James, right, and friend Joe, netted more than 100 crabs each night
A stunning sunset at Burnham Overy Staithe
Then, of course, there was my hero Lord Nelson, whose aura becomes stronger each year I return to his homeplace and learn more about his remarkable life. This description in his parish church sums him up perfectly:
“Nelson had seemed all things to all men; fearless but vulnerable; vain but insecure; morally upright yet flawed; ruthless yet humane; classless but ambitious; both superman and everyman.”
Are these the qualities/characteristics our leading politians should aspire to?
I bought three special books to cherish my memories – a charming historical narrative written as if by his own hand called I am Horatio Nelson. Nelson had a complicated lovelife, but was true to his heart, and I shall enjoy learning more in Nelson’s Women by the extremely aurthoritive Tom Pockock. Although I very much enjoy taking pics, they could never be the same quality produced in this recently republished stunning collection called Elements of the North Norfolk Coast by David North and Martin Hayward Smith.
I was holidaying with my youngest son James, 13, and we were joined by friends and family throughout the week. Although all good things have to come to an end, I am looking forward to a brief return visit on Saturday to see the English Chamber Orchestra Ensemble performing two favourite pieces of classic music – Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet in A major and Schubert’s String Quintet in C major at Burnham Market’s summer concert. I am an aspiring, but sadly lapsed clarinetist, due to my commitment to blogging (though I still have lessons). And I am determined that one day I will play the hauntingly beautiful Adagio from Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto.
P.S. Mustn’t forget to mention that I saw Stephen Fry too and he looked truly magnificent and statuesque, having dinner in the Hoste Arms, which also staged another wonderful jazz evening with legend Stan Tracey when an extremely memorable reading of Under Milk Wood was given by Philip Madoc.
Pleased to see you return to the blogging world and that you enjoyed your holiday Ellee. Did you eat the crabs?
Geoff, the crabs are thrown back for another day. You can eat the red bellied crabs, but I wouldn’t fancy boiling them alive. We did catch a few of these, but most of the crabs were inedible. Last year, one of the local lads took our red bellied crabs to his mum to cook up in her pub.
I learnt this year that you could also use different bait besides bacon and liver; we also tried cheese and pork satay kebab, but thick, smoked, streaky bacon did seem to be the favourite. And it can be placed into a net on the end of the line which is much easier, though James prefers his old fashioned hook (no sharp attachments).
Sounds like you had a heavenly holiday :o)
weclome back Ellee
Welcome back Ellee
Wow, that pic of the sunset is absolutely gorgeous! hanks for checking out my blog!
[…] this week and enjoying some of Norfolk’s stunning locations.I have very happy memories of our family summer holidays spent in Burnham Market in North Norfolk. Those years are now behind me as my independent sons now […]