Royal Norfolk County Show with Midi, Isobel & Helen

 Royal Norfolk County Show

Two brilliant days were spent at The Royal Norfolk Show. It's participants and exhibitors come from across the country to compete in many equine and livestock competitions. There was a range of displays and demonstrations, showing farming of the past to the innovations of the future, focusing on the high-tech machinery. First, we started off with saying 'hello' to all the best of the different breeds of sheep. The Beacham Well Border Leicester sheep that have long, bunny-like ears, was very unusual and was the breed that fascinated us the most. Naturally, we were surprised at the quantity of different breeds. We were told that there are over 80 different breeds of sheep in the country.

We moved over to the agricultural machinery and couldn't resist some photos with the different tractors. There were classic and modern farming machinery that has made our countries farming industry one of the strongest in the world. 

The horticultural tent was next where we marvelled at the impressive home-grown fruit and veg. The flower displays were so bright and smelt divine. The art gallery had some fantastic pictures of animals and farm scenes. 

 

A highlight of the day was watching the horse jumping. It was a fast and furious event where the rider had to complete a set of jumps, dismount and then drive a Mini through a set of cones without knocking the balls off. It was all very exciting, and we cheered and clapped the whole way through. We then watched the best in show for the cattle where rosettes were awarded. 

The Royal Salute wowed us. This consisted of an orchestra alongside local school children waving Commonwealth flags. It made for a very upbeat and lively show where everyone joined in with dancing. This was then followed by watching the sensational R.A.F parachute regiment jump out of their plane that was flying a few thousand feet above us. Six very well-trained parachuters made their descents down, completing different drills in the air which had us in awe. Huge cheers greeted all the parachuters once they landed safely.

After an ice cream treat, we headed to watch the Bolddog Lings Motorcycle Display Team. They were totally fearless with their daredevil stunts, and we all gasped out loud as they flew, twisted and turned through the air. 

We loved chatting away to the soldiers at the Royal Air Force. They answered all of our questions and it was an amazing experience to actually sit in one of their planes and put on some of their uniform. 

Today we set off on an exciting trip on a sailboat. With our lifejackets on we started our cruise along the beautiful broads. Our fabulous tour guide pointed out all the different birds which gave Ian the perfect chance to use his binoculars. As well as admiring the wildlife we were amazed at the luxurious properties lining the riverbank. 

For the rest of the afternoon, we boarded The Bure Valley Railway. This is Norfolk's longest narrow-gauge steam railway and runs between the market town of Aylsham and the bustling Broads town of Wroxham and is within easy reach of Norwich and the coast. The nine-mile line ran through the picturesque Bure Valley countryside which we all loved looking out onto! Our favourite moment was sticking our heads out of the window for a photo opportunity.

It was a unanimous vote to head into the city of Norwich. On arrival we parked up and made our way to Norwich Cathedral. We were all in awe of the high ceilings and the brightly coloured stained-glass windows. The Font, Jesus Chapel and St Luke’s Chapel were very interesting, too. We all lit a candle for a loved one and it was a very special moment.  We then walked into the old part of the city where we browsed a number of quaint shops. 

Cycling in Holland with Darren & Lesley

 Cycling in Holland 

With our chosen bikes we were ready for a week of adventure cycling along the wonderful flat trails that Holland had to offer us. 

We accomplished 25km of  cycling through stunning countryside, woodlands and local villages where we rewarded ourselves with drinks and ice creams. 

Giving our legs a rest we opted for a game of crazy golf. There were 18 holes to play, with varying degrees of difficulty. We had to negotiate the ball uphill, downhill, round corners, all the time avoiding obstacles in our way. Although we had no hole in one’s we did have a few twos. 

We were keen to get out into the sunshine for another cycle ride. This time we opted for the 30km route. We all set off very enthusiastically, the first part of the route cycling through beautiful woodlands and farmland. It was very peaceful, taking in the fresh air and great views along the way. Having worked up a thirst, we stopped in a cafe in a village in which we admired the smart, well-kept houses. 

It was a wonderful route which took us through more woodland, farmlands with lots of sheep and horses, pretty villages and a water mill. We saw people paddling in canoes on the waterways, which looked lots of fun. Our cycling pace had improved rapidly since the beginning of the week, so the kilometres slipped by. We even stopped off for a dip in the lake to cool ourselves down.

An ice cream treat was always well deserved.

A fabulous afternoon was spent on the floating inflatable obstacle course on the lake. It was great fun for everyone. Roy managed to avoid falling into the water and getting submerged, and Keiran negotiated the course like a professional. Iain was a little more reserved but was really glad he had challenged himself to do it. 

Once again we climbed onto our bikes for the longest cycle of the week….an incredible 47km route. We set off at a good pace, again taking it in turns to be the leader, which everyone enjoyed doing. The scenery was similar to that of previous days, we had a few hills and more of the beautiful paths winding through woodland and lakes. 

Bowling & Pool Competition (Essex) with Oli, Laura & Rachel

 Bowling & Pool Competition (Essex)

The bar had been set high and it was game on for our pool and bowling competition. Everyone was aiming for high scores and lots of strikes. There was a great sense of sportsmanship and it was lovely to see everyone congratulating each other.

We spent our holiday pennies in the arcades, winning tickets in exchange for some great prizes!

The excitement grew as we headed to Legends, the pool and snooker club. Everyone did a great job of hiding their nerves and with eyes on the prize the focus was on potting the all-important black ball. 

It was down to the bowling alley for the third and final leg. Everyone was excited and very keen to get underway. Giving it our very best shot and with more strikes and some very high scores it was going to be an extremely close competition. With the final ball being bowled the scores were in. Everyone was keen to find out who had come out on top and who would be the overall champion.

It became a very tense final with Peter and Jonathan playing an amazing final with some super shots. Peter was 2 games up before Jonathan came back making it 2 all.  It was an amazing last game but unlucky for Peter he potted that black ball, but the white ball rolled in behind….. none of us could believe it meaning Jonathan ended up winning the final game and was crowned king of the competition. 

It was one of the most exciting finals we had ever witnessed. Everyone was given a medal which they proudly hung around their necks.

Everyone was awards certificates along with a shiny, new medal. As Jonathan came to collect his trophies the rest of the group gave him a huge cheer. It was lovely to see how pleased they were for him but also being proud of their own efforts, too. We couldn’t wait to show our family and friends our new prized possessions.