MauriceMynah

Sorry Vaughan, I'd like to agree with you but don't think I can. I have to wonder just what these negotiations involve. Who is being intransigent or has unrealistic ambitions. It is very easy to see the BA as the bogeyman all the time, but is this actually the case. Society reaps what it sows. You and I ( and many others on this forum ) remember well when people respected other peoples property, held responsibility for their own actions, and took pride in their behaviour. This is no longer the case. People nowadays couldn’t care less about leaving litter and mess, they couldn’t give a damn about manners and responsibility and, if there is an incident, their first response is to find someone else to blame, and think about compensation. If I owned some riverside with mooring capabilities, these days my rush to put up "No mooring" signs would amaze the world. I would be saddened to do it, but the problems these days would make it essential. If the BA wanted to negotiate with me to create moorings then my list of requirements may well not be acceptable to them. Could this be the stumbling block the BA is up against? Has society once again shot itself in the foot for lack of personal discipline?

Nah, it IS those moored down south. The myth is the young lady monster, with mother and father being mythiths and mythter, plus of course their son marthter

Anonymity of forum titles is an odd one. My history includes the old AM CB. where real names (or "personals" as they were called) were never the norm. I used the handle "Pommie" back then. Forum names for sites like this one, originally came about for matters of security, given that it would not be unusual for members to say when they were coming up to the Broads. A gift to house breakers. Using ones given name as a forum ID is OK if you are blessed with one of the more unusual ones, but I would more likely end up as "John 47". I prefer Maurice Mynah. (The origins of that one for me go way back. ) I know and have met Meantime, his choice for Anonymity is no more, no less valid than anyone else's For me, I like handles they go with boat names. Who would call their boat "Aquafibre 42" eh?

Man after my own heart.

So many thoughts are crossing my mind I hardly know where to start. I'm reminded of a group of youngsters gathered at a street corner complaining that there's nothing to do. When asked what they'd like to do, they replied "Dunno, whatever!" I'm further reminded of yuppies who live in a bland little town, finding a delightful little village and moving home to it. A while later, so many have moved there that a Tesco's opens. All the lovely little independent shops become Estate agents or charity shops and hey presto, that delightful little village becomes another bland little town. Wherever people go, they want more, they want better. They want to go further away for their holiday than their neighbours. One thing they never seem to be is 'content'. Finally on this catalogue of random thoughts, I'm reminded of a mantra ... Happiness is not getting what you want, it's wanting what you get.

If people want "things to do" send them to Butlins. If they want to chill, relax and enjoy the peace and tranquility the Broads has to offer, then they've come to the right place. The Broads hasn't changed that much since the 60s in that respect. Entertainment is what you make it. Messing about in dinghies, fishing and drinking are all still there just as they always have been. I was 11 in 65 when we first came, and loved it. Saying that, its not a holiday that will suit all kids, but those who do like it will be the next generation of boaters. Do we want more playgrounds for people to walk their dogs in? I'm not sure. The Broads will evolve, and will do so pleasingly if not rushed. The good Dr. wants to advertise the Broads to a wider audience. Well, to be honest, I think I'm wide enough as it is.

Oddly enough, I think there has been another factor involved albeit somewhat at a tangent. Pub all day opening hours. Back in the 10:30 to 14:30 then 17:30 to 22:30 days, people used to moor up at lunch time, then move off and moor somewhere else for the evening. I suspect these days most holiday makers moor just the once per day, causing the favourite places to be full by midday. This manifests itself as a lack of moorings. Before people start jumping up and down saying "we don't all moor outside pubs" I know that, but a lot of us do !

When we talk about booking late, or at short notice, how late? how short a notice? I don't understand unless we are talking "days" before the holiday, how can they expect to know what the weather is likely to do. Also, when I was employed, I had to book my holidays with the company I worked for, months in advance. I can't see how this year's poor summer can have affected this year's bookings. Again I must be missing something.

Nice to see the Dilham North Walsham canal has the approval of a seal.

Thinks... can ones experience be anything other than personal?

My personal experience is that September is the busiest month, much for the reasons Jeep15 says.

Now, I know I must be missing something, but I'm not sure what. Boating and the "Broads experience" is loved by a minority group, the likes of which is represented by members of this forum. Back in the 60s, boat ownership was very rare. We on the hire craft watched the private craft go passed with awe and envy. Then along came the 70s and companies like Norman, Seamaster and Freeman. (Plus many others) putting private ownership within the grasp of normal people. Now, that minority group could travel the Broads in their own boats. Some, like my parents, had their own boat local to them but still hired on the Broads. It was great to be on a boat that was 42ft rather than 22ft. I suspect that was the start where there were fewer hire craft but more private boats. Then hire fleets started selling off their older boats, again at a price that was affordable. This accelerated the move from hire craft to private boats. The customer base didn't change much, as far as holidays afloat went, but hire yards had to start offering facilities that made their craft luxury boats rather than those hum drum private jobbies. That, I think, brings us up to the present day. Yards trying to hire out their "Rolls Royces" whilst we, who remember fondly those halcyon days, take out our own Fords. That is the way the Broads have evolved, and that is why we are so frightened of the likes of the good Dr. We seem to understand it, he seems not to.

Better not mention that last point to JP.

Sorry Marshman(MM) I should have made it clear that the fellow in the green dinghy was collecting from the boats tied bow on to the trees. That was the usual mooring method at Salhouse.

I suspect that television is the main reason mudweighting has lost favour.

If you've been handling cement you need to use plenty of handcream. Cement takes the oils out of your skin. Second tip, If you want your boat to display that "brand new gleam" moor it next to mine.

I remember back in the 60s an elderly guy in a green dinghy, collecting mooring fees on Salhouse broad. Apart from that exception I too remember when paying a mooring fee was a rarity. I can understand pubs charging though the fees seem rather steep to me. Ranworth staithe however, no way should that be charged for.

It doesn't say that. I know I'm thought of as picky with the English language but this is a good example of misleading people by letting them misread what's actually been said. What the article says is that the toll has increased by £200 for the type of boat that's hired out. The fact he says "weekly" is irrelevant but leads the reader to make the assumption you made.

The weather in this country has always been fickle, something that I suspect has been noticed by the hire boat industry. We used to have a posting member here who often warned us of the Dr's ambitions, perhaps too often, but his prophecies seem to be just over the horizon now. Packman's blind eye to the obvious is becoming frightening.

I agree with both of your reasons, and apply them both. What year is your current V70?

Fair point, and one can hardly expect the personal service from a yard as big as Barnes that we received from Royalls. Sadly.

Gracie on a paddle board, I'll pay. Vaughan in heels, hmm, suddenly I don’t feel too well.

I remember when my parents hired from Alan & Janet Royall. They always had custody of the car keys though never mentioned the value of the boat we were taking from them. On one occasion there was one of those fuel scares, all the queues at the pumps etc. Alan checked our tank and topped it up so we had enough fuel to get us home. Your worry Hazelgirl can cut both ways, but you have given me an idea. If a boat is returned damaged, a similar amount of damage should be inflicted on the hirers car. Well, they're both insured ain't they!

It has been said many times before that water is dangerous stuff. Take it for granted and it will turn and bite you on the bum. Should we really have to rely on various authorities to think up legislation to protect us from our own recklessness. Personally I think not. A careful and considerate paddleboarder will be a safe paddleboarder, and would be a welcome addition to any waterway. (I believe the same can be said of cyclists) I ask this next question as I'm interested in the boating fraternities views. A pedestrian is encouraged to walk along a road, facing the oncoming traffic. Should a paddleboarder treat river traffic in the same way?

Didn't work. Still nice try.