In fact, I am always so excited to arrive that the first 2 days almost become a mini holiday within the holiday. That is, of course, after we have sorted out the housekeeping.
Sam and John knew they were having to share a room for a couple of nights, but when we got there, we realised a double room came with a double bed! Re-think time......a trip to the budget-buys shop to get an air bed and a sleeping bag.
It was only when we unwrapped it that we understood why the sleeping bag only cost £3.99!
Oh well, it's worse where there's none.....
Our first complete day was very busy.....we visited every charity shop there was (too many, and no purchases made) then had lunch on The Green, purchased from the Norfolk Deli, http://www.norfolk-deli.co.uk/ with liquid refreshment provided by the Golden Growler (aka The Golden Lion, which borders the green)
One word of advice here......leave Mr Cooper at home if you are planning to drink outside the Golden Growler, as you will be given a plastic glass! This incensed Mr Cooper so much that his continual moaning did mar the enjoyment of the best filled bagel I have ever had*. My thoughts on the plastic glass front were, 'Why not collect a few over the week ahead, ready for picnic time!'
Which also gives drinking in the sunshine a sense of purpose.
Then later that day, Sam and I had one of the ultimate Hunstanton experiences...a trip on the Wash Monster. http://www.seatours.co.uk/
Although the day had been hot and sunny, in the afternoon the breeze had changed to a lightish wind,
and as we sat there ready for off, our shared feelings were 'It's only for 30 minutes, whatever happens'
'Whatever happens' was like being on a rather large raft in a slightly choppy sea. The guide told us they were seaworthy in a force 12 gale........but not with me and Sam sitting on it!
We concentrated instead on the outward bound views......
........followed by the homeward bound views.
Then back on terra-firma, and a restorative drink outside in the last of the sunshine, in a plastic glass.
(That's 2 for the picnic hamper now!)
On Sunday, 4 of us set off for the antiques and crafts centre in Old Hunstanton, to be followed by a little light lunch at Le Strange Arms.
https://www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotels/best-western-le-strange-arms-hotel-83646
The weather was perfect, the only cloud on the horizon being that 2 out of 4 of us had forgotten to bring any money, and 1 out of 4 of us didn't really have any to forget, which left Mr Cooper as the only one with any cash. So we made no purchases but went straight on to lunch. Then, off to St Mary the Virgin, still in Old Hunstanton, to visit the flower festival there.
I must apologise here.....we had lunch looking over the sea, we visited an amazing church which is found in the remains of a medieval village, we thoroughly enjoyed an imaginative and varied flower festival, then went to visit their Garden Fete (sadly now with only £2 between us) and I only took one photo from all those experiences........
Yes, the fete also had a mini dog show too!
Usually when we have our bi-annual holiday in Hunstanton, we tend to do the same things. This year we thought we would include some new events. One new event that we didn't actually plan was a sickness bug which slowly worked its way through a quarter of the population, ending with me! **
(My last day there was spent in bed, sipping water and reading yet another book)
One event we did plan was to take Mum to Norfolk Lavender (regular event) but then onto a pub for a lovely lunch.
It's lovely to have a lavender fix without having to go to the south of France.
Mr Cooper thought so too......
........and Mum liked the idea of a little light lunch to follow.
We turned left out of Norfolk Lavender and found an excellent pub in the Sedgeford, the next village. The King William IV. http://www.thekingwilliamsedgeford.co.uk/
Faultless service, lovely atmosphere and delicious food. Our only complaint was that we were unable to also have a pudding, as we were too full. (For me, mackerel, beetroot and orange salad, followed by shark steak served with pineapple salsa and a wonderful mixed salad. ) If you are near, beat a path to its door. And if you are not near, go anyway and stay for a night or two.
Mr Cooper was determined to visit Holme beach, found in the village next to Old Hunstanton,
Holme-Next-The-Sea. He had read an article in the Sunday Times, saying how beautiful the beach was, so we set out, armed with 2 apples and £3.50 for the car park. It is not too long a walk to the beach from the car park, but then you have a choice of how far you want to walk to the left or to the right.
It is an amazing beach, with an abundance of sand, a sprinkling of sand dunes and, even better, only a handful of people! We made camp at the bottom of a dune to shelter from the perpetual wind.
The couple occupying the dune to the left of us were looking to get an 'all over' tan!
This is showing evidence of yardangs, and something else technical beginning with Z.
(Zeugens, Mr Cooper has just told me) To be found in the desert on a much larger scale.
And here we are looking left, with Old Hunstanton on the horizon.
Looking right now, with sea and sand on the horizon......there is an awful lot of sand here.
Looking towards the sea, from the shelter of our 'dune for the day'.
In the sea now, up to my ankles, looking back at the dunes.
But I love this image best of all, here are my knitted flowers basking in the sun.
Of course there was more we did, including cooking and washing up.
We had a great evening, as always, with Philip and Jayne, and Marcus and Edward.
And then I was struck down!
During my recovery day, after a turbulent night, I read the latest book club choice.....
It is probably not a good idea to read the book club choice whilst ailing.
When I went along to the meeting on Wednesday, I was glad I was sitting next to Hetty, as the other 3 members began to discuss a book that didn't bear much resemblance to the one above.
It is worth a read, but not if you are feeling downcast and in need of a lift.
It is also set in Ireland (first thing that Hetty and I had failed to comprehend...although we were great on the emotion bits)
Back to West Sussex, work and decorating, and looking forward to a happy time ahead. We made a huge effort over the weekend to finish the last and largest room, so it is ready for when Sarah and Ali are with us, tomorrow morning! We are now able to watch the Olympics in a clutter-free zone, cream walls instead of red! It is like being in someone elses house!
I hope you all have a good time ahead of you, whether or not you have family visiting from the Falklands! And as a sort of bonus award for those of you who have read through to the very end,
Here is the recipe for the best bagel ever, courtesy of the Norfolk Deli.
*The Bostonian, a bagel with peanut butter, cream cheese and celery.
Spread one half of your cut bagel with crunchy peanut butter, the other half with cream cheese (just reach for that tub of Philly) and add some freshly chopped celery, green and crunchy, to the middle.
It's amazing!
**Found out later that I wasn't the last to fall....poor Olivia was struck down when she left.
No comments:
Post a Comment