We took our son on the Norfolk Broads for a holiday when he was 15yrs old. We three enjoyed it, being the first holiday that we could afford for many a long year. It was a bit on the chilly side, a bit on the smelly side, a bit on the small side etc etc. But it was our first holiday for years and it was exciting in a way that none of the ones we have been on since have been.

Now my in-laws aren’t as young as they were like the rest of us and my husband wanted to give them a trip down memory lane and a holiday on the broads seemed to be something they would enjoy and remember. Something that we had done together.

We started at the crack of dawn to get there as early as we could, my husband and son seemingly racing each other up the motorway.
I haven’t mentioned the dogs. We have one, a collie cross, who is lovely and well behaved but does bark in the car. I had thought that I would drive my van with the dogs in the back and hopefully they would soon settle. My son and partner had two, a lurcher and a jack russel who also got very excited and barked in the car. My husband and I went in his car with the ten year old in the back. My son drove my van with their luggage and three dogs in the back!!!
The noise level was ear piercingly loud and didn’t stop until we got there. We stopped on the way for refreshments and to let the dogs out for a breath of fresh air.

Boats come in all shapes and sizes, we had one that is longish with windows along each side and just enough space to walk around the outside without falling in if you are careful. Inside were two bedrooms, very very small ones, with cupboards to store clothes and shoes. A narrow galley, just enough room for one person to cook, wash up etc, but if two of you want to be helpful be prepared to bump into each other and you will only be able to pass each other if you are very slim. The front has a lounging area, with a steering wheel and seat on the left hand side, seats and table on the other. Enough room for loads of people actually so long as they all sit down and the seating pulls out to make extra beds. All bed linen and kitchen equipment is supplyed.
There is a well at the front with built in plastic bench style seating around for nice days, and another at the back. The roof of these boats slides open backwards but we found with if open it was terribly draughty wherever you sat.
My husband and I had the end cabin and slept in a tiny double bed. We could hear every sound and the in-laws obviously weren’t getting much sleep either. My husband went to sleep immediately and I lay there, wedged against the wall trapped beneath the windowsill thing. In the middle of the night I needed to get up and use the loo which my husband had been using all evening and not pulling the chain so as not to disturb the others. I reached over him, stretched, climbed, stretched my leg down the other side, couldn’t reach the floor. A bit of struggling later and he appeared to still be asleep, I crept in to the loo, didn’t dare turn the light on for fear of waking the whole lot of them, sat, AAAAHHHHH wet bum!!!!!! He must have drunk gallons of beer that night because in trying to be quiet and not pulling the chain and going in the dark he had filled the thing up!!!!!

We meandered along the waterways, chatting, cooking, eating and all the other things one does on holiday, it was a bit small for four of us and it wasn’t easy finding places to moor up so that three dogs could have a bit of exercise.
The broads have some of the most beautiful scenery around, it is a very peaceful type of holiday.

My in-laws decided after a couple of days that boating wasn’t their thing, they took to the road and went home which made me feel a bit cheated because if they weren’t coming we would have been soaking up the sun.