Surfing Mundesley style.....

Local boy done good. 

This young man alerted me to the fact that the surf was up at 5 o`clock yesterday, so I headed to the beach and was well rewarded. 

He was on his own, but there were more water babies enjoying themselves further down the beach. I understand better surf may be on the way so I will keep an eye out.

  Our new hobby .... stalking the surfers.

The roof is looking like a roof.......

The builders did come back and the sun shone.  Didn`t they do well?  I love the oak beams,   just like a boat house inside.  Let`s  hope it`s  fine tomorrow.

The builders came back last week.........

We are SO looking forward to their return in the morning.  This should be the week of raising the roof. 

This is our long- awaited extension known as the `boatshed`,  a dining room really,  but we are allowing for the rise in sea levels as we already have a jetty.......

Tub developments

The tub showing the compost we have planted with garlic Cristo and Narcissus triandrus Thalia. The empty tub is destined for broad beans. The chimenea is awaiting autumn barbecue parties. And we are eating the leaves... the caterpillars have left.

more of Sam

Herring Gull

One of our local residents - a portrait in oils by resident artist, Sam Robbins; a noisy bird caught in a quiet moment.

Why.............

Names for beachhuts are many and various, Sand Castle or Sandy Bottom,  but Bathsheba? Write your answer on one side of the paper only. 
This is the way to go fishing, taking your ease in the sun.  If he is lucky he will have a nice sea bass for tea.

Antipodean connections

Australian chap cuddling Australian chicken. I hope it`s not the one they have decided to call `Omelette`. We hear they (3 or 4 of them) have gone into egg production within a day or two of moving in. Keep that henhouse secure and enjoy your souffles! 

Morning and afternoon

The sea is up today and getting rougher. The first picture was this morning,  about ten o`clock,  and the other one about three thirty this afternoon. You could call it surf but I reckon it`s  too lumpy to get much of a ride. A sign of things to come through the autumn.

The wind is getting up.......

The sea is getting quite choppy and full of white horses. No surf to speak of yet, but the forecast over the next two days is hopeful.  This kind of weather may bring in some driftwood or other flotsam;  it`s been in very short supply lately.  

I did find a fish-box today which was good as I want a number for the yard garden;  they`re  ideal for instant tubs (we have potatoes in mind).

Innovation

These are our brand new metal steps,  a  bit late in the season but never mind. They replace some wooden ones, two sets to be precise. The first set failed the North Sea test and washed up some handy timber, the second was removed and taken away. Not fair as far as this beachcomber is concerned.

We will see if this set is man enough to last the winter, as they look as if they are supposed to be permanent.

 The beach huts will be off on their hols soon.  We`ll keep you posted ..... they won`t be flying XL this year.

More promotion.....

EVENING CLIFFTOP

Another super Sam; a view of Mundesley  looking glamorous as it so often does.

Can I have it in pink?

Sunny morning.......

Lovely, eh?

Some one does some work round here.........

Today I have been making candle sticks as I think they may be in fashion this year. Candle light is very flattering and saves on the electricity bills. 

The other shot is of my tidy wood pile,  all that potential, all that time. That is what the shorter days are for,  no more sitting in the sun.

Blatant advertising

FIRST LIGHT

This is one of Sam`s fabulous oils which we are currently showing at our Gallery in Mundesley. His new exhibition is called "Seas and Skies". 

We`ll put some more tempting samples on the blog; do come along if you happen to be on our patch. 

Local fishers

She`s  been creeping round the groynes again.  The cormorants are permanent residents  but pose the usual challenge to our intrepid camerafreak. Incoming tide = damp socks. 

Little plover......

This little fellow knows what to do when someone with a camera turns up.  Stand still and smile, is that ok?  Fine,  now I will get back to what I was doing before you turned up.   I say thank you and go on my way.

Bird watching.........

No not that sort......

The first real sign of autumn;  the oystercatchers are back. They are not resident here but turn up from time to time. Before I was carrying a camera I seemed to be able to get quite  close but now they have become shy. When I got nearer they stopped feeding and decided to sit down ;  so they don`t look like  a proper textbook illustration.  

So thoughtless of them; I require them to pose for the camera.  

Tub report.

The leaves are being eaten by us and by others.

Self-set tomatoes - any good recipes for green tomato chutney? 

Pallets awaiting conversion;  broad beans and early peas next; and a new tub for garlic and narcissus if the labourers get going. 

posted by sally

Surf`s up..........

Trying to photograph surfers from the beach is not as easy as I had hoped;  never mind, this gives a vague idea.

 There were about eight or nine of them trying to catch a wave, with a pretty good success rate. Why the surf was up this morning I have no idea, as we have had no wind down here. It must have come from windy conditions further up the North Sea.

 Somehow the word was out as they were not just from Mundesley;

 the magic of mobile phones............

We are sailing, we are sailing..........

Have you seen this Norfolk crab boat?  

There were ten of them we made as waymarks for the Salthouse sculpture trail in Holt Country Park. Now there are nine,  as one of them has been abducted (nicked) perhaps to go travelling.  If you meet it anywhere,  please let us know.

Wherever its voyage,  we remember it with affection and hope it reaches safe harbour.

They have all gone home........

One crab pot,  a little battered and past its best, not even good enough for a garden ornament.

A gentle sea; it is not always like this, but long may it last. No rain today, just a pleasant morning with nothing much going on.  Missed the crab boat going out but I will catch one launching into the waves before the end of the season,  if I get the timing right.

The elephant in the yard.......

Have you ever wondered  what happens to an installation after an exhibition?  Well,  as you can see,  it  comes home to sit in a corner and think about its future. 

We, given our unreconstructed habits, will use it as a smoking shelter. It complies with the rules about such things  being open to the elements,  giving very little cover and minimal comfort.

If on the other hand you would like a nine foot high wave for your back garden do let me know. (New owner to collect:  terms and conditions apply;  subject to status & so on & so forth.)

Behold............ the enemy

These voracious little buggers have eaten our nasturtiums at the beach hut, which is why we are on constant patrol in the yard in an attempt to protect our vegebubbles.

Ian suggests the chemical hurricane......

alternative advice would be welcome.

Things are getting bigger........

I have done some thinning and have even taken a small helping, but I will have to do more, to keep up. We may not be getting over - much sun and we are getting a fair amount of rain;  it is certainly making the plants happy.

When cooked they were very similar to spinach,  but it was a mixed bunch so hard to tell the differences.

The battle is now on with the remaining Cabbage White butterflies.  The young growth is just what they fancy for their caterpillars.  I am checking under the leaves for their eggs and I am, 

so far,  ahead of them. We will see who wins;  what`s the betting it will be me?

Some progress on the chairs..........

And then there were two. 

Do you think that if I leave them together,  in a warm dark room,  they will breed? 

No?  Then I will just have to make the other four. There will be a time lag as I now have find some more ash for the frames.  No matter;  there is still the rope to put on.

Drifting......

Is this a fine example of modern art?

  Nope, it is part of an old plank off the beach. As you can tell I pick up all sorts of things, I am a real beachcomber. It is often later, when they have dried out, that I can see what I have found and if I can make something out of them. 

This might have been a table top but the uneven surface is not ideal;   also,  I think some of the paint contains red lead so not good for home consumption. Makes a pretty picture?

Here`s one I used earlier.......

I know I have been at it a long time, but even I could not wear it out this much.  This one came from the beach and has seen better days.

Spent the afternoon engrossed in the Axminster Tools by Post catalogue to buy some bits and bobs I need for work, well play really. After much application I managed to buy them on-line,  including a new saw.

Sally says;   Well, I don`t  know that the photo does it justice but but we hang it on  the wall and call it ART.

Is this a penguin I see before me..........?

Here`s one for the ornithologists among you.

Not one of our locals,  so just passing through;  

 I last saw one like this about five years ago.  I reckon it is a youthful guillemot  -  what do you think?

Must start thinning

After a week things are a- growing,  so some thinning must be done.  No problem,  as I feel a stir-fry coming on. The difference in growth I find interesting;  it appears to be about the amount of sun each tub gets  -   not a lot between them but enough to affect growth.  

These seeds were planted three weeks ago;  I think we shall get a decent crop this autumn.