The fireside at Snettisham

BS75-21, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Sketched in Noodlers Walnut ink as part of my 75 Day sketch challenge

The Old Bank, Snettisham UK

08-07-12b, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Joan and I had a wonderful lunch at The Old Bank, after sketching Snettisham Church. We indulged for a while with a good cuppa and a some yummy lemon drizzle cake before heading out again...Destination: Bircham Mill

St Mary Church, Snettisham. UK

08-07-12, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

After a lazy morning, Joan and I headed out in the car. We popped into a local Bistro, that we dined in on the Saturday night and were very impressed with, booked a table for lunch and then went to find something to sketch in the hour or so we had before our booking. We came across St Mary, placed high on a hill looking totally magnificent, parked up on the side of a road facing it and decided to attempt it...even though the rain was pouring down outside!!!
Luckily my car battery survived the continuous use of the windscreen wipers and we made it to the Bistro on time!

Snettisham Beach and Brancaster Staithe

07-07-12b, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

The view from the cottage window on Snettisham beach, painted purposely in watercolour without ink, to act as a background. I had a boat in mind to finish the page, so Joan and I drove along the coast to find one and ended up at Brancaster Staithe

88 Beach Road, Snettisham, Norfolk

07-07-12, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Last weekend Joan and I met up in a little cottage, owned by friends Tony and Ruth, on the Norfolk Coast. I visited here before in 2010 but incase you have forgotten this gem along the Norfolk Coast, I will remind you:
It has a fantastic location just aside the lake at the front and footsteps from the beach at the rear. It has no mains electricity; therefore no TV. It is a very special little place indeed.
We arrived on the Friday and walked a while before returning to light candles and pour some wine. We didn't sketch, we just chatted the night away.
We woke early on the Saturday and I found my way out to the rear of the cottage with my third morning coffee to sketch where we were staying.

Snettisham Weekend - Sunday

We woke early Sunday morning and set off for a stroll along the coast line to the RSPB reserve where I found interest in the curves of both the coast line and the path leading back towards the cottage.


My last sketch was of the lake shortly before lunch.

We ate lunch, packed the cars and, just before we left, we grabbed a towel and some shoes and popped down to the beach to enjoy the warm sea water...right up to our thighs!

Such a fabulous weekend, full of wonderful memories with a very dear friend.
Thank you Ruth and Tony.

Snettisham Weekend - Saturday

Woke on Saturday morning and, after a long coffee, got started on sketching the cottage for Tony and Ruth as a way of saying thank you for their kindness. I took a matt and frame with me and framed it for them before leaving, so the photograph is a little wonky and poor quality I'm afraid...Sorry!




We had lunch on the newly built landing deck; sothern fried chicken breast strips, salad, wine, chocolates...all splayed over various rugs and cushions, and finished by dangling our feet into the warm lake.




A quick stroll along the beach, where the colours changed every second...stunning! I produced all of my sketches with a size 12 brush and with the hot sun drying everything so quickly and the brush size I found it quite a challenge.




On finishing my quick sketch I had just enough time to capture Joannie in all her beautiful colours, looking ever radiant.




Early evening I popped our lasagne in the oven and while it cooked, and Joan went out to find more wine supplies, I captured this guy appreciating the wonderful view.

Our dinner was delicious...as was the wine!

Snettisham Weekend - Friday

Joannie and I arrived at the cottage in Snettisham just a few minutes apart and Tony and Ruth greeted us with a delicious lunch which we ate on the patio at the rear of the property with the most wonderful sea view...infact the beach was just yards from us!
When Tony and Ruth said goodbye, Joan and I took a stroll along the sea front up to the yacht club and back along the lake at the front of the property...again, the lake is just yards from the front door.
About half way through our little stroll we sat for a while and sketched.
What a wonderful location, Ruth and Tony are so kind to share this little haven with us.


The electricity in the cottage runs off a battery, so we lit the cottage with candles after a long dinner and sketched with a glass of wine. You really could not see very much at all so I was quite surprised when I took another look at my candle sketch the next morning...a bit wobbly but a fabulous memory captured in my journal.

Snettisham Park Farm

Today was the last day of Harry's school Summer holidays, tomorrow he will start a new term in a new class and leave me for six hours daily, five days a week...AGAIN!
I shall miss his company and our long days together.

To make the most of our final day we headed towards the Norfolk coast to visit Snettisham Park Farm where we fed pigs, lambs, ponies, chickens and goats.
Park farm has a lovely personal feel about it, scattered with numerous old stone barns, sheds with rickety wooden doors and apple trees dressed in dappled sunlight. Chickens and ducks roam freely around your feet and cockerels perch on old machinery filling the air with their authority.
It was a blustery day, so we opted out of the lengthy deer safari, a long open trailer pulled by a tractor, but we did walk to the first enclosure to witness them from a distance.

A children's activity area complete with towers and roped walk ways offered Harry entertainment while I stopped for a latte and a quick sketch to remember our day by.

The large watercolour Moleskine I have been using to journal this years Summer break in is not full, I shall put it aside ready for Summer break 2009.