Holidays are here - Drove down to Norfolk to a small place called Thurford (near Dereham.) It’s not a particularly long drive in miles but takes quite a long time once you hit the small roads in Norfolk. It’s a very agricultural county and consequently the roads are full of tractors; large lorries and of course tourists. It is however classic English countryside with long rolling fields that stretch to the distance in hues of gold and brown. I won’t say rolling hills because it is rather flat. Immediately you can tell that life hasn’t probably changed very much since the Doomsday book was written. Same crops grown in the same fields for centuries and there are mediaeval churches and homes everywhere. If there weren’t’ all these clues the magnificent tall oaks of immense girth would be another pointer. Though I notice that despite the immense size of trunk oaks have surprisingly little canopy.
We arrived at the house around 4pm – it’s a converted barn (or as they say here – byre.) Very nice and the warmth from the AGA hits you immediately. There is no mobile signal so very likely we shall have a peaceful week although that means that I can’t update my blog while I am here. Huge living room the size of well a barn! Would be fantastic with a large pair of Tannoy Westminster’s in it.
Bonus beds are also really comfortable. Perhaps that is why I seemed to be tired all week long but again that may just be my age. Photos to follow may not be in any particular order.
Saturday 17th Sep 11
Lazy day today as we were all a bit tired. We rested on the houses enormous couches, went to the supermarket in Cromer (famous for crabs) and had a chicken Caesar salad for tea. There is a huge apple tree outside the window so we’ll probably make an apple pie at some point. The lady who owns the house keeps horses and was dressing one for an event.
Sunday 18th Sep 11
Monday 19th Sep 11
Went to ‘Wells next the sea’, ate cold Cornish pasties and then went to the Muckelburgh military museum.
Noreen cooked spaghetti Bolognese for tea
Tuesday 20th Sep 11
Made more bread...even better than yesterdays. Nick made Apple cobbler with the garden apples and I made a Bakewell tart. Went to Sheringham and took a trip on the Poppy Line Railway. Nice steam train but scenery overall and train speed not so good. Good experience overall though sitting in Harry Potter type carriages.
Wednesday 21st Sep 11
Took a trip to Wroxham for a sail along the broads (Wroxham broad to be exact) Broads are old peat pits that have since filled with water.
Thursday 22nd Sep 11
Went to see the seals off Blakeney Point – very enjoyable (pictures below) – got really close to them too.
Visited Felbrigg Hall which has a beautiful walled garden
Out for 10am and Nick had us back in Lancashire at 4pm – little Robbie was pleased to see me though. When I look back it doesn’t seem like we did an awful lot but had a fantastic, relaxing week none the less. Good holiday. Good choice Jane.