Family Trip to Norfolk - Day 3

On the Sunday of our trip we went to the beach! It was amazing! One of the things on my 'Forty one before 41' list was to swim wild with my aunt, so we decided this would happen while we were away, and it's one of the reasons that we decided to go to Norfolk. 

We again all had breakfast separately. Neil and Rob and T set off to the beach earliest because they wanted to watch the lifeboat people practicing their manoeuvres or whatever. The rest of us travelled to the cliff top car park at about 11.30. It's not a long path down on to the beach. Beth and I chose a spot sort of in one dune and got set up. Everyone else arrived, we had a llittle tent for T so he wasn't too exposed to the sun. I had already put my swimming costume on underneath and I also put my Saltwater sandals on because they like being in the sea and I hadn't worn them yet this summer! 

Neil, Caroline, Rob and I went in the sea! It was glorious! It genuinely wasn't that cold so we managed to get all the way in. The current was quite strong but it was just so lovely to be in the water. We got out a bit and had snacks with everyone else. I had taken my dressing gown so that I didn't get too cold because it's something that I struggle with and I just didn't want it to happen. As it was, I kept toasty warm and then we decided to back in the water! I couldn't have done that if I'd got cold. 

We packed up about 1.30 and then Peter, Lee and I headed to the amusements to play for a bit. We had ice creams and played on the arcade games and then went to Tesco for a few bits we needed before heading back to the caravan. I had a shower and then I played the Rocky Horror game that I bought recently with my mum and Caroline. It was fun, it took a bit of working out but it was good fun. 

The Belgian Grand Prix was on and all my family are into the Formula One, and this year Caroline and Neil have been making food to go with the locations of each Grand Prix, so we had to have Belgian food! So they had quiches and they walked along to buy chips for us. We had some of the tapas leftovers too. It was good fun! 

Rob was going to make waffles - also Belgian - but the waffle maker tripped the electricity which was a bit of a problem. So he ended up making pancakes instead, with chocolate chips and cream. They were amazing! Lee and I walked along to the playground but there were kids in it so I thought I better not play on the swings, and instead we just sat at a table chatting for a little bit before heading back. 

And that was Sunday!

Our spot on the beach, absolutely lush

Saltwater sandals! I keep thinking I'll buy a pair of the ones with the thicker soles, but I do love these too

There I am in red!

Wading in

Beth and T paddling on the shore

We got quite far out but not so far that I couldn't stand up 

Huge ice cream I had in the afternoon

Here I am, post sun, post sea, post ice cream, waiting in the car while Peter and Lee went into Tesco

The Rocky Horror game, I got it with a voucher some friends bought me for my birthday

At 6.30 I was sitting outside the caravan soaking up the sun

Looking the other way on to our deck

The sky at about 9.45 when Lee and I went to the playground

More hydrangeas! Do they just grow well in Norfolk or something?!

Family Trip to Norfolk - Day 2

On the Saturday of our little break we all had breakfast in our own caravans, and then my mum, aunt, and uncle went in one car to the Norfolk Lavender fields, and Rob, Beth, T and I set off in their car to meet them there. Everyone else stayed back at the caravans, which is fine - no one has to do anything they don't want to on a trip like this!

You could pay to go into the main lavender fields but I didn't do that. There's plenty to see anyway, otherwise. We walked into one of the garden bits and looked at the lavender. We went into the farm shop and another fancy interiors shop. We walked round the old mill building and looked at the river. We went across the bridge and played Pooh sticks on the water. Beyond the bridge were some cool things - a kind of giant's kitchen and a teepee type thing. We took lots of photos of course. 

We went back to the caravans and had some lunch, and then Lee, Peter and I walked across to the parents' caravan as we hadn't seen it yet. It was so hot! The weather was ridiculous. Then we walked across to the pool with my mum to go swimming at 4pm. It was really nice in the outside bit of the pool because the weather was so nice. Beth and T joined us for a little bit which was lovely of course - T really likes swimming and we moved him across the pool a lot!

When we got back I had a shower and then everyone started cooking. A few weeks previously I had had a dream that all of us were on holiday in Spain together so Rob suggested we should make tapas. We all decided different things to make. I made a Greek salad and mozzarella and tomato salad. Lee made patatas bravas with two sauces. As you can see the spread was immense and really lovely! 

I also mixed up some white sangria for us and a lot of people liked it and wanted more. We played quiz games in the evening which is something we all like to do together. Last thing at night I took a picture of the stars and it turned out I'd taken a picture of the Summer Triangle! Who knew! 

Drying lavender by the old mill - it smelt amazing as you can imagine

One of the free to access fields - the paid ones were much bigger and across the road. My uncle paid to go in because he wanted to take photos

You could have just been in Provence!

And there were a few different varieties

I love hydrangeas so nearly always take photos of them

The water coming down where the water wheel used to be

My mum thought this was some kind of hydrangea too

Looking down stream

My aunt and I on the bridge

T on the giant's chair - so cute!

Giant pencils

In use! Haha

Looking up in the teepee

Look at our magnificient tapas! It wqas honestly so nice. The pans in the back had meatballs in them

My white sangria

And finally stars!

Family Trip to Norfolk - Day 1

At the end of July Lee and I went to Norfolk with my family for a few days! In previous years we have been camping as a family and it's always been a really good time. But baby T was born a year ago so Rob and Beth didn't want to take him camping just yet - which is fine especially as it can drop really cold over night - so we decided to go in static caravans instead. Rob and Beth and Lee and I were in one, and our parents were in another. The parents just stayed for three nights, but the rest of us stayed five nights. We were also able to persuade Rob's brother, my cousin Peter, to come with us and stay for five nights too. He's been having a bit of a rubbish time so I'm really glad we were able to get him to come and hopefully relax with us for a few days. 

I've only been to Norfolk once before and it took us an absolutely ice age to get there so I warned Lee the traffic might be terrible. We set off at about 10.15pm on the Friday morning and we ended up reaching Hunstanton at about 2.15, and we had stopped for some lunch, too! So that was really good, actually, and I'm glad, because it was really hot. We stopped at a roadside farm shop thing called Ivy's, and had immense sandwiches and some chips. 

When we got to Manor Park we realised it was a Parkdean Resort (we had booked privately, so hadn't realised) which Lee and I have visited before and really rate, so that was good. We met Rob and Beth and T at the caravan and got settled in. It wasn't huge, but it was basically fine. It was comfortable and clean and had plenty of stuff in it, so it was fine. 

Lee and I booked into swimming at 4pm and went. There was a totally outdoor pool but it was shut which was a shame. But the main pool had a small outdoor bit! It had a bit you could swim through to and it was so lovely to be outside in the sunshine. The water was really warm, too. I'm glad we bothered to go on the Friday afternoon!

Peter arrived just after 5pm and my mum and stepdad and aunt and uncle came over to our van. We had spaghetti bolognese for tea and sat on the decking for a bit before T went to bed. Then we sat inside and were more quiet so we didn't wake him up! 

Around 8.30 Neil wanted to go down to the sea front to look at the sunset. Hunstanton faces west so the sun does set off the sea front even though it's really over the land in Lincolnshire. Peter and Lee and I decided to go with him and it was really pretty so I'm really glad I did. We then popped into the amusements very briefly before coming back to the caravan! 

My nails were this gold Maybelline polish that Chloe gave me recently, I really liked it

Lee and I had one of the small bedrooms and my bed was right under the window, and this was the view from it 

I think when I'm old I would like a bed under a window so I can watch the stars at night

The pool just before 5pm when we got out. The outdoor part is on the left there

There were plenty of ducks around in the park which was cute

T rifled through my handbag - what is it with babies and bags - and he discovered an apple, so I let him chew on it a bit

The sunset when we went down, it was really pretty!

I love beaches at sunset

Lunch with Philippa

Philippa and I met up on the 18th of July. She suggested meeting up at The Old Horns Inn in Bradfield which is about half an hour's drive for me. It's a really scenic drive so I don't mind it at all. We've been before; I think it must have been July 2023 actually, so I was up for going again. I had a work meeting in the morning online but then I set off in the sunshine listening to a book, and met Philippa at the pub at 12.15. She had got us a table outside which was lovely. It was really warm and the sun kept coming and going so I was happy to sit outside. 

I know last time I went I had the halloumi burger so I considered having the same thing but decided to go for a different burger instead. This was two Moving Mountains plant burgers, two onion rings, jalapenos, spicy sauce, and a hash brown all chucked into one. It was immense and difficult to eat so I ended up using a knife and fork! Their chips are really nice, they're like chip shop ones almost. Philippa went for a mushroom and feta pie with new potatoes which I would also definitely eat!

Since the weather was nice I also had some San Miguel - I only like drinking lager when the weather is warm.

We sat chatting, as we do, and then got some desserts. We both went for the triple chocolate brownie and it was really nice. We said goodbye about 3.30 and when I got home I laid with Kiki for a bit and played with her. I had been wearing a Topsy Curvy dress but forgot to get a picture of it. 

I had a nap and then went back out about 6.30 for book club. We had read The Herd by Emily Edwards which is quite an emotive subject but it was a really interesting discussion. It ran over later than it usually does so I got back about 9pm and had some eggs and crisps for tea. 

To go out in the evening I was wearing an old Scarlett and Jo skirt and this top that Chloe made for me recently. The top is from Yours and I just liked the bluey colour, and Chloe made the The Libertines vinyl cut out on her machine and attached it for me. It's really good! The black is sparkly up close and I love it!

Love a San Miguel in the sunshine!

Ridiculously huge and delicious burger

Warm brownie and ice cream

And here's my outfit when I got back from book club!

Barnsley Pride and A Surprise

The thirteenth of July was Barnsley Pride and I really wanted to go! I've never been to a Pride event before so I thought it was about time I sorted that out. I knew it would be a smallish event which is perfect for me as I don't like crowds too much. Lee agreed to go too, so we got up on on Saturday and headed into town about 11am. I also knew there was a Young Makers Market on in the market and I wanted to look at that first. 

I bought some wax melts and we bought some goodies from the market too. In the main square of the Glassworks there was a brass band thing going on all day, so we listened to a band called Frumptarn for a little bit. Then we headed to Mandela Gardens where Pride was just getting started! The first act was a choir and they were brilliant, we really liked them. We walked round the stalls but didn't get anything straight away.

Disappointingly the only food van there was only doing meat burgers so not suitable for either of us, so Lee went to the fish and chip shop nearby and we shared chips sitting on a bench on the Gardens watching the show and watching people coming past. There were so many people with all kinds of flags and badges, and a bunch of families, and it was really nice to see, honestly. There were people giving out free hugs and we both got one! After we'd eaten we headed inside to the Civic. In the main room there was an acoustic stage and someone making quite a nice racket, and there were more stalls but not tons. It was nice though.

We went back outside and got ice creams from the van. I was wearing one of my rainbow dresses and a few people asked me about it. It was from Topsy Curvy so I was pleased to tell people about it! The weather wasn't great and it kept trying to rain a little bit but it wasn't too bad. We watched someone play saxophone for ages, they weren't amazing but it was quite fun.

About 2.30 we went into the Garrison pub which is when I saw the sign below that says "All Tarn Aren't We?" Tarn means 'town' and people use it to mean Barnsley so it's saying we're all the same community, which I like. In there it was busy and there was an Abba tribute duo on who weren't great. So we decided to go to the Lounge back in the main square for a drink. But it was a fun Pride and I am so glad to have been among my community. 

Lee had an Oreo milkshake and I had a Betty Blue which had blue Curacao and vodka with orange juice. It was really nice! We left there about 3.30pm and went back through the market for a couple more bits that we wanted. 

And then... we got home... and got a surprise. Our house is a strange set up and there is another row of houses near us, and we had met this family before who lived in one of the houses of the other row. Our cats are allowed outside the back of our house, with supervision, and this family had seen them. They had got a kitten and talked to us about her. However, when we got home, they were about to leave. They had been evicted and they couldn't take the kitten to their new house. So they asked us to take her, hoping we would know someone who would take her. We took her and they left, and all of a sudden we had a six month old kitten to look after even if it was only temporarily. 

Lee went to the supermarket to get supplies for her, and then we sat in our bedroom with her, keeping our two away from her. We asked a few people if they knew anyone who would take her, but we didn't have much look. But surely we couldn't keep her, could we? We kind of wanted to, but we just weren't sure... 

As it stands, it's the day after, and she's still in our bedroom. She's happy and she seems healthy. We're going to take her to the vet tomorrow and see what they say. We are hoping that our two will get on with her and that she can live with us! But we will see! But for now, we're calling her Kiki. It's crackers because I really wasn't expecting it at all and I don't know yet if she's staying... but I hope she is. She's a cute little thing. 

So many rainbows around in Pride!

Including this one hanging off the side of the Civic

Lee and I 

We really liked these signs that were around 

And this one too

This was inside in the space that is usually the Civic's auditorium

Ice cream with two types of syrup!

Looking towards the main stage outside

And towards the stalls

I was wearing my Pride Converse that I got on Vinted, of course, as well as this starry pair of tights from Snag. They're a bit knackered now but I love them so much

All tarn aren't we?

My Betty Blue in the Lounge

Rainbow tartan dress from Topsy Curvy, plus a rainbow necklace

And here's tiny kitten! She needs to grow into her ears!