BroadAmbition

Sat 8th Feb. Morning, just been outside the wetshed at the basin end looking out over Swan quay. Mug of rum with splash of coffee in hand There’s not a breath of wind to be felt. The calm before the storm, literally. Last night after the evening news, I put a dvd on, it was the RAF’s training film namely ‘Battle of Britain’. Now MrsG was knitting (Third grandchild’ on the way) and I knew she would both not watch it nor understand the importance of it and how close we came to losing it Well, surprise surprise, watched all of it, enjoyed it and ‘Got it’’. Wonders never cease eh? Griff

Friday 7th Feb 2020 So, after stepping onboard late afternoon today, first job was to turn on the heating as well as the 240v ceramic fan heater. Nobody has been onboard overnight since the Lads Week back in October nearly 4 x months, probably an unwanted record I was pleasantly surprised, not too much mouldy surfaces and moderate dust of course if one listened to MrsG ‘B.A’ was filthy and unliveable. A visit to Tesco’s we needed some Dettol mould n mildew remover, probably the only cleaning agent known to Man we didn’t have onboard. Immersion heater on and we got stuck in, every bulkhead, surface and deckhead got a bolloxing. The galley, aft passageway (Watch it!) double cabin, double cabin and wheelhouse completed gear onboard, stowed. Tomorrow will see up fwd and topsides completed before we sail into a howling gale. Friday evenings for us at home is traditionally Fish n chips from our local chipole, tonight would be no different, off to Stalham chippy in t car. Ordered = no wallet, dash back collect wallet (not at all embarrassing) Bl00dy hell, large fish n chips with mushies, small fish n chips = £17:50 HOW MUCH? Less than a tenner at home Anyroadup, here we sit getting nice n toasty onboard, the heating will stay on 24 Hrs for now. TV on, a glass each MrsG knitting and drooling. Earlier whilst driving on the NDR (is it still called that?) I pointed out those ‘Bat’ gantries to MrsG she didn’t believe me one iota they were for bats. So we had a bet of sorts I won of course after google confirmed. So, ‘Bat out of Hell, will be playing on ‘B.A’s ICE on valentines night, really? Yes really MrsG - face like a bulldog licking p1ss off a nettle. Happy Days More to follow Griff

https://www.xcweather.co.uk/forecast/Norwich Sunday afternoon. gusting at 70mph - wow Decreases Tuesday evening then back up again for Thursday What a week lies ahead Griff

Blimey, Stalham area forecast. The average wind strength around Sat night at 2200 increases to over 40mph. It doesn’t decrease below 40mph until Tues at 1700. For many hours it is forecast to be near to 50mph. Goodness knows what the strong gusts will be at. Not many boats on mud weights then Griff

BigCheese - Welcome to the forum - your first post made easy reading and I agreed with all of it, and learnt a few things too Thanks for sharing, Griff

I fully understand why 'My' comment has been removed - no surprise there then - I thought the over sensitive snowflakes would see to that. Even though it was posted with an emoji in a light hearted manner, never intending to cause offence or be grown up serious. (I'm sure we all knew that) If it has offended anyone I unreservedly offer my public written apology, furthermore anyone has my permission to notify News at Ten and publicize it even further - There that should do it Griff

How would I get on with an electrical version of my Trevor Transit? Trying to recoup the cost of purchase, never mind the increased electric bills run up in recharging the thing, that's assuming my house electrics would stand the consumption. It's hardly unlikely my customers would have vehicle charging points at their properties - I have never seen one yet to date - and even if they did, I very much doubt they would appreciate me turning up to do them a tiling job and plugging in for free to charge Trevor up! Griff

That's proper ground tackle. We have a Danforth stowed onboard with chain, a left over from our sea going escapades. Can't see me ever using that on the Broads. On a few occasions I have used our secondary aft mudweight up fwd and doubled up if there's been a stronger blow. As of yet not dragged any mudweights, nor do I intend to do so! Griff

I have often used two mudweights, get the bow smack into wind for the fwd mudweight then deployed a mudweight well aft. Two reason for doing this - Fishing, keep you over the same place, ground bait and the like also of course the tv signal stays in the same place! (Well your boat / aerial do). However if I plan on staying overnight then checking the wx forecast is imperative. If the wind direction is due to change and it is owt more than a stiff breeze or due to increase then I always pick up the stern mudweight for overnight to prevent 'B.A' being side onto the wind and risk of dragging - Simples. So dual mudweighting can be fine and dandy Griff

I will readily admit to being in awe of the items your not happy with ! Griff

Being Available Griff

It's that drizzle / mizzle wet stuff falling from the heavens, it needs to pack it in by 0945, it is forecast to stop anytime soon. Clay shooting this forenoon and I don't want my guns getting wet let alone me Griff

My Day? finished work early on a kitchen wall tiling job, extremely attractive lady house owner made for a pleasant forenoon, not that I noticed (Much), although I did stand on my tongue at least once . Popped round to Bro's to give him a hand on a re silicone jobby. Sorted van out. Went off to a couple of venues around Donny before parting with nearly £200 on a new ledger rod / reel / line to replace one of two that was stolen last year, still to replace t'other one down the road somewhat. Invited a mate of ours that we lived / worked with 97 - 00 in Gibraltar onboard 'B.A' for a weekend afloat - looking forward to that one as not seen him for an age - he sadly lost his wife a couple of years ago and we really need to catch up. Going out to local pub for dinner this evening instead of the usual fish n chip shop carry out that we normally do on a Friday - Why? To make the effort and just to be a bit different and get out of the house for an evening seeing as it is Brexit day after all (Am I allowed to say that?) Working tomorrow as per the norm. Clay shooting Sunday forenoon. Then girding my loins and swapping my ageing home / office tower P/C over to a new one recently received - Not much looking forward to that Griff

Much much better It also gives t'other forumites a 'Heads Up' if they have a similar issue Well done. - Don't do it again! Griff

For instance in a dark boat house that has no water plant life and minimal flow that allows the water to become somewhat stagnant. Thanks for the advice. Fortunately for 'B.A' she is close to the open entrance / exit so we get some sunlight. The water gets moved / partially changed everytime a boat enters / exits but not much up at the opposite end Griff

Heartbreaking news, so sorry for you both Pets for us are family and improve our life. Couldn't agree more. I miss my Macie Dog every day since I said tarra to her last month Griff

Personally I would go for stainless steel 316 grade nowadays. Fit an aluminium sacrificial anode. Also better still a galvanic isolator Hope this helps, Griff

Incidentally, that was not the fault. Ahem, you being a 'Newbie' (No detriment intended) you are obviously not aware of the foooooopar you have just committed. That is to tease forumites with your engines ailment, various fixes but not revel the end of the story! AAARRGGHH ! - Put it right immediately sir - Please Griff

Post edited with Photo's as above Griff

'That Seat' the story is that I found it outside the back door of a mates place with another identical one ready to go on his November bonfire. It was grey and green bare timber. He donated it to the cause. I scrubbed it down with warm water, Flash n a green nylon pad. Allowed to thoroughly dry. Then sanded it with one of those sponge pad things that has a flexible cutting medium stuck to the foam (There will no doubt be a proper name for them) Made a base from 18mm Ply, screwed through the bottom of the base into the feet of the stool. Fitted s/steel rubbing pads to the corners of the base. Made the seat back support taller. Varnished the lot - many times - Well six actually. Then had it upholstered When the original owner of the stool saw it completed he couldn't believe it! My only regret is that I didn't save the other stool from the bonfire and do another one - Someone would have appreciated it Now of course you expect more photo's don't you? Griff

Paladin - I'm glad your here, glad your finger is on the pulse and glad that you keep us lot updated Griff

Oh if Only, I could survive on that salary. Being out of the area, snowballs chance in hell and not a prayer of moving down to Norfolk sadly Griff

January 25th was the last day out Game shooting at our local farm shoot. A good day had by all, we took the beaters out for a pub carvery after the field as is traditional for our last days shooting. I shot like a blind one armed bandit - Well not even that good to be honest. 2 x Pheasant and 2 x partridge when I should really have had a dozen. Missed not having Macie dog by my side tremendously. A few team clay shoot competition days booked this year for 'Griffs Growlers' - Azerey, Whitfield and Lambton Castle for starters and of course every second Sunday at my Local clay shooting ground at Wroot. (This Sunday as it happens) Griff

Despite being 'just up the road' I seldom visit Horning, and not the New Inn. Maybe I need to again, but two incidents some years ago put me off - getting turned out ( not drunk either ) at about 21:30 as they wanted to close, and getting turned away from the river as a group of RAF lads on an afternoon out in two day boats ( we'd have spent a fair bit I'm sure ) Similar thing happened to about 20 odd of us on one of our annual Lads Week - October, we were in the pub playing darts, they girly behind the bar chucked the lot of us out as she too wanted to close early, 2100 - we were out on our ear, all our boats were on their river moorings too. Not happy Griff

Grendel - probably but didn’t really matter how it came off as long as it did do Griff