things I enjoy...part 1...

I have been trying to adopt a philosophy of, where possible, ensuring that life is full of things I enjoy - things I like to do or to look at, people I enjoy being with... and to make the effort to appreciate those things. And although, of course, there are always other bits of 'life' that just have to be 'got on with', I am trying to say no if I mean no and not just go along with things because I feel guilty if I don't. I don't know if that makes any sense... but I think I know a lot of women (me included!) who spend a lot of their time trying to juggle things and keep everyone happy and forget about themselves along the way. Maybe I've just got a lot more selfish. It does feel a bit that way sometimes and that, inevitably, brings another whole wave of guilt! But I don't think it is unreasonable to live at least some of life for ourselves and to aim to be happier and more fulfilled people?

Anyway, in that vein, this weekend (despite the decidedly dodgy bank holiday weather!) yesterday a friend and I went for a long walk. We set off to Blickling, a little village near Aylsham and home to a very grand stately home. It is maintained by the National Trust now but claims to have been the birthplace of Ann Boleyn and to be haunted by her headless ghost! I don't know about that, but it is a truly impressive building set in a massive estate with lots of footpaths in the surrounding countryside. 

I'm usually pretty well prepared on the maps front, particularly when I am walking somewhere I've not been before, but I realised all the Explorer maps (with their great detail of footpaths, landmarks and field boundaries) have not moved house with me so armed just with the smaller scale Landranger map and a photo of the bigger  scale map on my phone (I know, bad idea, but printer out of ink - what is a girl to do but improvise...!) off we went...

The footpath took us along parts of Weavers Way away from and then back towards the Blickling estate. Past the top end of the large lake (now used as a fishing lake)...

and on through the woods past the Mausoleum built by Lady Caroline Suffield, who inherited Blickling after the death of her father, John Hobart 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire. Very odd to come across a pyramid in this very English landscape!

I should point out that at this point it was absolutely freezing! Cold, windy and not a hint of sunshine and even with gloves on (4th June, for goodness sake!!!) I could barely feel my hands! Undeterred, onwards...

There are some beautiful trees at Blickling, some of them ancient I'm sure...

The sun began to break through as we walked through a canopy of trees and turned the early summer foliage the brightest lime green...

Out of the trees, we headed into the surrounding countryside...

Very pretty, especially as a bit of blue sky was properly putting in an appearance by this stage...

Our route took us along narrow country lanes, lined with hedgerows full of pretty blossom...

and alongside a twisting river...

So far, so good, even with our slightly inferior map selection! And then the track we were following took us into a meadow full of buttercups...

...and other wild flowers...

...but no obvious footpath anywhere to be seen! We retraced our steps, did an extra loop to where we thought a more obvious path began, came full circle, had a bit of a wade through knee length wet grass and on the fourth time going through this gate...

...decided that Norfolk footpaths are very badly waymarked and that we would have to head to the road and follow that, when I glanced to my left and saw...

We must have walked past this four times!!! It was a bit hidden but even so...bit less chatting maybe?! 

No wet grass here, just a well boarded path through woodland back to the Blickling estate...

First stop the pub!

Unfortunately all the faffing about en route meant we'd missed the boat for food (which looked delicious!) so had to settle for a girlie lunch...!

...before heading back along the lakeside ...

There were one or two trees that looks as though they have been struck by lightning and I love the fact that there are new trees springing up at their feet...

All in all, a Good Day - outdoors enjoying the countryside, good company, a lot of chat and laughter and a bit of sunshine thrown in for at least some of the time!

Sx