Faun Swan antlers

A white watery faun

The swan streams along with a team

Preening her gleaming plumage

Crowned with burnished horns

Piping calls from dawn until fall

Dreadful limerick by Chris 

Handle with care ~ Festive duck post

Our dear friend Yvonne from round the coast in sunny Lincolnshire kindly sent us a festive parcel containing a bright scarlet caped Father Christmas duckie that intrigued both the swans and Bobby.

T

A shiny half crown ~ Bridge Broad and the Chamberlins

In the middle years of the last century Bridge Broad Wroxham turned from a big overgrown pond, land locked from the River Bure into a multi faceted amenity by the Chamberlin clan, headed by soulful Cecil. 

Cecil was one of very first to let small boats to ordinary people, particularly youngsters. Before, day boats were rarely available to everyone. It was the norm for luxury yachts, motor launches and cruisers to be chartered in advance at a very high cost for several days or weeks. John from Hoveton explains ~ "A canoe or rowing boat could be hired for a shiny half a crown." Boat bookings could be made at Chamberlins shop by the bridge and Granary Staithe on the parallel Hoveton side of the river.

A channel was cut through to the river opposite the Free Moorings enabling passage and Swallows and Amazons adventures around Broadland. 

Photograph ~ Cecil paddling one of the customary timber dinghies available to hire. (Rita Massingham née Chamberlin.)

Chris