The weather has been incredibly hot over the last week with temperatures of 30 -31 degrees. Far too hot for comfort. Yesterday the weather men predicted warm weather but with cloud and rain so we thought we'd head to the coast to visit 'Himself's' niece. Car loaded for all eventualities, we actually managed to set off at the time I said we'd leave. Miracle! Driving towards Norfolk the cloud layer thinned and the sun broke through.

We arrived at Debbies with none of the traffic holdups we were expecting on the road towards the coast, especially along the notorious Arcle Straight. So after a reviving cup of coffee we headed towards Gorlston to a Pub serving a Sunday Roast Carvery. No 2 son DJ has got his appetite back and tucked away an enormous plateful of food.

Suitably stuffed we hoped to take a relaxing walk along Gorlston beach. Parking was unexpectedly easy and we walked down to the beach only to be met with a swarm of minute flying black beetles. They were a horrendous nightmare so we beat a hasty retreat back to the car, brushing the little beasties off us. Flicking the little horrors out of the car window all the way we thought we'd try out luck at Great Yarmouth's sea front.

Parking again was easy and we had a pleasant walk along the sea front until we stopped at Debbie's favourite sea front cafe called Gloria's for a cup of tea. As soon as we had sat down the 'beasties' struck again. I think this time we only caught the edge of the swarm that blew in with the wind from the sea, so they didn't cause us too much irritation this time.

D.J. and Debbie have always got along well and have a soft spot for each other since they we're kids so they they walked and chatted and chatted and walked while we tagged along at a gentler pace behind.

It was a lovely day 'beastie's' aside, not too hot and a gentle sea breeze to keep things cooler. Refreshing and relaxing.

It would have been better still if we could have stayed on Gorleston's beach as Yarmouth has been allowed to develop in an unattractive way. Somehow Yarmouth town Planners must have been sleep walking over the last 40 years and allowed the developers to do as they please. When I was a Kid it was a really attractive place, a pleasure to visit but serious planning lapses have allowed it to become an ugly mishmash of ghastly buildings. Not a place to be proud of at all.