BroadAmbition

That chuffin advert ‘Cash for kids’ playing on various radio stations has got the better of me So, into B&M (They have an in-store drop off point) £165:00 later Griff

It’s not just the hump. It’s the lower section of the Bure in genera Griff

I have watched it many times on the fish finder. Our JT recorded it in our ships log ( onboard) He used ‘What three words’ App Griff

Day 31 - Update #2 Phone call:- They have fitted a gadget to his Tracheostomy this enables him to speak. Consequently he could converse with his support team for the first time today Due to his medication some of it was gibberish. He told MrsG to go and buy him some cheese n onion crisps (he wouldn’t have been able to eat them) as he has nowt to eat since arriving He also was off the ventilator ALL day He won’t be moved to the lung icu hospital until they have sorted out fully his heart & blood clot Griff

I doubt those ‘Swims’ have been allowed to increase the depth down to 2ft at low water Griff

Day 21 Mobile support team visited today. Shaun is dizzy as a result of draining the pericardium which went well. They are treating the blood clot with a drug but this can irritate the kidneys which is expected. Temperature currently back down to normal. He has developed a thrombosis in his left arm, they can’t do owt about this until blood clot sorted. He is looking good, laughing and pulling daft faces. No news on his breathing as of yet Griff

Bytheriver - You make a fair point - BUT - if the Blessed Authority had kept the Lower Bure clear for navigation to the same state it was in when they inherited it when they were formed - It naturally follows on that drainage wouldn't be restricted to the state and levels we see nowadays All went in re-structuring & are now hired when needed. I could make a very easy argument that they are needed right now and for the foreseeable Griff

Here's something to get the grey matter pondering. Feel free to debate, fill it full of holes or otherwise. Of course you can publish the whole or any part of it anywhere else you see fit too Enjoy:- -------------------------- There has been a lot of talk and media interest lately of flooding around the Northern side of the Broads from Gt Yarmouth up river to the head of navigations on the rivers Bure, Ant, Thurne and associated tributaries. There has also for years now been ever reducing average headroom at Potter Heigham bridge. Here’s my take on it. None of it scientific. I’ts based on what I can see, common sense, talking to local businesses, Broads men and women that work the area and call it home and my history of visiting / using the Broads since 1960. Before the Broads Authority was formed and came into being the Broads, rivers, moorings etc were managed by the Gt Yarmouth Port Authority Commissioners. There were just six of them in the shoreside office. The rest of the staff were out around the maintaining the rivers, dredging, moorings, trees, scrub marshes, river inspectors etc. Leading up to the late 80’s there were two grab bucket cranes either side of the Lower Bure. They were permanently on standby ready to dredge any areas that formed a build up of silt especially on the bends. They were not in operation every day but they were there ready to go when called upon. River depth was maintained, the navigation posts were not in evidence until approaching the outskirts of Gt Yarmouth. Headroom at Potter Heigham bridge at low water was normally over 7ft4” We as a family regularly took Broom Admirals through PHB up to the late 70’s and other craft into the late 80’s, the Pilots were busy chaps back then Then The Broads Authority was formed in 1989 The cranes stationed on the banks on standby were removed, never to be seen again. The navigational posts on the river Bure now stretch further upstream than they ever have, they have also been moved further towards the middle of the river away from the banks, navigational floating marker buoys have also been added even further upstream to warn of shallow water. The whole length of moorings in Gt Yarmouth home of the former hire craft yard are now out of bounds due to silting. Potter Heigham bridge rarely sees headroom at Low water of 6ft 6” nowadays and 6ft 8” is rare indeed. There are hundreds and hundreds of both hire and private craft that can no longer transit PHB, these craft were designed to pass under PHB and up to the late eighties did so with ease. The Broads Authority when challenged, on the rare occasion that they do respond is with their standard answer that this is due to climate change / global warming and that sea levels in the North sea have risen. By over eight inches really? No of course they haven’t. It comes as no surprise that average airdraft clearances at both Ludham and Wroxham bridges are now too decreasing year on year. To add to the lack of dredging and maintenance on the whole of Lower Bure, the Broads Authority have also allowed a section of the river bed to silt up to dangerously shallow depths over a distance of about 100yds. This has become known as the ‘Bure Hump’ Many of us with depth sounder / fish finders and the like have seen and recorded depths in the middle of the navigation down to as little as 2ft at low water. The Broads Authority of course deny the existence of any ‘Bure Hump’ However it is there seen and noted by many. During a flood tide, mother nature will push flood water into the Broads system, this is of course normal. However now that the lower Bure is much shallower and narrower it cannot accommodate the same volume of flood tide water that it historically coped with. That same volume of flood water has to go somewhere, it of course does just that, the volume of flood water goes further upstream over topping and flooding many areas During the ebb cycle because the Lower Bure is now seriously silted up right down to the Yellow Post at the confluence with the river Yare and the afore mentioned Bure ‘Hump’ the water is held back and slowed down from draining out to sea. The water levels are prevented from achieving a true historical ‘Low Water Level’ before the next flood tide arrives. This has been occurring and getting progressively worse for years now. This then keeps the water levels throughout the whole of the northern broads progressively higher than they have been since the late 80’s. This benefits the Broads authority as it negates them having to dredge many areas of the northern broads. For years now have got away with dredging only small areas only when they absolutely have to. While I’m on the subject of dredging, the Broads Authority recently released figures for their recent dredging operation for the last year – 26’000 cubic metres. Sounds a lot doesn’t it? In reality it’s a miniscule amount for the system. Lets put that 26’000 cubic metres into context. A dredging programme of 1m deep, 26m wide = just one kilometre length and that is it. There are 200 kilometres (125 miles) of navigable waterways within the Norfolk and Suffolk broads (Nowadays many of us can no longer access a large percentage of that total). One kilometre of dredging from a potential 200 kilometres over a whole year? Yes, the Broads Authority have got an impressive amount of dredging completed haven’t they? And just how much of that 26’000 cubic metres was water? Sometimes Broadland has to cope with a ‘Perfect Storm’ that is exceptional rainfall, Spring tides, Low pressure and the ‘Big One’ a north or north easterly wind. When these features combine the rivers flood and the flood waters become ‘Locked In’– quite normal. What is far from normal is the inability for the Bure to cope with and drain out the increased volume of water during the ebb tide cycle due to the afore mentioned factors. This means it can take days or even weeks for water levels to return to what is now ‘Normal’ Here’s a simple experiment you can carry out yourself:- Your bath is now the Northern Broads. The plug is the silted lower Bure along with the Bure hump Your taps are the flood tide (Timed) Put the plug in place in your bath. Using a stopwatch run both taps and time how long it takes to fill the bath up to the overflow with both taps turned fully open – Note A Now pull the plug fully out and time how long it takes to empty the bath – Note B Fill the bath up to overflow again. This time remove the plug only half way for the time of ‘B’ then put the plug back in. Turn on the taps fully for timed ‘A’ – your bath is going to overflow, keep repeating the cycle but each time remove the plug slightly less, and soon your whole bathroom will be flooded. Rocket science it is not The above is the situation where we have arrived at since 1989 or it was until – The Broads authority recently announced that they were no longer going to maintain depth to 12ft at low water throughout Breydon and the Yare as it was no longer considered a commercial waterway. There apparently is now a sand bar across Breydon ( I have not seen or recorded this). We should be asking ourselves how much more water is now going up the Bure due to the capacity of Breydon and the Yare being reduced? The Second river crossing at Gt Yarmouth – The bridge abutments have reduced the rivers width by a full third (Not marginally as some clowns have stated). This is not helping the ebb tides one iota either Since the Broads rivers became a commercial waterway – Wherries and the like then later a popular holiday and relaxation destination the rivers ability to cope with navigation has been fine for hundreds of years. Potter Heigham bridge was a delight to transit to the wonders of the upper Thurne system So just how have we ended up with the current situation in just thirty four short years? Draw your own conclusions. Btw - The Blessed Authority has been operating for thirty four long years now too Griff

We have woken up to snow up here in Donny - The first time in years. Its the proper stuff too, not that much, only about two inches but it is definitely snow. Purdey dog is now 3 1/2 and this is the first time she has experienced it. Her first walk today will be interesting Griff

You make a very valid point about what the Blessed Authority has morphed into since its inception. It is now a body that it was never assigned to be without any input or agreement from the Citizens of Broadland I cannot help thinking we’ve been here before when the common market morphed into the EU without any input or agreement from the citizens of Britain We all know how that ended Griff

Robins XC - So.. previous owner spent £10,856 then I spent £5,768 so it’s had £16,621 spent on it. This works out since registration to be £977.00 a year! W0w Griff

One member at the BA meeting on 24 November had the temerity to say (and kudos to him for saying it) that “There seems to be a one-way subsidy going from Navigation into National Park”. This is something that toll payers have been complaining about for years. Packman, of course, flatly denied it, mentioning only the work of the rangers in his defence. He conveniently forgot to mention the plethora of other ‘shared costs’ that make up the figures. Just one example that stands out, the Visitor Centre at Ranworth Staithe. Closed for several years while it was leased to NWT and, in that time, boaters managed to moor safely day in, day out. Then it was reopened as a Visitor Centre, with 100% of the costs being paid by NP funds. It is now 38%NP:72% Navigation ‘because the staff collect the mooring fee’. What a joke, well, it would be if it was funny. So, in one fell swoop, the BA claws in income from the mooring fees and, because the staff has to collect the mooring fees, they charge the toll payer, all of them, not just the Moorer's, extra on their tolls to pay for the collection. A double whammie! While on the subject of Ranworth, another false fact he keeps repeating is that free 24hr moorings are increasing. That wasn’t true even before the charges were introduced at Ranworth. That claim is more obviously false now, as the Ranworth moorings, all 22 of them, can no longer be put in the ‘free’ category. They fall into the same category as the yacht stations - charged for when staff are on scene, free otherwise. Griff

I take it the rivers are ice free? Griff

Day 19 His breathing has improved slightly, had 4 x Hrs off the ventilator. He managed to sit up for 1 1/2 Hrs with the aid of a support. Had the catheter and infusion pipes changed which tired him. His temperature up slightly again - normal in these circumstances. He is communicating by winking. They have put him on Beta blockers. The blood clot size has not changed, various options open to them to deal with it. They now won’t move him until Thursday at earliest Next update due when his mobile support team visit on Sunday Griff

Our Robin has just added up all the maintenance / faults costings for his Volvo XC since new - It's frightening Griff

Day 18 Family support unit didn’t visit today - telephone update. Only news is magicians are going to use ultrasound to determine way ahead for the blood clot. Shaun tires easily. Not strong enough to use a keypad but can communicate with his head. Support unit are visiting tomorrow however MrsG has a bug so will have to stay away for now Griff

Day 17 A good / positive day. General physical movement improved, could scratch his head with both arms, firm handshake, not as tired, he even managed a laugh. However he has a small blood clot in the pericardium close to his heart. The Docs are trying to reduce it, if it increases in size = then an open chest operation again! It’s a bit risky and would set him back. Consequently he will now stay at the specialist Heart hospital until at least Monday All in all, a positive day Griff

I saw her there mysen - Such a sad end. Didn't take em long to get her in t skip Griff

I’d love to be a fly on t wall seeing his dish when he reads the letter. On past performances he’ll probably ignore it and claim non receipt Griff

Btw - The above is posted for info or those that feel the need Griff

During ‘B.A’s restoration we lifted all the hull skin fittings higher up from the waterline (apart from the raw water engine coolant intakes obviously) Then for our sea trip to the Thames I fitted in line non return valves for the two bilge pumps. Since then we have added two float switch bilge pumps. There is no way of switching these off other than disconnecting the wiring (fuse protected) The engine raw water intakes are protected by two s/steel sea cocks 90deg handle type The exhaust has a collector flap valve chamber just inboard of the Transom. I’ve done what I can Griff

Day 16 The magicians have discussed with Shauns support team they no longer need a morning update by phone which takes their valuable time plus logging details of any conversations, especially when they are due to visit in the afternoons Right, Shaun is in less pain, they are managing his levels better. On Thursday Shaun will be moved to a lung / Breathing specialist ICU. This is only 40 mins from his mobile support units home, much better for visiting. It’s not a HDU or rehabilitation centre, he’s not ready for that yet. Today he seemed happier and was smiling more. Communication each way is proving frustrating especially for Shaun (Tracheotomy) so they intend to do letters etc The Magicians are pleased and confident with his progression, he remains stable Griff

There were five craft including us at the staithe Saturday 1600 - shut, no sign of life. No one to pay a mooring fee to either Just how we managed to moor up briefly without any staff to assist and a novice deck crew was ‘surprising’ Griff

A mate said they were charging £25 for a single pumpout. But seeing as they shut at 1200, tis immaterial Departed for home at 1800. Home for 2130 inc a stop which is acceptable. Stack of laundry to tackle now in due course Griff

Managed to dry off the upper scupper prior to entering wetshed. Girls departed at 1630. I should be away by 1745. It’s been raining on and off since we arrived Griff