First Mint of 2021

 

There's enough mint for mint sauce to go with tonight's roast lamb. This is English Lamb variety, I also used some sprigs of Moroccan mint. 

Mini Grumps at KWIV

 Our third 'Rule of 6' mini Grumps at King William IV

L>R Rick, Peter, John, Andy, Mike, Martin

Last Morning in Gt Yarmouth

After a too brief three nights in Great Yarmouth it was time to leave. It was the sunniest day of course. After checking out we walked down the front to the 'Yarmouth Eye' which was supposed to open at 11am, but eventually did at 11:30.

It's 50 metres tall, cost £8 and we got three revolutions, plus stopping time paused at the top while new riders boarded.

The view south, with the new harbour in the distance

The view north

The pier, now with only sand below.

Then we headed home. Misled by a road-side sign for a cafe we went looking for lunch, but the café was closed on Wednesday's, so we went to this restaurant/pub. 

where the only free tables were picnic benches in the garden, and we had

The fish was enormous - the waitress called them whales - and the chips were deliciously crispy, but after an Imperial breakfast we couldn't finish it....

and so home..... 

Sheringham

We drive north from The Imperial Great Yarmouth to Sheringham Park. 

We are allowed to park but told we should have booked in advance. Why? Hundreds of acres of parkland, no restrictions on foot visitors, all inside buildings closed and car park closes at 16:30! In June when it's light for many more hours!!

We walk towards the sea

to the top of the map, past this pill-box  

from where we seem to be observed

and across the North Norfolk Railway to the cliff edge 

and then turn right onto the North Norfolk Coastal Path  south to Sheringham

The North Norfolk Railway are running frequent trains

and when we get to Sheringham we lunch in the station café. As we leave people of queueing to buy tickets for the next departure, spaced out a socially-distanced two metres as requested by the 15 or more miss-spelled signs on the wall

and back to Sheringham park where there's time to admire the rhododendrons before the car park gates are locked.

Back at GY I wander down to the sea. There's a seal a few feet out from the shore, but it's gone under the water before I can get a photo. 

The wind is driving waves to a fury on the stony shore.

Horsey Mere

Our first full day in Norfolk and we drive to Horsey Mere Wind Pump NT property where we are in time for Ross's Wildlife Boat trip on the Mere. Ross is a  mine of information on the birds, insects and plants to be seen, as well as the sail settings on boats.

After the hour long cruise we have a hot drink and cake at the café and then take a long circular walk alongside waterways

and abandoned wind pumps, then back for a last look at the Mere, before heading back to GY

The Imperial - Great Yarmouth

Three night's break at The Imperial. Just time for a bracing walk along the front before dinner

It's Sunday evening! So a roast is called for. But first,  a glass of the house fizz

the beef was on red cabbage, green cabbage and some small cubes of a sweet vegetable that could be parsnip or sweet potato or both. There was also a side dish of cauliflower cheese. I asked for my cauliflower without the cheese, a request that was met without issue.

But what to drink? Hotel owner Nick Mobbs (a multi-award winning sommelier) recommended

20210618_Weekend-Wines-Sun-4500×669 118 KB

2014 Nelson Estate Cabernet-Merlot (South Africa, Paarl)

Nick said it was unlike Bordeaux; he was right. This was very rich, almost jammy, delicious

Traffic Island Flowers

 

The traffic island in front of Amrit restaurant (was the Cricketers) is planted with wild flowers

Redbourn - Peas & Daisies

Walking again through from Redbourn through farm land and an old sunken green road. We couldn't take Krisie & Dan here because of heavy rain but today it was warm and sunny.

This year fields had been planted with peas.

Daisies growing by the roadside.

Dan & Krisie in St Albans with Toby & Emma

Delayed from Christmas, at last Dan & Krisie spend a few nights with us in St Albans. Saturday was bright and sunny so we went for a walk over the Kimpton Hoo Estate where Krisie took this photo.

 

and I took this one

In the evening Emma and Toby joined us for a roast beef dinner with lots of Yorkshire puddings and apple crumble for afters

Walk to Batford Springs

 We walked along the disused railway line from Cherry Tree Lane to Batford Springs Nature Reserve. It was half-term and the nature reserve was packed with kids enjoying the pond and weir.

Sign on verge along Cherry Tree Lane