Norfolk

I love Norfolk; been many times and always enjoyed it. Wonderful bird watching on the marshes. The last time we were there was our fortieth anniversary. We rented a cottage at Salthouse and there was a sort of shack up the road which served the most wonderful fish and shellfish - very rustic but you had to fight for a table. People would come for miles to eat there. The people in the pub opposite were trying to get them shut down for various ridiculous trumped up reasons. The worse case of sour grapes I ever saw (the pub food was awful). I hope they survived. There is also a fantastic deli at Cley. I have a watercolour of Blakeney creek hanging over my fireplace - just boats and the big, big Norfolk sky! Wonderful.

Oh Smoluski you're not alone, it happens quite often although fatalities are thankfully rare. We've nearly been stranded on the big marram dune when the sea has nipped in behind us and got smothered in black mud squelching our way back. How the lovely yellow sands turn into black gooey mud is a mystery.

So do I number have you been on the drinks and Dutch food boat called the albatross on a Sunday afternoon,the have a two man ensemble called the quaysides who play soft folk and sort of sea going shanty type stuff...very good with wine and alchoholxxx

I must have been very lucky then Nellie, must have missed the quicksand bit. Won`t tempt fate again though, but will still go to Wells, I so like it there.

Keep off the beach at wells E and I had to be "helped" from the beach as we got stuck in the quicksand with the tide coming in very fast....imagine two lone figures one small and one smaller both in large wellies ...both stuck the larger of the small people shouting help help and waving an umbrella and sinking fast,the smaller of the figures flapping and panicking and the world and his dog passing bye and looking,a very sensible person ran to get the coastguard,an even better idea was had by the hero that pulled E out and carried her to safety,and then came back for me...leaving my new wellies embedded in the boggy sand..and then the walk of shame back to the car bare footed in the p*****g rain with umbrella held aloft....never again will I walk on golden sands...

Norfolk has lovely countryside. I lived for thirty years in Mid-Wales but love the villages in Norfolk and the wooded areas. Of course, the skies are magical. Spent a few days there last month.

Enjoy your break Celebgran, I love Norfolk, especially around Wells, never been to Mundesley, but our son and his family liked it there.

We do have hills Mishap, just not very high ones!

I think Holkham is shut now apart from Christmas weekends. Most of Norfolk shuts in the winter - too cold! The wind here is a lazy wind so Wells is good for walks as you can walk the beach with the wind behind you and take to the pinewoods to avoid walking against it.

I was at Holkham Hall for a charity walk a month ago and, thankfully, the weather was lovely, walking through the estate to Wells and back. I guess it will be colder now, and Norfolk always seems colder than elsewhere. I was born in Norfolk so I do speak with some experience. Holkham Hall is worth a visit and Norwich has a lot to offer. Mundesley has a website www.mundesley.org/ although not sure how far it goes.

I vividly remember one of my DDs going on the train for an interview at Norwich University many years ago. She was born here on the Welsh borders - definitely hill country - and when she came back she said the uni was fine, but she could not possibly live in Norfolk as it is "Flat, flat,flat!" She felt quite creepy without the sheltering hills - I was staggered by the vehemence of her reaction.

I recall it as having a beauty and atmosphere of its own - but definitely very different indeed to here.

Oh, and this is the last weekend Blickling and Felbrig National Trust houses are open.

Well, the sun is shining here, the wind sort of southerly and it should be a nice weekend - but you'll need your thermals!

The pink foot geese and other winter visitors are arriving and the colours in the woods at Sheringham Park are excellent.

Enjoy your stay.