Last day in Norfolk

Although there was one more day of activities at the meet, we had previously decided to leave on Sunday to avoid the bank holiday Monday traffic. We both finished packing then walked up to the food court at the arena and had a very nice freshly made pizza for lunch followed by cappuccinos from the real espresso coffee van.

There was only a little shower during the night but rain was forecast for later and sure enough it just started as we were leaving the site. Libby and J were heading straight home so we wished them 'bon voyage' and we drove to the north coast for a glimpse of the sea on the way home. We arrived in Hunstanton as the rain turned heavy so we jumped back in the van (there is a nice MH parking area in Hunstanton). We stopped instead at Norfolk Lavendar in time for a cream tea. Rosemary bought a dressed crab to make a sandwiched for supper and a gammon joint from the farm shop.

We arrived back at about 7:00pm after a wet drive home.

Mardi Gras and Illuminations

The Lancs DA roller coaster

This is the day when the district associations and enthusiastic individuals parade around the site in carnival procession and are judged by the NFOL committee in the main arena. The theme was to represent your county, so Essex was a parody on TOWIE and Lancashire had an outstanding walking Blackpool roller coaster, which should have won the district prize, IMHO.

Our joint pitch illuminations

We had some lunch back on the pitch and  installed our lights for the big illumination switch on.  Many people really go to town with flag poles and strings of LEDS. We managed a token display with a selection of Christmas lights and garden centre lanterns.

We had salmon and quiche for dinner in Libby and J's van and then walked around the illuminated street scenes in the display area, where you need to go to enter the illuminations contest. Essex DA were again prominent with discos and Stansted airport featuring heavily. There were some nice individual displays and even a laser show. 

 Rain was forecast overnight and the next day, so I dismantled the lights and the wind break and put most of the outdoor stuff away before we retired.     

NFOL second day

After a dry but cool night we had a nice sunny dry day. We had a wander around the trade stands and bought a few bits we did not know we needed as usual. We had a hog roast and drinks in the quiet beer tent, the club band was playing in the big marquee. The event was officially opened after a rather drawn out ceremony with  ex-presidents, official visitors and sponsors making an appearance on stage. Jerry bought Libby a new re-laxer chair and I found a neat folding aluminium table which will be handy when we do not need the dining table or
to use for the BBQ or Jamie grill.

We went back to our pitch and the "Jamie" was fired up again, on the new table, to do a grill as we did not have enough time to light the charcoal BBQ before it became too chilly. There was a nice sunset and we managed to eat in our van by using the table from Libby's caravan.

I walked up after dinner to try and see the outdoor James Turrell light display at Houghton Hall but somehow, with the help of a confused warden, managed to arrive between the static display and the animated display and saw nothing at all!

NFOL at Houghton Hall, Norfolk

The National Feast of Lanterns, NFOL, is an annual event organised by a local C&CC region in different parts of the country and was traditionally the last club meet of the year. As its name suggests it has a lighting theme with illuminated vans and street scenes, a torch light parade and a Mardi Gras parade. In the early days it was mostly tents and a decorated lantern. Now an arena hosts a fun dog show and various displays, whilst the lanterns are replaced with LEDS and lasers.  A number of marquees provide venues for bars and musical entertainment. The whole event was staged in the grounds of Houghton Hall, an 18th century house and estate built by first prime minister Sir Robert Walpole.

We arrived around 1:00pm and were directed to our pitches in row C5. There had been a lot of rain a few days earlier and by now the tracks around the site were getting pretty muddy. We both lost traction getting on to the field, but just made it. Libby went off to register and there was a heavy downpour which later caused problems with motor homes trying to get on the field.

We went up to the arena area once the rain had stopped to find Libby and register for ourselves. Thursday is basically an arrivals day so there were no events other than tombola and raffles in the admin tent where Rosemary won a portable magnetic darts game on the tombola.

I put up our windbreak, on our pitch, to make it more cosy, the evening was sunny but breezy and we made chicken fajitas on the Jamie grill and ate them outside.  The club brass band played in the evening and at various times throughout the event. They were pretty good and the conductor very entertaining.  

Sandringham rendezvous

We are on our way to the Camping and Caravan Club NFOL 2015 rally in Norfolk. We will rendezvous with Libby and J at Sandringham so that we can all go to the rally site at the same time and are able to pitch together.  Libby has only just come out of hospital after a week of treatment and antibiotics, so we nearly did not go at all.

J and Libby set out on Tuesday with their caravan and are at the C&CC site, but we are stopping on CC site next door. We arrived about 4:00 pm and found our pitch, one of only four grass pitches near to reception. We walked over the track between the sites to find them and then we all walked back for a fish and chip supper from the mobile van which was visiting our site that evening.

As we were leaving the site the next morning I noticed a bit of flurry in the low hedge at the side of us. It was a pigeons nest with two youngsters waiting to be fed!

Home sheep home

sheep with bridge

Headed home after two nights at Baltic Wharfe and immediately got caught up in the traffic coming to Bristol for the balloon fiesta at the weekend. It was partly my own fault taking the minor roads to the Clifton Suspension bridge. There were cars queuing to get into the various balloon carparks around the Clifton area. We found somewhere to park and walked over the bridge, for the first time in years, spotting a couple of Shauns nearby of course.

the last one outside the Mall

Then we drove back through the university area where Mark was at Uni studying maths for his degree. Passed another couple of sheep in the outskirts, but could not stop, until we arrived at the enormous Mall shopping centre by the M5.  We found the last 3 Shauns around the mall, had a KFC and bought a poster from the Shaun the Sheep shop. The Mall has a permanent Shaun shop and sells a lot of merchandise. The city trail in London and Bristol raised over £4m last year for childrens charities and Bristol certainly enters into the spirit of the event.

We stopped one more time at the new Gloucester services on the M5. This is a privately built and operated service station unlike any of the others. No McD, KFC or BK (or sheep!), but a big farm shop and crafts using local produce and suppliers. Not cheap - but good quality produce and services supporting the local economy.
     
We spotted 24 of the 70 Shauns around Bristol and the Sheep Spotter Apps tells me that we spent 6.7 hours using it and covered 11 kilometers on our trail. An unusual and most enjoyable little break in Bristol.

Shaun on Baltic Wharfe

Sgt Shepherd - just outside our back gate

Another day in Bristol

A knitted Shaun in St Nicholas market out of the rain

We had the opportunity to stay on the site another night which we took so that we could visit the ss Great Britain just down the harbour. Very interesting exhibition both on and off the old ship. It was built in the same dock over 160 years ago where it is now preserves by the trust. There were a few sheep nearby and Aardman office's and studios are just behind exhibition. We had a cheese platter and coffee for lunch on the harbour and then walked into the centre again and spotted a few more Shauns on the way including this knitted one in the old market.

We took the water bus back from the city centre right to the back door of the caravan site and had pasta for dinner. A few heavy showers later but we were fortunate not to have had any rain until now.

Shaun the Ferry

An unofficial Shaun on the water ferry

Away day to Bristol

A shaun by visitor information in town

We are having a quick trip to Bristol where Aardman have set up a Shaun the Sheep trail of life-size Shaun sculptures all over the city and beyond. We are staying at the Caravan Club site on Baltic Wharfe which is right by the floating harbour near the sea lock about a mile and a half from the centre.

The Shauns have been designed by various artists are all sponsored by local businesses. Lots of children, tourists and a few geriatrics were wandering around with apps and maps counting sheep. We walked into town on the harbour-side trail doing some sheep spotting, had a nice dinner in a tapas restaurant near the cathedral and then walked back again. We arrived back just before dark and have found 7 sheep so far, so only 63 to go!