Radio Car Travelogue 31 August - 3 September 2010

Tuesday 31st August and a trip to Stokesby on the River Bure near Acle where there's a new micro-brewery in a shed! Pictured left to right, Lesley & Carlos Branquinho with partner Kevin Hopkins who runs the Ketts Tavern on Ketts Hill and The Rose on Queens Road in Norwich. They brew bespoke beers for the pubs. Three cask ales, Classic & Legend already on sale and Platinum Blonde just coming on line. Eventually they want to start brewing at the back of a refurbished Rose!

Out at Swardeston this morning for the auction by the Joint Economic Crime Unit for Norfolk & Suffolk. Left, auctioneer Brian Martin with the computers and sound gear and in the background, jewellery, designer handbags and sunglasses and more electrical stuff like tellies and hi-fi's and sound systems. Confiscated from convicted criminals the money goes back into the criminal justice system and the government's coffers. Right, the two cars in the auction. A silver VW Touran and last years Audi TTS Quatro with just 7,900 miles on the clock!

Thursday through the mist to Strumpshaw RSPB REserve by the railway line and Erica Howe tells us about the increase in bitterns which are slowly moving inland. Numbers are increasing but still not high so you're lucky to hear the males 'boom'! Apparently the female of the species is very quiet - hmmm. Not so pleasant are the sporadic fires that keep starting in a block of flats at Pottergate West in Norwich. Arson is suspected by Norfolk Police but no-one has been charged. Meanwhile these residents live in fear of a major blaze and some have even taped up their letterboxes. The fire service fitted smoke alarms in the communal entrance hall and stairwell yesterday and the City Council have sent someone to advise them on safety. It remains to be seen if another fire is reported.

East Coast Truckers Childrens Convoy 2010 the pictures

1. Arriving at Pleasurewood Hills where the characters from Star Wars were waiting for a photocall with the youngsters. 2. Our driver in truck No.4 - Smiler! 3. Ready for the off with the police motorcycles and 100 trucks! 4. Left Glenn Johnson who started it all 25 years ago and right, Rob Billman who has now taken over. Guess what they're laughing at!

Blog Video should be posted later this week.

Barevery just to see the childrens convoy.

Despite the inclement weather on Sunday, thousands turned out to wave the East Coast Truckers Childrens Convoy through including our cousin Mel at the Brundall roundabout in the evening. Trouble was the heavens opened right after and she was unprepared for the walk home!

TARQUIN MAKES SHOCK ANNOUNCEMENT

To everyones amazement this morning, Tarquin announced that he's giving up his job outside the door of the virtual cafe to become an actor. He starts his two weeks notice with immediate effect and leaves his post Friday 10th September. As yet there are no volunteers to take his place!

Radio Car Travelogue 23 - 27 August 2010

Monday and I'm on flood watch. Down on the River Yare there's little sign of the deluge that came to most of East Anglia overnight. Apart from one or two isolated places Norfolk pretty much escaped the worst. Then I'm off to Lakenham where I met up with Sian Evans. She missed the deadline for submitting claim forms for child tax credit payments and subsequently lost £230 a week. With no luck after trying to contact HM Revenue & Customs she turned to us. We persued the issue and next week she hopes to have the payments reinstated. In the meantime she's relied on friends and family to keep her and her four children going.

Tuesday and it'll be a long day! First stop Bracondale where the road surface has lifted like an earthquake. Fortunately it's at the junction with Carrow Hill and won't restrict the flow of traffic too much whilst they repair it. Then on horseback at Easton College. Look at this magnificent beast! The horse that is. The first time I've conducted an interview on horseback but this stunningly realistic machine is a far more economical way to teach students the basics before they get on a horse with a mind of its own! That's Hilary Francois holding the mike. I can't do everything. There's also an olympic size arena in this huge new complex which has been open for a year now. Back to the roads and back to Furze Road off Plumstead Road (see last Travelogue) Thy had repaired this pavement where a huge hole appeared but just look. The repair has sunk into another chasm! Will it ever end. Back to BBC Norfolk and then down to the train station and a trip to Chelmsford.

Quite similar to Norwich I felt. Thanks to all the staff at BBC Essex who made me feel very welcome and reminded me of the equipment we used to have in Norwich many years ago! I didn't take any pictures there but snapped these two on the walk back to the station heading for home. A long day!

Wednesday and I'm transport correspondent! First, at Reepham they build on their success with the Car Club with 6 cars in Norwich and 3 at Reepham and now the next phase in Aylsham. The world's first electric minibus should be completed soon so an excuse to visit project manager Rex Warner again! Here he is with their new green van - the latest addition to the Reepham fleet. In the city I was met by Jeff Jordan from the Norwich Cycle Campaign and we're talking about bike safety. Aviva's survey reckons that 20% of cyclists have their bikes taken after leaving them unlocked to pop into a shop. The message - security should be uppermost in t your mind when leaving your bike anywhere. A handy note from Jeff though - why not pick up a ccycle map of the city? Very useful from City Hall, tourist information etc.

Thursday morning at Hellesdon Hospital where I met up with Maggie Wheeler, chair of the Norwich and Waveney Mental Health Trust. To help treat the growing numbers of people with Alzheimers and other forms of dementia they're investing £14m in a new dementia intensive care unit at the Julian Hospital with 36 beds. The intention is to recreate a homely atmosphere with gardens for education, research and clinical care. Opening in 2012 Norfolk is gearing up for the increasing numbers who may need such help in the future.

Friday comes around and today I'm your retail correspondent! First, the revitalised NAAFI shop at the former RAF Coltishall. Behind the counter, Sean Ismay the owner of Thoroughgoods Select Convenience. A Franchise company that Sean used to work for before happening upon this opportunity. It opened at 10am today. Then to the Assembly Rooms in the middle of Swaffham where they've had a Friday market for the past 35 years. The Town Council wants the market to stop but David Smith (4th pic) has hundreds of supporters who say they want t to stay just as it is. Last pic in the coffee room shows the strength of feeling with (centre) former town mayor Ben Emmerson with Carol Raiunbow and other supporters. Their arguement is that it's a focal point for locals and visitors and it doesn't clash or interefere with the Saturday market on the car park outside.

Boat gets its bottom done!

After three years of serving us well in the water we pulled her out today to inspect her bottom. Apart from a film of slime there was nothing to report to the little spectators perched up in the roof!

Radio Car Travelogue 16 - 20 August 2010

Monday and two very different calls. First, Finklegate in the city centre where these council homes are in urgent need of attention. So much so that the residents hung out banners last week to highlight their plight. They say if next winter is as bad as last they'll freeze! Then to the Castle Mall centre where a new business opens today. After soaking my feet for a few minutes they're danggled into these tubs where the samll fish cluster round and nibble away the dead skin cells. It tickles and for £10 for 15 minutes you too can have the experience!

Tuesday morning and a raw wind on the North Norfolk coastline. We're reporting on the seal deaths that are still a mystery. Let's hope they find the machine that's causing their injuries soon. Then, along the way I stopped off at Amazona - Cromer Zoo where Director Jim Irwin-Davis tells us how Sainsbury's in Great Yarmouth give them all their out of date fruit and veg which goes to Thrigby Hall first then split between the two sites. Better than landfill and the cheeky monkey waits in the tree for the delivery! To see a video of Amazona, type the word into the search box top right.

It's Wenesday and Carnival Day in Cromer! Starts at 10am, Red Arrows display at midday and the procession this evening through the town. Left to right - some of the workers that make it all happen. Tony Shipp Chairman, Pat West security and Paul Brooks who's in charge of all the equipment. Some of the crew enjoy an al fresco breakfast before the crowds arrive.

Where did the cobbles go? The mystery of the road repair in Norwich's historic Elm Hill. Whilst the stones were removed someone took them. The result was that an unsightly series of tarmac patches replaced them. Hardly fitting. Another part close by has been repaired with round stones so why not do the job properly? Someone should do something.

Thursday 19th and I met a remarkable young man today. Ben Pickard was injured in a car crash ten years ago and is now a teraplegic which means his accident left him with no movement from the shoulders down. His arms are OK but his hands are also affected. Despite this I was inspired by his outlook on life. He and two friends (Clive Williams & Simon Gardner) are cycling from London to Paris over four days soon. You can see how Ben (and cat) has to lower himself into his special cycle, lift his leg over the handlebars and drop both into the slings on either side of the front wheel. You have to admire this man and he's doing it to raise money for EACH - the East Anglian Childrens Hospices. If you want to support him then just click here -
www.justgiving.com/london2paris-ouch
Best of luck Ben and tell us about it when you're back from the Eifel Tower!

SPOT THE BALL!
Friday brings me to Broadland Sun Park for naturists at Poringland. The International Petanque Tournament brings squads from France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy. Starting tomorrow morning and ending on Sunday team GB are the defending champions. JUST TO TEST YOU, John Lucas, Richard Last and Ivan Page each throw a petanque ball. You can see two of them on the left hand side of the pic but can you spot the third ball? Copy the picture to your clipboard, put a cross where you think it is and send it to me to win a fabulous prize. My usual rules and conditions apply!

Potter Heigham Country Fayre 2010

Here's a few snapshots of this years fete. Much bigger field with more parking and weather that, although cloudy, provided some sunny interludes before the wind turned cooler late afternoon. Pic1. The winners of the NICE Society display, George Willetts collection.. Pic 2 best bike in show a Yamaha (and I thought they made organs!) Pic 3. For the cars, a Morris 10/6. Pic 4. We arrive in style led by Judy and Gordon (can you tell which is which?) Pic 5. Robbie the horse who's a big attraction each year. Pic 6. Some of the other cars on show. We'll have the results of the fundraising posted here in a day or two. Thanks to Paul and all the team for their efforts today. By the way, best trade stand went to the East Coast Truckers. Don't forget the big 25th convoy is in a fortnight.