I am SUCH a lucky person - after Ruth took me into London about a week in advance of my (28th - gulp) birthday, there was another weekend and another surprise before the big day!
I knew Linda and Steve were going to be in the area, and that something was happening at the weekend, but I had no idea of any of the details.
One turn at a time, I was directed to Wroxham in Norfolk, where on the banks of the River Bure Ruth, Steve, Linda and I met up with Doug, Sandy, Emily, Mick and Alison! Then Doug led me aboard our steed for the afternoon - a motor cruiser that was swiftly loaded with bubbly, strawberries and a splendid picnic.
So off we set for an afternoon and I am forced to agree with Mr Toad (Wind in the Willows) when he said to Ratty `Believe me, my young friend, there is NOTHING - absolute nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,' he went on dreamily: `messing - about - in - boats; messing - - ' ....
Before the pictures though, THANK YOU a million to Doug, for organising the whole thing, and to everyone else for coming along. It was great to see you all!
|
After managing to negociate our way out of the boatyard (crowded part of the river), we drifted a litttle on Wroxham Broad watching yachts racing as we drank champagne and ate strawberries in the glorious sunshine.
|
|
Ruth with the Red Ensign.
|
|
Doug.
|
|
Linda, Steve and Sandy in what looks like an advert for boots suncream. Factor duffle-coat anyone?
|
|
Thanks to Dough for this pic of me opening the champagne - right before the cork flies off into the distance!
|
|
Standing on the bathing platform, waiting for Sandy to get us alongside the cork. Champagne and a strawberry, heaven!
|
|
Sandy concentrating as he maneuvers us into position to retrieve the champagne cork.
|
|
Salhouse broad next, and here we found an ice-cream boat! So, ice-creams all round.
|
|
Emily and Mick.
|
|
Me being attacked by a water bottle, Sandy not caring.
|
|
Steve - very cool!
|
|
View along the River Bure as we head towards Horning.
|
|
Alison at the helm, Smirnoff Ice in hand. Paying close attention as you can see...
|
|
Geese on the bank of the Bure.
|
|
The river wasn't too busy, but there were plenty of little sailing boats...
|
|
... and the occasional coot!
|
|
Alison still not looking where she's going, which resulted in us coming to (what Douglas eloquently described as) "a sudden arborial halt". Yes, she dove us into the bank in an entirely unprovoked attack on nature. Doug was pinned to the foredeck under a tree branch, and I'm still picking leaves out from between my teeth!
|
|
Houses right on the river, and some local commuter traffic.
|
|
"The Swan" public house in Horning.
|
|
Heron on the front lawn. They stand so still they look like models.
|
|
Windmill.
|
|
A beautiful gaff-rigged yacht we encountered. Looked like hard work sailing her, but very beautiful.
|
|
Ruth having a little rest on the foredeck.
|
|
Party in the Cockpit. Critics deemed this to have been a greater success than the similarly named "Party in the Park" the previous weekend!
|
|
Myself and Doug, enjoying simply messing about in boats!
|
|
Our cruiser moored in Salhouse broad, Doug and Sandy sorting things out.
|
|
Alison was the only one brave enough to go for a little paddle.
|
|
A tasteful tour boat on Salhouse Broad.
|
|
The river Bure, deserted. (They'd heard Alison was coming)
|
|
Georgeous women sunning themselves up for'ard.
|
|
Once we'd returned from our delightful cruise we went out for some dinner at a Mexican in Norwich. Someone told the waitress it was my birthday, and so I ended up with two sparklers in my enchilada and the whole staff singing "Happy Birthday" to me!
|
|
Don't ask about the sombreros (no-one knows anyway) or about why Ruth didn't take one of me smiling.
|
|
Alison felt the need to do her Little-Bo-Peep impersonation...
|
|
..Well, you'd laugh too wouldn't you.
|
|
Alison laughing insanely after throwing a bottle of wine across the table, smashing Lindas glass and drenching her in the process. Whe waitress cut her finger while cleaning up. I'm feeling that sitting next to Alison is a bit dangerous.
|
|
Sunday morning, after an excellent breakfast in Norwich's "Posh" guesthouse, we headed up to the beach at Cromer.
|
|
Lovely sunny day again, but a bit breezy on the Pier...
|
|
...but that didn't damp anyones spirits!
|
|
Hardly a cloud in the sky.
|
|
Church in Cromer where we probably all should have been repenting. Instead we went for fish'n'chips for lunch!
|