By the Sea

It was a tad last minute, but we decided to book a few days away in Norfolk, which coincided nicely with my family all being together in Suffolk at my sisters house, so a big get together was on the cards (which doesn't happen all that often due to the distance between us).

Our hotel was on the beautiful Norfolk Broads, and as soon as we arrived you could feel the tranquility of the place seep into your soul.  Relaxing by the water with a glass of chilled wine was a wonderful tonic that first evening, whilst watching the birds and the boats going about their slow, leisurely business.

Our first full day there was spent with my family, and we went to the beach at Gorleston, near Yarmouth.  A bracing walk was had, we spotted a seal and watched the boats on the horizon.  It was a slow and happy day that ended with a delicious meal at The Bell Inn, highly recommended if you are in the area visiting, it's a beautiful old building that is right on the waterside with a lovely garden to enjoy in the summer.

Those of you who follow my blog will perhaps already know that I am a landlocked soul, who frequently must be by the ocean.  Lucky for us, we dont live all that far from our pretty Yorkshire coastline and will sometimes just bob off for the day to get some of that fresh, salty sea air in our lungs.  It definitely clears the mind and refreshes the spirit.  There is something so calming when one is stood at the seashore with only the sounds of nature about you and the hiss of the foamy waves moving through the pebbles on the sand.

Our daughter enjoyed the freedom of the beach too, running along ahead of us with the wind streaming in her hair.  Oh to be seven years old, with not a care in the world!  Meanwhile, as we strolled at a slower pace, we enjoyed the bright shot of colour from a row of cheery beach huts and the sight of the old Southwold Pier.

So many lovely things to see, so many pops of colour and inspiration!

Walking about does create a bit of an appetite it must be said, especially when there is an icy gale blowing in off the North Sea and buffeting you about like a skittle.  Feeling most windswept and interesting we took ourselves off to a sheltered corner at the cafe on the boating lake, and some much needed refreshement.

I cannot begin to describe how delicious that lemon cake was, and the coffee was just lovely too!  Isn't it nice to find such a welcoming place, where the cakes are home baked and the view is just right and you're in a sunny corner sitting in a chair with many soft cushions?  I could happily have stayed there all day.

Alas, time got the better of us and we returned north to Yorkshire, where we began settling into our old routine again, albeit slowly and reluctantly.  School has started, and we begrudgingly set the alarm again.  I am now filling my days working on some new paintings, and enjoying the warmer days pottering in our little garden.

The cherry blossom had opened while we were away.  We planted this when I found out I was expecting our little girl, so the tree has grown along with her.  What a picture it is too, it's fragile, soft pink flowers attracting all manner of bees.  It's very nice to sit by the water, listening to the rush of the river over the stones and the hum of the bees above.  As I type this, the wind is sending swirls of blossom across the garden like confetti, it looks rather festive.  I like the fleeting beauty of the blossom though, a gentle reminder that nothing stays the same, everything is always changing, evolving, growing.

Just like us.