September Already!

Where have the summer holidays gone?!  I'm sure that they get shorter every year!  Maybe it is the fact that this summer has been the wettest in 100 years, so it just hasn't felt like summer very much.

We were lucky with the weather on our recent trip to Norfolk to stay with my parents and we did get to the beach and into our swimming costumes on the Sunday at Sea Palling,

but a thunderstorm complete with the strong smell of sulphur and ball lightning sent us off the beach!  The sun soon shone again and we drove to the The Great Barn nearby at Waxham.  This is the longest thatched barn in Norfolk, built circa 1570.  Incorporated into the structure are pieces of ships that were wrecked off the coast; a mast and an oar are plainly visible.  We had our first (of this holiday) Ronaldo's ice-cream in the cafe here.  I had three of these throughout the holiday!

 I love the North Norfolk coast and we spent half our holiday visiting favourite locations in the area.

One day we had a picnic at Blakeney Point, before walking along the coastal path to Stiffkey.

 Back at Blakeney Point and time for ice-cream number two!

Another day and another picnic!  This one was on the beach at Wells-Next-The-Sea with its fantastic open skies and miles of sand.

 We walked around the town and ended the day with ... yes another Ronaldo's ice-cream!  They make so many delicious flavours, it would have been rude not to try the different ones!! :)

 Another day and we visited the lovely market town of Holt, another of my favourite places.  We had a picnic on the beautiful Spout Hills and admired the many butterflies,

before walking around the town, peeking into the antique shops and finishing up at Byfords.

This holiday we had three trips into Norwich!  My husband and I went sight-seeing and Geocaching, whilst the children did their own thing.

We re-visited Norwich Cathedral,

which is truly awesome

and we discovered the Cathedral Herb Garden in The Close.

 We found new places such as St George's Church in Colegate; a lovely Medieval church with a Georgian interior.

 This building is entirely covered in the words of "Utopia".  It must have taken the artist a long time to complete.

 We spent time with my parents, including going out to lunch to celebrate Mum's birthday.

On the final day we visited Blickling Hall.  This National Trust property is thought to be the birth place of Anne Boleyn, although there is some debate over the year of her birth.  The ceilings in this house are spectacular.

The servants domain below stairs.

The parterre garden.

We enjoyed beautiful apricot-coloured sunsets over my "home" village.

Our week ended all too quickly and it was time to pack up and leave for my other home.