Day 304 - October 31st (Halloween)

Today is Halloween 🎃 so I made some Halloween cupcakes. Whilst shopping a few weeks ago I picked up a tube of Orange & Black Halloween Frosting to put on the cakes. The results weren't as good as I had hoped but they certainly looked a bit scary!!

Later a pumpkin was carved and put outside to alert Trick or Treaters that they were welcome to call.

Day 303 - October 30th

Today we returned home. It was fine and sunny when we arrived home so we took Millie for a walk over the fields in the sunshine.

Day 302 - October 29th

Today was our last full day on Norfolk and before a final walk along the seafront we took the opportunity to play on the last of the three crazy golf courses in Gt Yarmouth.

Day 301 - October 28th

Today we drove the short distance to Horsey to visit the Grey Seal colony,

Due to some visitors to the area not following the rules to keep their distance from the adult seals and pups, the beach has been closed off earlier than usual this year to ensure that the seals can give birth without being disturbed of harmed. We therefore were only able to view the seals from the designated viewing area in the dunes, but we still got a good view.

There weren't as many seals on the beach this year as previous years but it is still very early in the breeding season which lasts from Late October to late January.

After viewing the seals, we drove onto Waxham Barn. The Grade I listed thatched Tudor barn, as well as being a visitor attraction, is also licensed for wedding ceremonies and available as a venue for wedding receptions and other private functions. After visiting The Dunes Cafe at Winterton beach and the cafe at Waxham Barns previously, we were pleased to see that The Dunes had now relocated to Waxham Barns and so as well as looking at the barn we also enjoyed a drink and a bite to eat before moving on.

The homemade apricot tart was particularly yummy.

Next, we drove back to the coast to Sea Palling for a walk on the beach.

The tide was going out but it hadn't gone far enough out for us to walk out to the coastal defence reefs but we were still able to walk quite a way along the sand.

Day 300 - October 27th

This evening we visited the Fore on the Water event at The Venetian Waterways in Gt Yarmouth. The event organised by the Out There Arts and Gt Yarmouth Borough Council was described as an immersive experience of magical, blazing display of fire installations & sculptures.

We didn't really know what to expect but really enjoyed the evening wandering around the event looking at the fire and light displays. The photos I took weren't the best, and unfortunately couldn't fully capture the atmosphere with the heat from the fire installations and sounds created by some of them. 

Here's a video I found on You Tube which shows the event a little better.

Day 299 - October 26th

Today was my birthday. After opening cards and presents we headed to Felbrigg Hall a National Trust property with house, gardens and woodlands.

The hall at Felbrigg you see today was built in stages, beginning in Tudor times, and completed centuries later. Before its bequest to the National Trust in 1969, the estate was owned by three main families who all left their mark on Felbrigg.

We started our visit with a walk in the walled garden.

Crocus in October?

Within the garden is one of the few octagonal working dovecotes in the country, dating back to the early 1750s and quite a few doves were in residence when we peeped inside.

There were also chickens free ranging in the garden.

After our walk in the garden, we ventured into the hall. The hall at Felbrigg is partially open to the public and when it was gifted to the trust the previous owner also unusually gifted it's entire contents and it is one of the trusts largest collections.

Unfortunately, in the bedrooms much of the furniture was under dust covers to protect it.

Downstairs in the kitchen there was the most amazing display of harvest produce much of which had been gathered from the kitchen gardens.

There were several of these 'Turban Squash' on display. I've never seen anything like them before

After a quick bite to eat in the cafe, we then took a walk through the woodlands which were looking very autumnal with plenty of fungi to spot.

I really enjoyed out visit and the opportunity to take some photos and it was a good way to spend a birthday.

After our visit we had a very brief walk on Winterton beach. Die to the erosion of the cliffs, access to the beach is now through the dunes.