An early weekend...

[byslantedlight]

It feels like ages since I've made a post post here, but I had to take my weekend early this week, because my eyes were melting from work (and possibly also from the huge swathes of yellow rapeseed that surround us this year), and I could barely open my laptop without pathetic whimpers of pain, so yesterday I took myself off and out in the vague hope that it wouldn't rain, and I found some cool stuff in the east of England.

I found the Green Britain project, in Swaffham, which has the only windmill in the world that you're allowed to climb up - so I did. All 305 steps. Phew...

Nice view from the top - especially with the windmill blades swooping around, one after the other. They rotated around according to the wind direction too, though we stayed still. Oh, and you could feel the top swaying just a little - as if we were the ones swaying, but it wasn't, it was the windmill... *g*

Oddly enough, this was the view looking down the side of the stairway, as best I was able - it doesn't really show much, but I rather like the picture, in a... nuts and bolts kind of way.


And then I went and found a castle. I didn't really mean to, but it turned up in front of me, and what could I do but follow the sign?

It turned out to be Baconsthorpe Castle, which had once (500 years ago) been a moated manor house (not really a castle, but you can almost imagine that it was, from what's left). Not only is there a moat, but also a mere, upon which a swan was gliding - and beside which another swan (the partner?) was sitting in a nest. For the five minutes I was there before the arrival of the screaming kids playing hide-and-seek tag with their dad, it was the most amazingly tranquil place... this chap descibes it well, right down to the cattle grids - and the commenter adds the rest! I'm a bit spooked that the poster also experienced kids playing hide and seek running around - maybe they're not visitors at all, maybe it's a haunting... *g* Actually if it hadn't been so absolutely beautiful and... tranquil before they got there, I wouldn't have thought anything of it, cos it's nice to see kids having fun like that - but...

I carried on then, to my original destination - the seaside! It was nearly 5pm when I got there, but distraction's half the point of exploring, right? And the other half was to keep me away from a computer screen, and maybe even words in a book, for as long as possible...



It mostly worked - I ate my n'chips on the pebbly shore, and I couldn't resist getting my book out (the last time I did that was in Australia...), and it was lovely. I do like a nice seashore. Maybe I should move to the seaside... Oh, plus there was Turkish Delight ice cream (bottom of my scale in the Turkish Delight taste test, I'm afraid, but I also had a scoop of liquorice ice cream, and that was good). Actually there were two shops selling Turkish Delight ice cream - I'll have to go back and try the other one... *g*

And then, sadly, I turned my nose for home, and headed back into the - still daylight! In fact I got home around 8.30pm and it was still well daylight. This is at least a cool thing about summer, no matter what the weather's like! Though actually yesterday it was nice enough that I didn't put on my cardi until I was eating ice cream - and there was no rain!

Today I was faced with the same dilemma - woke up again with a headache, though not as bad as yesterday. I couldn't help but read with breakfast, but eventually I took myself out to see if I could find some non-computer, non-reading things to do - at a craft shop. Came back with a hookrug to do (I did loads when I was a kid - ah, nostalgia!) and a mosaic kit, cos I've always liked mosaics but never tried to do any. And of course here I am on the computer... But I've been good, I've lasted until now. My eyes are a little sore again as I look at the screen, which is not a good sign for the next three days of solid work that I need to do, but... but it's been a nice two days - I just wish my weekend was only just starting, rather than over - I feel all inside out!

Still - I'm on holiday in a few weeks. If I can decide where to go... I'm havering between Rome, and Ireland... or maybe something like Greece? Or...? I fancy a week away away again - Australia got my wanderlust on again... But where shall I go?! Please send ideas on a postcard... or, you know, reply below... *g*

Hope you've all got a nice weekend planned anyway - I shall live the next two days vicariously through yours, so make them good!

Comments

[murphybabe]

Super pictures - I particularly like the seagulls and how they space themselves out so neatly :) I guess it's to do with wing span, but it just appeals to my sense of order. And I love the one facing the wrong way on the series of posts *g*

And brilliant that you got to climb up a wind turbine - how cool is that! (heh - I bet it was rather draughty too *g*)

I hope you find somewhere nice to go. There's such a long list of places I want to visit but I think my list is limited by cost at the moment *g* But I must post my latest pics soon, before I've forgotten I went and before I go again!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Aren't the seagulls great? (I choreographed them closely, of course... *g*) Oddly enough the wind turbine was anything but draughty inside, and there was a special observation deck at the top, so that was all cosy and warm too...

I think my trouble is that there's so many places to go that I'm confuzzled for choice... but really in that case I should just pick something out of a hat, cos they'll all be good... I shall decide this week though - I've decided that...

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

I love the one with the broken arch, the remaining piece so very thin and delicate-looking. And I never even noticed the maverick seagull until I read murphybabe's comment! *g* Glad there was no rain, too.

I do enjoy your pics, but I'm sorry that they were partly sort of due to not feeling so good - do rest your eyes as much as you can, won't you? (And how impossible that is, too. You'll just have to, I don't know, um, go to an outdoor concert, perhaps, or listen to music in peaceful places where you don't have to focus?). No weekend for me, I don't think - paperwork, which I hate more than anything :-( But never mind, I'll probably have some time off in the week instead, whether I like it or not! (the good/bad side of irregular work, eh!)

And choosing a holiday ... a lastminute.com bargain chosen almost at random, or a specific place? Hope you enjoy whatever it turns out to be!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I liked the broken arch too - yes it does look delicate, doesn't it! And yet still there... *g*

Eye-wise I've just asked for an extension for my next assignment, although I wish I didn't need to... and I'm off to cranio-sacral therapy tomorrow, which might help too. It's so hard though - everything I want to do involves my eyes! I have found that they don't seem to hurt more if I read from paper though - it's just microwaving them via the laptop that's not good for them I guess... :s

I'd forgotten about lastminute.com - I gave up keeping an eye on it, cos I didn't used to see things when I wanted them - and vice versa, but maybe now would be a good time... I need to decide somehow, I'm stuck with the beauty of too much freedom!

[caffyolay.livejournal.com]

I like the seagulls too. Agog that you climbed to the top of that windmill. I would've been a wreck as heights and me don't get along. Great photos!

And oddly enough I also went to the seaside yesterday but didn't take my camera as I hadn't expected to end up there when we started out. I love Turkish delight ice-cream but didn't have any, instead I ate a Cornish pasty looking out at the sea at Teignmouth. :-)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Windmills definitely not for you if you don't like heights - although when you were actually climbing you just knew it was up, cos you couldn't see out until you got to the top... *g*

Cornish pasties looking out over the sea at Teignmouth sound like bliss... I really do like the idea of moving to the seaside somewhere!

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

It sounds as if you had a lovely time. You certainly saw some absolutely lovely sites. Swans, and windmills and a castle. Of course, I love the castle.

Have you thought about going to Santorini? Every picture I've seen of the place, it looks absolutely gorgeous, And talk about ruins! I'd love to see Akrotiri.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I thought you might like the castle... *g*

It's funny you should say that about Santorini, it is on my list! I must admit I'm not sure what's actually there except for gorgeous whitewashed houses and blue skies and sunsets - and the volcano, of course! I must go and look... *g*

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Oh, I think there would be quite a bit to see.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akrotiri_(Santorini)

It seems there's a path right from the village directly to the ruins.

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

Amazing, being able to climb the wind turbine. I was quite excited to see them when I was in the UK because they're not a common sight here at all. Loved your castle, too; wonder if those kids really are haunting it? *g*.
Love your beach photos too. What are those wooden barriers for? They're most peculiar.
I hope your eyes are feeling a bit better now, it's not fun having to stare at a screen when it's hurting. I don't know whether this will help or not but I use a little program called f.lux which changes the base colour of the screen background, from a glaring white to a soft almost-peach, which is a lot less painful on the eyeballs. Perhaps you could try something similar? (Just don't order clothes online while it's activated - it really mucks with colours.).

[hambelandjemima.livejournal.com]

What are those wooden barriers for? They're most peculiar.

They're groynes which make up part of the sea defences against coastal erosion. In North Norfolk the tide moves parallel to the coast in each direction as it rises and falls. If the groynes weren't there the beach would slowly be completely eroded as the shingle and sand was washed further out to sea. As the tide moves in one direction it washes the sand and shingle against one of the groynes and then as the tide moves in the other direction it washes the sand and shingle back towards the other groyne. This prevents beach erosion by keeping the sand and shingle more or less trapped between two adjacent groynes.

(Explanation courtesy of Mr Hambel *g*)

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

Thank you (and Mr Hambel!) for the explanation. I've no experience with tides that move parallel so really couldn't work out what the groynes (look! a new word!) were for. They make perfect sense though.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

The windmills seem to have sprung up everywhere whilst I was away too - it must have been their growing season! This one's been around for comparative yonks though. I'm so glad I decided to pop in when I saw the sign, I love having been able to climb it too, and I was amazed to find it was the only one that you could climb. There's still a bit of me that wonders if that really is true... *g*

Thanks for the tip about f.lux - I'm having a go of it now, and although it's a bit strange getting used to the peachy look of it at night, and I'm not entirely sure it works for proofreading, where some of the print is in red, but maybe with a bit of fiddling it will! My eyes are feeling a bit better after a couple of days rest, and I've managed to extend a deadline so I can take it a little easier over the next week, so hopefully they'll be fine!

What Hambel (and Mr Hambel!) said about the wooden barriers, though I'd forgotten they were called groynes! They do look odd, don't they - not quite the seaside, to me, although they're not entirely unpicturesque either...

[hambelandjemima.livejournal.com]

And did you count all the steps or had that been done by somebody before you? I could never walk up all of those but that view is spectacular.

I love the seaside too (I may have mentioned that before *g*), and that one looks like Sheringham. Did you visit the steam trains too or had they stopped running by then? We were on our way there a couple of weeks ago with No. 3 son and No. 1 grandson but decided to go to Aylsham instead where the trains are smaller but still as much fun.

I'm working this weekend too, but that's usual for me. I hope your eyes are feeling better. They're too precious to bugger about with.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Heee - they were pre-counted, though I did count in 10s as we were going up the last two stages, just for the joy of knowing I was getting closer... *g* Phew! Although I say that, and it actually wasn't nearly as bad as it sounds. I was the youngest in our group by far too, and everyone else did okay as well!

Well-spotted Sheringham, it was indeed! I got there quite late in the day after all, so I didn't really do anything much but have a wee wander, feed my face, and sit by the lovely shusshing sea. I shall have to go back and find steam trains though, I like steam trains! Hmmn - there was something else I passed that I thought I should come back for too... can't for the life of me remember what though... I know there was an aviation museum that side of Norwich as I headed through, but I don't think that was it, it was something in Sheringham itself...

I do get worried when my eyes get really sore, I must admit - everything I love to do involves my eyes, I must look after them!

Nice to see you around too - hope your world is good (despite weekend working)!

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed your travels as usual! If your eyes are reacting badly to the rape - and I know all about that and have suffered the twofold problem of rape and yellow broom recently - you should consider a seaside place for your holiday as there is less likelihood of flowers and pollen and so on!!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I do wonder if it's the rape affecting my eyes (and sinuses) as well as a bit of eye strain from work, but I've never suffered from hayfever before, or had any problems with flowers and plants... There's so much of it around this year though - gorgeously pretty and sunshine yellow, but rather pungent too... Actually I told my doctor I felt a bit sinus-y when I first got to Cambridge, years ago now, which was odd for me, and she said that Cambs. is famous for it amongst doctors - so maybe it is. Yet another reason for working out where I'm going to move on to!

But yeah - a seaside holiday might be rather good... *g*

[gvenanne.livejournal.com]

It never occured to me that there are ladders inside those mills! I saw such mills only during travels but somehow I thought that are just posts. Fell so surprised! And intriued - I would love to climb upstairs too)
Bolts and nuts and this sunshine fan beneath - great shot I think!

Seaside and castle! You've got such a delightful weekend, thanks for sharing, I feel myself a bit like walking there :)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I'd never really thought much about what was inside the windmills either, and I'm not sure if they all have stairs inside (I think some have ladders on the outside, but not for ordinary people to climb!) I can't believe it's the only windmill in the world that you can climb - but if it is then you'll have to come and visit! *g* (I'm glad you liked the nuts and bolts picture too... *g*)