Sunday 1 October 2017

Holidaying With Friends

When Eleanor knew we were going on holiday to Norfolk, she was keen to meet up with a friend she'd made at university who lives in Norwich. Paige lived in the next flat to Eleanor on campus and they became very good friends. Unfortunately, she's decided that university isn't for her so she hasn't returned this year, I know that Eleanor will miss her.

Eleanor found out that Paige had a day off work on the Wednesday of our week away so we kept that day free so that we could drive over and pick her up. We headed back to the cottage first of all for some lunch and then Eleanor and Paige went for a long walk along the beach before we all headed out to the cafe in the village for tea and cake.


It wasn't a very nice day, it was rather dull and very windy, but we decided a walk along the prom in Cromer would do us good after the rather large portions of cake we'd just consumed.


We were surprised to see goats grazing on the cliff tops, apparently they're being used to control the scrubland.


You can see how steep it is from the photo I took at the bottom.


Eleanor and Paige enjoyed having time to catch up on gossip together.


I doubt this shop will have sold any buckets and spades that day, it was rather wild and the beach quite empty.


The beach huts were all shut up too.


Someone was enjoying the beach though.


I quite fancy a little beach hut, we always used to hire one when I was a child, though I remember those holidays being filled with wall to wall sunshine. I'm sure it wasn't really like that, it's funny how our memories can play tricks and recall just the good bits.


It definitely wasn't a beach day, it looked rather bleak out to sea.


Just time to have a go on the 2p machines in the amusements before heading back to the cottage again.


Although the weather wasn't brilliant, Eleanor got the chance to catch up with her friend, which I think they both enjoyed. It's such a shame that Paige hasn't gone back to uni this year but she's already talking about visiting so fingers crossed they manage to stay in touch.

44 comments:

  1. I do enjoy a walk along the beach whatever the weather and the sight of the colourful beach huts is enough to cheer anyone.
    It sounds like Paige and Eleanor will remain good friends. The beauty of technology and social media means it's so easy to keep in touch these days. X

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    1. I love walking on a beach too, I just wish we didn't live so far away from the coast, I know Archie would love to take his morning stroll on the sand. The world seems a much smaller place now that social media has been invented so I do hope they stay friends.

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  2. Uni isn't for everyone and does't ensure a good job anyway. My lot didn't go and have all done well for themselves. I'd love a beach hut but down here in Brighton they cost almost as much as a house, lol
    Briony
    x

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    1. I agree, though it really depends on the type of job you want, some require a degree. I've seen the price of some beach huts, as you say, you could buy a house for what they cost.

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  3. I could not sit on the beach all day even in perfect weather, so I'm happy to walk about on a dull day, which is good as we get loads of dull days. Dorset is a perfect county, if you like your country side to fall into to the sea with a crash, it does have some lovely sandy beaches as well. I also love Devon.

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    1. I don't think it needs to be a scorching hot day to visit the coast, we've had some lovely walks on the beach even in cold weather. I'd love to visit Dorset, somewhere I haven't been before. We're fans of Devon too.

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  4. I love Cromer and the tiny streets, ice cream and fish and chips. Never heard about the hosts being used.

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    1. Cromer is a lovely seaside town, it's still got that olde world charm. I think the goats are a new thing as far as I could see, it was funny walking along and noticing them there on the cliff.

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  5. I can't resist a beach hut whatever the weather. So glad the two friends could catch up again what a shame she's not returning, the second year might have been better.

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    1. I have some very happy memories of time spent on the beach when we hired a beach hut during my childhood. I think Paige had made up her mind not to return to uni for the second year quite early on, it's a shame she won't be there this year.

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  6. A nice post and good pictures. At least it stayed dry even though it wasn't sunny.Beach huts are such an iconic feature of our seaside aren't they.
    It's better to make a decision like that rather than carry on and perhaps struggle. xx

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    1. I can put up with dull or even windy days just so long as it stays dry. I love to see the beach huts, especially those painted such lovely colours and I always take a peek inside if I can catch a glimpse. Some of them are decorated beautifully. I think lots of students change their minds once they get to uni, it isn't for everyone and it's a big undertaking to study for three years for what it costs these days.

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  7. I love a walk along the beach at Cromer, we often have a stroll when we visit our daughter in Norwich. Uni is certainly not for everyone it must have been a hard decision to make.

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    1. It's the first time we've been to Cromer, I really liked it there. I think Paige knew very early on that uni wasn't for her, she'd have been better cutting her losses sooner rather than later but I believe her parents wanted her to complete the year.

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  8. Those goats made me smile when we saw them. I too would love a beach hut and yes, it was always sunny in the daytime and rained at night when I was small....or that's how I remember it.
    xx

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    1. I couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw those goats. I loved the summer holidays I had as a child, long idyllic days full of fun and sunshine.

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  9. The goats look so odd on that embankment, good job they are sure of foot! I hope the girls manage to keep their friendship going. I would love a beach hut too, those are so pretty.xxx

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    1. It's amazing how goats manage to climb on the steepest of ledges, it was quite surprising to see them on the cliffs though. I do hope that Eleanor and Paige manage to stay in touch, they had a great friendship at uni last year, it's a shame that she won't be there this year.

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  10. Friends made in University are always so special. I find that those, and the friends you make while working, are usually those that stick with you for the long haul.

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    1. It's a shame that Paige doesn't live closer but with a little effort, I'm sure they'll manage to continue a friendship.

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  11. I'm glad I'm not the only one who remembers childhood summers as being wall-to-wall sunshine and winters were cold and snowy and full of fun. I don't suppose they were really!

    Looks like Eleanor and Paige enjoyed their time together. :o)

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    1. As you say, it's not just the summers we remember through rose tinted glasses, childhood winters were always full of snow. Why do we remember them this way? I wonder if today's kids will think the same when they're our age. Eleanor and Paige had a lovely day together, it was nice that they were able to catch up with each other.

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  12. Cromer is one of my parents favourite places to visit. How lovely that the girls got a chance for a good catch up xx

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    1. It's the first time we've visited Cromer but it's somewhere I'd like to go again, perhaps in better weather next time. Eleanor was really pleased that she got to see Paige, it would be nice if Paige manages to visit uni to see all her friends there.

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  13. It's funny the things we remember and the way we choose to see things. You're right about the beach, whatever the weather, warm or well wrapped up in the cold - it's nice to visit. We've always lived near the coast. In Hampshire 10 ish miles from the beach, Birchington in Kent (Isle of Thanet) surrounded by water. No beaches in Tickhill, Doncaster (2yrs) before moving to Lincolnshire which has a coastline. It's always been a proviso with us, we must be near to the coast. Though forest walks have their own charm too. Cx

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    1. I don't suppose any of us are that far away from the coast, living on such a small island, especially when you compare it with somewhere like America where you could be miles away from the sea. A day trip is very doable, but I often think it would be nice to live a bit closer.

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  14. Although it was dreary, looks like a very nice day was had by all. Love beach huts, and certainly never even been in one, but what fun to be able to hire or own one. Take care.

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    1. We had a lovely day. My mum and dad used to hire a beach hut for us when I was a child but I've never hired one since, they can be very expensive these days though.

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  15. Its amazing what you can fit into a little beach hut and the prices they go for are staggering. Lovely that Eleanor caught up with her friend, Rebecca has a bestie in Norwich and loves going to stay with her. Are the machines really 2p now? I remember as a kid being given 12 old pennies to play with, I would keep any winnings and only play with my 12d, used to drive my brother mad and he always tried to pinch some off me. Memories!! xcx

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    1. Eleanor's made some great friends at university. Most of them live a long way away, but I think they do tend to stay in touch these days, I know Daniel's still in touch with people who he went to uni with even though there's some distance between them. I remember the amusements from my own childhood and we still always call in whenever we're at the coast.

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  16. Cromer looks like a lovely coastal resort with lots of traditional features such as the huts and pier. It's interesting to see how the goats are being kept on the cliffs to keep the grass short. Your stay in Norfolk was a good opportunity for Eleanor and her friend to meet up. I hope the friendship they had while living next to one another on campus will continue even if it's only to meet up now and again.

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    1. I liked Cromer, it's somewhere I'd definitely like to visit again and see more of. I think it's easier to maintain long distance friendships these days now that we have the internet and social media, I know that Eleanor and Paige are keen to stay friends, so that's good.

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  17. I remember my childhood holidays in England as hot and sunshine-filled, too, Jo. But it looks like you and your family had a good time in spite of the weather. P. x

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    1. We certainly did. A little more summer sunshine wouldn't go amiss though, we must be due a good summer soon.

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  18. What fabulous goats, and I love the beach huts!

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    1. It would be lovely to hire a beach hut one year, something to put on the bucket list I think.

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  19. I liked Cromer when we went. Lovely that the girls got to spend some time together.
    The header photo on my blog was taken on Cromer beach!
    Lisa x

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    1. I'd like to go back to Cromer, I bet it's lovely on a sunny day. Eleanor's settled back into uni life now but I think she's missing Paige, such a shame that she's not going back.

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  20. Don't those beach hut and buckets look colourful.
    So good that the two girls were able to see each other

    All the best Jan

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    1. I love to see all the colour at the seaside. It was lovely for Eleanor to catch up with Paige, especially as she hasn't returned to uni.

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  21. "The Cafes are all deserted, the streets are wet again: There's nothing quite like an out of season Holiday Town in the rain..." Good old Chris De Burgh, I knew he'd have the appropriate songline.

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    1. It's a lovely place with lots of old fashioned charm about it, I'd like to return on a brighter day.

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