kpnut

On my tod at ranworth so went side on down side dyke, should be sheltered enough there, back of boat facing south. Just started raining and wind picked up, bang on cue of forecast I read this morning.

Don’t forget the bigger the boat, the more costly the mooring fees and the toll. Finding one with a mooring allocated is always a bonus. Buying direct from Richardson’s may fulfil the mooring requirement and in my opinion, Paul is fair to deal with. Ex hire boats are ‘ready to go’ but will need refurb work over time. I do my simple diy eg interior painting, electrics when moored up on the river and then feel I’m still ‘using the boat’. Insist on anything that the survey brings up being done before any money changes hands. To be fair, Richardson’s seem to do that anyway and don’t expect you to pay a deposit or anything until completely satisfied. Maybe all companies are like that! Happy hunting. Bring waterproofs and wellies if you are planning any walks as it’s very puddly and muddy at the moment. good luck.

And don't be afraid to ask all the questions you need, the specialist nurse and groups like Macmillan will be open and honest and, as my hubby was told, they get paid to talk, so use them! Xx

And it was super. Mighty difficult for you to monitor though Polly! Thanks very much.

I managed at surlingham, Helen, just about and with a couple of about turns due to the tide taking me downstream more than I thought. I was embarrassed at the time about having to abort and go again, but once I managed it, I was chuffed! And the bonus was , there was £22.76 left on the electric just by my mooring, how on earth did it get to that credit?

YnysMon, I don’t know how to do the right emoji, but hugs to you, stressful when you have to drop everything and go into autopilot to sort something out. Xx

I had Astra Zeneca for the first two with no side effects and Moderna booster 10 days ago. My arm has been hot, tender, swollen and very itchy ever since, no sign of abating yet, but thankfully not stopping me working. My sister was in bed for a week aftrer her booster with same vaccines, but two friends had no effects at all. So I think it's just the luck of the draw. incidentally, I tested positive on a PCR test in September. I had a headache for 3 days (not unusual to be honest) and a negative lateral flow test, and no other symptoms ( in fact my temp was 35.9, certainly not 'high temperature'), but a PCR test of the same sample, collected when at a screening clinic for a medical trial, was positive. By the time I was told the result, the headache had gone and I felt fine again. Just had to have the remainder of the 10 days at home! Not sure what this says about the efficacy of lateral flow tests versus PCR tests.

Oops, didn't mean to press a sad face!

It was good fun indeed, thanks very much. Must practice typing!

I'll give it another whirl Grendel, really enjoyed it last week. Thanks very much. Kate

But now, at gone 11pm my mind is buzzing when I should be trying to get some sleep before a busy day out working with the dog tomorrow.

Thanks, I'll notch it up to 65% when I go next and save some money with a bit of luck. It does always feel nice and dry when I first go onboard. Because of the initial outlay I did think twice about getting one ( I think it's a seago dessicant), but would certainly recommend using one to anyone with access to electric. I lie the fact it blows out some warm air (costing me more money I expect!) so slightly fewer worries about things going pearshaped in winter too.

Thanks for having me, really good fun and much easier to work out what to do than I was anticipating.

Ha, ha. am I wasting money having mine set on 45%. It does have an auto cut off but now presume from what you are all saying that it won't be switching off at all

Got it, like a chatbot when you ring a company and can't get through so you go on their website and a message pops up with 'Can I help you?' and you resort to an online typed 'phone call'! Thanks. I hope to be there in that case.

I think I might like to join in but am not sure how it all works. Looks like I log in as Bern has said above, but then what happens? Do I need a zoom type thing as I have no idea how to do that, or just a computer to type my answer onto? any help (hopefully with clear instructions so I don't get in a muddle) gratefully received. Thanks, Kate

Ah yes, that was it. What a beautiful boat. Very nice to meet you if only very briefly! I'll keep an eye out for you again. Kate

Not till December sometime unfortunately.

I’d love a vinyl one if I meet you, thank you very much. And yes, a printed off one would be sensible, I noticed Lulu had one the other day.

I am spoilt for choice with a wing mirror on port side and a reversing camera! (both fitted by previous owner) so in theory should manage fine. One shows everything nearer than should be and other makes things look further away so took some getting used to. Mine is a swivel seat, I did try it once when I wasn’t on the move, as Vanessan says, a bit dodgy to say the least! I would much prefer a double bench seat so the dog can keep me company, he liked that on past hire boats. Looking forward to watching that video, I don’t have a centre cleat which I think I might need, another thing on my wish list. As for ropes, I took a rope to the fence posts at my allotment, along with videos and practiced. I have had a bit of a mental block with ropes since being in the brownies/guides where it always seemed overly complicated, so I just switched off. How I wish I’d taken more notice! Thanks everyone for your welcome, back home now to reality.

Bluebell, I was there too last night, on springer’s retreat. So was that you opposite me? Fishing at the back when I spoke to you? What’s your boat name? In future, I’m going to ask everyone if they are on the NBN so as not to miss anyone! Sounds like we picked a quiet night, I did hear the HW boat too this morning. I think tonight there’s some sort of gathering at the White Horse, maybe that’s why it’s busy.

Thank you Vaughan. I did say to someone the other week I either needed to grow taller or get a box to stand on to stick my head out of the sunroof! Your idea is much easier.

You watch-after all this talk of practice, advice etc, today will be the day for making a blunder! Back to home mooring and then trying to remember everything I need to do for leaving her safe for a few weeks till next visit. Funny how each boat has its own individual quirks - no wonder people get so attached to them.

There's 4 of us tonight and only two at Gaye's staithe when I walked round there just before dark.

Took me a bit of angst working out about the quote thing! Floydraser- I've managed most of the time very well on my own. But was talking to Lulu this morning about making a right pig's ear of it yesterday morning at the BA moorings at Stokesby, where the tide was running extremely fast. I thought it through beforehand but my thinking was way off. Just glad someone had offered to help anyway. I've spent quite a bit of time out on Barton Broad finding out how the boat handles and pretending I'm stern-on mooring to a marker post. I'm sure many folks must have been wondering what the orange boat was doing going round and round, mainly in reverse! Go for it, read and listen to advice, go slowly, think it through before and after a manoeuvre to learn from it, practice and go to 'easy' places for a while. I certainly wouldn't go through Yarmouth on my own, Just in case I needed to moor up unexpectedly, but am happy to do so when others are on board. I had a lovely 11 days in September 'down south' and will make it a once a year venture I think. Kate