The Norfolk Broads

After living in Norfolk for nearly 14 years, we finally hired a Boat and spent a day on the Broads. Now we've walked around many a Broad, had picnics and camped, but never actually been on them. It was a very exciting day, especially as it was my Birthday treat. Eight of us clambered aboard for whole day of fun.

I am quite surprised how much stuff we thought we needed for the day - bags and bags of stuff; Hampers, BBQs, Gas Stove, Kettle, Blankets, Cake, and lots of Cameras.

We cruised out of Wroxham, passing lots of pretty waterside homes and then we were out onto the River Bure. We were all like little children, exclaiming loudly on spotting a Heron, Marsh Harrier or Pink Footed Goose. It really was quite amusing. After the first half an hour we calmed down and settled into the pace of the Broads. It was peaceful and serene; quite simply perfect in the sunshine.

We stopped for lunch near How Hill on the River Ant - the Boys tended the BBQs and cooked a wonderful lunch. What is it about Boys and BBQs?!

Then there was Cake - I made Cherry Bakewell Cupcakes, Sticky Toffee Pudding Cupcakes and Chocolate and Hazelnut Cupcakes. If there's a Birthday, you need Cake. But Cake is even better outside on a Boat! Heavenly.

And there were presents - I am a very lucky girl. My Friends know me so well and my Husband even bought me a Captains Hat which I did wear for the whole day. It was such a lovely day and I can't wait to go on the broads again; it was so magical and beautiful.

Prettifying

We recently our first ever Wardrobe after nearly 14 years of being together - it meant that we had to re-organise our Bedroom which left a very large blank space on one wall. made word cloud that's full of our favourite places and it's going to be printed a whooping 1189 x 841 mm. I can't wait for it to go up.

April Happy Things

The arrival of Spring!

Camping in North Wales

Our first Broads trip - despite living in Norfolk for 14 years!

Street Children are definitely not a happy thing, but I ran a Charity event at work for the Railway Children and raised lots of money for this more than worthy cause.

Beautiful Swan

Flowers from my Husband

Birthday Dinner

Cake Decorating

My new found love of breadmaking

Homemade Tortillas

Anglesey Abbey

Birthday presents on a boat!

Ickworth

How the Welsh deal with their Snow - pile it up high!

Sunsets over the sea

March Happy Things

Hexie Patchwork Kit for my lovely Mum for  Mothers Day

Ceramic Painting

Our new dresser

My own hexies - I love making these

A new tent! Lots of camping will happen this year.

The beautiful Rosie eyeing up her favourite toy

Bakewell Tart

New Shoes!

Mexican Food

Pretty Paper Pads

Homemade Strawberry Sorbet

Pretty Colours

The last of our autumnal blackberries

Camping in North Wales

Day Six

Our final day of our Holiday started in Caernarfon - we headed straight for the Castle. It's an absolute beast of a fortification. It's really quite intimidating and dominates Caernarfon. We walked around the Castle and along the bank of the Menai Straights and there was barely a sole around. To be fair it was very early in the day, but by the time we got back to the centre some Coaches had arrived and there was lots and lots of people. We aimed for the old town for more meandering and enjoyed the eclectic buildings all jostled together - so pretty.

We then went down the coast towards Llithfaen to visit the Welsh Language Centre at Nant Gwrtheyrn. The Road down to the Centre was somewhat steep! Nant Gwrtheyrn was abandoned in the 1970s following the closure of the quarries. In it's heyday over 2000 men worked there quarrying the Granite. A trust was formed, by Dr Carl Clowes, the local GP and others and eventually they bought the village and set about renovating the old buildings and developed a centre to teach Welsh. Inside one of the buildings was the most amazing knitted village complete with fields of crops and animals. We went inside one of the Quarryman's Cottage which was built in 1878 and Meinirs Tree - all about the tragic love story of Rhys and Meinir.

So, seeing it was our last day, there was only one place that I wanted to spend our last afternoon. So it was back off to Anglesey. We headed towards Amwlch and went first to The Copper Kingdom to learn about the areas industrial heritage. We then went for a very long walk around the worlds biggest copper mine at Parys Mountain. It is the most other worldly landscape that I've ever been to.  The lack of vegetation, although understandably because of the toxicity, was unnerving. But the colours, of the colours! Pinks, Yellows, Greens, Greys, Browns and Blues. It was such an amazing place to walk around. We even got to see an incredibly fast Hare bolt away from us.

There was only one thing I wanted to go after this mammoth walk and that was to walk a little more so we could see the sunset over the sea again. We headed for Rhoscolyn and walked across the bay, round lots of houses and across several fields to get to the jagged cliffs with twenty minutes to spare. We were greeted by this beautiful little one;

We nestled in the rocks to get out of the wind and were treated to the most beautiful display. I don't think I'll ever get bored of seeing the sun set over the sea - it feels like such a treat. Our last stop was Menai Bridge to pick up some dinner which we ate in the Car overlooking the Straights which sparkled in from the lights and the Bridge. We both slept so well that night, all the walking zonked us out. Boy do I love Anglesey.