Tag Archives: holkham

Two good walks in excellent weather

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Halfway through the Sunday walk, Dot, Julia and Dave pause to take in the sun on the path near Wells quay

Have just survived the annual Blakeney weekend with nothing more than an annoying cough and fuzzy head. No real reason for this, because we had a very good time in excellent weather.

It started a day early, really, after I dropped Dot at the hospital for her annual check-up (following a mix-up over appointment time) and drove out to Paston to see Lucy and pick up the costumes she’d borrowed from Dragon Hall (later returned there). Lucy wasn’t too bad, but is about to leave for a couple of weeks away with her brother and sister up north. She wants to buy a house in Mundesley, but the complications of it all are taking their toll.

While I was with her the nurse arrived and waxed eloquent on the appalling slow driving that constantly held her up. Clearly a top nurse, and she did the job well too. I left while she was still in action and drove to the Kelling area to try to find the start to a walk I’d planned. This proved strangely elusive, and I was feeling rather faint from lack of food (possibly) so I stopped for a bap and tea at a garden centre (you can tell how desperate I was) before heading home.

Dot and I intended to look again for the walk start on our way to Blakeney the next day, but we were held up by a series of slow-moving vehicles and in the end went straight to the hotel, arriving in rain. But we were not dismayed: the forecast was good. So we paid our usual visit to the Blakeney Hotel’s upstairs lounge for scone and tea – bizarrely, Lucy was there with a friend. For an ill person, she doesn’t half get around.

I had been told by Sharon – physiotherapist and tide expert – that there were some very high tides due, so Dot, Dave and I walked down to the quay after evening meal, but it was too early. Very inconsiderate tide-plannning by whoever is in charge of that. The next morning were were away from Blakeney before it repeated itself. We parked in the layby just outside Holt and walked through by the Spout Hills path, where we encountered some enthusiastic bracken-cutters. We declined an offer to join them and continued into the town, where we found some excellent but very expensive furniture and had coffee etc at Byfords, as you do.

I fetched the car and picked the others up in town to proceed to the start of the walk, which I had now tracked down on a map and turned out to be about a quarter of a mile from the garden centre I had visited the day before. Very pleasant five miles-plus, walking downhill off Kelling Heath, crossing the coast road at Kelling and reaching the shingle beach by the Quag. Julia, in open sandals, had trouble with the shingle, but we persevered until we reached Weybourne, where we walked up into the town and had lunch at BunTeas (get it?).

BunTea (or Zoie, to give her her real name) proved extremely loquacious. We stayed awhile, then proceed up the road and then by a narrow and rather overgrown path up Telegraph Hill to the railway line. Quite a steep climb in places, but from the line an easy stroll back to the car.

When we stopped in Cley so that the Vigorous Three could look at some shops, I discovered that I had lost the hotel key. After getting a substitute one from the hotel I retraced our steps (the lay-by, the start of the walk, Byfords) without success. I was about to give up when, back at the hotel, I made a last, in-depth search of the car and found the key beside the driver’s seat. It had apparently fallen through a hole in my gilet pocket that I didn’t know was there.

The next day’s walk came courtesy of Dave: it was one they had done previously on their own and took us from Holkham (following the obligatory drink) along the beach to Wells, which was extremely crowded around the famous beach hut area. From there we walked into town along the straight path, pausing for breath at one point on a sunny bench – it was a warm and bright day – and then finding a tiny garden cafe just off the main street, where we had a rather refined lunch.

After considering briefly whether to catch the Coasthopper back to Holkham, we decided to walk it. After a longish stretch on the road we reached a wide, straight  and level path into the Holkham estate, crossing back to near our starting point. Unbelievably the other three had the energy left to look round Adnams’ shop. I found walking across the road to retrieve the car much less exhausting. We ended with an ice cream / lollipop at the cafe.

We then made an attempt to drive through the estate as we had done many times before, but were stopped by  a security man who said this was no longer permitted. Instead we circumnavigated the estate on country roads, establishing that the place is indeed massive.

We all went to bed fairly early. The hotel more or less shut down at about 9pm, but it is still pleasant enough, with good food and comfortable rooms. Next day the others had to leave for home (or in some cases Aylesbury) after breakfast, so we were away quickly too, calling in at Holt to buy two rather nice lamps from Bakers and Larners – Dot negotiating a discount rather impressively.

We were home at lunchtime, and both of us pretty tired. Dot organised her lamps, of course, and I unpacked, but after that we did a lot of sitting down, savouring the twin delights of Vettel dropping out of the British Grand Prix while in the lead (recorded)  and Serena Williams being knocked out of  Wimbledon by Sabina Lisicki (live). Laura Robson could have got through to the next round, but she made a hash of it.

30 July 2008

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Completing the picture started with my last post, this is Birgit’s brother Joe and his wife Ilona, on their visit to our garden last week. Have taken quite a few pictures since then, and no doubt I will catch up in due course.

These stemmed largely from our two-day ruby wedding anniversary visit to the Victoria at Holkham. But before that we renewed our vows in the old church at St Augustine’s – open because it was also the day of the medieval fair. We also supplied the music for the service, after which Annette V had laid on some ruby sparkling wine for a toast, plus petal confetti! She also supplied red roses for the church. I had to make an impromptu speech, which I’m not good at (I need notice of these things), but it was a memorable and lovely occasion. Afterwards we bought a couple of beefburgers from the “medieval” barbecue to keep us going until our celebration meal at Holkham.

We were in the Stone Room, with a huge double bed, and an outlook on to the courtyard, which meant it was quite noisy late in the evening. Because it was so hot, we needed to have the windows open, so I was kept awake by the huge hotel fridge buzzing away outside. Before the meal, however, we walked up into Holkham park and saw some deer. The meal itself was outstanding: I had one of the best steaks I’ve ever had. We also had a glass of champagne each and an excellent bottle of Pinotage. There was also a surprise – a strange coincidence – our friend Stephanie was having a meal there at the same time with some friends. What are the chances of that?

After the high point of the delicious meal, things went rather downhill when I couldn’t sleep, and then the urine infection that had been sort of threatening for over a week (I wasn’t sure that’s what it was) suddenly got so much worse that I had to ring for an appointment at Wells Health Centre on the Monday morning. I saw the nurse (Sam), and she referred me to the doctor, both of whom were really pleasant and concerned. They gave me some antibiotics, which seemed to be making inroads at first, but as I write still haven’t made a huge impact. Dot wanted to go down to Holkham beach and get in the water, and I initially felt well enough for this, though it’s quite a trek. However, we had to rush back prematurely, though Dot did make it into the water.

I then spent quite a bit of time lying on the bed while Dot walked to the local cafe and had a cup of tea. I felt better enough to pop into a couple of the local shops with her, and we then drove into Wells to get some of the famous French’s fish and chips. which were delicious. Surprisingly, I felt much better doing this – and then sitting by the quay reading – than I had done in the hotel room. I felt the antibiotics were working, but the night was really bad, with visit to the loo necessary every hour. (Even worse last night.) Again in the morning and out of bed I felt much better, and after breakfast we drove to Brancaster and spent a couple of delightful hours on the beach. I took some photographs and read, and Dot went into the sea again.

Afterwards we drove home via Holkham Park, which we have earmarked to show to Dave and Julia next year. Magnificently set out; very striking. Then on to Walsingham, where we stocked up in the upmarket farm shop and then had a cup of tea round the corner in some very modern tea rooms: less than £5 for tea and cake for two. There had been thunderstorms overnight, but it had reverted to the same warm and dry weather during the day, though it was a little windier. In the evening the ten-strong Tuesday Group ate in the garden before adjourning upstairs to talk about prayer. Warm and dry again today.

While in Wells and awaiting my health centre appointment we called in at Big Blue Sky, and I left my poetry book for them to consider selling. When we got home there was a call waiting for us expressing interest. I’ve tried to ring back, but unsuccessfully so far.

20 July 2008

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David and son Oliver face the fury of the waves at West Runton last Sunday. I suppose “fury” may be putting it a bit high, but at least they’re in there together and having fun. Now it’s a week later, and Dot is at Ambient Wonder. I was intending to go, but got a stomach upset just as we were about to set off. Stomach seems to be OK now, which is a bit disappointing – not that my stomach is OK, but that I didn’t just ignore it and go. Oh, well. Preached at church this morning and also had to play guitar, because of a lack of musicians. Afterwards six of us went to the Gibraltar Gardens for lunch – a carvery. As the other four were Annette, Ali, Trevor and Liz, it was a lot of fun. The sun came out and we looked at the river afterwards, and wondered about going over to North Wales together. I don’t think it’s likely to happen, but it was nice thinking about it. Dot and I have booked to go to the Victoria Hotel at Holkham next Sunday, which is our ruby wedding anniversary, and we’re going to stay for two nights. Bit expensive, but it should be really nice.

Dot did her church school inspection on Thursday and wrote up her report on Friday, which is a bit of a record. I wrote a request for a second opinion on A’s condition and caught up on my in-tray. Phil came round later, and I looked at the accident report he had to put together for his insurance company: he looked at my second-opinion letter. My new Flip camcorder arrived, but I haven’t had a chance to get to grips with it yet. Looks very straightforward and promising. Later Joy invited Dot and me to a showing of Prince Caspian arranged by Surrey Chapel at the Hollywood Cinema. This was at 10.30am on Saturday, but we managed to get up in time to pick up Phil and Joy and get us all there in good time! The film was excellent. Joy had real trouble with the steps at the cinema, though, and we had to go and get the car from the car park so that she didn’t have to struggle to get back there.

Later yesterday, Mike, Annette R and Lisa popped in, and we had a talk about Paston and Lucy and how things were going. Really good to see them. I shall now probably be seeing Annette on Tuesday to help plan the book, and again on Thursday at Paston, to follow up the Wednesday workshop. I have been feeling quite a lot better, and next week I should be able to drive (six weeks after my operation). I am having a blood test tomorrow morning, which should give an indication as to whether the operation was a complete success. My consultant will tell all on the 31st.

Watched quite a lot of the Open this weekend and was delighted by the result, especially with an Englishman in second place. The Tour de France was pretty exciting today, too.