Holiday in Oslo and Molde

We're just back from a couple of weeks in Norway. We spent the first weekend in Oslo, before moving onto Molde, working there for a week, with rather wet weather. The middle weekend had the best weather where we got gardening done as well as going with Eva and JM on a boat trip to Bjørnsund. 

The second week was rather wet again, but we managed to get a few things done (including trips to the dentist), before heading back for another night in Oslo, where we met up with more of the family this time for dinner, before heading back to London on the Monday (with all the faff of passenger locator forms etc.). A few photos are below, the rest are here:

OSLO AND MOLDE HOLIDAY PHOTOS

 

Walk over Wanstead Park to see the cows

We went for a walk over Wanstead Park (with some intermittent rain) to see the cows that have been released there to naturally graze the undergrowth.

 

Epping to Ongar walk along The Essex Way

We went for a long walk today along part of The Essex Way. We first got a bus to Wanstead where we had breakfast at Gail's Bakery, after which we walked up to Snaresbrook station and took a tube out to Epping. Once there we used the Route You map to navigate our way onto the Essex Way and carry on. The walk took us through different types of landscape, from Farmer's fields to woodland like Gernon Bushes. As it got warmer, we stopped for a drink at The Green Man in Toot Hill, before carrying on to via Greensted Green (and it's famous old wooden church) on towards Ongar where we had lunch at The King's Head. We had hoped to get the Steam Train back to Epping, but unfortunately it was closed for a private function, but after making some enquiries at Fratelli's coffee bar, we were able to take a 420 bus back after having a latte there. A map and a few photos from the day are below, the rest are here:

EPPING TO ONGAR ESSEX WAY WALK PHOTOS

 

Hornchurch FC open top bus parade

Hornchurch FC did an open top bus parade to celebrate winning the FA Trophy and the Pitching In Super Cup. We met up in The Hop Inn to wait for the bus to arrive, which it did....although very fast! Some of the others followed the team on a pub crawl around Hornchurch after that which seemed very lively.

Wanstead walk with breakfast and lunch

We jumped on a bus and went for breakfast at More Italy in Wanstead as the Farmer's market was on. As we left, we bumped into Nick and Marion (from West Ham games) and so sat with them for a while while they had breakfast, and we had another coffee. After saying goodbye to them, we went on to Wanstead Park and did a walk round there stopping for a drink and an ice cream. Heading back to Wanstead to catch the bus we decided to stop off at Luppolo for lunch, before finally heading home on the bus.

 

Weekend with Liv and Richard in Swaffham

We spent Thursday to Saturday up in Swaffham with Liv and Richard. On Friday we headed off to Hunstanton, which lived up to it's 'Sunny Hunny' nickname as the weather was great. On the way back we headed back via Sandringham and went to look in St Mary Magdalene Church (the one The Queen goes to) before heading back for a night at The Greyhound. On Saturday we did our usual tour of the market place with it's (covid restricted) auction, before taking a drive to Dereham for lunch before heading home.

A few photos from the weekend are below, the rest are here:

SWAFFHAM WEEKEND WITH LIV AND RICHARD PHOTOS

Bat in the Garden

We've been lucky enough to have this visitor most evenings this summer.

Walk up to Wanstead Farmer's Market

We took a bus to Wanstead for a walk through the Monthly Farmer's Market there. We managed to avoid the spotty rain showers, enjoying breakfast at More Italy, and eventually having a large roast dinner at The Bull.

 

Squirrel eating our strawberries in the garden

We spotted this cheeky squirrel helping himself to a healthy breakfast in the garden today.