Postcard from the North Norfolk Coast

We arrived at my parents house yesterday afternoon, just before tea time. They have very generously agreed to let us use their house as a base for our weeks holiday. Anything that means they can see more of their Grand-daughters is a bonus in their book, and for us, it means that we get baby sitters, should we choose to have an evening for just the two of us.

Today we decided to venture into Cromer. We parked the car and set off on our journey with our little girl in her buggy and the babe held close to my chest in her sling.

We strolled down the promenade breathing in great lung fulls of fresh salty air, a light breeze dancing round us as the sun pushed her way through the parting clouds, lending us some of her warmth.

We took the children for a wander around the pier, stopping only to talk to a kind looking gentleman hoping to get a bite on his fishing rod. "What are you hoping to catch?", we asked. "Bass", came the reply as he loaded another mackerel onto the hook. "It's not high tide until six", he said. "That's the best time". Blimey i though, he's got a while to wait, seeing as it was only lunchtime! The gentleman looked happy and relaxed as though he had all the time in the world. It's such a wonderful way to view life, people are in to much of a rush these days but unfortunately that seems to have become the way of the world.

We went on our way, stopping only to view some wonderful paintings by a local artist. He had captured some wonderful scenes on canvas, of the sea, with incredible sky's and beautiful cloud formations as the backdrops.

We popped into a cafe for a quick sandwich before heading back to the car. We let our little lady stretch her legs with a hill climb along the path towards the car park, her little hand finding comfort and companionship within her Daddy's own hand.

She is now sound asleep, happily drifting along in dream land. The baby however is only just settling down again after needing some more comforting cuddles and a small top up. She's started teething early would you believe, at not yet 13 weeks. The classic signs including, nappy rash, chewing frantically on her fists, even when i can assure you she is not hungry, and incredibly hot rosy cheeks. It doesn't surprise me she's started early, her sister did the same. You see it runs in the family. My husband was born with two front teeth, and i had a full set by the time i was a year old!

The arrival at my parents is always tinged with mixed emotion. Happiness at seeing my parents but also sadness...

We turned into the driveway as we have done on countless occasions. My first instinct is always to want to say to my husband "make sure you slow down going up the drive". Of course i never say this out loud, as i know that the conversation would go a little like this....

"Sweetheart make sure you drive nice and slowly up the driveway won't you". "Why"? would come my husband's response. "Well you know how excited Dotty dog gets when we get here". (She's a beautiful white Jack Russell with black patches and little dots on her tummy).

I always see her bounding down the drive towards us, that little smile on her face, her eye's lit up with pleasure at seeing her "Mummy" home again.

My husband would turn to face me his hand resting on mine. "Darling", he'd say. "Dotty dog passed three years ago." Of course i already know this, but i still see her every time. And she still sleeps curled up at the end of my bed, just like she always did.