Day 1 Tuesday 18 November

Before we begin ....

In case you're not familiar with a blog like this, bear in mind that it runs like a diary, with the latest entry appearing at the top of the page and earlier entries further down.

If you want to enlarge any photo, just click on it.

We usually run a blog when we're away and Elizabeth particularly likes them as they become a sort of free online photo album.

Apologies that the images can appear to be in a random order. Blogger software isn't always an exact science and I have found over the years that some aspects of blogging using this software get better while others can go downhill.

Our Story

We had hoped to go to the Thursford Christmas Spectacular ever since Wednesday Houghton, the daughter of one of Elizabeth’s former work colleagues danced in it, so we were delighted when our little group of Rockies decided to book a mini break with the Moxon’s coach company.  This would be our first coach trip since we went to East Germany in 1985 a mere 40 years ago.

We were being picked up at 9.15 at the Cannon pub so Geoff, Clare, Jackie and Mark left their cars at ours and we set off to where the coach was to meet us. The coach arrived with Janet, Pat and Helen already on board and we were on our way.  We had a very comfortable journey; the coach was lovely and the driver was excellent. We had one stop en route and arrived at the Maid's Head Hotel in Norwich city centre, at about 2pm.

We checked in and then went out to explore the city. Our hotel was very conveniently situated, just a short walk from the cathedral so that was our first port of call.  We had seen it before, but only from the outside and we were impressed by the interior - the Cathedral was magnificent, peaceful and beautifully lit and modern features blending in well with the old. The organ then started to play quietly as we walked around and we finally found the grave of First World War British nurse, Edith Cavell, who was executed by the Germans as a spy. More information here.

Elizabeth had learned that there was a Paddington statue near the Cathedral so of course we had to find him and have the obligatory photo.  We then had a wander round the shops.  What a fine city Norwich is.

It was then back to the hotel for a buffet dinner which was OK but the food soon ran out and could have been hotter.