6 July 2013

Two Days In Norfolk

D and I sloped off to Norfolk for two delicious days on our own this week.  We've just celebrated 20 years since our first kiss so this was our little anniversary treat!

We spent most of Thursday in Holt and stayed at Byfords, having first fallen in love with it a couple of years ago.



If you ever find yourself in the area, do try and pop in to Byfords.  Their cafe/deli is open all day to non-residents and the food is amazing, from generous slabs of gooey homemade cake (D's favourite) to mouthwatering antipasti platters (my favourite).


(Eggs Benedict and smoked salmon for brekkie?  Why, yes please!)

I need to try and track down some of the locally made Binham Blue cheese online.  It's milder and creamier than Stilton and has the most gorgeous taste.  I'd have brought some home but the prospect of tooling around in the heat with whiffy cheese on board wasn't so appealing!

We pottered around Holt's little winding streets and charming shops.  (D was wildly excited to finally find a large madeleine cake tin - rather worringly, one of the highlights of his weekend I think!!!)


We dipped in and out of the hidden courtyards for a pot or two of tea.


On Friday we got in the car and explored a few of the nearby towns.

Sheringham is a typical English seaside town with flapping bunting and whirling windmills.  The pebbled beach is flanked by huge concrete sea defences which, to be honest, may be necessary but aren't terribly attractive.  I did love the splash of colour from the little beach huts though.


Oh to be beside the sea again.  We live right in the middle of England, over two hours from the coast, so it's always such a joy to paddle and breathe the sea air.


Wild poppies, everywhere.  Sometimes great swathes of them.


We then strolled around the old port of Blakeney ...


 before heading to Burnham Market.  It reminded me of a Cotswold village.  A tree-studded green in the middle surrounded by little independent shops and tea rooms.


These big blowsy apricot roses seemed to be everywhere (I'd love to know what type of rose they are) - with really nostalgic heady scents.  You remember the type you used to smoosh up to make rose petal perfume when you were a child?


We had lunch under an olive tree in the garden of local hotel; a large glass of cold white wine and a very overpriced Tricolore Salad!  Meh!!!


On the way home, we stopped at a farm shop in Cambridgeshire and bought some eggs, beetroot, strawberries and raspberries.  Close your eyes and remember how raspberries used to taste - soft, juicy and sweet.  Not at all like the tart bullets you often buy in supermarkets.  I want them to last forever.


Also, this apple juice.  I'm not a big fan of apple juice but this is the nicest I have EVER tasted.  It's like nectar.  I've just found the Watergull Orchards website and am very tempted to place an order.


Oh it was the loveliest little break.  I do love that husband of mine and, best of all, I thoroughly adore his company.  You know, especially when it's just us.  Such a treat, particularly as we come back to the chaos of the last week of the school year!

Here's to the next twenty years darling man.

xxx

24 comments:

  1. I saw the title of this post and just had to read! I live in holt and work in sheringham. Glad you had a lovely time celebrating your anniversary! Love katie xx

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    1. Ooh Katie, perhaps we bumped into each other without realising!!! You're so lucky, it's just the loveliest part of the country. X

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  2. What a lovely little get away! I've not been to Norfolk yet and have heard that it's lovely and certainly you make it sound and look gorgeous in your pictures! Congratulations on 20 years, no mean feat in these times! :)

    S x

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    1. Thank you lovely Sandra. Do go if you get the chance, I think you'd love it. xx

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  3. Lovely photos! Thank you for sharing links as well, I've bookmarked all of them and would love to have a getaway of my own! :)

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  4. Sounds like you had the most wonderful time together, and the pictures really showcase the area you visited. Like you I live a fair way from the coast and would relish the chance to walk along the prom, nosing at the beach huts. Especially now the weather is fantastic! Here's to many more happy years for you both x

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  5. What a wonderful time you both had. The pictures are great. Love the winding streets and the perfect coffee stops. The beach huts are like a rainbow.
    Rosezeeta.

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  6. Sound just perfect to me xx

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  7. It's a beautiful part of the world isn't it, we're not going this year so thank you for sharing! :) x

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  8. Aw - Sounds like you had an amazing time. Love the photos.
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  9. Sounds like a lovely special break x

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  10. Happy Anniversary! So glad you were able to get away just the 2 of you. Thank you for sharing the gorgeous scenery! I feel like I got a little trip myself. I love the fact that you can get fresh fruits and veggies. We get very little where I live and with the GMO and antibiotics in all the animals it almost makes me afraid to eat anything here. I may have to come over there just to get some REAL food! LOL! And your flowers growing wild and beautiful. I think I'll go crochet and pretend I'm in the Cotswolds or Downton Abbey! LOL!

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  11. Hi Heather,
    Looks like you had a wonderful time in Norfolk....we stayed at Byfords a couple of years ago, it is gorgeous and feels like such a treat! Glad you had a lovely relaxing time sans children ;-)
    Enjoy the sunshine sweetie.
    Love Caroline xxx

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    1. Bless you Caroline, thank you. I do hope you had a lovely day on the 10th. I don't know if you remember but I delivered a plant to you (a jasmine I think) the evening before your 22nd birthday - that was the night D and I had our first kiss!!! Too much information?! Hope you're all well love. xx

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  12. Hi Heather,It sounds the absolute perfect anniversary to me!!!!The surroundings itself is so romantic and beautiful!!!Hoping you an ever better 20 years to come!!!
    Love
    AMarie

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  13. Congratulations on your twenty years together ... what a lovely way to celebrate :D

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  14. What a lovely post.So happy you had a great time,you went to all my fave places.I love the East coast.I live in the Midlands too and we don't get to the coast often enough.Hope your next 20 years are as wonderful as the last.xx

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  15. Looks like you had a wonderful time by the sea and countryside of Norfolk I'm just back from a weekend in Suffolk too, that Eastern part of the coast is so lovely.

    Clare x
    http://summerhousebythesea.blogspot.co.uk/

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  16. Happy anniversary - that looks like a fabulous place to stay. I've never been to Norfolk but I am very tempted now!

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  17. How very lovely. I'm so glad you enjoyed your break. A bit of couple time is sometimes a very necessary thing in a marriage. I've never been to Holt but my best friend is always raving about Byfords and telling me how I should go. I think i will, if only to sample those eggs Benedict...they looked amazing. xx

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  18. Oh Heather...your little getaway looked and sounded just dreamy! The perfect romantic escape! Happy anniversary to you and your sweetie, and wishing you many, many more years of happiness...and wonderful little trips like this! What a lovely post! xo Paulette :) ...oh, and I LOVE your adorable flowery shoes!

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  19. Hello Heather,
    That sounds like a lovely little escapade!!! Having time just for the couple is sooooo important, isn't it? I usually do it with my hubby when we are in Spain (where I come from) and can leave the kids with my parents for a few days. It's so good for the soul and to reconnect...
    I have never visited Norfolk but some of my friends have also recommended it... ohh there are so many lovely places around! We are so lucky!
    Enjoy the sun!!
    Pati x

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  20. I loved this post Heather as I have spent some great times around Sheringham and Holt, especially going from one to the other on the steam train. We were standing by those beach huts a few months ago. The murals on the sea defenses were quite original. Happy 20th anniversary!! Chel x

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  21. Such a gorgeous post and it looks like you had an amazing time!!!! Isn't it fab, just having time alone together?! We'd never be without our beloved kids, but it's good to remember what it used to be like! We had a weekend on my own too. Was just wonderful.
    Prefer blogging to IG yet? x x x x

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