Annual Holiday 2008

CTC Annual Holiday 2008
Norfolk

Darley Ford Coaches transported the group to our hotel, the Imperial in Great Yarmouth for our weeks stay in Norfolk. Our first dinner on Saturday evening turned out to be the start of a week long affair with Gourmet food at every meal, with, I might add wonderfully obliging management and staff at a lovely hotel. We all want to return !

Our first day saw us visiting Bressingham, the home of the Bloom family. Alan Bloom, the well known horticulturist started the gardens which were absolutely stunning but he also had a love of all things steam. Four narrow gauge trains run around the gardens with static displays of other engines and traction. They were holding a special weekend, "Dads Army" style with participants in period dress and uniform and classic cars and all the military paraphernalia. It was a lovely day there in full sunshine.

The next day we caught a train from Aylsham, a pretty little market town, to Wroxham on the Bure Valley Railway. At Wroxham we boarded a replica paddle steamer, (no steam though), called the Vintage Broadsman to slowly wind through the Broad with full commentary of the Broads, passing stunning houses, some that were thatched and had beautiful gardens, A great variety of birds were seen . Swans, Moorhens, many Ducks and Geese with their little ones paddling furiously to keep up with the rest. We were also told about the rare Swallowtail Butterfly and saw a couple of Wherrys, the old Broads boats used many many years ago.

Tuesday we were off to Thursford and the George Cushing Museum. We were not disappointed. They have a wonderful collection of tractions and organs ! We sat and listened to a recital and also watched, by courtesy of a couple of well placed mirrors, the organists feet dance on the Pedals, a fantastic sight to watch. This is where from November to December each year a fantastic Christmas Show known throughout the country is staged. We had a "behind the scenes" tour where they work throughout making and preparing costumes and scenery. We saw the trees covered with snow and lights, many animated animals and the casts costumes. It must be a wonderful show, so much so that several of the members have asked to go there at Christmas. Christmas 2008 is fully booked, so we are looking towards Christmas 2009, which we have to book by special form, the opening date for this is January 5th 2009.

Wednesday was a day of rest for our coach driver so we all spent the day in Great Yarmouth doing our own thing, Ladies, retail therapy and most of the men visited a museum and generally sat and chatted.

Thursday was our special day with a pre planed trip to the Norfolk Estate owned by Paul Rackham. In the morning we were met by the Estate Manager who gave us so much information about the breeding programme of their Red Poll Cattle. We were shown the open topped buildings, which were absolutely huge very very clean and extremely conscious about good husbandry. Then it was out to the fields on a trailer behind a tractor (what else). After the tour we left the farm and headed to the village pub, full of Olde Charm, for the pre booked light lunch before going back to another farm on the Estate.

Here we were met by the Agricultural Engineer/Restorer in his huge building, where after a short speech we were invited to take our time looking at Mr Rackhams 230 odd tractors, farm machinery and the like and had a good chat with the Engineer. Others sat and enjoyed some tea and coffee.

Friday was our lazy day to do what the Ladies do best, more shopping, whilst the men and one or two of the Ladies visited what turned out to be a fabulous car museum. Saturday came around much to quickly and we had to say goodbye to the wonderful Hotel and Staff only to be quickly told that "if we were ever up this way again, please come and stay we would love to have you ". Wasn’t that nice to be told such a thing ?

Sue Morcom