Norfolk here we come!

This weekend we’re heading off to sunny Norfolk for our family holiday and I can’t wait. That’s partly because I’m absolutely pooped. Or to use my well-worn catchphrase: ‘My face is falling off from tiredness.’ To be fair, it’s never actually fallen off. However, I do believe it’s starting to move a little further south. I’m sure it’s not where I left it last year. Thankfully, it’s moving at a ‘glacial pace’ at the moment. Let’s just hope the rising summer temperatures don’t speed things up.

Blog break here I come.

Anyway, suffice it to say, I’m ready for a break. I do love my blogging life, but getting my blog off the ground over the last 8 months hasn’t been 9 to 5 but more like 6am-11pm, with intervals of family time and a few hours of sleep in between.  I know things will settle down eventually, but so far it’s been ‘full on’. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never been afraid of hard work, but I do need to start setting some boundaries. After all, my career change is supposed to be about having more time to do what I love and be with those I love.

That’s why I’ve been making sure I get everything set up so I can walk away and enjoy a well-deserved rest.  I’ve scheduled a few posts, I’ve buffered a few tweets and apart from pinging a few photos of our adventures to my social media accounts, I plan to maintain ‘radio silence’.

I want to devote my time to family while we are away and ‘simply be’. I realise I’ve been spoiled these last months because they’ve been so supportive and understanding as I’ve poured hours into Maflingo. It’s certainly a season of my life that’s been unseasonably busy…But it’s their time now. It’s time to walk away from electronic devices and enjoy my lovely family and a week of rest and relaxation.

I’ll admit, it’s difficult to walk away from my blog at the moment because I’m finally starting to see the first signs of progress. I’ve had the chance to work with some fantastic companies already and there are more things on the horizon. Plus, I’ve tried really hard over the last eight months to make Maflingo worth visiting (I hope). That’s why it feels like I’m walking away from a spinning plate. I worry that left to its own devices, the plate will gradually get slower and slower until it wobbles, falls off the fragile stick that’s been holding it up and smashes into a million pieces. *Drama queen*

I hope that’s not the case. I hope I’ve put enough ‘oomph’ and effort into my blog to ‘keep it spinning’, albeit a little more slowly, until I return. By which time I’ll be rejuvenated, refreshed and raring to go!

Caravanning in the Queen’s back garden.

Sandringham Palace, Norfolk. (Photo by Jane Taylor)

So, we’re off in Penny the caravan to Sandringham, Norfolk. We won’t actually be in the Queen’s back garden but it’s right next door to the Sandringham Estate. It’s such a beautiful part of the world and there’s so much to see and do.  Our caravan site is in the perfect spot because although it’s a longish walk, you can wander along the scenic footpaths and trails all the way to Sandringham Palace.

Sandringham 2011.

It isn’t the first time we’ve stayed at the Sandringham Caravan Club site, but if you read my Northumberland post (here), you’ll know it may be one of our last.

Whilst looking through some of my old photographs for this post, I found the ones from our very first trip to Sandringham five years ago. I love looking back at old photographs and as I flicked through the images, I realised how much our girls have grown since then. Sandringham ‘Mark 1’ seems like only yesterday, but the photos tell a different story. Here are some of my favourite images from Sandringham 2011.

Penny the Sterling Europa touring caravan on Sandringham Caravan Club Site

Richard, Beth (wearing Richard’s Jumper) and Emily standing in front of Sandringham Palace, Norfolk, 2011. Beth is only 2 inches shorter than Richard now.

Sadly, we’ve started to outgrow our caravan.  Beth may only be thirteen years old, but at almost 5 ft 9 inches, she’s taller than me and shares my size 8 shoe size. Consequently, she can’t even fit into the bunk beds at the back of our caravan without bending her legs! How did that happen? How did she grow up so fast and grow so tall? She’s even started wearing my shoes and clothes now, although I think I get the better deal as her shoes are much nicer than mine!

Getting ready to go.

Knowing we may only have another year or two of caravanning left in us is bittersweet. As I’ve said before, I love the freedom that our caravan holidays bring. They ‘reunite us’ and bond us together again as a family and I love the fact I’m not limited to a 20kg baggage allowance! Hoorah!

If I can fit it in the caravan or the roof box, I’m taking it. – Jane Taylor, (a mother who likes to pack for every eventuality and weather condition)

So, I’m dusting off my Excel ‘Caravan Holiday Checklist’ spreadsheet (Nope. Not even joking) so I can begin my packing marathon in earnest. I’m spurred on by thoughts of Sandringham, Sheringham, Cromer, Brancaster beach, Old Hunstanton and a fist full of National Trust properties waiting to be explored.

Apart from some virtual postcards from the Maflingo archives next week, let me bid you all ‘So long! Farewell! Auf wiedersehen! Adieu!’

And as Jim Kerr from Simple Minds crooned,

‘Don’t you forget about me…’

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NOTE: Unless otherwise stated, these photos are the property of Jane Taylor and must not be copied or shared without permission.

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