Postcard from Norfolk

I am a fan of the humble postcard.

 In this digital age of Facebook updates and Instagram (which I also love !) the postcard seems to me, an altogether different proposition, one that requires a certain sort of mindset and discipline. From the act of selection, to the writing and posting you are the editor in chief of a mini, and, uniquely personal holiday review. Whilst there may be hundreds of identical postcards floating around the postal system, each one is individually crafted. Some may be superficial and perfunctory, some full of longing for left behind lovers, some, wildly descriptive, some full of self congratulation, some covered in illustrations and doodles, some carry special messages in code...all are franked and dated and adorned with a stamp. Oh the possibilities, I love their potential as they arrive on the doormat. First a smile followed by a glance at the image. Then, flicking over, words that have been carefully squeezed onto the available white space...kisses that wrap around the address box. What then? to be tucked onto a mantle or sill, reminding all of your absence. Perhaps to be tucked into a book only to be found many years later by  a different generation or random purchaser at a jumble sale. 

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When we were clearing out and packing up the family home we stumbled over a whole book of postcards...some of them were, in fact, images of long forgotten relatives, mostly black and white, featuring them in extraordinary locations along with images of municipal parks and buildings...fascinating. Every one, for me, contained the first line of a novel, chapters in lives I know little or nothing of...

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Back to Norfolk, first I should say that we stayed in a much loved family cottage belonging to a friend of a friend...

I was so at home, from the moment I stepped over the threshold ~ I was utterly charmed, it felt so familiar and cosy. 

I am smiling as I remember it and all its sweet detail...lets face it, anywhere boasting a dolly tub with artfully positioned feather at the front door...

 

 Norfolk has such big skies ~ 

far more expansive than the ones we are used to up on our windy Wealden Lane. How I love to discover new parts of this green and pleasant land, though I confess to still feeling a tiny bit disloyal to our beloved County of Kernow. The early morning walks I shared with Boodle from the cottage were heavenly...

Our days spent visiting the "Staithes" long walks, swimming in the sea, picnics and dusky sunsets watching boats...oh and crabs, lots of crabs!

We visited Holt, Burnham and Blakeney in search of tasty local produce and were rewarded handsomely...plus we were treated to book sales, antiques and gorgeous streets at every turn...

 I love the texture and patterns of Norfolk...in my mind's eye I saw Angie Lewin prints everywhere...

...Above all else I adored the evenings...

...Raise my hands, paint my spirit gold...

 --x--

I am laughing at my extraordinarily long postcard! Thank you for staying so long, you are too kind!