No updates on Overstrand over the Bank Holiday weekend because we have been out of the county! Venturing ‘over the border’ has not happened many times since we moved here, on average about once a year. It was a very special occasion that took us back to Bucks - our eldest son’s wedding. A perfect day with vows exchanged in a small village church followed by the reception. This was held in a friend’s garden where a marquee was erected for dining and dancing. A wonderful setting with views across the surrounding countryside; the celebrations extended into the night. Our younger son was Best Man, Peter was witness, my Mum & Dad were proud grandparents and in case you were wondering – yes, I did need a hankie! At the Wedding and over the weekend we met a number of our son and daughter-in-laws friends (some we had known since playgroup days) and family plus neighbours, village friends and former colleagues. We certainly filled our few days there and on our return to Overstrand rounded everything off with a BBQ for our ‘animal sitters’.

While we were away, we were asked whether we enjoyed our lives here in Norfolk and if we missed life in Bucks. We love our life here in Overstrand and would not want to live anywhere else but what we look for in life would not suit everyone and for some, living here would mean some serious restrictions in their lifestyle. I hope we were able to convey this in our conversations.

We are now into in the normal daily routine we so enjoy. We desperately need rain, our water butts are nearly empty and we are using the hose to water the all essential vegetable plot. The forecast promised rain this afternoon but apart from the odd spot or two, nothing; not even enough to dampen the dust. On our drive back from Bucks we noticed a number of fields being irrigated and to think just a few months ago we were complaining about the volume of rainfall.

Albatross

Most of the vessels we see out at sea are tankers, ferries, container ships and fishing boats but today I spotted something a bit different sailing past, the Albatross. I have not been able to find any information about it but while I was viewing indoors through the telescope, Peter went down to the front and took a few photographs.

While my hen Beckie has been consistently laying six eggs a week, Cate has not been producing. That was until the day we came home and found her sitting on the nest in the coop, emerging some time later; triumphant. This afternoon she did something amazing which I have never heard of before, she laid two eggs in succession. She has laid double yolk eggs in the past but never two separate eggs.

The vacant beach hut plots are gradually being filled and I could not resist photographing this one, under construction. The new huts are making some of the originals look rather dowdy and unloved; maybe their owners will be out with pots of paint over the next few weeks, sprucing them up.

Under Construction

Sunday 12th May 2013 - Taster Menu, Norwich City Football Club's Grant, Rain and Leafy Lanes

With all the excitement of the Wedding, I completely forgot to mention dinner at the White Horse where we celebrated my birthday with their Six Course Taster Menu. We thoroughly enjoyed all the dishes and Ben’s explanation of each course added to the experience. Presentation by the chefs at The White Horse was perfect and plenty of time was allowed between in each course to appreciate the food to its full. £32 per person sounds expensive but considering the quality and imagination put into the menu plus the price includes a bottle of wine per couple (choice of three red, three white and a rose), I thought overall it was very reasonable.

In my Diary entry for the 11th April I mentioned our village First Responder would benefit from having his own personal equipment rather than sharing, as he currently does. Well, it’s good news because resident Maggy Midgley nominated the Strand Club to receive a grant from Norwich City Football Club’s Fans Community Cashback Fund. The grant nomination was specific; to help The Strand Club with their efforts to provide Overstrand with a First Responder Kit. As a result, this afternoon Glo Begley (Co-Ordinator for the Strand Club Community Project) and member Pam Mills will be at Carrow Road for the Canaries match and during half time, Glo will be presented with a cheque for £500. This will nicely swell the amount already donated (see charts on various noticeboards in the village) and I know Glo would like to thank both Maggie and Norwich City Football fans. I think Glo needs a pat on the back too, she obviously put a good case forward to the Fans Cashback Fund.

After promises of rain, with only a few spots here and there, finally yesterday afternoon the much needed precipitation arrived. This cooled everything down but not enough to stop Peter BBQ’ing some Pork Souvlaki in the evening. I took the opportunity earlier in the day to wash our gloves and scarves in preparation for packing them away along with winter jumpers, fleeces and lined trousers. I think I was a little hasty because this morning it was rather chilly when I went out to let the chickens out, so much so, I retrieved a pair of gloves before we went out with Barney.

We are now nearly in the middle of May but some of the larger trees have yet to burst into full leaf. Small trees and hedging such as Hawthorn and Blackthorn are vibrant in shades of green but until the larger trees catch up we have yet to get the full benefit from walking along our leafy lanes.