Pipedreams

[Vaughan]

14 minutes ago, Mouldy said:

I take it ‘blessed’ is a euphemism when used in that context? 

"You can't baffle me with long words!"

Peter Sellers.

[Vaughan]

Tell me headmaster, is your school co-educational?

You can't baffle me with long words.

Yes but what I mean is; do your boys and girls share the same curriculum?

No, we had separate ones built.

Yes, but how do you segregate the sexes?

If you must know, I go round with a crowbar and I prize them apart!

[CambridgeCabby]

The Ranworth Maltsters is open today from 11:30 to about 18:30 - 19:00

[ranworthbreeze]

14 minutes ago, CambridgeCabby said:

The Ranworth Maltsters is open today from 11:30 to about 18:30 - 19:00

Is that good or bad? I have heard the new chef as not improved the meals.

[CambridgeCabby]

We ate onboard so can’t really comment as to the food , they only served 4 meals last evening 

[Vaughan]

5 minutes ago, CambridgeCabby said:

We are onboard so can’t really comment as to the food , they only served 4 meals last evening 

Which tends to suggest how very much they rely on the summer tourist trade, rather than "regular" local people who live in the area.

So can the BA be accused of killing the goose, that laid the golden eggs?  If Ranworth Maltsters were to go out of business, that really would be a "nail in the coffin" of north rivers cruising.

Whether or not their nice little "visitor centre" with nice leaflets about Bewilderwood and Wroxham Barns, were still open.   Now to be paid for, it seems, from the toll fund.  When on holiday, what exactly do you need a visitor centre for, when you are standing there on Ranworth staithe?   Did the existence of this little facility actually attract you to go there in the first place?  Either by car, boat or paddle board?  I somewhat doubt it.

But of course, it's another box to tick when you are "working in partnership" with other quangos, to demonstrate your efforts to "open up the area to a wider public".

Give me strength . . . . 

[DAVIDH]

The Visitor Centre is a desirable not an essential. In all walks of life, businesses are having to rationalise in order to survive. Doesn't seem the same pressures apply when you're funded by people who have no choice but to pay up.

[SwanR]

We visited the Maltsters in November. Food was good, service was good, friendly staff. It was a lunchtime and they looked to be doing well, quite busy. 

[Bytheriver]

Other members of the National Parks Family being virtually 100% funded from DEFRA need to follow the "Diversification of visitors" trail especially following Covid which in some areas probably doubled the number of visitors & tripled the amount of litter. Information Centres go some way towards this. Some NPs are having to look at redundancies or certainly not filling vacancies & are being pushed towards looking for commercial support. A practice followed in the USA which has brought unforeseen consequences. It is embarrassing having to turn down a Planning Application from a sponsor.

The NP Family are all pressing Government for more stable long term funding Whilst most do not own much land they will certainly need to be part of the move to a Greener UK.  https://deframedia.blog.gov.uk/2023/02/03/environmental-improvement-plan-outlines-ambition-to-create-greener-and-cleaner-country/

[CambridgeCabby]

Currently moored up on Horning staithe , on the leccy!!!!

Have seen and chatted to a few fellow forumites and passed Daisy Chain afloat , Bramble is most miffed she missed Oscar 

[kpnut]

Can we have a photo of Bramble soon please, Simon? I expect she’s grown (even a bit?)

[CambridgeCabby]

[CambridgeCabby]

[YnysMon]

I can attest - she's one of the cutest dogs I've seen.  

[kpnut]

Thanks Simon. She is just made for cuddling!

[CambridgeCabby]

Just like me 😂

[MargeandParge]

1 hour ago, CambridgeCabby said:

It has been said that she is made for cuddling and looking so cute. Which is very true. We hope she doesn't use the magnificent ear trumpet all the time.

Take care Simon Kate and Bramble.

Kindest Regards Marge and Parge 

[garryn]

5 hours ago, CambridgeCabby said:

Currently moored up on Horning staithe , on the leccy!!!!

Have seen and chatted to a few fellow forumites and passed Daisy Chain afloat , Bramble is most miffed she missed Oscar 

It looks like you took our berth on the staithe.

[CambridgeCabby]

21 minutes ago, garryn said:

It looks like you took our berth on the staithe.

If you left 46p on post 1 , I most certainly did 😆

[CambridgeCabby]

A quick visit to the two nearest hostelries for me this evening , The Swan only about ten diners in , good beer ,London Pride £4.65 well kept , The New Inn , four customers only real ale offering was Doombar so i opted to try the London Pale keg ,£5.65 and full of those bl***y citrus notes that (IMHO) are ruining good British ale , so i think a return to the Swan will be called for to remove the taste from my palate 

[garryn]

1 hour ago, CambridgeCabby said:

If you left 46p on post 1 , I most certainly did 😆

No that must of been the boat in front of us that was leaving at the same time. We decided to leave when our 2 pounds worth ran out.

[CambridgeCabby]

We were most happy to grab the 46p , the sailey constant cruiser which has been there for a couple of weeks was , i believe, about to grab it but hey ho we plugged in first  😆

bit busier in the Swan now , about 30 customers , good to see 

[CambridgeCabby]

As a footnote , the rangers launch stopped off this afternoon , and they had been made aware of the lack of leccy posts at Ranworth by the BA so thumbs up to them for actually acting on my call last pm 

[CambridgeCabby]

Time to set sail and put Pipedreams to bed for a couple of weeks , as always a most relaxing time afloat 

[CambridgeCabby]

Leaving home now , Norfolk bound , keep the taxi rank warm for me I’ll be there tomorrow