Back to normal......

...... the festival is over and went well and I am now in full recovery mode.

A bit of autumn colour in the back garden on the rose.

A bit of late bulb planting in the front tub.

Winter pansies in the fish boxes to keep us cheerful through the
winter.

Just one more thing ...............................

A Call to Action for COAST (Cromer & Sheringham Arts Festival 22-29 Oct)

Coast has been accepted by the NatWest CommunityForce awards, and is in with a chance of winning £6,000 WITH YOUR HELP!

NatWest CommunityForce is a £3m initiative to help local charities, organisations and groups raise publicity, attract volunteers and receive funding. In each of the 158 CommunityForce areas, three local projects will receive an award of £6,000 each. An online public vote will decide the award winners.

If you’d like to support COAST 2011, you can vote by following the steps below. Please don’t be put off, although there are several steps, it doesn’t take very long and we would be very grateful for your help.

Registration:

1. Go to the NatWest Community Force website by HYPERLINK "https://communityforce.natwest.com/user/register/" \o "https://communityforce.natwest.com/user/register/" \t "_blank" clicking here

2. Fill in the online form including your email address then click on the “Submit registration” button

3. You’ll receive an email which will ask you to “Confirm your registration”. Click on the link to confirm. You’ll be taken to the Community Force site.

4. Click on “Log in” in the top right hand corner

5. Enter your email address

6. Enter the password you chose to use

7. Click on the green “Login” button

Voting:

1. Go to the NatWest Community Force COAST 2011 page by HYPERLINK "http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/2408" \o "http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/2408" \t "_blank" clicking here

2. Click in the box next to “I accept the NatWest CommunityForce Voting Terms and Conditions”

3. Click on the “Vote for us” button

HYPERLINK "http://www.casaf.co.uk" www.casaf.co.uk

It looks horribly complicated but it truly is not that bad and we would be MOST grateful for your vote.

It is all falling into place.....

.....even as the workers are feeling the strain. The posters show the three {how did that happen} events that I am involved with this year. The surfers are a joint effort between Liane and me which has been great fun if a little taxing on the techie side.

The 2D show only needs my help in setting up with the rest of the team. It will be fun as we can't hang on the walls and there is no time to set up screens, so it will easels.

The Turning Point is chasing dragons this year so I am madly cutting out plastic dragons so the children can hang them on mobiles.

It is all good fun if a little tiring.

Is this the last day of summer?

Someone is looking after one of the Horned Poppies and has put stones round it for protection. It was not me, honest.

The beach was looking lovely and as you can see, I had it all to myself, well almost, there was a couple walking a dog.

There is a feeling of mild panic at the moment as the Cromer and Sheringham Arts Festival is only two and bit weeks away.

There was so much time and now there is none. I have sculpture to finish and little dragons to cut out of plastic for making mobiles at one of the events, and who knows what else will turn up.

Time for glass of wine.

Full moon in golden glory...

... I just caught it before it went silver. This does mean the end of summer when the moon comes up over the sea, but it is very beautiful.

Not the best photo in the world but I don't see that many tall ships around here that are in camera range.

Last of the summer surf.........

These were taken a few days ago while the sun was still shining. The sea has gone flat for the moment so I expect the next time the surf is up I will be into coat, hat and gloves. There has not been a lot of action this summer so I am hoping the Autumn will be better.

The holidays are nearly over....

....The weather has not been that bad this year with many people enjoying the beach. A good year for sandcastles, windbreaks, wet suits and sun cream. I don't walk on the beach that often in August as I find picking my way through the crowds hard work. It is not the people but the crashing kites, the large beach balls, not to mention the frisbees.

The BBQ's go on regardless of the weather, in the true spirit of the British holiday maker, resulting in some strange pictures taken after dark. UFOs are not unknown at this time of year.

Hard work on the North Sea.....

.....not the best surf but they had been trying hard. They appear to paddle around waiting for the right wave, get on it and have a ride. And it is taxing. After an hour or so of fighting the sea these young people have need of a bacon butty.

The other morning was all pink and glowing as the sun got up. We do have lovely sunrises and now they are a little later I do get to see them while I`m drinking my coffee.

I am feeling very old.......

......I received this road atlas the other day from the AA and was a little shocked. How can I, a mere slip of a thing, have been a member for fifty years, it can't be right. I think I will have to go and lie down with a very large scotch.

Meanwhile on the beach the Horned Poppies are flowering away in all their glory. The little one is in a dry area, as one might expect, and is doing its best after
being nibbled by the rabbits.

This big one is growing in a damp patch and is doing very well
indeed. I did worry a bit as I thought it might rot off as they are plants of dry sandy areas but not this one. It just keeps flowering and forming seed pods.

I am getting better at ..........

....... Photoshop.

Text on a picture, no problem, I just have to remember how to do it. Someone asked me the other day if I was still working, I rather think I am. There are festivals to promote and prepare stuff for, carnivals to hand out leaflets at and general running around, not to mention carving. I lead a very quiet life here by the sea.

Doing the photos at home means they get everywhere; still they are almost done, although I think I am running out of ink. Such is life.

We have had big waves........

....... now we have some surf and a few of the lads came out to play. What with strong north winds and rain it is not what it should be in July but at last a little sun and some action.

Wild life.......

...... this little fellow was bouncing around the sycamore trees looking for food. No nuts at this time of year but the sycamore seeds seem very welcome.

I have seen a rabbit in the garden which does not fill me with joy as it has been eating the buds on some pinks. No photo as any movement sends him or her running.

This is the new bee home, among the lavender, which I bought the other day. It may be a bit late for the solitary bees to lay in but worth a try. It will also house ladybirds and similar bugs over winter.

After the weekend........

.......one of the noble locals helps to clean up the rubbish, some bits more interesting than others.

The surf looked good to me but there were not many takers so I guess it was better elsewhere. I did manage a few shots of which these are a couple.

Summer time..........

.......and the picking is easy. Living near a fruit farm is far too tempting and this year the crop is very very good.

As you will have noticed I am a bit keen on Sea Holly and have now found another one so that is three so far. I have taken the cage off the one that got eaten as it is growing strongly and forming flower buds; result.

Correction. The moth on the last post is a Six Spot Burnet. I met an expert on the beach who put me right, a charming gent who is an oldfashioned naturalist.

Runner Bean flowers.

It is no wonder Runner Bean used to be planted in the flower garden rather than in the veg plot. After rain everything is perking up and growing like mad.

I think I will have to uncage the Sea Holly as it has made a very good recovery. It may be too early to say but I think it may flower.

On my walk I kept seeing these Cardinal Moths everywhere and I wondered why. On examining the long grass I found the answer. The moths were emerging from their pupae en masse and drying their wings in the sunshine.

There is nothing like sitting in the sun......

......while pretending to work. I was invigilating at Blickling Hall for the NOVA sculpture trail and had time to take some photos; these are just two examples out of fifty-odd pieces.

Meanwhile my spies have been watching the Horned Poppy which as you can see is going great guns. I might get there to see it tomorrow but I have to help to set up some willow pieces at Welborne. But time is short.

Can one eat too many strawberries?

These are first picking from our local fruit farm and there should be many more. Pass the cream.

This is the other Sea Holly which is still in good shape, I am glad to say, and has flower buds developing.

This monster is a Teasel and although they do grow on the cliff this one is in the back garden. I am saving it for the Gold Finches, of which we have a charm. That is the collective name for them.

What it is to have friends.

I had asked Bev to keep an eye on the Horned Poppy and take her camera with her when she walked her dog. Result or what?? It really has been worth waiting for.

Meanwhile I had gone to the other end of the beach to check the other Poppy, these two plants are about a mile apart. As you can see this one is having a hard time. I think something has eaten half its bud; don`t you just love deer?

Also someone has taken the basket I had put over the Sea Holly. Not a good day until I opened my e mails, well done Bev.

I think I need a tent to Poppy-watch.

The horned poppy is beginning to flower and I missed the first one and will have missed this bud today.

Had to set up sculpture at Blickling Hall Gardens for the sculpture trail which lasts to the end of June. The afternoon was taken up with a meeting for the Cromer and Sheringham Arts Festival, so no time for the twenty minute walk to see how it was doing. I should get there tomorrow.

I think this is cheating but I have put a cage over my Sea Holly, which should protect it somewhat. I hope no one thinks " that's a handy basket" and walks off with it -- we shall see.

Seek and you might find.

One flowerhead of the Purple Broomrape in Mundesley church yard, it may be gone tomorrow as the grass is being mown.

I did talk to the man with the mower but spotting it will be difficult. But at least it is still there, if only just.

After a little rain the Sea Holly is trying again so I live in hope that it will survive.