventually seen it! I remember you telling me about the churchyard being a good place for swallowtails last year. So by mentioning it again that’s now firmly lodged in my mind for later in the year. Beautiful little church.

I thought about that this morning Helen, but I reckon it’ll be really muddy up through that carr wood and across the meadow at the moment, if that’s the way you mean. I managed to stretch the walk to Horning to 4.5 miles with my detours. Finlay’s now asleep on the sofa.

A leisurely start as usual when I’m on my own, taking Finlay out for a bit of training on the grassy bank. Schedule for the morning was to walk into Horning. Just as I read that BA and Dungraftin were coming up the Ant together this morning, they appeared and I went out to say hello. Forgot my camera till they were nearly round the bend, but posted a photo on Dungraftin’s thread. Our walk to Horning via the track, across the road at Upper Street and down past the church first took me to the church mooring, just to see what state it’s in after the winter water levels. The path down from the church is fine, as is the mooring itself. As the church came into view, I realised what a delightful proper country church it is, and that song by Chris de Burgh about a country churchyard came into my head - can’t remember if it’s about a wedding or a burial though! While sitting on the bench at the mooring the Sailing club safety boat came along and I asked if there was a race today. Yes, Horning to Thurne mouth and back. There was nothing on the river, so presuming a lunchtime start, I thought it’d be nice to see them all setting off in the green. So we got going. Seeing as Griff had said Boulter’s was open yesterday, Easter Day itself, I chanced going down there for some canopy cleaner. They were open and I duly stocked up. Next detour was down to the Ferry Inn to see what improvements they’d done to their carpark. They’ve put a ramp up at the entrance, presumably to stop water running in off the road, and it also looks like a new fence with concrete boarding underneath. I did spot that one of the cottages down that lane has planted some hedging whips - very, very hopefully I’d guess taking into account the amount of flooding that the road gets fairly regularly. Then into Horning itself where I ordered a cup of tea and a bacon bap from the kiosk on the green. I sat and waited, and waited, and waited for around 20 minutes before the bacon bap was ready, long after my cup of tea had been drunk. He had said they were busy but if I’d known this long, I’m not sure I’d have bothered. The village was busy, the Swan Inn looked packed with diners, but the staithe itself was so empty, one hire boat and one day boat for all the time I was there. I don’t think us boaters are anywhere near the main source of income for these businesses. No sign of a sailing race mind you. I think it must have started much earlier. If I’d hung around long enough, I suppose I’d have seen them return, but there didn’t seem to be any activity at the club either. After a nice wander back to the boat, with the weather now set fair for the rest of the day, I set to and cleaned the canopies, followed by a reproofing. Ruby, with Graham and Delilah onboard, not sure about Angie, passed me and reminded me not to fall in. I think it’d be warmer and pleasant just there, but a little too near the sewage outfall for my liking. Lots of Richardsons boats now coming down for the start of folks’ holidays. Think this is some crab apple blossom I spotted. Quite early I’d say. Also this, I do know what it is, but can’t remember if you see what I mean. Is it Angelica, or Hemlock perhaps? It’s not Cow Parsley. Must be a good year for it whatever it is, it’s everywhere along the verges.