MauriceMynah

I think the "Orca" you saw is an ex Ernest Collins craft with a GRP hull and wooden superstructure. A lovely craft I often see mudplugged on Ranworth.

Sorry to hear you've had a visit from the scumbags, I hope they haven't done any damage whilst on-board. My thoughts regarding the motoring incident rather reflect your own. First one "poor driving", second one criminal behaviour. Whilst it might well be your word against his, I wonder if he's been reported for it before. That would put a very different slant on it from the police's perspective. Finally, also sorry to hear BA damaged by a bathtub. obviously more than just taps. I take it that the separate threads are on their way.

Agreed Soundings, Fair comment, but there must be a demand for houses where these people are wanting to build, else they wouldn't want to build there. What size of houses are they wanting to build? Top-end 5 bedroom places or 1-2 bedroom starter homes? Are youngsters there in the same sorts of problems as they are here? (Can't afford to get on the housing ladder and a waiting list for rentals)

Which empty houses are these Dave? No, I'm not picking a political debate as I know we are poles apart, but I am curious. I wonder for example, if the "million or so homes" would make a significant difference to the housing shortage. I further wonder why said homes are empty. Are they "second homes"? I dwell on the thought that these planned homes might not be the sorts of homes that "two home" owners would be tempted to buy as second homes... not posh enough for example. The population is expanding from both the birth rate and immigration (I have no set objection to either). As it expands so will the need for housing. I can see no other way to think of that situation. OK, we can tax second homes, but would that really help? lets face it, we both know that any increased revenue would be most unlikely to be invested in housing (whichever party was in power)

It'll stop (or at least slow down) when people stop having children who need houses to live in... and probably not before.

I am amazed at this. If I were moored at Coltishall common and was witnessing someone having a heart attack, I'd have been straight on 999 and asking for an ambulance. Are you telling me I'm wrong?

Hi Philip, I THINK I can answer a few of your questions, though I would get anything I say checked out! The calorifier is fed from your fresh water tank, so if there's water in the tank, there's water in the calorifier. The water in the calorifier IS NOT passed through the engine, instead the engine cooling water is passed through the calorifier. ( that's the bit I'd get confirmed if I were you ). There are three "levels" you can have in your water tank. Full, some and empty. your guides are as follow... Full... you just filled it. Some... You're using it. Empty... nothing comes out of the tap any more. For most boats, those are the only guides. Just keep topping up the tank.

I don't know where my satnav is

Whitebait, feeding really well on a quarter of a maggot on a size 37 hook to nylon (2oz bs) after nearly three days fishing I had close on a portion.

Marshman, Honest Guv, I'm not picking on you but you have made a very important point with which I do not agree. You said... ..."I think, and no doubt someone will correct me, is that you should first of all talk to the emergency services - as far as which one i would always contact the Coastguard and it would be their responsibility to take the next step." I do agree that the emergency services should be called immediately a life threatening situation is identified but unless one is at sea (or perhaps on Breydon) the coast guard is NOT the service to select. One can reasonably assume that the emergency will be medical. It follows therefore that the AMBULANCE will be the required service.

Marshman, surely it depends where you are, and what the situation is. For example, If I were moored at Cockshoot dyke I'd tell the emergency services I could get to the ferry at Horning. Would this not make life easier to all concerned? Obviously I'd take their advice rather than follow my own plan If that's what they tell me to do.

No you don't.

And I'm sorting my sock drawer. They couldn't have picked a worse day eh Mark!

Fair point Dave, but different problem. This is about the initial contact with the emergency services. If and how they manage to foul it up is an entirely different issue.

I would like it if someone can confirm this but I believe that if you dial 999 in an area where there appears to be no signal, your call will still get through. There is automatic 'roaming' for 999 calls where any mast will do the biz, be it O2, Vodaphone or anyone else. I'm sure there will be a technophile along soon to tell me I'm talking out of my bottom, or to confirm.

For the novice the southern waters are a bit more challenging. The currents are faster and the rise and fall is greater. These are things for which allowances have to be made. This might put a few newbies off. Add to that the popularity of the single level boat (bathtub) a few years ago. This was a craft not really ideally suited to the reed beds of the southern waters. that may well have put off some of the regular visitors to the broads.

Depends if you believe in reincarnation, I don't... and didn't last time either!

Thanks for that. I don't think that "Japs" is any different to "Brits" as far as PC goes!

Whilst I can see where you are coming from Robin, the Jap motor bike argument is a very different one from the Chinese outboard situation. The Jap bikes won primarily because they were trying to improve the machines and the equipment on them. Back in the 60s the British bikes didn't have indicators, electric start nor were they as fast. The **** took the cream of the British motorbike technology added the cream of their own and blew us away. The Chinese cheapo outboard is doing the opposite, they take an outboard (of any nationality) work out what they can do without, work out where else they can save money and come up with something that they hope will last longer than the guarantee, or make the after-sales service so awful that nobody bothers with them. Edited to add, The four stars autocensored the word J.a.p.s.

Especially if you were in the Smart Car.

I agree with Polly. There's a gang of little young yellow ones on the starboard side not long after you come into the broad. Little huddle of them near some reeds. I'm sure they're up to no good. I blame the parents.

More questions... If one opens a bottle of fizzy drink, it bubbles. Many of those bubbles come from the bottom of the bottle where the sediment will be lying. How do you stop that sediment bubbling up and mixing with your nice clear wine? The River cottage recipe refers to the "Florets" of elderflowers. What exactly is the "floret"? and being thick, I really do mean "Exactly". I'm thinking of making a 5 gallon brew to start with (I'll go bigger if I like it). Do I just scale up all the ingredients, including the yeast ?

Yes it does! What's it's airdraft? Would it go under potter?

Dunnit

Several have mentioned that Yarmouth might be a bimble too far, I have another point to make. You have a dog on board. Yarmouth has a large tidal rise and fall. Unless the dog is very small and light, you might find it very difficult to get it off the boat at low water. The run to Coltishall is beautiful, as is the river Ant. Great pub with good food at Neatishead. Good dog friendly pub at Ludham bridge.