A day at the Royal Norfolk Show

Well, we've only been in Norfolk just over two years... it was about time we did this!

Unlike most days in the last month, it didn't rain, and the sun showed his face more often than not. Fabulous range of stands, far too many tempting things - we could've bankrupted ourselves many times over. Resisting the pink suede jacket was a triumph of discipline over desire...

I've been roaming through some of the websites for the products we bought, and here are a few favourites.

• Essence: amazing jams & chutneys (love the Bloody Mary Relish)
• Norfolk & Suffolk Speciality Foods: more condiments, including vegan & halal - our choice is a fabulous citrus chutney
• Gourmet Med: site still under construction, but they do the best olive / tomato / artichoke / garlic type saladstuff I've tasted for ages
• Popina: yummy tarts

Hey - it's all food!!

Pensthorpe again - and clerics

A very good Thursday. We had a concert to prepare for, so wanted a quiet place to sit with files and lists to brainstorm a running order; so went to Pensthorpe again, had a wander round the garden and then sat with our paperwork over lunch. Here are a couple of pleasing sights from the beautiful gardens.


Daisies before the storm (I wished I'd knelt down further to get that tall daisy in front of the sky - it would have been better composition...)


some astonishing fluffy poppies

and finally, to a recording for Radio Norfolk - hopefully for broadcast at some stage - called Clerical Errors: musings, party pieces and observations. Chaired by Keith Skipper (centre), we were much entertained by (L to R) Bishop Peter Fox, Canon Ivan Bailey, Revd Jan McFarlane and Bishop Graham James. The photo is a bit weird on the colouring; it was taken on the mobile, and I managed to take it at the same time as another camera flash went off!

Concert at the King of Hearts

The King of Hearts is a superb arts centre / craft centre / music room / cafe in Norwich. Today we went to see a lunchtime concert given by Ying Lai Green (double bass) with Lauretta Bloomer at the piano. Completely spellbound by the talent of twenty-seven year old Ying Lai; her command over that vast instrument was stunning.



The Kodaly Epigrams were tiny musical pen-and-ink drawings, detailed and evocative. The Schubert Arpeggione Sonata was a completely stunning display of virtuosity; and Ying Lai's description of Bottesini's Fantasie on La Sonnambula was "a bit of fun" - but what fun! Forty-five minutes of sheer magic.

Post script: clearly the reviewer from the Eastern Daily Press enjoyed it, too. (Click on the image for a larger version.)

Dawn Chorus Walk at Pensthorpe

One of our dafter ideas...

Pensthorpe is a fabulous place. About 15 miles away from us, just outside Fakenham, it's a delightful nature reserve, with beautiful grounds and amazing birdlife. (Oh, and a very agreeable cafe and shop, too.)

This morning we went on the Dawn Chorus Walk, led by Steve Cale. This started at 5:00 am, and therefore involved getting up at 3:15 am - makes Easter Dawn seem like a doddle. It also means that you lose half the day when you get back, as staying awake just wasn't an option, and we crashed out for about two hours!

However, in a period of heavy rain, we were lucky enough to have a reasonably fine (if cold) morning, and had a great time. Steve's knowledge of birds and their birdsong is unbeatable, and how he can pick out the seven different types of warbler is beyond me - especially when several of them are singing at once! Not to mention chiff-chaffs, blackbirds, wrens and of course robins, amongst many others. And we finished up with a full English breakfast to warm up...

As my digital camera doesn't have a powerful zoom, I haven't taken any photos of the birds themselves, but here are a few of the beautiful place.



a beautiful dawn



listening to reed warblers across the water



through the bluebell woods



a very confused slow-worm

Sandsend

Finally, just outside Whitby (at the foot of the 1-in-4 Lythe Bank - test your brakes!) is Sandsend: a lovely corner with a long beach and some great-looking eateries.

We chose to have coffee, and later lunch, in the Bridge Cottage Cafe, which is excellent; in a lovely sheltered position set just back from the road, it's easy to miss. The food was first-class and the service excellent.

We also spotted Estbek House, which we were sad not to have a chance to try - it looked like a very good "special occasion" venue; and also the fabulously-named Wits End Cafe, which was in the next bend in the road going north.

Finally, we visited the Turnstone Gallery, which contained many lovely things that we'd have been tempted by if we'd had a bit more money!

Helmsley Walled Garden

This was one of our favourite discoveries. The most tranquil, gentle place imaginable, abandoned in the 1970s and lovingly restored over the last few years, it has the spectacular backdrop of Helmsley Castle.



The cats are very much in charge, especially Boots, who is a tourist attraction in his own right:



and the cafe provides delicious refreshments in a vinehouse. The garden specialises in clematis and fruit trees, of which there are fantastic numbers. There are plants for sale, and it's altogether an unmissable experience. Visit the website to find out more.

Saltburn

There aren't many long beaches along the Yorkshire coast; Sandsend, near Whitby is one; and Saltburn is another. A very long set of steps (about 200) down from the road at the top to the beach; or else you can take the funicular, if it's in use when you're there:



Once on the beach, there are miles of beautiful sands. We were there in the late afternoon, and misty light was glorious, with surfers, horse-riders and dog-walkers all out in force.