MauriceMynah

Cheque's in the post even as we speak Ray.

Only ever went to Nigeria once, just to visit a cousin of mine. He's a prince you know, though for all that he does have this rather strange problem regarding his fortune and the Nigerian government.

We all poke a bit of fun at each other for most of the time. That's the nature of forums, but far more importantly that's the nature of friendship. Goodness knows what the "rag & stick" fraternity would feel like if they took such comments as a personal slight. However, what we say and what we feel are very often different. I remember coming in to moor at Ranworth staithe on one occasion where I could see a spot near the far end of the 'bay' bit. I was in my 25' sea master St. Christopher. I gently pootled into the bay, turned stern on to the space and came in on tickover with very gentle squirts of power toi correct the steering. Tying up the moorings, the people on the boat next to me said "Nice to see it done properly." What really made the praise so valuable to me and made my head swell was that they were sailies! true praise indeed.!!! So! I own a Tupperware boat, (but luckily not a bathtub!) and am happy to hear it called such, as long as the person speaking means no offense. I take 'no offense' as the default value of anything anyone ever says to me. People really have to try hard to offend me. I take 'no offence meant' as the norm. If that cannot fit, it moves to "let it go, He's just having a bad day" and from there to "I'm sure he didn't really mean that". Only if I can't find any way that what has been said was meant, and was meant to be spiteful, do I take it as offensive to me. I find life is a lot more pleasant that way. so my advice will always be to make like a hippy, let it all hang loose man and chill!

So, Who's that then?

Mind it doesn't clash with the summer meet! (mind you, I can't remember when that is... or where!!)

Paid.

PM sent.

I understand "educated fleas" do it

It was a doughnut on the end of the propshaft... I didn't even know my car had a propeller !

My ginger beer used to lead to something else exploding, but I won't go into that!

No Ray it seems my car needs to go on a diet. Somewhere underneath it had a doughnut only the car has eaten it!!! New doughnut bought and fitted. car now purring along like a cat. My mighty bio is not responsible for this one

A little story... Driving up to the broads last Friday my car started to make some terrible noises sort of grinding gnashing and expensive nasty sounds. So I left my vehicle in the capable hands of a friend of mine. That left me on my boat with no car. The water was rather high so going under Potter was a non starter. No computer on board so generally out of touch then suddenly I had a thought. Although there's almost no signal at Hickling. but Texts do get through. "So!" I thought to myself. "I know what, I'll text me old mucker Timbo! Just a long shot I know, but he might be on board!" I got my car back late yesterday, and got home today. And then found this thread. It never crossed my mind that my text looked like a scam. (nor did it cross my mind that Timbo didn't have my name stored on his phone,else I'd have identified myself. WHOOPS!!! Anyway Tim, It was me, and just to confirm that I'm not pulling your leg the text came from 07885 5*8*5* Astrisks for security but enough to confirm Sorry to cause bovver.... Oh, and, Were you aboard? Double whoops, Just re-read your post and you have the number correctly, so the website you used aint too hot!!

I'm not crossing swords on what Packman's motives may or may not be, but I must take issue with your assertion that length or beam are too vague for dimensions on which to base the tolls. We know that boats have these dimensions, and they are used when establishing all sorts of other bills or services. Anyway, do you not already have to make this calculation for the tolls? or do you argue with the BA each year as to what they mean exactly.

Oh Honestly !!!!! I don't know how some of you would have managed in the 70s when the big yards were REALLY busy on a Saturday. Back then there were far more boats all being released between 14:00 and 17:00. Hundreds of the blighters. Mostly novices, All the gear, no idea. and all having fun, all enjoying themselves, all dashing off to try to get a pub-side mooring. In those days as you cruised there would be boats ahead of you and boats behind you almost all the time full of novice crew each and every one wearing a smile because they loved it. Those were the days when many of us first started our love affair with the place, hiring a basic boat where the TV was the height of mod-cons. Public moorings were anywhere where it didn't say "Private" Boatyards were the only places where you'd find piling and mooring posts, everywhere else was a mud bank and rhond anchors. and still the novices smiled. Ok, so there are now fewer boatyards, many of the smaller ones are going and lots of their boats are going to the larger boatyards. That still won't mean that places like the Ant and Ludham bridge will be anywhere near as busy as they were back in the 70s.

Some people have all the luck!

It is inevitable that any "restructuring" will lead to winners and losers, but such restructuring is long overdue. I've lost count on how many times I've heard how unfair the existing toll system is to dinghy owners who pay well over the odds compared with a cruiser, I hope that this is addressed. Maybe I'm thick (don't answer that) but I haven't found the definitive figure as to who will pay what, so I'm not surer how those who have said "it's going to cost me x amount more" have calculated this, nor do I know if I win or lose! One thing that always irritates me is this love affair the authorities have with electric boats/cars. They are NOT green. They are NOT good for the planet and they do NOT improve the situation re climate change. Schoolboy physics proves that! They should be tariffed at a higher rate, not a lower one.

In which case, Happy birthday to you too Rob, and welcome to the forum.

Don't try removing any ribs! God did that to Adam and we haven't had any peace since!

W x L x H would give CUBIC meterage not square meterage so no Peter, it's not that complicated..., and you knew that all along.... and you are a very bad man for trying to stir things up with inaccuracies like that !!!

Yep, put me down for a calendar too please.

That's what I thought too Mark!

Yep,. Many happies Alan.

How much and how much

Good idea Tim, I'll try that on my car.

Oh Paul ... You b****r, I've never heard that one, but now I'm sure I will... endlessly (and I shall hate it!)