Friday 7th February
February half-term week – for the last six years or so I would have been heading up to London with Patsy and having the usual whinge about traffic and south London’s pot holed roads, but not this time.
Regulars will know that the Crystal Palace site has now closed and I’d booked the Abbey Wood site to continue the tradition of a winter break in the capital.
However, regulars will also know that my right knee has been giving me grief for some considerable time and in the last third of 2024 it deteriorated noticeably. Setting out for the day with a packed lunch and mooching around, as I’ve done so many times, just wasn’t possible at the moment, and it seemed, with Crystal Palace closing, a good time to have a break from the capital.
Then another possibility presented itself, which confirmed my decision and would allow me to indulge in my rekindled love of fun fairs in general and the Waltzer in particular – at the Kings Lynn Mart. The Mart marks the traditional start of the travelling season for showmen and women nationwide, though it is now no longer necessarily the first, however it has been running in one form or another for well over 800 years and it’s opening is marked by a ceremony attended by the Mayor and other local dignitaries. It’s a big event in the travelling fun fair calendar, and with the opening day falling within my break the deal was sealed and Sandra found a CL not too far away.
I was, for once, organised and with a free day on the Wednesday – aside from the school bus runs morning and evening – I got Patsy as ready is possible, loading her up with pretty much everything aside from perishable food, camera, laptop etc.
Friday morning there was just the matter of a click & collect for those caravanning essentials – beer, wine and cheese – and by 10:30am I was on the road under leaden skies. No matter, it was good to be getting away again, work had been very trying at times since the Christmas break.
There
was the usual hold up at the Dartford crossing but otherwise the journey was
largely without incident. I’d intended to attend to the plumbing once I’d left
the M11 and joined the A11 but the first layby was closed off and the second
and third were full. Eventually, after joining the A142 I found an empty one
and pulled it but it was way too narrow and there was no room to get out of the
car safely. A little further on an opportunity presented itself though and once
the matter had been dealt with I did the usual circle of the ‘van to make sure
everything was in order. It was, but with the occasional outbreaks of rain and
very mucky roads, Patsy was blimmin filthy!
The nice lady from Google Maps thought it would be a good idea to tow through the centre of Ely, but I knew better and skirted the city on the bypass. She also suggested a cross country route to the site, again I ignored her; continuing on the A10 to just south of Kings Lynn then turning left onto the A47. The site was easy to find and there was a welcome note marking my pitch which amused me somewhat:
The site owner Maxine came over to say hello and showed me where everything was. Each pitch had a dedicated water tap and waste water could be discarded in the hedge alongside – pipes were provided if needed – making the pitch effectively fully serviced. Result. Add in the shower and toilet in one of the outbuildings and £20/night was looking very good value indeed.
A ramp was required on the offside but the motor mover grudgingly obliged, having already been called upon to inch Patsy nose in to get a nice view of the field and church beyond.
Set
up was necessarily swift – I’d forgotten how cold the easterly winds blowing
off the north sea could be – the new to me awning purchased during the
Christmas break would wait until Sandra arrived. With the water sorted the
heating was cranked up to full. It took a while for Patsy to get to a
comfortable temperature.
Saturday 8th February
A decent nights’ sleep – a rarity for me generally but I always sleep better in the ‘van – and after breakfast set about Patsy’s nearside with some waterless wash and a pile of microfibre cloths. The effort was worth it and one side of her at least looked much more respectable, the rest would have to wait. Some part-baked baguettes were thrown in the oven in preparation for Sandra’s arrival.
Sandra recalls:
Saturday morning – it was an early start for me and the two pooches as we set off to drive across the country to meet up with Richard to spend the week in a CL between Wisbech and Kings Lynn. Why here you might ask – particularly at this time of year? Well, the Kings Lynn Mart – of course Richard will tell you all about that. For me it was also a much needed break and to spend time together for a relax.
The motorways and the A14 played ball and we made good time arriving early afternoon. A flurry of activity saw us unpack my car, give the girls a run on the field – it was a very pleasant surprise and since our arrival a few days ago, much use has been made of the freedom it affords them.
It was then time, for the much anticipated, awning erection! Richard had bought it whilst we were away at Christmas and New Year, so ‘fingers had been drumming.’ My sister has a full Isabella awning and so I was used to seeing them put together, so that helped speed up the process. The quality of the product attests to the ease of use and the condition was superb with everything included. It has been very useful indeed.
I was very pleased indeed with it. For too long, and too many times I’ve bought cheap and it rarely pays off. Yes, the Minor awning was second-hand but was in excellent condition and the quality clear to see. I’ll need to hone my technique but was satisfied with the first attempt:
Sandra:
Saturday evening we adjourned to a local pub called the Wildfowler – a relatively small pub, served food, a pool table, darts board and some slot machines. A pleasant drink was had and a catch up too.
Sunday
It was a slow, relaxed, get going in the morning, as always we were all warm and cosy in Patsy – weather has been on the cold side since our arrival. We had a target in mind – we had booked ourselves into a local pub/restaurant, Brothers in Arms for Sunday lunch. It has a very interesting history, for further information, please see www.brothersinarms.uk Allowing dogs made it a good choice too. Sunday lunch was plentiful and hot – there were a couple of little things which would have moved the meal into the excellent category. Richard’s beef was not as cooked as he would have preferred and the vegetable side dishes could not be swapped out so led to one dish being returned virtually untouched and wasted.
An unexpected bonus was the farm shop next door which sold all manner of household food and consumables plus a fantastic butcher’s counter oh, yes a homemade cake stall too, you could purchase a slice at time, portions were generous! We were good though as we went in there after eating lunch. We did, however, buy a pack of homemade pork and apple sausages.
Monday
It was time to do some exploring, Wisbech was on the list. We have actually been to Wisbech before – just as we were coming out of COVID. It was as cold then as it was today! It is an interesting place, certainly down by the massive River Ouse. It was interesting to see it much busier than on our last visit when everything was still pretty much closed. A visit to the Elgoods Brewery was in order, last time we had only been able to drive past it and a quick tour round the town.
It was indeed as cold and dull but at least dry, even so we didn’t fancy a walk around. The visit to the brewery shop was fruitful though, three of the four beers I picked up were new to me and two were limited editions and turned out to be very tasty indeed.
Sandra:
As for those pork and apple sausages - we ate those tonight – they were yum indeed. A lovely home cooked meal with baked beans, mash and potato wedges. I am certainly reaping the benefits of our cookery tuition these days!
As you know I love my batch cooking sessions at home but it’s even more enjoyable cooking in Patsy and for me, a part of the holiday. The washing up, not so much, but being on an effectively serviced pitch meant no worrying about running out of water.
Tuesday
Richard had said that he needed some caravan supplies and we also needed to obtain storm pegs and springs for the newly acquired awning. We have the ropes but the large pegs and springs make for a very secure awning in windy conditions. So we perused the web and found a dealers to the South East of Kings Lynn and as we wanted to have a look round Kings Lynn before Friday, it seemed opportune to combine the two. We were pleasantly surprised by the caravans for sale, it is not a main dealer – however, there were some very nice vans indeed and he offered something for every budget. The accessories shop was comprehensive and we were able to buy the storm pegs and springs plus consumables.
The also had a smart Sterling 520 – the same layout as Patsy – which was very nice indeed. With (much) deeper pockets I might have been tempted. A lovely colour scheme inside and with Alde heating and ATC but, even though it was much newer, surprisingly heavier than old Patsy.
Sandra continues:
We then made our way into the centre of Kings Lynn and to the market square which doubles as a car park outside of the Tuesday market, (the clue is in the name .. Tuesday Market Place) and the Mart. It will be my first visit to one of these and promises to be great fun.
We had packed our usual lunch and following a stroll round the main square and shops, we purchased coffees and made our way back to the car for warmth and to eat our lunch. A short drive along the river side and as the weather was closing in, we made our way back to site. A lovely afternoon nap and a cuppa was most appreciated. Tonight’s dinner was homemade chicken casserole, potatoes and veg.
Tomorrow we head up the coast to Hunstanton and on to Wells Next the Sea.
Wednesday
have never been to either of these places, so was looking forward to seeing what they had to offer. I was to be pleasantly surprised.
I’ve lost count of the number times I’ve been up and down the A10. As a kid living in Cambridgeshire I had many days out in Hunstanton or ‘Sunny ‘Unny’ as it was affectionately known, it being the nearest coastal resort. We never stopped at the Lavender farm back in the day though, a few miles out, but this time we did, not least for a warming cuppa. It was at least dry but the skies were leaden and the north-easterly was making its presence felt. Some local cheese was procured too.
Hunstanton was next, a resort which, almost uniquely for the east coast, faces west into the Wash and can be blessed with great weather and lovely sunsets.
We found some free on street parking just a short way out of the centre and had a stroll through the gardens with the girls. It may have been chilly but it was good to take in the sea air.
We paused in the car park at Old Hunstanton – this is the beach area that I used to come to as a kid, with my parents and often grandparents too. Happy days indeed. We’d had a bit of a walk and Hi-Viz was approaching, preparing to extract some cash no doubt, so we didn’t linger.
Next up was Wells-next-the-Sea, another childhood haunt, a pleasant drive along the occasionally coastal A149 passing through lovely places like Brancaster, Burnham Overy Staithe and Holkham Hall.
Wells is a delightful little town, the majority of which is clustered around a small port and I remember, as a kid, whilst crab fishing on the harbour wall, ships loading or unloading grain, however we headed first down to the beach area alongside the harbour wall and flood barrier.
At the end is Pinewoods Holiday Park and I remember two stays here as a kid, in a rented mobile home. It was very popular with the beach just minutes away, separated from the park by yes, pine trees. The site takes tourers too but even now, it isn’t cheap.
After a couple of photos we returned to the quayside to park up, have our packed lunch then stretch our legs up Staithe Street, the main – and almost only – shopping street in Wells. A dog friendly café was noted and on the way back we thawed out with a cuppa and teacake.
It had been a very enjoyable and fulfilling day out – new places for Sandra and childhood haunts for me, triggering some very happy memories, lovely.
Thursday
Sandra continues:
Thursday morning duly arrived and after a relaxing get going, we decided to do some chores around the van – not least the rear of Patsy which was any colour but white! My white car was similarly coloured! A chance for the girls to have a play in the field before a prompt lunch and time to head out again. Due to the cold, it is not really favourable to spend all day out, we need to thaw out regularly – despite warm coats, hats, gloves etc.
This afternoon’s destination was Swaffham. A medieval market town, built up around a large open market place with a pleasant bandstand and a Roman statue on top in honour of the god Cedres – father of the harvest.
Friday
The day had arrived on which the trip had really been built around – the opening of the Kings Lynn Mart – and not only was it dry but there was some breaks in the cloud – indeed a sunny afternoon had been promised by the usual merchants of doom in the Met Office.
We’d been a bit concerned about parking but needn’t have worried, finding a space a short walk from the Market Place. As we approached we could see that it had been transformed, crammed with rides, stalls and lorries. Yes I was getting excited.
Some liquid refreshment was in order but none of the pubs near by were dog friendly so we opted for a takeaway coffee on one of the side streets. As we sipped our drinks there was a noticeable increase in people milling about and soon we saw why as the official procession appeared from down the street and made its way towards the square. The Mayor accompanied by lots of dignitaries, bearing the gold chains of office and representatives from the Showmen’s Guild too, including ‘Nipper’ Appleton whose family had been coming to the Mart for over 200 years – I’d already spotted the name emblazoned on a couple of the fair lorries and seen him on a documentary on YouTube.
The media were in attendance of course and as we made our way back for the opening ceremony Sandra’s gorgeous two Westies caught the eye of a cameraman, and Sandra was asked to do a walk past again so he could film them. We discovered later they did appear on the local ITV news too!
After the reading of the ancient charter, a blessing, and words from several of the great and the good, the fair was declared open, it was Waltzer time! Slowly the music started up on the rides and the fair came to life. I was first on for the first ride on Birch’s No 1. Waltzer – and recognised more faces – John Birch and his two sons had also been in the aforementioned documentary – one was taking the money and the other was at the controls.
This was a relatively modern machine, built in 2016 by Fairtrade and had a decent turn of speed though I suspect that it wasn’t running at full tilt – very enjoyable nonetheless.
The second of the two Waltzer’s there was somewhat older; Shaw’s Razzamatazz was built in 1974 by Maxwell (who no longer exist) as an Ark/Speedway but, like many, latterly converted to a Waltzer, in 1974. More traditional in style, décor and lighting, but still very smooth considering its age.
We returned to the campsite via a Lidl for some er, supplies and enjoyed a lazy afternoon. It was great to see the sun out at last too.
A funfair really comes alive at night though and we returned after dinner. It was cold and not as busy as expected considering the schools had now broke up for a week, but on the flipside it was nice and easy to get around. Another go on Birch’s Waltzer first, that was definitely now running faster and they gave a longer ride time too.
After a long go on the Dodgems it was back on the Razzamatazz, again running faster and with the longest ride time I’ve ever had on a Waltzer. The steps down to terra firma afterwards took a bit of negotiating, I’m sure the Malbec, sunk over dinner had nothing to do with it though. I looked after the dogs whilst Sandra went on the big wheel then with some change left had one more go on Birch’s before we called it a night and returned to the warmth of Patsy to defrost. It had been a very enjoyable day indeed.
Saturday
The last full day on site and, as caravanners will know, that means awning down day. However it was raining, as it had been for much of the night and I really didn’t want to pack it away wet. We prayed the forecast was wrong and that it would dry up later on and set about a very leisurely striking of camp as much as possible.
Well it didn’t dry up so the awning was still standing as we headed out that evening for the ‘last supper’. It had been clear from our trips that out that the pub trade had really suffered in this area, seeing plenty that had obviously closed down. However Sandra had found a dog friendly place in Long Sutton, about a 15 minute drive away, called Palmers Ale House. A cracking meal was had, in a nice cosy environment and it provided a fitting end to a great week.
Sunday
A dry night meant the awning wasn’t completely soaking but far from dry as we packed it away on a bright Sunday morning – I’d have to try and dry it off in the flat somehow.
Shortly before 10am we were all set, said our goodbyes and headed off in our respective directions. The nice lady on Google Maps wanted to send towards Bury St Edmunds for some bizarre reason – I ignored her and proceeded back the way I came. She eventually caught up – never apologised though, bless her!
A good trip back with little congestion of note, the awning stayed in the car for a few days before I hauled it up to the flat and spread it out in the lounge to dry off, it’s now packed away ready for the next trip which, as I type is less than two weeks away.
If you made it this far, thank you for reading, as always.
Until the next time,
Beers & Cheers
Rich