Train, Pier, Souvenirs.

Some last photos from Norfolk...

Starting with a trip on the Poppyline steam train...

...we boarded at Sheringham...

...wandering up the platform to get in the carriage right behind the engine.

Windmill spotted from the window en route to Holt. Unfortunately we then missed the bus into Holt town and there didn't seem terribly much to do at Holt station as the merry-go-round etc weren't yet open, so we got back on a returning train and alighted at Weybourne.

We liked Weybournce station much better. While waiting for the train back to Sheringham we wandered along a little country lane beside the station.

What is this plant called please!

And now right back to some photos from our first full day when we visited Cromer.

The pier.

Looking back from the pier towards the town. The children tried crabbing from the pier (I think it's almost compulsory in Cromer!) but didn't catch any. We also visited the lifeboat station at the end of the pier.

Then a little walk along the promenade to admire the beach huts. Some were rather nicely decorated with pretty signs...

 While the kids & hubby were crabbing I had a chance to wander round the shops and bought a thing...

You can see it here (behind N's birthday cards, more one these later). It's a sweet little wooden boat which bobs up and down when you turn the handle.

Other favourite souvenirs:-

 Some dangling shells, bought in Holt.

And a lovely big stoneware pot, seen here on the right, £2.50 from the Thursday morning car boot sale in Overtstrand.

A little bit of a rushed post perhaps, but it's time to get back to here and now. On that note, we finally had some sunshine today and it was lovely. On Monday I was ready to emigrate, the weather was so unremittingly dismal. But it's (almost!) forgotten now.

Blickling and Felbrigg

Back again with more holiday photos - just an excuse this time to fill my blog with photos of fabulous flowers. The gardens we saw while on holiday have prompted me try to to create more colour in our own garden which currently consists of many shades of green (lots of foliage) but not much in the way of flowers, particularly at this time of year. Indeed, yesterday I bought a couple of plants to do just that, but more on those in another post. Back to the halls. Being NTS members we also get to visit NT properties without further charge, which is good, especially when the weather isn't and you're a bit frugal. I see a theme devoloping with our NT/NTS visits - we tend to zoom round the grand houses and then linger in the gardens and grounds, even when the weather isn't great.

First up: Blickling Hall, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. The approach to the hall is most impressive and the exteriors of the house and out buildings are very attractive. I only took one photo inside that I liked and that was a of a painting by Lizzie Riches which is part of a puzzle competition being run at the hall (which we didn't take part in, it seeming more suited to cryptic crossword enthusiasts visiting without young children!). We enjoyed the gardens though, despite the rain.

A Romance by Lizzie Riches

Now to Felbrigg Hall. This isn't quite as grand as Blickling, I liked the interior better and the guides seemed more friendly. The approach isn't quite as impressive as you reach the house from a path at the side. However, there is lavender planted alongside the access path and it was pretty (I once bought 72 lavender plants (small ones!) to create a lavender bordered path in our garden. I planted them all, though not all along the path as there were too many. Only one survived.).

The gardens are slightly away from the house and are jam-packed with wonderful flowers. I took a lot of photos...

I have one more Norfolk post planned you may (or may not?) be glad to hear.

Off now to roast a chicken for tea. I believe the weather has improved somewhat in the south of the UK, but here it is still perfect weather for roast dinners, which is the only good thing that can be said for it.