Once again the Parish Council’s monthly meeting proved to be a lengthy one. There were four planning applications on the Agenda to consider. One gave concerns over its location within the Conservation Area and removal of trees in order to create the plot, there was unease about the effect on a Holm Oak tree which may have to be lopped in order to facilitate another application and a comment was made about the growing number of people who move into the village and then want to change their property. The Firework Display will be on Saturday 3rd November, this year there will be bonfires contained within metal crates. To commemorate the end of World War II the beacon will be lit on the 11th November on the car park and it is hoped to arrange singing etc. as well. Once again the problem of flooding at the junction of Northrepps Road and Cromer Road came up for discussion. In view of the costs and lack of support in the way of funding from Norfolk County Council, it was agreed not to pursue the work. The final point to mention is our bus service which now runs every half hour instead of hourly and with the route extended to incorporate the Coast Hopper it was noted buses are running late and not keeping to the timetable. The Council will consider how to gather information regarding complaints about the service.

We thought it was exceedingly warm here until we drove to Bucks this weekend to celebrate our youngest grandson’s 1st Birthday. Without the sea breezes it felt very hot but with gazebos etc. in the garden everyone was able to find some shade and the children enjoyed playing on the bouncy castle and in the paddling pool. We set off on our journey early Saturday morning to avoid not only traffic but to make the most of the cooler temperatures, ensuring travelling was as comfortable as possible for Barney. We arrived in good time for a picnic style breakfast, a visit to my Mum & Dad as well as seeing my friend of some fifty five years and her husband. After the barbeque party we made the most of the evening, eating (again!) at a pub near our youngest son’s home and staying with them overnight. Another early start on Sunday morning and we were back here just before ten, enjoying the sea breezes once again.

August Beach

Thursday 9th August 2018 – Sizzling, Flower Arranging at the WI and Rainy Day

Tuesday, is best described as a sizzler. Our garden thermometer reached 34ºC and the only time to be outside was early morning or in the evening. Knowing the heat would quickly dry damp carpets, we decided to hire a carpet cleaner. We were impressed with the finished results in our lounge and hall and continued by cleaning our bedroom carpet and using the hand attachment cleaned our rugs too. Despite vacuuming the main areas each day the colour of the water in the cleaner was a definite coffee colour, showing the dirt was deeper in the carpet fibres than a standard vacuum can tackle.

Our August WI meeting is usually devoted to crafts providing members with an opportunity to try something different. However, this year we had a change and tried our hands at flower arranging. Foliage and mechanics (oasis, dishes etc.) were provided by one of our members; all we had to bring were flowers. Some brought garden blooms and others flowers purchased from supermarkets. By

August Sunset

the end of the evening the arrangements were displayed on a table showing a range of styles, colours and a good measure of individual flair and artistry too.

I know we desperately need it but do we have to have it all in one day? I am referring to rain. It started this morning shortly after we came back with Barney from his walk and has continued throughout the day. We passed the sports field where car booters were starting to congregate but nobody was risking setting up. A good job too. If they had, they would have soon be packing things away. This is the first car boot this year to be aborted due to rain.

Another August Sunset

Monday 13th August 2018 – More Rain, Yields and Overtourism

Since my last entry, we have had more rain. This has been gentle showers and thank goodness not downpours of the sort that flatten plants. Temperatures are around the seasonal norm with one particularly cold morning when it felt positively autumnal. The sun may not be shining all the time but it is certainly pleasant to be outside.

As some of our vegetables finish Peter has been looking to plant more seeds. Seed planting at this time of the year is always a bit of a gamble because you never know when the weather will turn cold and vegetables, such as French beans, won’t produce a crop. The lack of rain this summer has certainly reduced yields. Normally we have gluts of certain vegetables, in particular runner and French beans plus courgettes and what we have not eaten or frozen have been given away. Not the case this year, what has come off the plot has been sufficient for our needs with no excesses, which goes to show even though everything is watered regularly, there is nothing quite like a drop of rain.

According to the media, tourism worldwide is on the up and there is a danger of areas becoming victims of overtourism. Yesterday people were asked not to go to Cornwall. With beaches as full as those in Benidorm in Spain this was a quite reasonable request. I feel sympathy for those who live in the county; they are probably looking forward to the end of the season when they can get their beaches, villages and shops etc. back to themselves and be able to drive from place to place with ease. What draws people to certain areas, is the TV programme Poldark responsible to Cornwall’s popularity? Moving further afield to Greece, we saw a difference in Kefallonia after the film Captain Corelli’s Mandolin was released and I have recently heard that Skopelos has not been the same since they filmed Mama Mia on the island, plus there are now fears for Naxos, following the recent broadcast of the dreadful Shirley Valentine Summer series. But what of Overstrand, will the Deep History Coast Project affect us? In my opinion we have sufficient tourism in the village and with the

From the Cliff Path

current infrastructure, any increase cannot be supported. In passing, villagers have expressed they will be glad when the village is back to normal and some are unhappy about the number of holiday homes in Overstrand. One commented, if you walk round the village on a winter’s evening, because there are so many holiday homes there are hardly any lights on in the residential properties. Is there a danger, Overstrand will become another Blakeney – I hope not. One thing for sure is; currently on a sunny day the car park may be bursting and all the side roads full with parked vehicles but when you look down on the beach there is no overcrowding; there is plenty of space for everyone. Let’s hope it stays that way.