At Large on the Broads

Watching reed-sway banks by black-mirrored waters, the deep weed past scudding skies that bow down to touch the baking earth.  A cruise in the Broads ...

A Garden in Decay ...

Gooderstone Water Gardens at the end of summer, its mysterious beauty unfolding as decay sets in ...

Holidaying in Scotland

Dear Sheddists,

the last big event we plan for the sabbatical is a holiday way up in the Scottish Highlands.  Mrs electrofried and I take one look at the long-term weather forecast, smile and shake our heads simultaneously.

'Right, Norfolk it is then ...'

Veronica, our trusty camper-van, is left in charge of things back home as we set off instead for the Shed and a precious few days rest in the Flatlands.  We've left our youngest in charge of the dogs, freeing us up to visit some places we would otherwise be unable to see.

First up is a visit to Gooderstone Water Gardens, one of our long-standing favourites.  We spend a delightful morning criss-crossing the thirteen bridges that traverse the water course. If you're in the area it's well worth a visit and you can find it by clicking on this link.

Our next excursion is a mini-cruise of the Norfolk Broads, enlightened by a highly entertaining running commentary by the ship's Captain.  We're treated to a combined history, geography, wild-life and social science lecture punctuated by a series of delightfully dry-witted asides.  Top marks to Broads Tours of Wroxham.

The penultimate trip is to a National Trust property, Blickling Hall.  It's home, amongst other things, to a significant collection of rare books. We stop en route at the Buckinghamshire Arms for a little sustenance, which rapidly translates to a two-course lunch and some excellent real ale.  Suitably refreshed we tour the grounds, discover an intriguing audio-poetry installation tucked away in the woods and meet with a band of jolly volunteer book-cleansers, hard at work in the library of the Hall.

The best is saved for the last.  On the way home to the Midlands we visit  Anglesey Abbey, another National Trust property which turns out to be a real treasure.  The house, gardens and water-mill were once the pride and joy of Lord Fairhaven, an American bachelor with time on his hands, and a not inconsiderable fortune to his name.  He clearly made best use and in the words of a slightly better-known American, 'I'll be back!'

Yours as ever,

electrofried(mr)

A Day Out in Gloucester