01-Oct to 07-Oct 2011

Sat 01-Oct: With the temperature hitting a mid 85F, the new all time record for October, lots of plants and animals are getting a bit confused. The fruit trees appear to be budding again and here's a flag iris in the allotment pond that thinks Spring has sprung again. While sitting beside the pond noticed a new inhabitant... a type of sedge. No idea where that's come from. And a whopping big hornet about x4 the size of a wasp. Oh, and a red kite hovering over the plots... the first I've ever seen! There's always something happening around the pond.

Sun 02-Oct: First five gallon batch of 2011 apple wine ready for straining out and adding sugar and yeast. Here's the batch half way through straining. Apparently the wine is at its best after three years... I've only ever managed to hang on to a single bottle for two years. Will this batch survive until 2014? Gonna give it a try.

Mon 03-Oct: First view of the caravan we hired at Hunstanton as we walked in. Only about three months old and backing on to one of the ponds (can see the reeds through the large window), although a more basic model that costs about £20k new. Right at the back of the site where all the more expensive private pitches are... which meant it took us ten minutes to walk to the site exit.

Tue 04-Oct: Just one of the many fantastic sunsets to be seen over The Wash, this one viewed as we went for our evening stroll up the promenade with not another person in sight. During daytime huge weather formations can often be seen sweeping across the waters. Earlier in the day we'd walked to Norfolk Lavender and then in to Heacham.

Wed 05-Oct: Popped onto the brilliant coast hopper bus to Wells next the Sea in the morning... just made the bus since I'd been looking at the timetable for Sat/Sun! Here we are taking our first view from the harbour out towards the beach a mile out of town. For once we didn't treck out to the beach to do our usual long walk to Holkham beach and back... the wind was a bit strong. Did manage to have a quiet pastry lunch sitting in the peaceful square.

Thu 06-Oct: Last chance to sit in one of our favourite spots in Hunstanton, the sensory garden. Quiet, peaceful and full of fragrant herbs.

Fri 07-Oct: Just to prove all the images won't be 'pretty', here's me just about to tuck into a chinese takeaway at Beth's & Chris' house. It's always a bit sad returning home from holiday... but when we're looked after by Becky turning up at lunchtime with neat little ham, cheese or egg rolls and sponge cake and then invited around to Beth's for tea, it kind of softens the impact.