MauriceMynah

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/environment/rspca-horror-after-swan-is-hit-by-boat-on-norfolk-broads-1-5076128 I don't know if the link will work... if not will someone please help me on this.

Sorry Peter, once again we have to disagree. Her father was right.

If things go right, all is well. If things go wrong somebody else is responsible. The mantra of today.

Whilst I have no wish to belittle Roys in any way, I must make comment about one of my favourite Broads butchers just a couple of hundred yards from Roys hall of food. I believe it's called Massinghams and the meat sold there is excellent. I always end up buying far too much and pigging out on a Barbie a day or two later. Thinks... I must get my fridge mended.

Yes VC (and Fred) one tends to forget some things and look through rose tinted glasses at others. Thinking back to the early 70s when I was in the pub trade, all pubs aimed at the 18 - 25 group as they were the ones who had the greatest disposable income. In that period I worked in pubs in London ( Baker street area), Cheltenham, Harlow and a few country villages, so I think I can reasonably say I dealt with a quite wide section of society. More latterly I ( 2004 - 2005 ) have been a cabbie, a job which can involve hanging around outside pubs. I can only say that the level of drunkenness and rowdy behaviour had increased many fold between those two periods, but so have the pressures on that same age group. Some of the problems can be laid at our generation, others at generations before us (and here comes the contentious hub of my point ) but regrettably, few of todays problems with this age group, can be laid on the people misbehaving themselves. We trained them for this society, so we should be asking "what did WE do wrong?" It's no good saying "Ahh, but it's only a minority." It was always a minority, but these days it's a bigger minority... and that's why we are whinging. On the plus side, it has ever been thus, ever since Uggh Smiths son used a spear to kill a mammoth instead of the rock his dad gave him for his 21st birthday!

Polly, at least we can all tell when you're going to be predictable. :) Edited to add that my smiley still comes up as typed :(

I pointed out to a friend of mine that some years ago, schools could be divided into two catagories. The good ones (that taught Latin) and the "not so good" ones that didn't. Eventually the good ones stopped teaching Latin, just to restore the status quo.

Ok, just to throw some petrol on the fire I ask this... If it had been reported in the paper that a death had occurred as a result of this situation, how many would be saying... "This is a tragedy." "This is a tragedy, Alcohol should be banned on boats." "This is a tragedy but they only have themselves to blame" or "Serves 'em bloody right" ????

Thanks for reminding me, I meant to ask this earlier. Do Bitterns "boom" before daybreak? I'm sure I heard one at about 3AM last month at Hickling.

Daft Buddha !

I no longer post on that "other place" but I do read it sometimes as I have friends who seem to prefer there to here. I didn't witness this incident but by the sound of it, it's little short of a miracle that nobody was hurt. You did what you believed to be right, and by all accounts you were right to do so. There's having fun and there's having fun. People need to learn the difference. (a quote from my father some years ago)

We often disagree Ricardo, but I for one would never think of you as a person who would waste police time. I have absolutely no doubt that if you phone the authorities, you do so with bloody good reason.

I used to have a little Renault 4, I called it Phyllis, but that was short for Syphilis 'caus it was poxy.

I found the end once, it was nice. :) Seriously though Grendel, I've just been given the wood from a blind. Before I use it as kindling, is it of any use to you (or anyone else) ?

Intolerance should be stamped out. Annihilated. Banished from these shores for ever. I just will not stand for intolerant people in any way.

Sometimes I get a little drunk... well she is kinda cute

Don't tell him Pike!

Imagine this. You are the designated sober one. Everybody else on your craft is pie-eyed, they are also friends of yours. Now, tell me again just how you are going to control them? How are you going to stop them when they all think that going for a swim is a jolly good idea? and finally, how are you going to stop them drinking when it's obvious that they've all had more than enough? They were having fun Peter, no more, no less. I'm here. hic

Thank you Psychic for clarifying that point, I too had read it as your own account but fully appreciate the motive and feelings with which you posted the document, and I thank you for doing so. Whilst I fully understand the governments needs for running the country within it's means, and the consequential need for cuts within the NHS etc., but I often sit in awe and wonder at the ineptitude with which those cuts manifest themselves. This is not "party politics" as it applies to any party which gets voted into government. There are certain organisations where those cuts will always effect the foot-soldiers rather than the top heavy administration and management. That's because it is that administration and management that administer the cuts. As I understand it, the Fire service, isn't that top heavy, and as a result the cuts are basically as inappropriate as they are damaging. Like so many, I see the problem, I just don't see the solution. (and No Peter, that isn't the solution )

If it ain't broke, don't fix it ! Well that's what they say. From what you have described it strikes me that if you can find out when a boat was last lifted and then have it lifted yourself (for the survey) you will be able to tell whether frequent lifting is necessary. I agree with Dilligaf that once in 30 years is ... well lets say "pushing it" a bit, but unlike Dilligaf, it wouldn't make me walk away. Personally, if there are no issues, I'd go for 5 years or possibly a couple more.

Nice example of Lawn order there WF PS. wear a hat ! Sent from my steam driven tower PC

I was aware of the Shadows connection Vaughan, it's just that I'm a jazz freak and prefer Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa. Tony Meehan was good, and a touch more recent, the drummer out of Dire Straits (Terry Williams I think) when they did their "Sultans of Swing" live for Alchemy. I just love a good bit of drumming. Sent on my tin can with knotted string

I'm sure the ducks felt honoured to be shot at by him. Sent on my apache war drum being played by Buddy Rich

When I was a kid, mum & dad used to take my sister and I down to Chalkwell beach to get the "sunburn stage" over and done with for the year. 2 days of hell then fine till next summer. Things were different back then. ! Sent on my twin bongo drums with a broken stick.

No Gracie, not the wrong word given that I hate the idea of that poor dog being cruelly treated ( another recent thread) and that the word hate is totally appropriate. It's just that I cannot think of any "normal" human activity that I dislike to the extent of hatred. ( just for the sake of Timbo, I will point out that it is the activity I refer to as "normal", not the human.) My view of badly behaved children covers anywhere that they are, when I'm there too. Though whilst they annoy me, my view of their parents contains words I don't yet even know how to spell, let alone their meanings.