No Egyptians [Due To The Vikings]

We had Wednesday all planned out. 

1. Off early to a local farmshop to buy a birthday gift [and have breakfast] 
2. on to the University for the Visions of Ancient Egypt Exhibition
3. followed by visiting some newly opened shops at Earlham House [and have coffee]
4. finally a supermarket shop at Sainsburys on the way home.

The Goat Shed at Honingham are very proud of their new Kids Playground

And the kids [as well as the older goats] really seem to enjoy it. Sadly, none of the goats were climbing when I took my pictures..I bought a selection of locally produced goods [apple juice, marmalade, fudge etc] to make up a Norfolk Hamper to take to a 90th birthday lunch tomorrow.

The Egyptian thing - never quite happened. We got to UEA, picked up a [free] parking permit for the Sainsbury Centre, then I tried to buy two tickets. The girl on reception said "I'm really sorry, but the exhibition is closed for a private viewing. The regular exhibits and sculpture trail are both open" I said we'd done them before, and it was the Egyptian thing we had come to see - could we come back in the afternoon? No it was closed all day "Who is the special visitor? Is it the King or somebody?" I asked. "No it's erm..VI-king, the sponsors. It does say on the website" I said I should have checked, my fault. She said in all the years she has worked there, she's never known a closure like this.  I smiled, meandered round the gift shop and we left...meanwhile a lot of very indignant people were milling round reception getting very cross because they had come from all across East Anglia to see this display. 

I didn't feel they needed to be so loud, and so abusive - it was hardly the fault of the three pleasant young women at the desk. But after we drove away I looked on the website- and I couldn't find anything saying Closed Today...We will try again sometime.

On to the Earlham House Shops. This little parade is in the middle of Norwich's "Golden Triangle" - so named by Estate Agents 40 years ago as our city's equivalent to London's Notting Hill. There are two great charity shops, a wonderful green grocer [also serving food]  a fair sized Co-op and more...

Liz had alerted me to HandStand, a new craft & gift shop which has just opened. Lottie, the owner [and artist] was very friendly. There were prints, cards, jewellery, pots, plants...all locally made.

Very attractive stuff, but a little bit more than I'd like to pay. 

I was very taken with a plant, in a plain ceramic pot with a simple leather hanger - until I saw it cost £50. A couple of doors down the street, the Post Office has re-opened. Martin and Beverly, who have run the PO since 1995, retired in August.

Adam has taken over, and there has been a "five-figure revamp"

As well as the Post Office, which offers around 160 different services, he tells me, there are other goods on sale; Books, toys, cards and stationery. [I didn't like to point out that their sign said stationary] Decent quality at very good prices. I treated myself to another Hairy Maclary book. If you have young grandchildren, I can really recommend HM books!

I posted Rosie's parcel. "For security, can I ask what is in this?" said the assistant. "This jumper" I said, showing her a picture. She said she'd like one for herself!

I found a Boden teeshirt for £1 in a CS. We sat in the sunshine and had coffee with pasteis de nata in Dyrrah.

Then Sainsburys and home. The weather turned wet and windy, we were very glad to be inside in the warm.