Poppy

You may wish to look at the Broads Authority Bylaws regardin to vessel dimensions http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/399232/Vessel_Dimensions_Byelaws-1.pdf

They may well be. Another interpretation could be that they have been very busy with other matters.... Perhaps if many with concens were to write......

Five years ago, the MPs whose constituencies covered the Broads met with senior members of the Broads Authority and the appointed members of the Broads Authority’s Navigation Committee in early September, at Westminster, to discuss concerns about the Authority’s governance and consultation processes amongst other things. They were asked to improve their management style. It appaers this quite reasonable request has been ignored. Indeed, things may have worsened. https://www.waterways.org.uk/news_campaigns/other_news/mps_ask_broads_authority_to_review_management_style

That was my view too.

I shall be emailing my MP with a copy of the blog. There must be action !

Only on BA and some private moorings. The rules, just obey the rules. It's also worthy of note that the Broadland rivers are a statutory navigation. Should anyone choose to fish on such waters they should be prepaared for the occasional inconvenience from boats.

They already think they do ! I once had a conversation with a 'Volunteer Ranger' whose interest was entirely the angling. He was most indignant when I suggested that many other Broads users besides boaters should contibute in some way to their use of the Broads, such as Bird watchers, walkers and... anglers. " Do you know how much we pay for a license " he asked. When I replied with the right answer and then told him what the toll was for my Yacht he quietend down a little !

My wife has always been 'Nunu' . She however doesn't know one end of a vacuum cleaner from the other

Information is provided here . There is a very good 3D animation of the proposal, together with an invitation to comment. https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.com/he/a47-blofield-to-north-burlingham-dualling-statutor/

Must be those damned otters

I'm not sure the Sun ever WAS a 'newspaper'.

It appears to me that there are a large number of people across all kinds of social media (this included) who have never learned or have lost the ability to debate, if someone posts an opinion contrary to their own the feel attacked ! Sad !

Otters? Maybe they played a small part. I would also like to know what is the effect of poor handling of captured fish by inexperienced anglers.

Agreed - the Forum seemed to become infected with 'PC itus'. Not sure it's fully recovered yet.

There speaks an angler with a kite to fly...

"It used to be thought that mink displaced otters and were part of the reason for the otters’ decline. However, this is now thought not to be true, and although there is evidence that sometimes otters will actually kill mink, mink and otters co-exist throughout Norfolk. "...... " Mink also hunt water birds, such as moorhen and ducks, and a noticeable decline in numbers of birds may indicate that mink are in the area. Mink are aggressive predators and will overkill prey. They can cause significant damage to housed or penned game birds or poultry by killing large numbers, far more than they can eat, and they may also damage fish stocks. " https://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife-in-norfolk/species-explorer/mammals/american-mink

I must say I've been wondering too.

I regularly see otters on the Broads - but then my mode of travel is almost silent - and relatively slower than that of many visitors You (and others) may find this learned research of interest. https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.733119!/file/Otters_the_facts_v9_Format.pdf

Man and his farm chemicals were responsible for the loss of otters (along with many other species) in the UK. Is it not reasonable that they should have been given a helping hand ? We hear a lot about harmful 'introduced ' species from Natural England, the Environment Agency and others, yet we hear almost nothing about the vicious North American Mink. Could that be because many of today's 'professional tree huggers' were involved in their illegal release from fur farms ??

I'm unfamiliar with Sittingbourne. What do the local council demand of shoppers for parking ?

We've just got back from a week in Kent. Thanet must have some of the most expensive parking in Great Britain, outside of London, that is. £4 for an hour's parking in Ramsgate and £3 in Margate near the Turner contemporary. Admittedly entrance there is free . We took our money and spent it elsewhere. Why local authorities don't understand this I'll never know. Then again, perhaps they do, but don't give a **** to the effect on local business !

Thass Maud !

A lady died last year and MBNA bank continued to send monthly statements for their annual service charges on her credit card, and then added late fees and interest on the monthly charge. The balance that had been £0.00 and rose to over £60.00. A family member placed a call to the MBNA Bank: Family Member: 'I am calling to tell you that my grandma died in September.' MBNA: 'But the account was never closed and so the late fees and charges still apply.' Family Member: 'Maybe you should turn it over to your collections section.' MBNA: ‘Since it is more than two months overdue, it already has been.' Family Member: ‘So, what will they do when they find out she is dead?' MBNA: 'Either report her account to the Frauds Department or report her to The Credit bureau, maybe both!' Family Member: 'Do you think God will be mad at her?' MBNA: 'Excuse me?' Family Member: 'Did you just get what I was telling you...…. The part about her being dead?' MBNA: 'Sir, you'll have to speak to my supervisor.' Supervisor gets on the phone: Family Member: 'I'm calling to tell you, she died last September.' MBNA: 'But the account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply.' Family Member: 'You mean you want to collect from her estate?' MBNA: (Stammer) 'Are you her solicitor?' Family Member: 'No, I'm her grandson' MBNA: 'Could you fax us a death certificate?' Family Member: 'Sure.' ( fax number is given ) After they get the fax: MBNA: 'Our system just isn't set up for death. I don't know what more I can do to help.' Family Member: 'Well, if you figure it out, great! If not, you could just keep billing her. I don't think she will care.' MBNA: 'Well, the late fees and charges will still apply.' Family Member: ‘Would you like her new billing address?' MBNA: 'That would help.' Family Member: ' Plot 1049, Heaton Cemetary, Heaton Road , Newcastle upon Tyne.' MBNA: 'But, that's a cemetery!' Family Member: 'Well, what the f*** do you do with dead people on your planet?' The MBNA were not available for comment.

I'm proud of my boat - largely because of it's looks which reflect my taste. I'm sure that many hirers feel the same when they ar out on the water. What 'Fair Marquis' will say about many who take it out I'm not sure. This perhaps ?