Firstly some news! Carol has been appointed to a school near Basildon in Essex as an English teacher starting in September. The school was most impressive with an organised and efficient administration and an enrolment of some 800 students.The school is about 25 miles east of London and only 14 miles from Southend on Sea a popular seaside resort of Londoners. There is every likelihood of school furnished accomodation which will make the move a lot easier. After the traumas of the school here, Carol feels that her teaching skills are now recognised and she will be pleased to wipe the dust off her Ramesy shoes. It will be a bit of a shame in many ways particularly leaving the golf club here which I have thoroughly enjoyed, but on the other hand, we have just about covered all of this area with our weekend visits and new vistas await us.
So this weekend we took off for Blakeney Point having been told about the facility for seeing seals and bird nestings on the National Trust reserve. We took our Canandian friend Ed Jay from Flat 1 with us, and drove some 80 miles north East to the coast. For 7 quid each we toook a boat ride out to the Point and saw a pack(?) of seals basking on the sandy shingles seemingly oblivious of the onlookers. Just a bit further away we saw the nesting Sand Terns which migrate here from Africa each year to breed. There were many hundreds of them and quite a few chicks making a tremendous noise. We were not allowed to land because this would disturb the Terns and they would fly away leaving their eggs at the mercy of marauding seagulls and oyster catchers.
We were then taken to beach further away and given an hour to wander along the foreshore. Here we found roped of areas when Oystercatchers had laid their eggs on the pebbles - see photo above. Carol had packed morning tea which we enjoyed sitting and taking in the beautiful scenery across the bay. There were dozens of boats running back and forth and as it was a lovely sunny day - the whole thing was very memorable.
Then back to shore and we drove to the village of Blakeney where we discovered the delights of fresh seafood from one of the many caravan cafes. Ed bought a tub of cockles and winkles which we ate with our crayfish sandwiches. I don't think they will be a commercial success! Carol had a dressed crab which was so fresh she was worried it might bite her. Then a pint in the local pub and wouldn't have called the king my uncle! On the river bank outside the pub, there were people fishing for crabs - it entails putting a piece of bacon on the end of a line (no hooks allowed) and patiently pulling the crab out of the water - seemed too easy.
We drove back along the coast to Cromer, another popular seaside resort with guest houses and hotels lining the seafront and amusement parks and all the paraphernalia that goes with an English seaside resort. People were actually bathing and or sun bathing on the beach(?) which goes to prove why Britain won the war!!
I have been having a difficult time with British Gas over our recent Gas bill for 250 quid. It is out of all proportion with our usage for this little four roomed flat, but getting any response is proving hard. I rang their help line three times with promises of action, and then resorted to emails which eventually drew a response to the effect that the bill was based on their usage estimate.They quoted a meter reading which had no relationship to the actual when I looked at it. Then they quoted a meter serial number which they maintain was for a new meter installed on 22nd December 2005.So happens we were in Vienna on that date and anyway the meter which we have looks like it was on the Ark.
Getting nowhere with my explanation of all this in another email, I finally sent an email in which I described their Service Pledge as being bullshit. This brought a reply that they did not respond to emails containing blasphemy or foul language! Heartened by getting at least a reply I then sent a resume of the whole episode and now, some weeks later, have still heard nothing!! At least I am not paying the bill until someone somewhere wakes up and looks at our meter.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
BLAKENEY POINT
Monday, June 12, 2006
IT'S SUMMER TIME
The last few days have been beautiful with clear blue skies and sunshine. Temperatures have "soared" to the high 20's and shorts are the order of the day.I have not adopted the stylish short black socks and sandals however, but have to admit that the legs are a bit white!On Sunday we took ourselves off to Houghton, situated on the Great River Ouse just a few miles from here. It is interesting that Houghton is pronounced Hoeton, not Hawton,Huffton or Howton, but a neighbouring village Broughton is pronounced Browton - so much for the idiocyncracies of language.
The car park beside the National Trust Water Mill was packed and the caravan park chockers, while people everywhere were picnicking, and as can be seen from the photo above, some were even indulging in swimming - I mean to say - the water must have been bloody cold.
The river, although not very wide is navigable and a constant stream of canal boats (they arre known as narrow boats) ply the waters with cruisers,rowboats,punts and dinghies.
We walked along the river bank through fields lush with grass and buttercups, a very pleasant walk and then drove home stopping at the local pub in Broughton to have a pleasant pint of beer sitting ojt in the beer garden. Hard to beat.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
NORWAY 3
After a large buffet breakfast designed to minimise the need for lunch(!) we walked towards the city centre and found the Tourist Information bureau where we purchased two Oslo Passes which allowed us free entry into all museums and exhibits and free trsansport travel for 24 hours.We certainly got our moneys worth.
Starting at the City Hall, we saw the magnificent main hall where the Nobel Peace Prize is announced annually. The decoration in this hall is a work of art. Next we took a bus across to Bygdoy where we went into the Norse Village Museum and saw an amazing 12th Century church constructed of timber and with hardly any windows.Other buildings such as a farmhouse,barn,drying hut/storerooms were preserved in their original state. A separate section had replica village street scenes of the 18th/19th centuries.
A few meters away we visite the Viking Ship Museum, a most impressive display centred on the restored relics of two V iking Ships which were discovered in the 20th century in burial sites. The total covering of earth had preserved the ships and a lot of their contents and they had been painstakingly restored.
Then a short walk to the Kon Tiki museum where the actual Ra2 was on display and a detailed explanation of the construction and voyage of this craft made interesting reading.The original balsa wood raft "the Kon Tiki" was also on display.
Another short walk into the Fram Museum.The Fram was the Polar exploration ship which was purpose built as the strongest vessel in the world to withstand ice pressure. It made three voyages t o the Artic, the last with Amundsen in 1910-12.It is exhibited as the original with interior and objects.Surrounding the ship are pictures/models of the history of Norwegian Polar exploration.
We went back to the city by ferry across the har bour and found ourselves talking to a couple from St Neots (about 15 miles from Ramsey) -they were on a cruise ship heading for Russia. By this time breakfast was a distant memory and quite by accident we saw a sign for a Sushi shop.Needless to say we went in and enjoyed excellent sushi and green tea. Thus refreshed we headed to Oslo castle.This medieval castle from the 14th century was rebuilt in the 17th century and is still used today by the goverment for representation.There are magnificent halls and dining rooms which regularly host Government functions. It also contains the Royal Mausoleum a Norwegian Westminster Abbey.In the grounds of the Castle there is a museum dedicated to the Norwegian Resistance during World War II. Models,documents,posters,recordings and historical artifacts make for an unforgettable experience of the extent of resistance to the German occupation.
We had been told by the chap in the Tourist Information bureau to take a train ride up to Frognersetered from where we would get a panoramic view of Oslo. He also told us that while up there we would be able to get the best pastries in Oslo!Alas when we reached the place,which was the last stop on the line, we found nothing to see or eat!! Apparently we should have got off at the previous station where there was a television tower which provided the scenery!.He had also told us to walk down to Holmenkollen where the Olympic Ski jump is situated. This got a bit confusing as the signs gave alternative trails leading through the woods and eventually we took to the highway.Then we could not find the railway station and your correspondent was starting to feel all of his 75 years so things got a little tense (who's bloody idea was it to walk down?) but at the car park near the ski centre we saw a group of young people getting into their cars, and Carol asked them if they could direct us to the station.They gave her the instructions and as we were walking away they called us back to ask if we were Australians.One of the girls was a Chinese lass from Sydney. So then they offered us a lift to the station, and as we said we were going down as far as Majorstuen to see the Vigeland Park, they kindly drove us down to a much more convenient station.
Got on the train and then managed to geet off at the wrong station, so had to wad 15 minutes for the next one to finally get to theVigeland. This park is full of statuary created by Gustav Vigeland -all portraying man woman and child as family.Quite remarkable and enhanced by a group of musicians who, obviously a voluntary group of players, were conducted by a convivial fellow who made the whole thing both good to the ear and amusing at the same time.
By this time it was 8pm and even C arol was admitting to a degree of sightseeing burn out, so we trammed it back to our hotel. Much to our surprise and great relief we found that the hotel cost included a light dinner.So with this bonus presenting itself, we lashed out on a couple of glasses of wine each which cost what we would have anticipated having to pay for dinner!!
Our train to Stavanger left at 7.10am and we decided against getting a taxi as we still had valid Oslo passes, and caught a tram to the station and so onto our train. The journey of 7 1/2 hours passed quickly enough and Sarah and Baard were there at the station to meet us.
And so we had a pleasant dinner with them (the Leg of Lamb we had taken over) and then up the next morning to catch our flights back to London. A wonderful experience.
PS the camera batteries were low in Oslo and I had forgotten to take the converter plug for recharging them - so no pictures of Oslo. .
Starting at the City Hall, we saw the magnificent main hall where the Nobel Peace Prize is announced annually. The decoration in this hall is a work of art. Next we took a bus across to Bygdoy where we went into the Norse Village Museum and saw an amazing 12th Century church constructed of timber and with hardly any windows.Other buildings such as a farmhouse,barn,drying hut/storerooms were preserved in their original state. A separate section had replica village street scenes of the 18th/19th centuries.
A few meters away we visite the Viking Ship Museum, a most impressive display centred on the restored relics of two V iking Ships which were discovered in the 20th century in burial sites. The total covering of earth had preserved the ships and a lot of their contents and they had been painstakingly restored.
Then a short walk to the Kon Tiki museum where the actual Ra2 was on display and a detailed explanation of the construction and voyage of this craft made interesting reading.The original balsa wood raft "the Kon Tiki" was also on display.
Another short walk into the Fram Museum.The Fram was the Polar exploration ship which was purpose built as the strongest vessel in the world to withstand ice pressure. It made three voyages t o the Artic, the last with Amundsen in 1910-12.It is exhibited as the original with interior and objects.Surrounding the ship are pictures/models of the history of Norwegian Polar exploration.
We went back to the city by ferry across the har bour and found ourselves talking to a couple from St Neots (about 15 miles from Ramsey) -they were on a cruise ship heading for Russia. By this time breakfast was a distant memory and quite by accident we saw a sign for a Sushi shop.Needless to say we went in and enjoyed excellent sushi and green tea. Thus refreshed we headed to Oslo castle.This medieval castle from the 14th century was rebuilt in the 17th century and is still used today by the goverment for representation.There are magnificent halls and dining rooms which regularly host Government functions. It also contains the Royal Mausoleum a Norwegian Westminster Abbey.In the grounds of the Castle there is a museum dedicated to the Norwegian Resistance during World War II. Models,documents,posters,recordings and historical artifacts make for an unforgettable experience of the extent of resistance to the German occupation.
We had been told by the chap in the Tourist Information bureau to take a train ride up to Frognersetered from where we would get a panoramic view of Oslo. He also told us that while up there we would be able to get the best pastries in Oslo!Alas when we reached the place,which was the last stop on the line, we found nothing to see or eat!! Apparently we should have got off at the previous station where there was a television tower which provided the scenery!.He had also told us to walk down to Holmenkollen where the Olympic Ski jump is situated. This got a bit confusing as the signs gave alternative trails leading through the woods and eventually we took to the highway.Then we could not find the railway station and your correspondent was starting to feel all of his 75 years so things got a little tense (who's bloody idea was it to walk down?) but at the car park near the ski centre we saw a group of young people getting into their cars, and Carol asked them if they could direct us to the station.They gave her the instructions and as we were walking away they called us back to ask if we were Australians.One of the girls was a Chinese lass from Sydney. So then they offered us a lift to the station, and as we said we were going down as far as Majorstuen to see the Vigeland Park, they kindly drove us down to a much more convenient station.
Got on the train and then managed to geet off at the wrong station, so had to wad 15 minutes for the next one to finally get to theVigeland. This park is full of statuary created by Gustav Vigeland -all portraying man woman and child as family.Quite remarkable and enhanced by a group of musicians who, obviously a voluntary group of players, were conducted by a convivial fellow who made the whole thing both good to the ear and amusing at the same time.
By this time it was 8pm and even C arol was admitting to a degree of sightseeing burn out, so we trammed it back to our hotel. Much to our surprise and great relief we found that the hotel cost included a light dinner.So with this bonus presenting itself, we lashed out on a couple of glasses of wine each which cost what we would have anticipated having to pay for dinner!!
Our train to Stavanger left at 7.10am and we decided against getting a taxi as we still had valid Oslo passes, and caught a tram to the station and so onto our train. The journey of 7 1/2 hours passed quickly enough and Sarah and Baard were there at the station to meet us.
And so we had a pleasant dinner with them (the Leg of Lamb we had taken over) and then up the next morning to catch our flights back to London. A wonderful experience.
PS the camera batteries were low in Oslo and I had forgotten to take the converter plug for recharging them - so no pictures of Oslo. .
NORWAY 2
We left Bergen early on Tuesday morning for Myrdal which we reached after three hours of watching exhiliarating country pass by.At Myrdal we changed over to the Flam railway. This is a private company which runs one of the worlds most amazing lines descending nearly 900 metres down into the little village of Flam which sits at he head of the Aurlandsfjord.The journey takes an hour and covers 20 kms,through 20 tunnels and it took 20 years to build.On the way down a stop is made at a viewing platform at the Kjosfossen Falls pictured above. During this stop music comes up from the falls and two maidens dressed in traditional Norwegian costumes appear from the rocks and dance. This is part of folklore.
On arrival at Flam we disembarked and were faced with the site of a giant cruise ship moored almost on the end of the rail line. As we had a few hours before retracing our steps to Myrdal where we were to catch the service to Oslo, we went for a walk up part of the valley and caught a great view look up the fjord and this put the size of the cruise ship in perspective.
The Oslo train arrived right on time and we sat back and enjoyed our five and a half journey over some incredible snowfields, and fin ally a 13 km tunnel into Oslo. A taxi ride took us to our hotel where we booked in at 11pm still with plenty of daylight left!
NORWAY 1
Above - Len looking down on Bergen and a happy Mum and Daughter!! Top photo is of the Briggen in Bergen (see later)
We arrived in Stavanger on Saturday afternoon and Sarah and Baard were there to meet us. A short drive to Sandnes and we were in their flat and unpacking the goodies we had bought with us - Lamb and Steak - not to mention a number of bottles of wine. While the wine was a bit of an afterthought it turned out to be a good investment when we discovered that a half bottle of wine in Norway sells for some $30! A bottle of beer was only $12.50!!
On Sunday we all took off in the Mercedes wagon to explore Stavanger an old fishing port which is now a centre for the oil and gas industry in the North Sea.We walked through the old part of the city with fishermen's cottages lining the streets next to the water - all timber homes and cobbled streets.
Then we took off for the mountains some 40 kms inland .We stopped at Byrkjedalstun (don't ask me to pronounce it) where we had a super lunch.Carol and I had Salmon Trout,Sarah had a casserole and Baard had an Elk Steak. And the cost was more reasonable than we had anticipated. The drive continued through long tunnels (one was 3.8 kms long) and into valleys and beautiful mountain scenery. It was our first taste of what can only be describe as magnificent country.
Monday we took the express ferry from Stavanger to Bergen, a four hour trip up various fjords calling in at several villages en route. At one of the larger stopping points we literally sailed up the main street to drop off and pick up passengers.Arriving in Bergen we saw our first cruise ship.These enormous ships take tourists up the fjords all along the west coast of Norway and seem to dominate their surroundings. Bergen itself is a charming city surrounded by high hills. The quayside part of the city has a fish market where every sort of seafoods is displayed and made us wish she could buy some and cook it ourselves. Along the quayside were the old original buildings called the Briggen -somewhat reminiscent of Hobart but all buildings in timber. We had fish and chips on the wharf and then found our hotel which was good value and included an excellent breakfast buffet.We took the venicular railway up to the mountains to gain a glorious view of Bergen. The railway stopped at several stations on the way up and down,where local residents used the transport as their means of getting into the city and home again -who wants to drive!!
We decided to find our way to the Railway Station as we had an early train trip the next morning, and were glad we did as the directions we had been given took us to the Bus Station!! Then we drew the curtains in our room to shut out the light (at 10.30pm) and went to bed.
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