A welcome break

Recently friends invited us to join them in their winter home in the Murcia region of southern Spain. 

A visit to Bolnuevo, west of Mazzaron...

Acer - an ace Jack Russell-Cross with a lovely personality.

On Remembrance Day, with the flag flying over the pool house and garden...

...we joined our friends at their Ecumenical Church, a house bought and refurbished for a church used by both British and German groups.

After the service, we went to the Club House of the local Golf Club, where we enjoyed an excellent Sunday lunch and good views...

On another day, west of Mazzaron...

Another day, a return to the Golf Club House for excellent fish and chips and, in the evening, inland to a village where we watched a review of the years 1914 - 1929 by a local amateur drama group written and compiled by themselves and which contained familiar songs in which the audience joined in with gusto.

Other outings included a lunch at the church, also visits to the Campasol shopping centre for shopping and a lovely dinner at one of the Indian Restaurants there.

We enjoyably lazed in the garden, read books and were thoroughly spoiled by our hosts.  Many thanks, Jackie & Robert for lifts from and back to Alicante airport and for giving us a very welcome break.

All Souls Day

November 2nd - All Souls Day. Ron and I attended the short service at St. Bartholomew's, our local church, this morning where candles were lit, names read out of loved ones who have departed - including Tim and Sheridan - and prayers said.

We also silently prayed for other departed relatives and friends.

May they all receive God's blessing.

Hallowe'en haiku

that Hallowe’en

how dark the night -
no sight of stars or moon could be seen
that Hallowe’en…

Here and there at the weekend.

On Friday evening, along with about 60 others, we enjoyed a lovely meal (compliments to the chefs and cooks for an excellent variety of accompaniments for the jacket potatoes) and a very pleasant evening, including a light-hearted quiz and raffle, sitting and chatting with our neighbours, at the Harvest Supper in Brisley Village Hall.

On the bright and sunny Sunday, after overnight and early-morning rain, as there was also a chilly breeze, it was lovely to go for a long drive through the pretty Norfolk countryside - including part of the coast road after stopping for a light lunch at The Robin Hood pub in Sheringham.  We got the timing just right as, five minutes after returning home, there was heavy rain and hail !

A precursor as a cold and unsettled week of weather is forecast. It seems Winter has put a foot in the door!  Shouldn't wish life away but roll on Spring!!

Stunning sunset.

Such a stunning sunset at the front of our house this evening...

A splash of colour!

Roses and clematis on the patio have decided to bloom again and are now joined by some new cyclamen to create a bright corner.

 

 

 

From the summer house...

...at Gooderstone Water Gardens on a bright, warm but windy autumn day...

"Be happy in that moment.  That is enough
Each moment is all we need - nothing more"

A sheltered spot, soft cushions on the benches and information and wise words from Mother Teresa on the walls.  I hadn't realised there were so many different butterflies, dragon flies and ladybirds!

Neatherd Moor

A chilly start to a dry and sunny day.  We had heard of Neatherd Moor in Dereham so set off to find it.

A large, well-kept area the other side of town with a Lottery-funded children’s play area by the first of three car parks. The others were part-way and at the far end.

The area seemed well used with parents and children (more as the morning progressed) and, further, dog walkers - and walkers without dogs!  Behind a hedge dividing the play area and the open moor is a pond with a very low level of water but, in spite of that, many ducks. Maybe that was why some parents ignored the notice and encouraged their children to throw bread towards them!

Not sure what this is - a dandelion colour but a daisy shape growing flat on the ground.

We walked almost the full length but mostly stuck to the lane alongside as the grassed area was a bit uneven for my tottery steps so didn’t do any in-depth exploring although with the wide-open space it didn’t seem that much was hidden. We retraced our steps back to the car.

As at other times recently, we managed to walk a little further than ‘normal’ so now are tired but enjoyed our outing.