Second weekend on the trot that we get Blossom out on the road. Early getaway from work and on the road by 3.30pm. No one around at Mill Farm CL, so quick set up, with a perfectly level pitch - bonus!
Not much chance to settle in or explore as we have a very important date with our favourite little grand nephew who turned seven today. Back then to Frankie and Benny's in Bury St Ed's. It was great to see such a smiley and happy birthday boy. Back to the site by 9.30pm and a get together with friends on site for a few wines.
Saturday dawned a little dull, but the boys headed off to the lake a few hundred feet away! They really are pretty little lakes. The girls got the breakfast on and in a short rain shower delivered sausage bacon and egg sandwiches to the fisherman.
Half an hour later the sun is out and fish are starting to bite on the lake. The day's catch includes common, mirror and one large Crucian carp, up to the weightiest specimen at 11lb. Whilst the fisherman concentrate on their friendly but slightly competitive catch, the girls head into Wymondham. We find some lovely individual shops in the charming town. Firstly a gift/home shop with lots of beautiful things. We each buy our/selves a little something, and think at Christmas this is the ideal place to shop. The butchers is very traditional with a father and daughter running the business, the father being possibly in his eighties. They make a special gluten free burger for R, with what seems to be an antique burger press - is this possible! Then we visit our favourite shop - a little off licence where you can buy your wine bottle with stopper and then decant various wines of choice, which change frequently. Also we trialled a Strawberry and black pepper gin, which we also hope to purchase at Christmas.
Afternoon walk to check out The Crown in the village - a friendly place with a classy back garden
The evening meal came together like a dream. thanks to the butchers burgers and supreme accompaniments from Waitrose, with a little help from a fantastic asparagus farm just up the road. Griddled asparagus with olive oil, a twist of salt and pepper makes a delicious starter. A game of pass the pigs brought the evening to a funny close.
Four contented caravanners left the site mid morning. We will return here before the end of the summer.
Easter always marks the real beginning of the family caravan season. This year Easter is late and we have been hoping for mild sunny weather. Moderate cool winds are to be the spoiler this long weekend.
We always prefer to get somewhere early by going after work, to get all the set up done. This leaves us free on the Thurs before Easter to come home from work to the site and already be able to be free of chores. Wednesday evening we did the final packing, headed off down the A14 and were after the usual faffing all tucked in by 7.30pm. R was lucky enough to have been given "Maundy Thurs" off as free leave, so had a free and easy day with his bike for transport, and his guitar for company. I, on the other hand, drove a bit further on the A14 to the place I love - Cambourne, to get through the day as quick as possible.
Time flew, as it does when you are having fun at work(!), and by 5.20pm I was back on site. The site was not one I would have normally booked. It was chosen through necessity as some of our group were off to The Apex at Bury St Edmunds to see Lindisfarne on Easter Saturday. This was a newish CS site, still a work in progress really. The field was massive but bleak, with a relatively busy train line behind. We made it our weekend's work to get as many waves from passengers and train drivers over the four days. However, the proximity to Bury St Edmunds, and the pretty surrounding villages made the location a good one.
By 6.30pm on Thursday all five caravans in the party were all set up, and the party "yawning" was in use from 7pm for pre Chinese drinks. Inspired idea from one of the party to pre order Chinese from nearby Stowmarket, and by 8:15pm we were all tucking in to an excellent spread. So easy - with hardly any washing up. Not too late to bed, had been a long day - with many of us at work.
Good Friday was bright but with a cutting wind, it got off to a traditional and tasty start with hot cross buns toasted perfectly by Alfie Senior on the super versatile Cadac. And we all had REAL BUTTER.
Then all the contingents headed off for the days activities. One was picking up a birthday surprise for Alfie Junior from Portman Road, two headed off to The Owl and falcon attraction at Stonham Barns, four headed off on a local walk and the final four headed for Cotton a nearby village for some Geocaching. This is what is great about these weekends, everyone does what they like in the daytime, coming together for a camp banquet in the evening. The catering is shared out so on this long weekend we all only had one major meal to cater for.
We were joined when we were Geocaching by Sue and Rosey and Snoop the dog, but the walk cut short as Alfie Junior was suffering a high temperature and was not his buzzy self, having reported to have been feeling quite "drifty" which we all thought was a good description.
This evening we were to be treated to a spectacular ham hock, pea and home grown asparagus risotto, followed by fresh fruit with a cinnamon syrup and buttery shortbread. Later after the early to bed crowd had headed to bed, the party members enjoyed a few wines and jokes. It was a funny night, but as per usual in the morning, we had no idea what was so funny.
Saturday morning consisted of putting up the flag, cooking up a cracking bacon and egg sandwich followed by a trip to get in the food for the evenings catering. The shops were pretty manic, but having got the chores done, and with the wind being a little chilly we had a few relaxing cuppas and a good read of the Saturday papers. The afternoon nap was accompanied by Radio Norfolk where Norwich City managed to still lose whilst they were playing against 10 men for half of the match.
After catching up with a few zzzz's we headed out of the site on the footpath opposite to wake ourselves up, make the most of a bit of sunshine and also do a recce in case anywhere nearby was more suitable for the Easter Sunday Egg Hunt.
Although the area was not good for the hunt (due to nettles and other things), it was a good little ramble. Willows swaying in the stiff breeze, bee hives, a dogfight between two buzzards and a pair of feisty crows, and the siting of a Wheatear made it a pleasant hour, and helped us forget the football score.
All hands on deck for the evening meal, with a Greek bias - lamb burgers (cooked to perfection by Alfie Snr on the Cadac), Greek salad, pitta breads followed by Eton Mess. All excellent. Then the pennies came out for a game of Newmarket with Jane's new GIANT playing cards. There were advantages and disadvantages of these. We could all easily see our hands in the low light of the awning, but holding them was a bit more problematic!
Sunday morning was bright and breezy, following much rain and wind overnight. This fell well for the annual Easter Egg Hunt for our grand nephew Alfie, who at almost seven was still very keen. There were not many options at the site for decent hidey holes, but we did a good job and Alfie had to work hard to find the 36 odd treats out in the wilderness.
We then walked to the pub in nearby Haughley via some pretty footpaths with two geocaches nabbed en route. Haughley is a pretty little village with a long gone Mott and Bailey castle with moat, an interesting church and quite a lot of amenities, such as a baker, coop, Indian restaurant and a good pub. By now we had been joined by our niece Clare, her husband Jamie and their beautiful new baby girl Edith Iris (Eddy) who was on her best behaviour. We had a good Sunday lunch, and I give special mention to the Banana bread and butter pudding with salted caramel sauce and peanut butter ice cream. Richard also raved about the chocolate goo with homemade honeycomb.
After the walk home and a cuddle with the baby and a chat with nephew Brendon, we have a caravan nap, with the accompaniment of steady rain - always a good combo. We had to get our strength up for the event of the weekend - Alfie's Easter party.
Alfie and Jamie Mills carefully set out the venue. All the party food was assembled along with music, lights and games. Everyone including little Souca the dog had to have a glow bracelet. The ice was broken with a stiffly competitive dancing competition, to the sound of the Bee Gees. Alfie Jnr was the victor closely followed by his Dad. Next up was the picture consequences game. Then a raucous few rounds of Heads Up, and finally a balloon blowing up contest. What a great, funny night with everyone up for a good time.
All in all a good time had by everyone. We had a few issues between us such as hitch problems, a bad back incident, caravan tyre puncture and indicator failure, but overall none affected the Easter fun.
31st March 2017
The weather forecast was good, and on the Thursday before the weekend we had managed to book in for 2 nights at Grange Farm CL Woolpit. We had stayed here a few times before and always like it. What is not to like? Fishing ponds, a little on site butcher, views across fields to Woolpit where the beautiful church could be seen, especially lovely when lit up at night.
Quick set up and on the bikes to meet up with my brother at Elmswell station. Quite a big hill up by the church, but we were still at the station first with plenty of time. This night was special, as my brother had on this day retired from the Rat Race. Installed on the train, we were headed two minutes up the road to Thurston, where a quick wander across the road found us at The Fox and Hounds where my brothers old friends Frank and Elaine already had drinks in. So busy was the pub, it meant that sitting outside was the only option but being outside was a pleasure. We had a really nice celebratory chat, along with a couple of drinks each. Before you knew it we were on the 20:38 returning to Elmswell Station. The bike home was much quicker with a good bit of down hill. We had a snack and a wander around the site looking at the stars which were showing well.
Saturday dawned a pretty good day, and we had a geocaching route planned for Bradfield Woods only a few miles away. Parked up easily and set off into the woods which are a nature reserve (SSSI) looked after by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Immediately we were struck with what a beautiful little place this was. The ground was covered in little white flowers and interspersed with cowslip and primrose. We read that the woods are ancient going back to 1252, and used for coppicing and the area boasts 370 plant species.
We enjoyed a great series of geocaches, got lost once, and had a nice chat with the volunteers from the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, and may well join as members soon as they protect and improve many sites mostly unknown to us. On the way home we came by Gedding Hall - a really imposing tudor manor, still owned by Bill Wyman.
We popped into the butchers when back at the site, I did the usual and opened the wrong door and ended up behind the counter, much to the butchers surprise. We chose some porky strips for tea, and also picked a nice little brisket joint for when we got home (which was excellent).
After tea there was, as every time we have stayed here, a cracking sunset, much photographed by me!
This had been a quick getaway, and we decide we will come back again soon
After a rare weekend at home and some forgettable and tiring days at work, we head off on a Weds late afternoon to meet up with family at The Eels Foot Eastbridge, Suffolk. The site is a CL with hook-up and toilets available at the pub during opening. Whilst the site is not particularly well maintained, and does suffer occasionally with a cesspit niff, it really has a stunning position right next to Minsmere reserve. The pub is great too, with much improved food, a pretty garden space with children's play area and petanque pitches. When its cooler they have a log fire, and there is also free Wi-Fi.
Well, I have to admit all my good intentions to write up after all our caravan trips in 2016 was a bit of a disaster (darling). This is partly due to not being able to use a good "speak and type" app and partly because we were away so often. Anyway the 2017 caravan season kicked off in the middle of March and we headed to Hempstead Hall right near Holt in Norfolk. We had had a few winter troubles with the 'van, this was due to having an outbreak of mould. The web help (thanks all caravan problem solvers), was to air of the van and wash and scrub the whole inside down and make sure all vents were clear. We spent a whole weekend doing the necessary, and found a couple of the required vents had been covered up with various bits of under bed detritus. After this, we were happy as the van looked, felt and smelled fresh and ready to go. The electric fire had been playing up, so that was mended and ready to go.
Good journey on a sunny but cool Friday, getting to site in early afternoon. We were on some hardstanding on the farm as it was still too damp and too early to get on to grass. We headed off to walk around the local vicinity, and had a couple of geocaches to find too. The church was one to note with part thatched roof and spring bulbs and flowers all over the churchyard.
Saturday was football day so the Mann's split up with Mr off to Carrow Road, and Mrs into Holt for a look around and some shopping. I discovered a gluten free food shop who sold home made pies, quiches and cakes. I then had to carry a few of these for the rest of the day. Mr was very impressed and had for dinner the next day. I walked back to the caravan site in the sun, a bit of traffic on the parts of the route with no footpath. The afternoon nap was badly thwarted by farm machinery and work going on to clear the debris from Storm Doris. Also an over friendly but beautiful cockerel who did not know the hours he was meant to keep.
Sunday was spent on a geocaching trail around Weybourne and Kelling Heath. We watched steam trains and got to look around the Campsite there. It was a surprisingly varied and really enjoyable walk.
Got off reasonably early on a sunny Monday morning, said goodbye to our cockerel, the family of guinea fowl and our trio of cute friendly donkeys. The grassed site here is a real find with a little river valley to overlook. None of the pitches looked level but worth the trouble of a tricky set up. This is a brilliant area for walking and touring and we will be back.
