Feeling refreshed after a good night’s sleep in the bed that was as comfortable as it looked, it was time for breakfast. There were interesting and unusual options on the menu. I opted for the American style pancakes with fruit compote and when it arrived the portion was huge. As other dishes were delivered to nearby tables I noticed that the other choices were also huge.

We had a few hours available before our ‘Afternoon Seas’ lunch, which was part of Mr C’s ’special birthday’ present in 2024. Circumstances got in the way so we only managed to enjoy the present just – before his next birthday. The ’special lunch’ was in the Assembly House which is why we chose to stay there.

We walked into town to find the lovely art shop that is part of the Jarrold’s department store. There were a lot of things to tempt me but I have enough colouring pencils and resisted the urge to add a new make of pencils to my collection. I bought a few smaller (useful) items that will enhance the enjoyment of what I already have.

There is currently a GoGoSafari animal trail around Norwich and I took the opportunity to photograph the sculptures that we saw on our morning walk. Our walk took us past the colourful market stalls where Mr C bought his first Christmas present when he saw the perfect present of 2025 for one of his friends. Our walk took us past the model shop where on our previous visit Mr C had made a purchase. He didn’t need anything new this time but couldn’t resist going inside because we knew they stock a few board games.

I saw Castle Combo which looked interesting but rather than impulse buy I researched it on the Board Game Geek whilst having an Elderflower Presse in a nearby café. The game had a favourable write up so I purchased it before we returned to the billet to freshen up for the main event of the day, the long awaited ‘Afternoon Seas’.

The ‘Afternoon Seas’ lived up to our expectation, the service was impeccable and the food was both delicious and beautifully presented. After our indulgent lunch we chilled out on the patio next to our room before walking back into town to visit the Cathedral.

It was good to see the Cathedral without the scaffolding that had surrounded the organ on our previous visit. Now the building felt complete rather than split into two halves and I was able to feel and enjoy the atmosphere of the space within.

We then returned to the billet where I had a refreshing shower to wash away the afternoon heat before another lazy chill out on the patio. Well, a chill out was the intention but it was interrupted by a rather noisy demonstration in the nearby square.

Our evening meal was in the Gem of Norwich which serves Turkish cuisine. Mr C had miscalculated how far the restaurant was in relation to where we were staying. It was a long walk… The menu was extensive, I chose chicken salad which I thought would be a light option. I was wrong, the portion could easily have fed two people and the dish Mr C chose was just as large which, unusually, left him over faced by his portion. From where I was sitting, I could see most people were going home with doggy bags. The food quality was excellent but for me it wasn’t the best dining experience due to the enormous portions.

On the way back to our billet we returned to the Murderers Arms for a nightcap which we enjoyed sitting outside in the warm evening air.

A few weeks ago, I acquired a new unopened copy of the out-of-print board game; Snowdonia: The Deluxe Master Set. When it arrived, I organised the box content but due to a mini vacation and a full diary I hadn’t had the opportunity to play it.

I enjoyed the first time outing of the game. We were learning the rules and ran out of time so didn’t complete the game. We played long enough to know I love the game and I am looking forward to playing it again.

We arrived at breakfast to find that it was a self service buffet arrangement. The choice was extensive although the experience wasn’t entirely pleasant. Some guests picked up bread then changed their mind and put it back in the stack. Others were crowding around the toast machine and coughing and sneezing whilst waiting for the toast to cook. Yuk!!

After breakfast we walked into Durham to visit the Cathedral and on the way visited a board game shop called ‘Meeple Games’. We intended to buy a game but couldn’t make up our mind so decided to return later when we had done a bit of research.

When we arrived at Palace Green we visited the Heritage Centre with its archeological display and small exhibition about the Durham Light Infantry.

We arrived at the Cathedral to find that it was currently closed to visitors due to a service taking place so we walked to the nearby Church of St Mary the Less, so named because the much larger Cathedral is also dedicated to St Mary. Sadly this too was shut with no indication of when it might be open.

With time to spare we set off on a river walk crossing over both the Prebends’ and Framwellgate bridges before returning to the Cathedral for lunch in the Undercroft Restaurant.

We explored the Cathedral using the short guide pamphlet that we were given on arrival. This pointed out the most significant features including St Cuthberts Shrine and Venerable Bede’s tomb. I was pleasantly surprised to find that photography, with a few perfectly reasonable caveats, was now allowed and even encouraged. At the time of our visit, the Galilee Chapel was hosting an art display, LIGHT by Chris Lavine. This bathed the Chapel in soft blue ripples of light accompanied by gentle music.

Over lunch we did our board game research so we returned to the board game shop and bought Everdell. Next, we purchased a couple of cheap mugs and spoons for the hotel room so that we didn’t have to use paper cups. After the poor bar experience of the previous day we also bought some sherry and glasses so that we could enjoy a pre dinner drink in our room as we got ready to go out for our evening meal.

We dined in Akarsu Turkish Restaurant & Grill. Our table was a little bit too close to bar waiting area but the food was delicious. After dinner we visited the Swan & Three Cygnets which is a short distance from the hotel and which we found to be more welcoming and relaxing than the hotel bar.

We made what, because of the heat, seemed a long trek to the old town wall in order to view it and climb some of its towers. When we  arrived at the wall I wimped out part way up the first tower (I am not very good with heights) so, whilst Mr C ascended the tower,  I opted to take the short walk along the ramparts to the next tower and then down to ground level. I was glad when I arrived back at ground level where I found a nice bench in the shade to wait for Mr C.

When Mr C rejoined me, we made our way back into to town where I had one more of those refreshing mineral water and berry drinks.  We then strolled through the town where Mr C found a book shop to investigate.   He didn’t manage to find anything to purchase but I found a rather interesting board game which I did purchase.  Later we went to a nearby bakery to buy a sandwich which we ate in a nearby public park accompanied by sparrows who fed off any stray crumbs.

After lunch we visited the ‘Rosengart Collection‘. This is a gallery of  modern art including paintings by impressionist artists and a large number of Picasso’s works.  After enjoying this museum we made our way to the lake where we relaxed over a leisurely drink and enjoyed the views whilst waiting for the arrival of the boat that was to take us on a panoramic tour of the lake. The tour of the lake was nice and relaxing, the more so because it was accompanied by a refreshing glass of wine. It just had to be done

For that evening’s meal, we chose to return to the same restaurant that we ate in on our first evening in Lucerne. Thunderstorms were imminent so, to keep dry, we sat outside but underneath an overhanging roof. A number of Swiss army officer cadets from a nearby training school were occupying a large table in the restaurant. This made service for us a little slower than our first experience there.

Earlier, we had tried to check in online for our return flight with the intention of avoiding the problems we had incurred on our outward journey. Technology problems made this a little difficult so we abandonded it until after dinner when I insisted we try again!  We checked in successfully only three hours after the earliest time that we could have and took the last two seats that were adjacent to each other.  We also noticed that very few seats remained available after we had secured ours. I wonder how many people didn’t get a seat on the flight…

Our usual bar was full of Swiss army officer cadets, milling around, so plan B was put into action which, just around the corner, led to the discovery of another bar that was full of locals and had a nice, relaxing atmosphere.

I could hear the officer cadets partying underneath my hotel bedroom window and indulging in what sounded like drinking games well into the night…

It just had to be done

The day started out with some very persistent and irritating mobile phone calls and texts.  Unfortunately I wasn’t close enough to the canal, once again I had the urge to surgical remove the phone and dispose of it!!  After breakfast I retired to the hotel garden with my camera until the phone calls stopped.

After that we strolled into the walled city to visit the ‘museum of torture’ which came highly recommended by some New Zealanders who had been in the hotel lounge the previous night.  The museum was interesting and horrific in equal measures (a post on the museum is coming soon).

Then we took a leisurely stroll through La Cite across the old bridge to the town of Carcassonne.  When we got there we took in the Neptune Fountain, the cathedral (unfortunately shut due to renovations), the churches and the art museum before making our way back over the old bridge back to the hotel.  What came next, just had to be done…  A game of Carcassonne within view of the city walls.

Dinner was in a delightful restaurant within the city walls that gave the option to have different wines served with each course to compliment the dishes chosen.  For my main course I had sea-bass and vegetables and for my desert I had a chocolate bomb mouse which had chocolate sauce poured over it, at the table.  It melted into taste heaven especially when accompanied with the red Grenache that was served with the desert.

After the meal we set up the game.  Name cards were produced for the people who were taking part (these can be seen below).  I am not at all sure about mine!!!

We play a house rule that makes it more likely to encounter legendary pirates, which are very powerful.   This meant that there were quite a few battles,  both with the legendary pirates and between the players. After fierce competition, I was pipped at the post by single fame point after lagging behind for most of the game.

A fun evening was had by all

PS:  In the offing is a pirate themed party so I wonder what the house will look like next time I visit…

I hope you enjoy the separate garden rooms in Burton Agnes garden

Some of you will already know that I am very fond of board games and that I have quite a collection of them. Snakes and Ladders isn’t usually a game I would play, my usual choice is a strategy game. It was however fun to play because it was hidden away in Burton Agnes Garden. I am not sure I was supposed to win though   My board game collection as it looked a couple of years ago can be found here.

I shall post some more photos of the garden with a bit of background information in the next few days.

I could have kicked myself earlier today, I had the ideal opportunity for a photo to fit this week’s PhotoHunt theme.  I had been playing the board game ‘Twilight Struggle’ which re-enacts the cold war struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Twilight Struggle is a two-player game simulating the forty-five year dance of intrigue, prestige, and occasional flares of warfare between the Soviet Union and the United States. The entire world is the stage on which these two titans fight to make the world safe for their own ideologies and ways of life. The game begins amidst the ruins of Europe as the two new “superpowers” scramble over the wreckage of the Second World War, and ends in 1989, when only the United States remained standing.

Well on this occasion things didn’t go according to plan and I reached 20 victory points half way through the game which meant immediate victory to me and I was playing the Soviet Union!!!  I had thoroughly licked my opponent.  I didn’t think of photographing the event until I had put the game away.

I was left wondering what to post when the following New Years Message arrived on my mobile.  I am not quite sure what the sender is trying to tell me…

For more of this weeks PhotoHunt pictures check out tnchick.