Camping At Snettisham - Part Four - Surfing And Home

If everybody had a surfboard across the USA, everybody would be surfing like at Old Hunstanton beach....

After a couple of disappointments due to (extremely) distant water's edges, we got it right on Sunday. Old Hunstanton was the venue and Sam had fun in the surf, and was actually, really, catching waves and riding in on them. The weather was warm and sunny but with a gale force southerly wind on the beach - so strong that I abandoned attempts to erect the windbreak for fear that I would take off.

Eventually Sam got cold and we decided to return homeward. And after Sam had gone back to his mum's I found the usual poignant vignettes of our time together.....sand-encrusted size 12 flip-flops.....

And a bath tub that appeared to have a good part of Old Hunstanton beach inside it....

Camping At Snettisham - Part Three - The Big Match

What's more traditional when camping than the mass football match? Sam got involved last weekend, as he joined forces with the two brothers from our next-door tent to take on the might of three boys from the south.

The three other boys were expecting an easy game, facing just one older boy and two nippers....they were sadly mistaken! As the goals flew into their goal they couldn't believe how adept Sam and George were, and they did indeed prove to be a match for their bigger opponents.

Comments were swapped such as "They're good!", "They're really good!", "I can't believe we're losing to the little kids" and "We're getting thrashed!".

The final score was a resounding 12-5 win for our lot. HURRAH!

Camping At Snettisham - Part Two - Seal Spotting

On Saturday we re-visited Blakeney to take a trip out to the point on one of the seal spotting boats. The last time we went out was in September 2006 so it was time to return. A trip on the seal boats costs £8 for adults and £4 for youngsters, and I think it's a lovely and unusual way to spend an hour and a half.

I won't waffle on. Some of the photos were taken by Sam, some by me. Visit the seal boats soon!

Camping At Snettisham - Part One - Arrival

Our first under canvas expedition of the year saw us returning to Diglea's campsite at Snettisham. It's Sam's favourite, so far.



Straight from school on Friday (I'd pitched the tent earlier) we headed out to the campsite. We dined heartily on takeaway, as always, for tea. Sam chose a chicken kebab, Dad had doner. And Sam snapped the rather lovely picture of the Hunstanton sunset, above.



Sam had a late night in his side of the tent, and fell asleep about ten, and Dad followed at eleven.


Sam was so happy to return to a happy hunting ground. Dad was happy that Sam was so content.

Un-Excellent....

The old block of flats that we live in is a mostly quiet, fairly respectful kind of place....

On Wednesday somebody decided to take a dislike to the hallway, and splash paint all over the information sheets there.

I have half an idea who it may have been, but there will never be any way of proving it.

Freedom Of King's Lynn Parade

Last week RAF Marham exercised their right to march through the streets of King's Lynn with drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed. When I was in the RAF I always found parades to be an utter pain in the neck, but now I'm a "veteran" I love them. So does Sam.

Sam was in attendance with his school friends, and I spotted him as soon as I took up my position on the east side of the Tuesday Market Place. He stood to attention as the standards were marched onto the square (he's the one in the red shirt in the above photo).

As well as reviewing the RAF party, the Armed Forces Week flag was raised - it's refreshing that the country now seems to support the forces, as opposed to the ambivalence and even resentment I experienced for many years.

The Cranwell Band provided a superb soundtrack for the parade - the same band who performed at my own Passing Out parade at RAF Swinderby on 23 July 1985!

Veg Patch Update

We're starting rather late with our veg patch project. But we'll still have a good go at producing some crops this year, and then prepare well for next year.




The fact that Roy has obtained a greenhouse will help us. We're going on a wing and a prayer and trying to force seedlings into catching up, and then transplanting them into the garden.


It appears that the runner beans can hardly wait to get going!