A Fine weekend

I have had a good weekend satisfying three of my interests; family, food and making jewellery.

The BOF and I travelled up to Norwich to visit No 2 daughter, Charlotte, who was in need of a little tlc. She is in her first year as an NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher)in a small rural Primary school. Like so many schools in England it is underfunded and she is responsible, largely single handedly, for 30 young children at the most important stage in their education, when they can absorb the fundemental skills for their future learning. But she is not looking after one year group, but two, and with very mixed abilities. On the one hand some of the youngest do not know what the different colours are let alone the intricassies of an alphabet and at the other end of the scale she is teaching the older ones their "times tables". I could go on but maybe this is not the best place.

Anyhow despite the shortcomings of the system she loves her job, and loves her kids,but is working herself ragged trying to satisfy too many demands on her time. So we decided to get her away from her worrying and take her out for lunch followed by a bit of retail therapy.

Like all members of the family, Charlotte enjoys her food and appreciates something prepared well. We chose something nearby so popped into Yellows, Delias New York style diner, under the stands of the Carrow Road Stadium. Norwich City were playing away so it was not very busy but the service and the food were excellent, especially the BOFs choice of Cincinatti Chilli.



We then had a slow meandering walk through town dropping in to the textile and art exhibitions that have been set up in some of the city's
old churches. We ended up at a favourite bead shop run by a family that import furniture and knick knacks from around the Far East. Upstairs in one of their shops they display a treasure trove of interesting beads from sea washed glass from Bali, fabulous heavy cut glass made from old television sets in Afghanistan, silver from Indonesia, the list goes on. Anyhow we both ended up buying bags full and got very excited about what we were going to create. Pictures will be posted once I have made something up.

And how did the day finish? What could be better than feet up on the settee watching X Factor and Match of the Day?