I am back from a weeks holiday with the kids. And I had a great time there. We went back to North Norfolk, staying again at Cranmer Country Cottages and loved it.
We took the kids to the beach on most days. And boy did they love it. The first day, it was warm, but very windy. Inland that is though. On the coast, while the sun was shining, it was very windy. And luckily we took the kids there clad in rain coats and wrapped up warm. Others went there not dressed for the wind, and sadly had to leave all to quickly. But the kids loved it. And apart from one day when it was raining (we went to Norwich instead) we went to the beach every day. The kids insisted that I was not allowed to read, and instead had to make a sandcastle. So I dug a moat, piled up the sand to make a mound, and then used the buckets (when they were not filling them up with water,, sand or shells) to make the towers.
And when I thought that it was starting to look good, one or both of them would come along and destroy the towers! But they had fun, loads of it. Mind you, take a two and a four year old to the beach and what else would happen?
As it was not the school holidays, they got to play with other kids on the beach of a similar age which they loved as well.
All in all, a relaxing holiday.
And now back to work. For another thirty days...
I was looking out my kitchen window when I saw some kids wearing England shirts kicking a hedgehog around like a football in the street.
I guess this will have to be the last post on the holiday. We got back last week, and had a great time.
We stayed in Cranmer, in a place called Cranmer Country Cottages. Our cottage was Swallow and was an amazing place to stay. The kids had loads of room, and there were a few board games for them to play with. In addition, in the garden, there was a playground (a climbing frame/swing/slide and a playhouse) in the enclosed field outside. There were ants in the cottage, but other than freaking out my daughter, they kept to themselves! Both kids loved the heated swimming pool as well as playing outside and I even taught my daughter the basics of playing chess! (Well, only how to move the pawns.) One important thing with kids is that the television has to have access to Cbeebies, which it did.
It was a great base from which to explore North Norfolk and from there we were able to do things like take the kids on the Wells to Walsingham light railway. We had a great time there, and if you want to go to North Norfolk with the kids, that is a place I would recommend!
First of all, the Hoste Arms. My wife and I had eaten here before, many many years ago. BC in fact (Before Children), and loved the food back then. Of course, staying in the area, we decided to eat there again. And loved it so much, we ate twice. It is a bit posh, but eating there mid week, and getting there at noon, there was plenty of tables for us to feed the kids. Being in a village, there was lots of places to get the kids to walk while we waited for the food, and one of the two times we ate there, a waitress even came out to get us!
But the food... I remember that when I ate there, the food was great. But after several years, we returned, to find that our memories were correct. The food was brilliant. Full of flavour and of course with children, they had the right sort of food that a four and a two year old would want to eat. Great for adults and for children, if you are willing to take the kids out for a walk outside the place. My only gripe was that I was the drive and therefore did not get to drink! The wine list went well with the food, though of course, I was more interested in the beer which sadly, I did not get to drink.
But during the week, between the two times that we ate there, we took the kids out to several places. To the beach of course, they loved that. The beaches at North Norfolk are amazing. When the tide goes out, it goes a long distance out. With beautiful sand, it was great for us, and of course, the two kids loved the sand. Loads of sand castles made, and of course, we were 'forced' to help them make some!
They got to see a crab on the beach, which considering they had been to a sea life sanctuary earlier on the week (and loved that) my daughter loved. Instead of seeing one in an aquarium, she got to see it trying to hide from us (in case we were going to eat it).
Afternoon all. Right, I have to post a lot now. Let me see if I can catch up with what had taken place since I last posted.
First of all, another place to eat. The Ostrich Inn in South Creake. Opposite a park, it does serve good food. We stopped there for lunch one day. The kids had loads of energy, and with a park for the village opposite it, I took the kids there after we had ordered our food. I did not expect what I thought would be pub food to taste so good! But it did. The kids loved it, and the staff there were understanding about our two children which is always nice.
And of course, the kids in the playground. They love playing on playgrounds. A pretty place, there is a stream running along the main road between the park and the road. The kids loved watching the ducks as well as playing on the swings and climbing frames. I did have to stop my daughter from tormenting the ducks though!
Anyway, time to post another update in a moment...
Evening all again. Time to post again. I have put the kids to sleep after reading them Toy Story. Both love it, my son loves Buzz, and since he has got a Woody doll, Woody as well.
But now we are on holiday. In Norfolk. We are staying in a place in Cranmer which the kids love. I will have to remember to write a review on it later once we have left. Started however with a trip to Swaffham and a stay in a place called Strattons. It was lovely. We had stayed there before BC (before kids) and loved it then. It has interesting decor, which in general you love or hate. Me, I liked bits, and did not like others as much. One bit that was there last time we stayed was a light piece in the main reception room. Last time, I nearly broke it! Initially I did not like it. I thought it was awful. But the more I looked at it, the more it grew on me. Intricate, there was so much to notice, a bit like the decor. While you may not like it at first, there is a lot to take in. And while you may not like all of it, if you are like me, you will find pictures or other things there that you do like. The room was great, and set up brilliantly for kids. Unfortunately, there are no chickens in the courtyard as there were before. Apparently, too many accidents with cars and dogs. But the food... For kids, there is a deli which will serve dinner for kids at a time that allows the adults to go to bed. We took our own intercom, but apparently they have a listening service that they offer. Now when it came to the food, I wanted to cry. My starter was nice. Good food, and in itself, very good. but the main course... I wanted to cry. I could not finish it. I love steak, and they did it to perfection. Full of flavour and tender, I could eat it over and over again. It was one of the best three beef meals I have ever had, the other two were one in Madeira and the other at Locanda Locatelli. I have to recommend the place, both as a restaurant and a boutique hotel.
Anyway time to post a picture. It is a fake, the headline was Cameron and Clegg (begin) running the country. But this made me laugh!
