Monday 18th May 2026 - Delivered, Common Pipistrelle, On the Up, Open Studios and Sports Day

My new cooker was delivered and installed on Friday.  Not radically different from the old one, just a few different things to learn.  The biggest challenge was getting to grips with setting up the clock, combined with a timer.  In the end I ignored the instructions and found my own way around the set up.  I’ve put it through its paces, using all four burners, the grill and both ovens – but not all at the same time!  Sad as it was to see the old one go for recycling, I am very pleased with my new cooker.

Not having seen any bats crossing our garden this year, I was delighted to see one on Saturday evening.  I retrieved my bat detector and headed outside so I could confirm it was a Common Pipistrelle – it was.  Even more delighted when it cris-crossed our garden above my head.  While I was watching it, I noticed Sid, our cat, was ‘playing’ with something.  Concerned it may be a frog, which would need rescuing and popping into our pond, I walked over to find he’d caught a Maybug; it was too late to save it.

It looks as though the temperature is ‘on the up’.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed the forecast doesn’t change for the coming Bank Holiday weekend, when we have family visiting.  We have plenty of ideas of ‘things to do’ and as they enjoyed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Cromer’s Pier Pavilion last year, it was a definite ‘yes’ to go this year and see Beauty and the Beast.  Quite a lot of seats already booked but I’ve managed to get us all in the same row.  I’ve also booked for us to eat out one evening and there will, of course, be fish and chips – a must when visiting the seaside.

This Saturday, the 23^rd, sees the start of the North Norfolk Open Studios.  Three village artists, Elizabeth Coe, Joy Cole and Mark Richardson, will be opening their studios to the public.  Details of their location and the days and times they will be open are on pages 20-23 in the brochure. In addition, villager Linda Robinson will be exhibiting a selection of her artwork in The Garden House Gallery, in Garden Street in Cromer, see page 24.

In the afternoon, on Bank Holiday Monday, the Sports Club are organising a Sports Day on their field.  Earlier this year, posted on a Cromer Facebook page, were photos taken in 1976 of the village’s sports days.  Not sure if this was an annual event but if it was; it’s good to see it being revived.  I hope it will be a great success.  Instead of a photo, today I’ve included the Sports Day poster.