kpnut

Jolly Richie is still out and about. The wrapping looks a bit faded and scratched close up but still distinctive when coming along the river. I don’t like the new name plates either. Very difficult to see etc as others have noted. And it makes a lot of the boats look identical, rather than unique, each with their own character. I hadn’t thought about the logo not being obviously Richardson’s as I’m used to it. But fair point.

Hope all of you, Mike, Pat and Alan, recover soon and it’s kind to you.

Does Seren always go and lie in the car when you’re busy at the mooring? Finlay seems to know the engine noise etc when I’m reversing into home at Stalham and it’s the only time he stands by the door when mooring. Then he just wants to go and sleep in his crate in the car, can’t budge him!!! Sounds like your whole trip was a big success. I agree that the secret garden at How Hill is stunning at the moment. In case you were unaware, dogs are allowed on leads. It will be much easier going past Boulters, turning, coming back and reversing in that way. Something to do with the wind down there I think. I still have clammy palms every time I go in, even thinking about it puts the pressure on!!! Hope to see you again when out and about soon.

Does she always sleep with one leg in the air like that? Mine does, and I’ve never seen another dog do that. She looks a real character. Xx

You beat me to it Dave. A really chance event. The red carnations did their stuff! And lovely to meet and chat to you. Excellent concert. We had to hang around for ages for Richard - why is my two children have always been the last to pack up their instruments, right back to when they first joined youth orchestras. And then we got dragged off to the bar, which was lovely as I got to catch up with loads of people I hadn’t seen since before covid.

I’ll be cake baking this week to bring. Simon, can I reserve 2 NBN stickers please- the ‘cling-on’ type if possible rather than permanent. We won’t be gathering at Malthouse, so if I get to Salhouse in the morning, will it be obvious which bit I need to moor at? Looking forward to putting names to faces. Kate and Tony.

We used to have Huss (rock salmon) from the chippie when I was young. My memory says I really loved it. Hadn’t seen it for decades until I was in Grey’s in Hoveton last summer. It was on the board but when I asked for it, they didn’t have any. I was very disappointed! All this talk of steamed fish with asparagus has sorted out tomorrows tea. I have plenty down the allotment, early spuds not ready yet though.

Well, I did time it a bit wrong didn’t I? Plenty of trees along the lane to shelter under, but trousers slightly more than damp and dry dog towel day it certainly is not! Very lovely to meet you and family and beautiful Seren, hope to see you again soon now you’re based ‘up north’. Enjoy the rest of your trip, suns due out again tomorrow.

I nearly ended up at Nestishead too Helen, I’m just round the corner at Gays Staithe. Depending on the rain I might come and say hello later, but looks like it’s a bit set in now.

I meant rudder, not propeller

Thanks Helen. Maybe I’ll leave it till there’s more water then. I did ground a narrowboat on the Montgomery canal once and it took a while to ‘unstick’ it! And I didn’t like the grating sound I heard from the prop once on a hire boat when having to move off a wild mooring at low tide.

Me neither. Would love to think I can, but the heart might not stand the increase in rate! Funny enough Helen, I was going to go up there this afternoon as I’ve wanted to try the locks for a while, but thought with the low water level it might be a bit too shallow. Is it ok?

Well done, Bern, Nik and Jean. Hope it was a hotly contested evening. I am looking forward to hopefully being there next week. I have to have an unscheduled visit to the boat next week to get my snapped throttle cable replaced. Very annoying and as is said, BOAT! (Well, maybe not quite that much)!!! Kate

It did Jean, thanks very much for all your wishes. Even the sun shone versus forecast. And Tony and as the oldies won the canoe treasure hunt! Just goes to show that teamwork pays off - he listens and does what he’s told and it all works!!!!!!! Lesson for married life?

Have a good evening all of you. Probably won't be thinking of you at the time! (will be in the midst of welcoming guests to daughter's wedding weekend in the Lakes). Just filled car with all the catering - and I do mean filled, not one more box can fit. Kate

I’ve been wondering where these are for 5 years. I’m sure the sign has been pointing in the wrong direction, into HW yard. So I’ve always just used the yard wc! a family asked me the other day if I knew where they were as they’d also followed the sign into the yard. Maybe I’m wrong and just going daft! Thanks for the info.

Sorry Grendel, after all that quick work from you, I’m going to have to give my apologies. In fact for the next two weeks. Tomorrow driving back from Croy in Scotland having painted the exterior stonework of my son’s house in this fantastic weather this week. (He acted as apprentice this week which was so lovely to see him wanting to get involved at last, at the age of 29!!!!!) And next it’s my daughters wedding up in the Lake District. All my catering is now done and in the freezers, including the cake (sponge) so I’m going to be able to have a more stress free week than I’d anticipated. Have fun as usual all of you tomorrow evening. Kate

You’re right Grendel about fresh yeast giving a better flavour. For a 7g ( of one sachet ) dried yeast recipe, use 15g of the fresh yeast. And as you said, yeast keeps for months in the freezer.

Fun evening Polly. Lots of excellent random answers to your questions. Many thanks.

I like the sound of ‘mine’s a pint’ Polly! Will hopefully be there if boat connection is playing ball. Thanks.

My daughters dog had an op in October to straighten his front leg and was on crate rest for weeks, still only allowed on short lead now. He also didn’t have the cone thank goodness as he would have kept bashing it on the crate sides. They gave him like a slipcover poncho thing with a flappy collar that covered his legs. I was amazed it worked as I thought he’d have been able to just push it to one side to get at the bandage, but it was brilliant and he really didn’t seem to be bothered by it at all.

I suppose if they and their kayaks were packed into big boats it won’t be Hickling direction then!

Yes, a group from the Perse school in Cambridge, first outing since covid started, so lots of very excited youngsters. I noticed them and sent a message to my sister who works there to confirm they’d arrived safely!!!! She wasn’t sure where they were heading, but thought maybe under the bridge. They have camping gear stowed on board and will have prearranged fields for camping with various landowners. They’ve used the campsite at salhouse before now.

Well done all. The titles of the rounds looked interesting Jean, sorry I couldn’t be there. Accompanying daughter to wedding dress fitting and her sorting shoes for my dress and then me cooking a ‘practice’ meal this evening to get them to taste test the menu took precedence. Will be in attendance next week though, signal on boat permitting.

We too have a woodburner (Tony has a business as a hedge layer so plenty of wood available), solar panels and a contraption that diverts the electricity generated to heat the hot water tank, but I’d be very interested to hear more about the storage batteries Griff - initial outlay, what the power is then used for and at what times of day and size (eg do they fit in the loft or the garage?) A few years ago, we had considered buying storage heaters and ‘charging them up’ so to speak with the solar power, (as the diverter thing has space for 3 more diversions before sending to the grid), discharging evening and early morning, but they were quite costly to buy. But with the economics of it all changing, they might seem more reasonable now.