The last time I saw my sisters was the 30th April 2023, its been far too long. As soon as I knew my new house was finalised, I booked this trip up and managed to get reasonably priced flights. It was a good job I had booked to fly, as I wouldn't have been taking the Northlink ferry and driving south with no car! I had NHS annual leave that had to be used up by the 31st March, so it was a good time to book and before Spring migration hits Shetland. Mind you, if I don't get a car sorted out soon, I will only be seeing birds in Scalloway!
Friday 15th March
When I booked the trip up, I was planning to drive to Sumburgh Airport, but with no car and taxis being insanely expensive, Jill and Rob very kindly said they would take me to the airport, which I obviously paid them some petrol money for. Jill and Rob arrived at 6.45am to take me to Sumburgh Airport – we arrived at 7.20am.
Flight left Sumburgh at 8.20am and arrived at Aberdeen at 10.25am. I had several hours to kill where I bought some lunch in one of the restaurants and then the next flight left at 14.10 and arrived at Norwich Airport at 15.30. Walked a few yards to catch the park and ride bus to the main bus station in Norwich which cost £3. Then caught the Excel 16.00 bus to King’s Lynn which only cost £2, which was insanely cheap and a very comfortable journey, which is unusual for a bus, in fact I was able to sleep for most of the journey. I arrived in King’s Lynn at around 18.00.
Walked with all my luggage to the Bishop Lynn House Apartments in the market place. A man walking into the building described it as a 'strange place' and tipped me off that he had been told not to use the lifts out of 'office hours' in case they got stuck. So I had to walk up several flights of stairs to Room 8 where I had to put a 4 digit code into the keysafe box. There was a large pool of water on the carpet next to the lift close to my door. Inside the apartment, it was all white and looked modern, but this is all it was. I was horrified to find that the only radiator was set at 14 degrees and didn't work anyway - it was colder in that apartment than in an uninsulated house in Shetland with no heating! It was icy cold. I texted Orcacle Property (they don't answer the phone if you ring) and they assured me the heating was working and was serviced two days ago – this was a load of bo**ocks! I was exhausted and feeling very angry and fed up. I laid down on one of the two single beds to decide what to do. The linen was cold and damp. I investigated and to my horror discovered the mattresses were brown, filthy and stained with what looked like bed bugs!! I felt sick. There was also food stuck to the unstable table and one of the two bar stools. There was mould on the wall in the bathroom and the toilet roll holder was rusty. The fridge freezer smelt and had not been defrosted for ages. Lots of long texts back and forth to ‘owners’, awful and negative replies back from them, which I'm not even going to go into they were so awful. I texted the owners to say I was leaving and I wanted a full return on my money and my deposit – their reply was that they would have to speak to the manager in the morning. All the replies from Oracle Property were badly written, very poor English and some of them didn't make sense. I left.
Very stressed, I ended up going to the Globe Hotel to ask if they had any accommodation. I was too exhausted to make any decisions about anything and Vivien and Ray very kindly said I could come and stay with them on the narrow boat for a couple of nights. I then had to walk very quickly through the dodgy streets of King’s Lynn and catch the 10.42pm train to Littleport, where Vivien and Ray met me on the platform – I was almost in tears at this point and we instantly had a group hug, which was very much needed. So lovely to see them both and I couldn’t stop giving Vivien several hugs.
Vivien and Ray have a brilliantly designed table with two bench seats either side that fold into a double bed that is firm and super comfortable and this is where I slept for the night and the following night.
Saturday 16th March
Ray made me a cup of tea whilst I was still in bed, not used to this service, what a treat! After breakfast we caught the 11.06 train to King’s Lynn. On route I saw a Common Buzzard, Great White Egret and 2 Robins. It was boiling hot, well that’s how it felt to me, I could really feel the difference from being in Shetland – double the temperature I'm used to, far too hot! Ray went on ahead to save us a table in the Wetherspoons pub and Vivien and I walked to Lucy’s. Lucy was already outside where she lived and I rushed to hug her – it felt very emotional to see her and she looked really well. So lovely to see both my sisters again. We walked to The Globe/Wetherspoons pub and there were so many people around, which I am not used to, it almost felt claustrophobic. The pub was packed out with people. As soon as we had booked our lunch I nipped out to go to the awful accommodation to see if anyone was in reception – nobody there to speak too. Lots of post on the reception desk all addressed to lots of different people. This place is not what is seems I feel. Anyway, I returned to the pub, just in time for our meals to be served – a very nice lunch at a reasonable price. Very busy, hot day!!! After lunch we returned to the accommodation – I didn’t want Lucy or Vivien going in there, so Ray went in with me and again no-one at reception. I seriously don’t believe there is anyone ever on reception, its just made to look like that. Ray noted bare wiring in the reception area. A lady appeared in reception who spoke no English and spoke with us via a translating app on her phone. Long story short, she said she was a cleaner (she was wearing very high heels and without saying any more, did not look like a cleaner. As we left the building she got into a black car with a man and drove off.
We then went into the Globe Hotel reception to ask advice about my situation and both Sheyanne and Chris were extremely helpful with finding a number for Booking.com (impossible to find on the net) which is 02035 646725, so I could speak to a manager about my awful accommodation I had booked through them. I managed to speak to a Manager and he was very helpful indeed and said he would contact the company to request a full refund, but he had to wait for 24 hours for them to reply. I also sent lots of pictures to booking.com so they could see the dire accommodation that guests were expected to sleep in.
This was extremely stressful to sort out and because of poor signal was cut off several times and had to keep phoning back. Lucy, Vivien and Ray really didn’t need to be hearing all this. Lucy was very supportive actually, but then she decided to walk home.
Ray, Vivien and I went into a coffee shop to decide what to do about everything. Then we went to Lucy’s where we enjoyed some Shetland cakes I had bought with me for them, which everyone very much enjoyed. Ray and Vivien then went to the train station. Vivien was stressed to hear that I wanted to walk back to the The Globe to book there for the rest of my stay and said ‘there is no way you will catch the 7.42 train with us.
I returned to the Globe and booked Room 104, which was a large room shown to me earlier and paid the entire fee. I then sped back through the town and got on the train at 7.42pm to join Vivien and Ray. Vivien could not believe I had managed to catch the train – amazing what you can achieve when you are angry!
Had my second night on the boat and slept much better than the previous night.
Sunday 17th March
Woke up to a cup of tea from Ray and then a second one later from Vivien! Not used to this, excellent service. Packed up the bed and returned it to the table and bench seats and then had marmalade and toast for breakfast with Vivien, whilst Ray had to go to Ely to pick up his son’s car (long story). I spent the morning replying to booking.com and sent a ton of pictures of the atrocious accommodation. I was very pleased to have an email from them, confirming I would get a full refund, but this did not include my £100 deposit for any damage caused to the accommodation, which was listed as being returned after you leave. The company had texted to me to say they would not being returning this as I had stayed and it was needed for the cleaning fee!!!!! I texted back saying I didn't stay (had already told them this) and they wanted me to pay the cleaning fee for the disgusting mattresses?! I can assure you they will be paying my deposit back!!!
After having lunch with Vivien and Ray on their boat, I eventually got going and caught the 3.32pm train to King’s Lynn. As I walked with all my luggage through the bus station I spotted Alison and Terry – I worked with Alison in the Stroke Community Team at the QEH, it was so lovely to see her and we hugged a few times. Alison was horrified when I showed her the pictures of the accommodation that I had booked, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
Arrived at The Globe Hotel and checked in. I had booked and paid for Room 104 yesterday and this is where I will be staying until Tuesday 29th March. I had already been shown this room yesterday and it looked like a room at The Ritz, compared with the hovel I was supposed to be staying in. This room was very very nice. Huge dressing table, which I have turned into a desk for my laptop. A stunning and large bathroom. A double bed with a very firm mattress, massive TV on wall that I can watch from my bed if I want to. Open design wardrobe, ironing board and iron (won’t be using that!) and an armchair by the window overlooking the market place. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, kettle and bottled water also in the room. Free Wifi and it all looks immaculate. Very handy being part of the Wetherspoons pub too!
After unpacking all may gear on the third day of my trip, I finally started to feel settled. Had some food I bought from Greggs and then walked to Lucy’s to spend some time with her this evening. Brought her a cake and we sat and chatted in her room for quite some time. Left and walked back to the hotel and started typing up the last three blogs posts.
Monday 18th March
Vivien came over on the train as we had some important stuff to sort out which took an hour and a half. We then had a lovely lunch in the Wimpy and then after doing odd things around town, we caught the 13.28 bus to Heacham to visit our dear family friend Malcolm, whom I have not seen since his wife Eileen passed away on 25th August last year. He met us at the bus stop in his new sporty electric orange car and took us back to his house, where we had a really lovely time chatting about everything from photography, nature, the ‘good old days’, happy memories of days at HBO, putting the world to rights etc. Malcolm was the perfect host and made us coffees and gave us some naughty cakes. Malcolm’s garden is absolutely stunning, he has a huge nature pond and water feature in the garden with established planting to encourage nature. His Forsythia was out in in full bloom and there was quite a bit of Spring colour in the garden.
Later on Malcolm very kindly drove me to Dersingham and dropped me off at my lovely neighbours from King’s Lynn and then he took Vivien to the train station where she headed home to Littleport.
I spent about two and a half hours chatting with Anne and Lewis, who both looked really well and also their dog Molly and a visiting dog who growled a few times and didn’t seem to like me at all?! I caught the 9.28pm bus back to King’s Lynn and then walked back to my hotel via McDonalds!
Tuesday 19th March
Ray and Vivien arrived to pick me up at 9.45am in a borrowed family car, Lucy declined to join us. Went to Holme and parked on the NOA car park. Walked across to the dunes and then ambled along the path through the pines and then across to the observatory. Unruly dogs off leads, nothing changed. Gary Elton, Assistant Warden said “I didn’t expect to see that face today”. I bought the 2022 NOA report to add to my collection. Gary told us that it was his last day as Assistant Warden here.
Little Egret, Tufted Ducks, Teal, Mallard, Little Grebe, Black-headed Gulls, Long-tailed Tits, Great Tit, Robins, Marsh Harriers seen around the reserve. We had our lunch at Holme NWT. Very warm, too warm for me. We then went to Holme Marsh NWT (village hides), which was a very interesting muddy walk down the initial track to the first kissing gate. This was our mothers favourite place in her latter years, so it felt very special to Vivien and I as we walked around. Sadly, very little seen from the hides, but there were some Egyptian Geese, a Canada Goose, Cetti's Warbler and Chiffchaffs singing. We left and Vivien and Ray dropped me off at my hotel.
Wednesday 20th March
Got up late and had a veggie breakfast in Wetherspoons. Bought some tops and trousers (to cope with the hot weather), new earrings and then went to visit Lucy for an hour and a half in her room and bought us some chocolate eclairs to eat, which she enjoyed very much.
I had arranged a meet up with my work colleagues in The Dukes Head Hotel at 5pm as soon as I had booked the trip. This gave people plenty of notice if they wanted to catch up with me. I had no idea how many would turn up, but it was so lovely to see Lauren, Rhiannon, Hilary, Sarah B., Suzy, Bev, Ellie and Poppy! Later on Bev, Hilary, Suzy and I went to Wetherspoons to have a meal together which was very nice. We all departed and I returned to my room and fell asleep.
Thursday 21st March
Went on the train with Lucy to visit Vivien and Ray on their narrow boat. Lucy, was not in the best of moods initially, but switched to happy Lucy when she spotted lots of animals and birds on route. We had a delicious lunch made by Ray, including his best ever coleslaw on the boat. After eating and chatting, Lucy and I returned to King's Lynn and Lucy headed home. I popped into M&S and bought some earrings and then spent the evening in my hotel room.
Friday 22nd March
Vivien came over on the train and along with Lucy we went on the 11am bus to Castle Rising and had a lovely lunch at the Castle Rising Tearooms. We had a room upstairs all to ourselves which was nice. The place was packed out. Left at 2.45pm and got off at the train station. Lucy walked home and Vivien and I went into town, Vivien then went back to Littleport on the train and I went back to my hotel.
Spent the evening at Hilary’s having pizza and a catch-up, which included having 😉😂 to watch the 1975’s in concert and Hilary singing along! Nice to see her son Elliot and meet his lovely girlfriend Molly. Later on Hilary took me back to my hotel.
Saturday 23rd March
Lovely sunny, but very cold day, which felt fabulous and more like Shetland! Caught the 7.30am Coastliner bus to Wells arriving at 9.22am. Then caught the 9.45am Coasthopper bus to Salthouse arriving at 10.16am. Walked north along Beach Road and saw Chaffinches, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Little Egret and a Wheatear. Met up with John F, who very kindly gave me two very kind late birthday presents, a pair of blue glass earrings and an hanging Ivory Gull made by Emma Buck. We had a lovely amble to Gramborough Hill, where we saw nothing of particular note, but it was great to be back here. Meadow Pipit seen and on the pool were 2 Ringed Plovers and 2 Dunlin, which was nice to see. Returned to Beach Road and John left.
Pete S. picked me up in his car and we, along with Eddie a short while later had a lovely catch up over lunch at The Kelling Tea Rooms. Then went to Cley NWT and chatted with Bob at CleySpy and then scanned the marshes from the viewing platform and saw 2 Spoonbills and Eddie and Pete saw the Long-billed Dowitcher very distantly and briefly through their scopes. Pete then left and Eddie walked me to the bus stop. I then caught the 15.01 bus to Wells arriving at 15.24 (saw a Great White Egret at Stiffkey Flood on route) and then caught the 15.33 bus to Titchwell RSPB arriving at 16.10.
Said hello to Trevor G in the VC and then walked around the Fen Trail. Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Robin, Med Gulls, Mute Swans, Tufted Ducks, Teal, Coot, 2 Little Grebes. Freshmarsh: Garganey pair, Pochard, Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits, Black-headed Gulls, Redshanks, Ruff, Little Egret, Great White Egret, several Marsh Harriers, Cormorants, Curlews. Caught the 18.10 bus back to King’s Lynn bus station arriving back at 19.18.
Text message from Oracle Property saying they would be paying my £100 deposit back, I’ll wait until its in the bank before I believe that!
Sunday 24th March
Had a lovely sleep in after a long night of noisy Saturday festivities went on in the market place below my window!
You wouldn’t believe what I had heard today from a receptionist in my hotel! They have had three other groups of people who had booked into Bishop Lynn House Apartments, who had also walked out as I did and walked into The Globe Hotel looking for rooms!
Met up with Lucy, Vivien and Ray at Grants Restaurant in Norfolk Street to have a top draw Sunday roast. Ray and Vivien had Beef, Lucy had a Vegetable and Cheese Crumble and I had a Nut Roast with all the usual trimmings. Ray had Apple and Blackberry Crumble, Lucy had Bread & Butter Pudding and Vivien and I had Mandarin and Cointreau Trifle. Excellent food and service, couldn’t fault it in any way.
Lucy felt sleepy and didn’t want to do anything else, so walked back to her house. Vivien and Ray joined me for a cup of tea at my hotel and we had a lovely chat before they left and caught the train back to Littleport.
Although I can’t wait to get back to Shetland, I can’t believe I only have one day left with my sisters.
Monday 25th March
Lucy and Vivien met me outside M&S and we bought ourselves some lunch and then went back to my hotel room to relax and spend our last day together, before I depart early tomorrow morning. I became very emotional when they left the hotel – very difficult to leave them and to say goodbye again. Had a meal by myself in Wetherspoons adjacent to the hotel and then started packing to leave in the morning. The £100 deposit was paid back into my account today from Oracle Property. I also had a big apology message from Booking.com "I have thoroughly reviewed every detail of your complain, and it saddens me that they took that long to refund you the deposit, and I assure you that the complaint that we have raised will be a reference for our specialist team, who will investigate further. If it is found that this is a repetitive behaviour, this property will be terminated from the Booking.com website forever." So I replied back to this with the information I was given via the Globe Hotel about the three lots of other people who had walked out of the apartments this week!
Tuesday 26th March
Hotel reception very kindly phoned me at 4am to make sure I was up, it would have been far too risky to hope that I heard my mobile phone alarm. After an M&S porridge and coffee in my room, I left the hotel at 5am and walked through the streets of King’s Lynn to catch the 5.35am Excel bus (only costs £2!) to Norwich Bus Station arriving at 7.20am. Then took a pre-booked A2B Taxi (£17) to Airport to check in – I had the most bizarre conversation I have ever had in my life – the taxi driver had lots of interesting ideas and apparent 'facts' about what is going to happen the world – apparently next year will be a new beginning and that is an extremely long story short! I had to pay £20 for being overweight with my luggage, which I expected, it was 14.7kg on the way out and 16kg this morning, this due to the fact I had some clothes whilst here. I wasn't expecting it to be so hot in Norfolk in March! I could have posted a kg back to Shetland, but after postage, brown tape and packing stuff I would have spent £20 anyway! The flight left before the scheduled flight time of 8.35am and arrived at Aberdeen 25 minutes early at 9.30am (instead of 9.55am).
I then had to wait ALL day for the 17.20 flight to Sumburgh, so had a lot of time to fill. Spent some of it typing and fine tuning my trip to Norfolk up, some researching for another Skoda Fabia and some of it asleep on a long couch in a very quiet lounge I discovered!
My flight left Aberdeen at 18.20, exactly an hour late, which resulted in lots of very unhappy travellers. We landed in Orkney where some travellers got off and others got on. Hand luggage in the lockers had to be checked etc and eventually we arrived at Sumburgh, Shetland at 20.15, which resulted in me missing the last bus at 8pm to Lerwick bus station. Whilst waiting for my luggage to appear on the converyor belt I turned to ask a lady if she was travelling to Lerwick and luckily she was and very kindly offered me a lift – I am guessing it was her son with her too – huge thanks to Laura for so kindly taking me directly to Lerwick Bus station, which meant I was back on schedule to catch the 9.20am and the last bus to Scalloway, arriving at 21.50. It was hard work walking up the hill to my house with all my luggage and walked into the house at 10pm!
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