ranworthbreeze

We have somewhat busy doing some of the various jobs on the boat that we started on Saturday. Replaced Aft bathroom toilet (the ladies in the syndicate requested a new one at the AGM) Replaced the pump on the forward toilet. Tightened the bull-nose strips on the stairs (the carpet fitter had taken up the carpet on the stairs and in the lounge, galley and aft cabin) these were slightly loose so I thought I had better fix them. Ran a new coax cable into the aft cabin from the upper helm TV/USB connection box. Sunday was going backwards and forwards to Wroxham, Roy's was the order of the day, but we forgot to return a shirt back that I bought in December, Tan hand washed it but a coloured band on it ran slightly. I swapped it for a different shirt and got a slight refund as well. I had done the PAT testing of all of our appliances on-board but when I came to the small oil filled radiator (bought in December) there was a slight leak of oil from it so a call to Roy's, yes they would exchange it even without a receipt (sadly back in Sheffield). All exchanges done it was back to the boat. Monday I spent most of my time going backwards and forwards to Brian Wards for bits for the water system. We were having issues with the cold water pulsing, so I fitted an accumulator tank, bit of a faff because I had to move the pump and water filter to fit in the tank, so the pipework needed altering, all in a space that was extremely small in front of the engine after squeezing over the forward toilet tank, at least hatch near to the tank/engine. Tan was passing me tools and parts whilst I was bent almost double. Job done we went for a shower and then straight into the Yare for a couple of drinks and our evening meal, on the game front Tan is beating me 8 games to 6 at Rummikub. Tuesday was fine all day so I worked on the damaged fender socks, inflating some of the fenders whilst fitting new stocking to several fenders. We then cleaned the outside of the boat. Hopefully the carpet fitter will arrive at 8.30 in the morning and engineers will also be arriving to deal with work that I am not happy with. Regards Alan

The old way was a junction box was in the roof space with live, neutral, and switch wire (or the lives were looped from switch to switch) the earths used to be terminated outside of the junction box. A live was taken to the switch and a switch wire went to the ceiling rose/lamp holder with a neutral from the junction box. If you had to work on a ceiling rose or light fitting you just switched the switch off and it was safe to change the ceiling rose/light fitting, these days it is switch off at the mains before doing any work and you can bet that any DIY enthusiast is bound to get into trouble. The same can be said for 2 way and intermediate switching most people can not get their heads around how the switching works. I once worked with an old guy who had fitted or modified peoples houses for blackout purposes. This comprised of diverting the live or switch wire from the switch to a set of open contact just above the entrance door that were bridged when the door was closed but light went off as soon as the door opened. I even saw some of these in the late 60's on a few Terraced Houses. Regards Alan

I have always hated the modern practice of the live wire being present at a ceiling rose, it may be quicker for the new generation of electricians but it can hardly be called safe. Regards Alan

Hi Trev, When we are aboard we tend to leave the cabin doors open and run a 600 watt small oil filled radiator overnight, we found this reduced the condensation in the lounge. We only use it early or late in our season. Regards Alan

Hi Paul, We go to Worksop and get onto the A1, A17 and A47, we had a fairly easy run yesterday other than constant rain. Regards Alan

Tan and I arrived in Brundall at 1.30 pm and went straight into the Yare for a comfort stop and a meal and a beer. It rained all the way down from Sheffield to Brundall so we did well with the journey taking us a little over three and a half hours, I never turned the windscreen wipers off. Replenished we headed to the boat to drop off our things before heading to Brian Wards and the shops. Now sat curtains drawn, heater on and thinking of a bite to eat and maybe a glass of wine. Regards Alan

Hi Griff, There is a good locksmith in Norwich A.C.Leigh. https://www.acleigh.co.uk/branches/norwich Regards Alan

Hi Ian, For me it would have to be apple pie or chocolate cake (well any cake really) and I don't need tempting. Regards Alan

Hi John, It would work for me, less the mushrooms, or Tan could have mine, she usually does. We are awful when out passing food from plate to plate and sharing different sweets. Regards Alan

I loved the response to the blocked in driver when the lady watching her out, then proceeded to get into her car. Classic comedy or what? Regards Alan

Hi Q, To be honest it is not before time that the supertram system is going to be extended to Rotherham, they have been paying for it since it was installed in Sheffield in the mid 90's. Regards Alan

Was it closed? Not been there in many a year and hardly since they rid of the trolley buses. Regards Alan

I used to get between 3000 to 5000 a week before we got our current spam blocker now it is to a manageable figure of less than a thousand a week, it used to be a pain when coming back from holiday because I double manage all my emails. Regards Alan

I know that Peter but when was the last time you have seen any, we used to see them just above the Waters Edge but have not seen any for years. Maybe the restricted hours were too tightly controlled and the skiers went to private lakes or drifted into coastal skiing. On Windermere they still ski from the ski school but it has to be within the speed limit. Regards Alan

This is bad news for some of the users that launch their boats onto the loch. Loch Lomond is the only pubic loch/lake in the UK that speed boats can be used as intended since the Ban on Windermere. Regards Alan

We have been using the George Forman grill since they came out (now onto our third one), we also have a hot air fryer that uses less than half a teaspoon of olive oil that produces better tasting chips than the oven variety. If using frozen potato products then you do not have to use any oil. These days we only use the deep fat fryer for battered fish but more times, more times than not we cook fish in foil with seasoning and lime juice in the oven. We forgo the pancakes yesterday and I made pasties, made with gluten free flour (not ideal) but Tan suffers with normal pastry. Regards Alan

Hi Mark, They do swing the bridges interdependently, but operate as a pair with regards to trains being run within their vicinity. Regards Alan

Both bridges operate as a pair of bridges because the distance in train miles is somewhat short. I have spoken to one of the operators in the past. Admittedly if a bridge is stuck in the closed position then it is up to the other bridge when it can open. For the majority it is only the Somerleyton Bridge that causes the most grief. At low water we can still get under the bridge with our air draft of 9 ft 8 inches (with everything down). Regards Alan

Hello Geoffrey, Sorry not for me I do not like onions in shape or form. Regards Alan

I use the landline at home & work most days, the mobile just sits in my pocket just in case I need to make a call. I could text but personally can't see the point, if I want a answer to a question I want it straight away; so I phone. Regards Alan

Hi Rob, if you click on the Browse tab and look through the various sections of the forum, you can look for the Richardson's information video's which are ideal for first time Broads crews, advice on mooring, knots & ropes etc. Regards Alan

One of the birds was at the nesting box a few moments ago squawking away I assume it must have been at the other bird. Regards Alan

Hello Rob, Welcome to the NBN forum and your first time on the Broads, take it easy on the 3 hours plus journey from Sheffield. Have you checked out life jackets for the dogs? Regards Alan

Better a false alarm than no alarm at all.

Hi Grendel, I bet that meal was special with the addition of rice pudding Regards Alan