Friday 10th February (Day 1)
This weekend we decided, quite late, that we would join the Anglia Group of the MCC at Acle. Acle is just to the east of Norwich, so around 80 miles each way. It was to held at Acle Academy and we could not arrive until 1630. Just after 1115 we left with a plan to stop at Wroxham and have a walk / shop. Wroxham was about thirty minutes from the final stop, to the north and on the Norfolk Broads. We arrived just after 1300 and stopped in a near empty car park and had a light lunch. Looking at the pay machines we had to (a) park in the designated motorhome spaces and (b) park wholly within the bays. Then it was £2.40 / hour. First problem we had stopped in an incorrect space and the secondly it would be impossible to park within the bays. There can be very few motorhomes that would mange that. Looking at an app we found another car park just under a mile away. We arrived at a huge car park. It was totally empty and free as well, so a result in all ways. We chose our spot and walked into town along the river, less than a ten minute walk. We tried to walk further along the river but were thwarted at every turn by dead ends and water inlets. Returning to the town we did the ‘normal’ thing, visit ‘Roy’s of Wroxham’. A few small purchases and then a cup tea overlooking the river. It was then back to the motorhome and after a short sit down we trundled to Acle Academy arriving at 1630 - and still others were already parked up! A nice stir fry and then just before 1930 we went over to the gym where we were meeting for the weekend. It was cold! The heating was not working. We sat and generated some warmth by chatting. Then it was pay for the weekend; pay for the bingo tickets; and pay for some raffle tickets. £20 / £60 for a line / full house and three games to be played; we didn’t win. Then we had a twenty question ‘Valentines’ quiz which was a set of well balanced questions, challenging enough but too much. More chatting followed before 2300 saw us all meandering back to our sleep places for the night.
Saturday 11th February (Day 2)
A nice bright day in the offing. After shower / breakfast we rolled into the town with a view to catching a bus to Norwich. We just missed it but the same bus (X1) stopped by us going the other way to Great Yarmouth. With no real plans we jumped on and Great Yarmouth it was. We walked along the high street to the calm blue sea and then along the front as far as the derelict Winter Gardens originally used as a dance venue. This must have been very grand in the day but is a sad place now. Then we walked back into the main town area by the back streets. Here we found an old fortification, one of the best and longest of any town in the UK. It was started in 1280 and everyone in the town had to help construct it, or pay someone to take their place. It took nearly 100 years to complete. By then advances in warfare, gunpowder, cannons and ballistas made it useless. Back in town we walked through the market to the Minster which was just closing. Just after 1215 we decided to get back on an X1 bus and go to our original destination, Norwich. As we approached the bus station it was there waiting for us. A forty minute ride and we arrived. It was very busy and we strolled around doing, well not much. Lunch was a treat of KFC. We then decided to return to Acle to watch the Six Nations rugby. As we left the shopping centre there was a crowd of people and upon investigating we saw a large Tyrannosaurus Rex and the crowd, especially the children, were stroking it. When it turned around all were ducking to avoid the swishing tail. A short wait this time for the bus and back in time for the second half of Ireland .v. France (Ireland won 32 - 19). This was followed by Scotland .v. Wales (Scotland won). Then we ate a light tea using some KFC chicken from lunch time. 1930 saw us toddle over to the hall for the Valentines evening with entertainment by Dale Diamond. It started off quite low key and we both thought it was going to be a long, tedious, evening. Not so. While it took a while for people to ‘get up and jig’ a lot did and we had a really good time. Spookily Dale Diamond lives in Whittlesey about ten miles from us and sings in ‘The Anchor, our local pub. Just after midnight we were in bed.
Sunday 12th February (Day 3)
A nice bacon butty for breakfast and then, like the Essex group, it was 1030 in the hall for the Chairman’s Waffle. ‘Derek’s Dip’ was first - everyone paid £1 and got one raffle ticket. One number and winner take all (£30). Then raffle time. So many prizes and while we won nothing some managed four items! With the Anglia group when you win your third item you sit at the front on a chair. All money raised this weekend is going to the Turkey Earthquake Disaster. By 1115 we left and had a nice easy drive home arriving at 1345 having filled with diesel and LPG.
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