I'm still adjusting to the way of life in Norfolk. In the summer, thousands of people find their way here -- and presumably go home again. They all have happy memories of lazy days in a county geared up for visitors.
Traditionally, Norfolk has been a place to go and rest, or even hide. In Tudor times, many of the key players came from this part of the world and retreated here when they were out of favour. Anne Boleyn's father was one such, and Blickling played its part in the intrigues of Tudor England.
This is still true today. Sandringham is where the royal family spends Christmas -- there were pictures of the Queen on the train to Kings Lynn last week heading for her Christmas break. Her grandchildren are often seen in local villages. The other day one of my colleagues saw Prince William and Kate Middleton in her village shop. William wanted to buy a copy of the Times -- the last in the shop -- but the shopkeeper refused as it was promised to a regular customer!
All this is fine, but getting out of Norfolk in the winter isn't always easy. I had to cancel a trip to head office a few weeks ago as none of the rail lines out of Norfolk were working over the weekend. One Saturday, Paul and I were heading to London for a dose of culture. Vandals had stolen cables from the signalling system and the trains were all running late, and taking 3 hours instead of 2 to get from Norwich to London. We got there in the end, but as the cables are replaced, more get stolen, creating a real problem for commuters. I'm starting to think this is the East Anglian edition of the Truman Show.
Then last week it snowed. On Thursday evening we went shopping in Cromer, about 8 miles north of here on the coast. It was snowing sideways, with wind coming straight from the north pole, gusting to 55 mph. That was only the beginning. The wind dropped Friday, but it kept snowing. Saturday it snowed some more, and Sunday. By now we're feeling triumphant if we can get out of our driveway, let alone along the lane to the village. Our wood burner is on all day and the birds are leaving tracks across the garden in between snowfalls.
Luckily, we've done most of our Christmas shopping. Collecting Hannah from Leicester was a bit of a challenge, but we managed it. If it thaws before Friday, we'll have a slushy Christmas. It will still be beautiful.
Pictures by Paul Bailey of Blickling Hall and Point Cottage, December 2009.
