The first week of the Whit holidays was wonderful sunshine and as we set off to drive to Norfolk for the second week the sun was blazing down. The caravan was packed with swimsuits, beach things and suntan lotion. So naturally there was a huge thunder storm our first night there and rain on and off for the rest of the week. Till we were packing up to come home and then the sun came out again! We still had a good week exploring, admiring the beach huts at Old Hunstanton, a snip at £18,000!
Expensive but very pretty in a perfect range of colours. The Baby Brother was a bit unsure about the sand, strange squidgy stuff for walking on but fine for eating was his verdict.
We had a picnic and played footie, the children paddled and as it was a bit overcast we had the beach practically to ourselves. Lovely.
Over the course of the week we followed the coast road to several picturesque villages
and harbours, some viewed from the car to avoid the rain and others explored in the drizzle in true 'English on holiday style'.
The charming Stiffkey Stores had a tempting mix of provisions and gifts.
I want to paint my window frames in a soft sage or duck egg blue like so many of the shops and cottages we passed, but first I'll have to replace the remaining horrid plastic windows. We have changed all the window frames at the back of the house to wooden sash style windows so only the side and front to go, including two large bays so it may take some time to save up!
We made it to lunch at Wiveton Farm, sadly not sitting at the jaunty painted tables under the trees, but inside was very jolly too with a juicy colour scheme and covetable tablecloths - I wonder where they came from?
My Little Helper was very impressed with his hot chocolate and my crab sandwich was scrumptious. And the strawberries and cream that came with meringue on top.....mmmmm!
We had cosy evenings in the caravan playing Junior Scrabble,( My Little Helper loves to beat us!) reading and we hooked up the tv to watch Springwatch as it was just down the road from us at Pensthorpe, the children were enthralled by the close up footage of the birds so we decided to visit. It was amazing, so much to see. Despite another wet morning we walked around the nature reserve, The Big Sister spotted a Water Vole in the river and My Little Helper was really impressed by the mushrooms growing in the woods. The gardens are planted with imagination and the variety of birds on the lakes and marshes is amazing. We were pond dipping as the sun broke through in the afternoon and The Baby Brother toddled after ducks squealling with excitment. A perfect family day.
Having the caravan is opening up all sorts of places to us, who would have thought we'd spend Christmas in the snow in Scotland, Easter in the sunshine in Southport, Whit exploring Norfolk and weekends away close to home make wonderful mini holidays. Roll on Cornwall in the summer!