Summer, Winter... or Fall

On the east coast of Norfolk, a few miles north of Great Yarmouth, you will find two pretty little adjacent villages - Somerton and Winterton. When I am over on that side of the county, I always find myself singing that lovely song from Camelot which mentions the seasons in that perverse order

In the October Half Term break, when we were up at Cornerstones, we went for a family walk - Jon had found a circular walk - starting and finishing at the Winterton Beach Café. It was cold, and windy, but we had a great time - and Rosie plodded on in a determined fashion 

We stopped off at the ruined St Mary's Church in East Somerton, and Liz produced a flask of hot drink, and snacks. Rosie was sure that it was a ruined Princess Castle - it was an amazing place. We sat under tree which was growing up through the middle of the church.

As we continued on our way, the wind seemed to get stronger, and some of us felt tired. Rosie's fur hood helped, also the promise that her Daddy had a prize for her if she managed the route without being carried. So we walked on, back down into Winterton, and up the road towards the Beach Cafe. As we walked through the village, I saw loads of pink blossoms in the gardens and along the verges. I wasn't sure what this flower was, so I asked one chap who was by his front door. He told me they were nerines - and ridiculously easy to grow in poor soil, and hardy perennials. 

Once we got to the café, Rosie received her prize- another of those horses. She decided to feed him some of her cheese roll. This is the only picture I took of the café that day. It was quite busy - and the diners were all sitting outside, at socially distanced tables. 

Sadly this thriving little eatery is no longer there - last Saturday it had to be demolished - coastal erosion meant that the café was precariously close to the cliff top. Look at these two pictures [taken by Simon Taylor, published in the Eastern Daily Press]

Somerton, Winterton, Summer, Winter... then fall

I am so glad we visited when we did - and so sorry that the Dunes Café is no longer there. I hope someone is able to build a replacement before next summer - further inland! Climate change is a real thing, whatever some certain people say - and we can see its effects very close to home.