Our 35th wedding Anniversary.

Monday 1st  December

Mileage Start 15078 - End  =

35 years ago today was the very best day of my life.  I married my best friend.  Like most long marriages there have been ups, downs and lots of ordinariness in between but we have survived to tell the tale!

As it was Simon's day off we decided that a little trip out in Tallulah was in order.  I was feeling quite down in the morning as the only cards we got were the ones that we sent each other.  Nobody else acknowledged the day, not even our children.  I know that shouldn't matter but it did.

I was very sad too that the one person who would never have forgotten is no longer here.  My Dad. For 34 years we always had a card from my Mum and Dad.  Even through the years when Mum was in the hospital and Dad was so busy and preoccupied, he never once forgot.

Anyway, we decided to go to Hunstanton to look for more sea glass.  Hunstanton  is just a little bit further around the coast from Heacham where we found some sea glass a few weeks back.

It was a really cold and windy day but we had the best time.  We parked  at the far side of Hunstanton on the road above the cliffs.  We walked down through the gardens onto the sea front and then spent several hours walking right the way along the beach to the other end.  

Found this Union Jack on the beach.

SELFIES!

All the time we were scanning the sand around our feet for the elusive sea glass.  We didn't have any luck to begin with but then Simon found a few pieces.  While we were walking, we talked again about the fact that nobody had remembered our day. I said to Simon how hard I was finding it with no card from Dad and that he never forgot.  As I was speaking a little glint of glass caught my eye down in the sand.  I bent to pick it up and as it slid free of the sand I saw that it was little heart.

My Dad had not missed the day after all.  He had not forgotten. He sent me his heart.

I know to many of you that will all sound very fanciful. You believe what you will.  You will never convince me otherwise.   My Dad sent that heart to me in that moment to let me know that everything is ok and that he loves me.

We continued our walk along the beach and did find several more pieces of glass but not much. By the time we returned to Tallulah the sun was going down so we drove home.

It was a lovely day and although Tallulah has now been resting for over a month I am hoping that the winter weather will soon allow us to have our first trip of 2015.

Heacham Beach

Monday 17th November

Mileage Start 14956 - End 15078 = 122 miles.

So Simon's day off had rolled round again and it was time to take Tallulah on a trip.  We chose to go to the beach at Snettisham in Norfolk.  It was a cold day but quite bright and I particularly wanted to go to the coast as I wanted to see if I could find any sea glass.

I have become interested in sea glass after seeing the beautiful jewelry that can be made with it.  There are some really clever sellers on Etsy who make absolutely beautiful stuff.   As you know, I am hoping to try out different crafts and I would like to try my hand at this.  First things first though; you can't make sea glass jewelry without some sea glass!

We initially drove to Snettisham which is the nearest beach to us.  We have been there many, many times over the years with the children as it was the nearest beach when we lived in Peterborough too.  It's about 60 odd miles so not exactly close but makes a good day trip.

What we hadn't remembered (or maybe it wasn't always there)  is that there is a height barrier for the beach car park at Snettisham.  Poor Tallulah was denied entry.  

As there wasn't anywhere else to park up we (or rather Simon) reversed up the road past several vehicles and then executed a neat three point turn so that we could head on to the next beach down the road which is Heacham. 

Heacham beach has a lot of shells and our children always called it the shell beach.  That name has stuck.  Fortunately there are no barriers and we were able to park easily.  There was pretty much nobody else there except a few dog walkers and 2 old guys with metal detectors.  I often wonder what they actually find?  Seems a bit of an odd hobby to me but then we were there to scour the beach for sea glass which I guess  some people would find equally odd!

It was really cold as there was quite a wind but there were lovely big blue skies; at least for a short while anyway!  This part of the British coast has wonderful light which I think is to do with the big wide expanses of beach and the wide uninterrupted skies.

 Look at the long shadows.

 

 

 

Simon scanning the shoreline.

 

SEA GLASS!

 

 

We spent several hours walking along the beach with our eyes cast down until finally we had to give up as the sun was beginning to go down. 

As you can see from the photos we had some success.  Not much but some! It is a start. 

Jilly

St.Neots.

Monday 3rd November

Mileage Start 14852 - End 14956 = 104 miles.

It was a bit of a grotty day but as it was Simon's day off we decided that it was a good time to winterise Tallulah.  This means emptying out the grey water tanks, toilet cassette etc.  We pondered how and where was best to do this and decided our best bet was at the nearest Camping and Caravanning site where you can pay a small fee to stay just 4 hours to use the facilities. 

Our nearest site is the St. Neots one.  We sort of knew where it was as we have been to St. Neots many times to the big park there.  The CC site is right next door to the park and on the riverside.   It looks like it would be quite lovely but in the event we didn't really find out.

When we arrived, it looked very quiet with only a few vans and the gate was shut.  We opened the gate and drove through to be greeted by the wardens who were in the process of packing up!  It seems that the site had actually closed for the winter just an hour before!

They were kind though and did allow us to empty out our tanks.  On chatting to them we discovered tha the vast majority of Camping and Caravanning Club owned sites do close for the winter period. We hadn't realised that.  The wardens were off to spend the winter in their vans in Spain.  I wouldn't have minded joining them as by now it was absolutely pouring with rain.

We needed to eat our lunch and therefore needed somewhere close by to park up.  We ended up going to the park and had lunch in the car park there.  Couldn't even walk around the park as it was so cold and wet.

  

 

 

 

 

 SELFIES!

 

We did try out the TV while we ate lunch.  Simon had tested it at home but we hadn't actually used it since.  We were quite impressed as the Satellite spun  around  on the roof making its little whirring noises and in less than a minute we had a perfect picture.  I hope it does that everywhere we go!  You can see the TV in the pictures above.

As the weather was so horrid we just went home after lunch.

Just for reference you can check out St Neot's Club site here: C&C Club site St. Neots

Jilly

Tattershall Castle

Thursday 30th October

Mileage Start 14789 - End 14852 = 63 miles

School half term week so Simon was at home.  We had hoped to get several days out in Tallulah and I can't remember now why we only ended up having one.  

Mind you we were reminded during this trip that half term is not the best time if you do not wish to be over run by unruly children!  Seriously!  There were quite a few children literally running riot in the castle and the parents were just ignoring them.  We would never have allowed our children to do that.  There is a time and place for everything.  

Anyway, we went to Tattershall Castle.

 

 

Tattershall castle is a 15^th century, red brick, castle built between 1434 - 1447. It is now owned by the National Trust. It has 6 floors. There are 149 steps on a spiral staircase to get to the roof. The views outside on the roof top are lovely but I didn’t stay out there long. It was too cold, I'm not overly keen on heights and the pesky children running around up there screaming was just too much. I left Simon to it and waited back at the bottom.

 

I have to say that we were both fairly disappointed with the castle. It looks quite impressive from outside and brick built castles are a bit of a rarity. However we felt that the inside didn’t really live up to its promise. Each room is more or less bare, devoid of all furnishings. They are all laid out exactly the same and are basically big empty voids. The fire places on several levels were impressive and also one level had a tapestry. There was a nice vaulted ceiling but that was about it.

 

 

 

 

 

We have seen it and won't be going back to visit again.

If you want to learn more about the history click here: Tattershall Castle

Jilly

Rutland Water

Monday 27th October.

Mileage Start 14725 End 14789  = 64 miles

It was a bright sunny day but actually quite chilly.  However it was Simon's Monday off so we decided on another day trip.  We have been to Rutland Water many times over the years.  The children used to really enjoy it.  We have even cycled right around it on 2 occasions.  Once with all the children and once just the two of us a year or so back.  We did it on a tandem!  It is a distance of 25 miles.

Here are the photos from the day.  As you can see, lunch was the first priority and we ate it sitting on a bench looking out over the water.

 Lake Views.

 

 Whilst walking around we spotted a Moorhen,  (at least that's what I think it is!)  loads of ducks, loads of rabbits and these 2 guys in a boat.

 

 

The following 3 photos show Normanton church which is built on a little spit in the water.  From a distance it appears to be on an island.   It was originally St. Matthew's church but was de-consecrated in 1970.  It is now a non denominational church mostly used for civil weddings.

It is in fact, not only the place where Josh proposed to Charlotte but the place they have booked for their wedding.  In just over 19 months time our entire family will be gathered here.    Saturday 13th August 2016 had better be a gorgeous sunny day!

 

 

Rutland Water is Anglian Water's drinking water reservoir and is located near the town of Oakham in the county of Rutland.  It was opened in 1976.   You can find out more here: Rutland Water

Jilly

Easton Walled Gardens. Part 2

This is a continuation of the post on Easton Walled Gardens.

As it was late October they were preparing for Halloween and harvest festival.  One of the things they had was pumpkin rolling! You stood at the top of a slope of terraces and bowled (threw) your pumpkin down. The aim being to get it to roll the furthest when it hits the level ground at the bottom.  Of course Simon had to have a go.

This is the top of the terrace, looking down.

Me at the top.

Collecting his pumpkins.

Ready to bowl.

Half way down and then at the bottom.  

Sheep.

Wooded area.

You all know, how I  love my close up flower shots, so get ready for lots more!

 

Aren't those flowers just awesome?  We had a great time here and it is somewhere that I am sure we will go back to.  Maybe In February when the snowdrops are out.  They are said to be quite spectacular.  

After a lovely day we headed back to Tallulah for a nice cuppa and a rest before driving home.

Jilly