The annual holiday with the "usual suspects" also commonly called "the family" was another great success. We rented a <a href="http://www.cottages.com/cottages/heigham-view-cbbh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">large property</a> overlooking the river Thurne which was very comfortable and plenty of room for ten people.

On the way there Mary and I stopped off at Houghton Hall to wander around the gardens and take a look at a <a href="https://www.houghtonhall.com/art-and-exhibitions/damien-hirst/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Damien Hirst exhibition</a>.

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As always we made the most of the time even if the weather wasn't very warm for May. We visited <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/blickling-estate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blickling Hall</a> where there was an exhibition centred around books.

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It was an interesting day but old houses and formal gardens don't really excite me. The book installations were fascinating and there were items that made me think I should revisit the skills I learned from the bookbinding courses I went on last year.

A week in Norfolk without a trip on a boat along the Broads wouldn't be right so we drove to Wroxham and hired a boat large enough for ten. I was disappointed in the lack of bird life but there was plenty to see.

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<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Norwichmay18.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4994" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Norwichmay18-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>A visit to Norwich using the Park and Ride was fun. A delightful coffee at <a href="https://harrietscafetearooms.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Harriet's Tea Room</a> was luxurious and the coffee delicious - not a flat white to be seen but the carrot cake was obscenely good.

I discovered areas of the city I hadn't seen before. I had hoped we could have lunch in the cathedral refectory but there wasn't a table for two let alone ten. If they ever get round to adding the new cafe to Lincoln cathedral they could learn a lot from the way it has been done at Norwich.

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A holiday is not complete without a walk and six of us did a five mile circular walk starting at <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/horsey-windpump#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Horsey Wind Pump</a> and taking us alongside reed beds to the beach, along the sand with high seas and a group of seals which didn't seem to be bothered by walkers.

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From the house there was always plenty to see - a barn owl hawking across the field on the other side of the river, a marsh harrier flying up and down the dyke at the front and various herons looking for frogs and fish. The sunset from the balcony could be magical.

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And before we knew it the week was over and we had our final delicious meal at the village pub in Martham (some of us walked there and staggered back).

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/usual-suspectsmay18.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4989" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/usual-suspectsmay18-1024x768.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" /></a>The following morning we were all up early, busying ourselves with packing and cleaning up the house before we said our final farewells.

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