Norfolk - The House

 We awoke to the pitter patter of rain on the roof. My turn to get up as well. Never mind. As it happens the rain stopped and the morning walk through the woods was amazing. This site is surrounded by woods, with gates set in the fence for dog walkers. You can walk all the way around it’s vastness. We never saw another living soul either. 

Early morning at Sandringham 

We lazed around a bit with a crossword off. (No comment) but not too long. We had places to be this morning. I had booked us in for a visit to The Big House itself. I was really excited, Ian not so much. Hot cross buns for breakfast, then I took Misty for another little stroll as she would be left at home. Too many corgis.

The rain had blown over, the sun had come out, and the weather was perfect as we retraced our steps from yesterday, without the one mile detour. You can stroll around the Kings garden as well, which we did before entering the house at our allotted time of 11.40. It was very poignant as there were photos of the late Queen everywhere. Guides gave us details of which chair people sat on famous photos, and where the Christmas broadcasts come from. I loved it. Just my cup of tea. We then visited the small motor museum which Ian loved, where we bumped into a large group of Chinese schoolchildren. ‘I suppose school kids around the world are the same,’ we mused grumpily.

Outside the House

A car belonging to one of the Kings

Time for a wander down to the church where the Royal family have their Christmas service, before a spot of lunch in the Sandringham restaurant. Sitting there waiting to be served I wanted to scream ‘Time and Motion!’ at the staff. The way they were working was not the most efficient. Eventually I got my cheese and pickle sandwich on beetroot bread. We did have a lovely cup of tea though. We also spotted Bonnie, the vicious Border Terrier from across the way. He was on a meet. A Border Terrier meet. They were all over the place. It was like a badly behaved Beagle meet!

Sandringham church

Scotch Egg

Beetroot bread and lovely cuppa

We were back through the woods to Dame Shirley just in time for kick off in the Rotherham v Luton game, and Jeff on the rolling results service. We shouldn’t have rushed as we lost 2-0. We did sit outside in the gorgeous sunshine though. The site was buzzing, kids all over, but playing in a nice quietly restrained way. People were sat around in big groups, obviously having come together for a weekend away, the Pizza ovens were being fired up. Misty lay nicely watching as other dogs passed us by. 

After the footy Ian went off for a run which he thoroughly enjoyed, despite going the wrong way twice, this despite him following the same route we had walked, twice. His leg was fine and he wasn’t troubled by his long absence. He was back just in time for the dulcet tones of the fish and chip van. Yes! Saturday night is fish night in Sandringham. He rushed over to order, then went back half an hour later to collect when the queue had descended into chaos. He was number 17, but someone else tried to claim HE was. Then HE tried for 18, but that was the lady behind Ian. Ian left before the fighting began. I must say the chips weren’t as good as the ones in Chatsworth. Just after that the ice cream van came round. What a site! Ian went off for a shower then I fed Misty and took her for a stroll. Past the charred remains of the Pizza that set on fire. 

Eating fish and chips

By this time it was cooling down so we headed indoors to watch Happy Valley, then off to bed. Our last night in Dame Shirley for this holiday. 

Strava watch

All that wandering around The House meant I racked up more than five miles. Took us a while though, as I forgot to pause the app!

Nature watch

We heard the sound of woodpeckers all the way up through the the woods, but they are so elusive. Lots of pigeons, but that’s for another day.

Neighbour watch

Obviously pizza guy was at it again, although Ian took great delight in seeing him set one on fire. A passing couple stopped to regale us with the tale of their Rollerteam Zafiro which had broken down on the way here, plus all its other faults. Bonnie was being Bonnie.