The day started with a visit toWelney Wetland Centre, which is linked with Martinmere in Lancashire through the Wetland Trust and the Wildfowl Trust. TSH and Diva saw avocets and their chicks, a moorhen feeding chicks and a small deer, which some local people said was very unusual. There was also a Little Egret.
The second visit was to Peckover House, a National Trust property in Wisbech. The interest here was that it was originally owned by a Quaker family who were trusted to hold people's money during the 1800s, when there were few regulations. This bank was prudently run and did not collapse as did many others in the 1860s. Since then it has been taken over by Barclays and whilst this latter bank also did not collapse in the recent crisis, the Quaker bankers might not approve of what has happened to their trustworthy enterprise.
TSH visited the gardens, which were pleasant but not special. Diva did not go to the gardens as she discovered there are two resident c**ts, about which she is extremely phobic.
Monday, 19 May 2014
Sunday, 18 May 2014
A visit to a sitooterie
How many times can you send scrambled eggs back til they get them right? Well, the first attempt came without smoked salmon. The second was runny (Diva had asked for them well cooked). The third was runny and the waitress explained that this was 'because of the cream'. Diva does not like cream and cannot imagine why you would put it into scrambled eggs. 'This is the way scrambled eggs are cooked here. With cream' (said very firmly). 'Would it be possible for Chef to be asked to do them as scrambled eggs without additives?' The waitress looked doubtful and petrified at the thought of approaching Chef with such a request. Well it was possible, so Diva got excellent scrambled eggs and smoked salmon at the fourth attempt. But the toast was not buttered. She hates 'fine dining'and 'Chefs' and prefers real food.
The first National Trust stop was at Blickling, which is an opulent house with a pleasant garden walk. It had three catering outlets but only two were tested and found more than adequate. The sitooterie (yes, really, it is where you 'sit out') was tested and Diva's photo taken.
By the time of the visit to Felbrigg, it was hot and both were tired so it was just a quick visit to the interesting walled garden. No energy for the house. The drive is so bumpy that Diva dropped the satnav, which was fortunately OK.
A kamikaze pheasant nearly dirtied the front of the car. Holiday nearing its end and clothes running low.
The first National Trust stop was at Blickling, which is an opulent house with a pleasant garden walk. It had three catering outlets but only two were tested and found more than adequate. The sitooterie (yes, really, it is where you 'sit out') was tested and Diva's photo taken.
By the time of the visit to Felbrigg, it was hot and both were tired so it was just a quick visit to the interesting walled garden. No energy for the house. The drive is so bumpy that Diva dropped the satnav, which was fortunately OK.
A kamikaze pheasant nearly dirtied the front of the car. Holiday nearing its end and clothes running low.
Saturday, 17 May 2014
Norwich
Today was spent in Norwich, starting at the Cathedral, where there is a pair of nesting peregrine falcons with four (?) chicks nesting high up on the tower. For those who are interested, this is the link for the Sheffield falcons, which Diva has been watching: http://efm.dept.shef.ac.uk/peregrine/ . She saw one of the chicks crawl out of the egg, assisted by a parent who helped to break the shell before eating it.
The cathedral also has some attractive modern stained glass and a highly polished bronze font.
Norwich is another very attractive Small Cathedral City, with history as well as modern shopping and facilities. The day did not start well because the Park and Ride does not run on Saturdays from the place planned (but it doesn't say so on the leaflets). So it was drive into the city very slowly in one lane of traffic, the other being reserved for the non-running buses.
Diva bought two new T shirts, which will help with warm weather wardrobe planning but not with wardrobe storage at the hotel.
The cathedral also has some attractive modern stained glass and a highly polished bronze font.
Norwich is another very attractive Small Cathedral City, with history as well as modern shopping and facilities. The day did not start well because the Park and Ride does not run on Saturdays from the place planned (but it doesn't say so on the leaflets). So it was drive into the city very slowly in one lane of traffic, the other being reserved for the non-running buses.
Diva bought two new T shirts, which will help with warm weather wardrobe planning but not with wardrobe storage at the hotel.
Friday, 16 May 2014
A royal day
The Queen greeted TSH and Diva at the entrance to Sandringham and escorted them into the saloon, where sandwiches and tea were served. Afterwards, Charles walked with them to the nearby parish church. TSH was able to explain to him which trees were past their best and should be removed to leave space for others. And where he'd spotted a weed.
OK, so the first paragraph is fantasy. TSH and Diva queued and paid with everyone else and received no special treatment. But it was an excellent day out. The house and its museum had more interest than most because it directly related to people and events they were very familiar with. They saw the Queen Mother's chair - still in pride of place between the fire and the drinks table - and her 'racing buggy', so called because it was painted in her racing colours - not because she used it for racing. Some items on show in the house and museum were probably less than welcome gifts. An exhibition contained the information that the Royal Yacht Britannia once crossed the Antarctic Circle. Now TSH and Diva are intrepid cruisers (see this blog September 2013) and do not go on large ships. But they know that the area around the Antarctic has the worst storms on the planet. And they cannot imagine doing it in that yacht!!
The grounds are beautiful, with parkland, woodland and several planted areas - mostly shrubs. And could not be improved much in spite of TSH's ideas. The visit took the whole day and as a destination this is to be recommended.
Back at the hotel, there are still clothes hung on the front of the wardrobe and on the back of the bathroom door. And most of Diva's clothes for warm weather have now been worn. So only warmer clothes are left and the weather is getting hotter. But TSH has packed wisely and is fine.
OK, so the first paragraph is fantasy. TSH and Diva queued and paid with everyone else and received no special treatment. But it was an excellent day out. The house and its museum had more interest than most because it directly related to people and events they were very familiar with. They saw the Queen Mother's chair - still in pride of place between the fire and the drinks table - and her 'racing buggy', so called because it was painted in her racing colours - not because she used it for racing. Some items on show in the house and museum were probably less than welcome gifts. An exhibition contained the information that the Royal Yacht Britannia once crossed the Antarctic Circle. Now TSH and Diva are intrepid cruisers (see this blog September 2013) and do not go on large ships. But they know that the area around the Antarctic has the worst storms on the planet. And they cannot imagine doing it in that yacht!!
The grounds are beautiful, with parkland, woodland and several planted areas - mostly shrubs. And could not be improved much in spite of TSH's ideas. The visit took the whole day and as a destination this is to be recommended.
Back at the hotel, there are still clothes hung on the front of the wardrobe and on the back of the bathroom door. And most of Diva's clothes for warm weather have now been worn. So only warmer clothes are left and the weather is getting hotter. But TSH has packed wisely and is fine.
Thursday, 15 May 2014
The weather is getting hotter
The food at the second hotel is at least as good as the first one - better in some respects because its more like normal food and less pretentious. The room still looks like a market stall but as things get dirty and go into plastic bags it will improve.
The first stop was at the North Norfolk railway (there's a theme going on here somehow) but this was very brief - just long enough for TSH to be given a private tour of the sheds and works. The main stop was at Sheringham Park - not Diva's favourite NT property because it positively encourages dogs and allows them off the lead in most areas. So the walk was not as anxiety-free as those round most NT properties. The estate was landscaped by Repton, although there have been many alterations since, including a spectacular display of rhododendrons. The house is still in private hands and not open to the public.
A very short stop in Cromer brought the outing to a close.
The first stop was at the North Norfolk railway (there's a theme going on here somehow) but this was very brief - just long enough for TSH to be given a private tour of the sheds and works. The main stop was at Sheringham Park - not Diva's favourite NT property because it positively encourages dogs and allows them off the lead in most areas. So the walk was not as anxiety-free as those round most NT properties. The estate was landscaped by Repton, although there have been many alterations since, including a spectacular display of rhododendrons. The house is still in private hands and not open to the public.
A very short stop in Cromer brought the outing to a close.
Wednesday, 14 May 2014
Goodbye horses - hello golfers
En route to the second centre, the visit was to Bressingham, which has been described as 'eccentric'. Well, it is in that it is like nothing else, but all the better for that. There is a garden centre, a 'toy' steam railway for short pleasure trips, railway sheds containing full size steam engines and carriages which are part of the national collection, and a huge stunning garden, including the famous 'foggy bottom'. An enjoyable time for both.
The sat nav then suggested a route which included twists, turns and a lot of ungraded roads, which was demanding for the driver and both demanding and scary for the navigator. But the hotel was eventually safely located. The room, although adequate, is not as big as the last one and the storage is woefully inadequate for the amount of clothes and 'stuff' which travel with TSH and Diva. Some clothes are currently on the hook behind the bathroom door and some are draped over the wardrobe door, which some readers may know is not the usual style.
The sat nav then suggested a route which included twists, turns and a lot of ungraded roads, which was demanding for the driver and both demanding and scary for the navigator. But the hotel was eventually safely located. The room, although adequate, is not as big as the last one and the storage is woefully inadequate for the amount of clothes and 'stuff' which travel with TSH and Diva. Some clothes are currently on the hook behind the bathroom door and some are draped over the wardrobe door, which some readers may know is not the usual style.
Tuesday, 13 May 2014
Last day before moving on
Short drive to Bury St Edmunds, which is a lovely town which surpassed expectations and is well worth a visit. A new build shopping centre blends into the older shopping centre, which leads down to the ruins of a massive abbey. The present day cathedral is nearby. The only bad bit was when two squirrels attacked Diva by running at her full pelt, turning aside only at the last moment.
Driving out of the town was exciting because of the large hail stones which put in an appearance, hammering down on the car and ricocheting back up from the road.
The next visit was to National Trust's Ickworth, which would be an excellent destination on a fine day because of the long walks round its parkland. The interior is interesting for its extensive 'below stairs' exhibits, explaining how the servants lived in the early part of the twentieth century. And the silver in the silver room certainly had the 'wow' factor'. Enormous serving platters and ornate bowls. But forget the walled garden which is a project not yet started. A walled field, really.
Diva is worried as the lights in one of the horse houses seemed to be on all night, with people coming and going. Is it ill? Or being psyched up for the races?
Driving out of the town was exciting because of the large hail stones which put in an appearance, hammering down on the car and ricocheting back up from the road.
The next visit was to National Trust's Ickworth, which would be an excellent destination on a fine day because of the long walks round its parkland. The interior is interesting for its extensive 'below stairs' exhibits, explaining how the servants lived in the early part of the twentieth century. And the silver in the silver room certainly had the 'wow' factor'. Enormous serving platters and ornate bowls. But forget the walled garden which is a project not yet started. A walled field, really.
Diva is worried as the lights in one of the horse houses seemed to be on all night, with people coming and going. Is it ill? Or being psyched up for the races?
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