Friday, 13 August 2021

At last its SPRING & nearly the SUMMER 2021

 A lovely part of the year just past winter with the freshness of Spring head long into what we hope will be a sunny summer and always a bevvy of birthdays across the families. We only have a small patch of a garden with one flower bed but this year it looked magnificent; established roses, clematis and magnolia embellished with the season of daffodils then pansies marigolds and dahlias. Beautiful blast of colours for both seasons; I then enjoy a later evening wander dead heading for half an hour, enough gardening for me.




In contrast gardening at our seaside holiday home is painting stones; I’m not allowed any plants, Jerry says! Gathered a few more and enjoyed the young children who stop to look. I can now say I have found my first echinoid (a fossil sea urchin) my piece is well worn and my longest belonite at 9cm! I always put my strava on to record my wanderings and find the map intriguing with a low tide as it looks like I have been walking on water. There has been a bit of blokey gadget parade going on, particularly to find a compact whilst credible lawn mower, being an extensive topic of conversation which then turned into a couple of weekends of prowess grass cutting; as battery envy was gloated over. Recent additions to our caravan gardening!








Birthdays come in a abundance for us; Dylan has turned 11 yrs and is prepared for the summer with another lockdown birthday although slightly more relaxed as we savoured a family tea party with grandparents, hope you enjoy his video.

Trusting you will see on the video Nanny Pat was blessed with a birthday cake, and Nanny Sandra celebrated her birthday gift at the caravan site where we are with a lovely celebratory weekend and a Pepperpot take away meal; a vegetarian meal Grandad Kevin has no grumble at. Whilst Jerry was whisked off for a luxury night away to Congham Hall; when I was reminded given the right circumstances (luxury suite, champagne gorgeous food) together we can party hard having a tremendous time; it took more than a few moments to get over but loved it.




This term has been about waiting Dylan’s confirmation for his  ‘big’ school placement which we are very pleased is Wymondham College; one of the few bonuses of covid as the net of acceptance has been much wider locally this year due to reduce numbers of international students. There is a little posse of Dylan’s class going to the same school which for Dylan has taken the edge off a few of the nerves, hopefully! It is feeling like a big step for him as he is a lad who is not keen on change and because of covid all of the usual preparations can not take place whilst at primary school. Anyway whole new uniform ordered ready to be worn and practice sessions on tying a tie.

First time in my self employed years (being nearly 7 years) I am working closer to home so close I am home every night; at Kings Lynn doing what I usually do whilst based in the team who support the management of projects (PMO) across the hospital. This is different and has taken some adapting; I am use to being in either Medicine or Operations division which means you become very involved in supporting the given days delivery of service issues within the realms of your task. Whereas with Kings Lynn arrangement the focus is the other way around; it is all about delivering the project and the issues of today is ‘business as usual’ therefore fall squarely with the clinical team to adapt. The struggle I have had is firstly I am a bit displaced from the operational issues of the day and don’t necessarily know what is going on unless I find out for myself. Secondly PMO is a black and white science whereas Operations is grey; so its been an ‘interesting’ approach. Such interesting people in the team too as our common ground is our respective project, which are all very different so working with a real mixed bunch of people; belly-laughing and support is brilliant but the political contriving can be exhausting. Got a personable ‘Work Mum’ Lorraine, looks out for her team very giving lady, I believe a friend for life. The adapting at home has gone well; we have not really fallen out considering I am home every night, there was the risk of upsetting the blokes routine!

We had a terrible shock as Rebecca was in a very nasty accident on her way to Norwich one lunch time; Milo & Rebecca appear to be living between the two respective homes and they had just returned to us following lockdown, so really pleased to have them around again. Her little white Aygo skipped into the line of an oncoming car and poor Rebecca came out of it very badly; a number of cracked bones but most savagely injured was her elbow and eye socket. The police have not charged her stating it was an unfortunate event and there is no doubt Rebecca has been very lucky to come out of the accident still breathing; now four months later her surgeon is happy she has recovered and can go back to work. The human body is an extraordinary marvel!; she is a happy smiley lovely lady and going from strength to strength, looking forward to living her life. Pictures below are pretty shocking!


As the lock down was lifted Dylan with his class mates was able to attend their school trip they were hoping would be Derbyshire but turned out to be grateful with Manor Farm at Dereham (approx. 10 miles from home). It was that period of time when it was pouring with rain one moment then blazing sun the next, so a full packed bag including kit for river activities, resulting in this effort of packed bag on his return!

Our first caravan holiday of the year being May half term and we had Lauren’s daughter India come to enjoy time with us; she is a delight making compatible cousin friends with Dylan. India’s Nana (Vanessa) came to pick her up with her bonny sisters, Esmia & Lucia, a thrill to see the joy on their faces with the opportunity to play in the sea. Hope you enjoy the short video of those water babies.


Finally it was a real thrill to be able to invite my brother Richard & Sophie with their adorable little Vivienne out for lunch; this being our introductory meet of 7 month old Viv. It is always frabjous to meet a new member of the family especially when they are chatty and smiley, a real beaut of a baby. We enjoyed an afternoon out for lunch together, catching up and relishing our time together. My present for nieces and nephews etc has progressed from baby quilts to an embellished cushion; looking like baby Viv enjoyed her cushion, bless her! As an interesting update on the other new baby in the family being Poppy; hoping Jake & Nicola don’t mind I have pulled this recent picture posted to share.






Jake, Nicola, Maxwell & baby Poppy

If you have enjoyed my words and pictures, even watched the video’s then please do let me know by replying to my email message or leave a comment on the blog if you can. 


To view more of the blog and see posts from the past then follow this link https://nicolajsteggles.blogspot.com/ and view Blog Archieve

If my videos have impressed you and you want to see more go to my YouTube channel to view more  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAaA11OvuJjl7mG35HCqwxw

Friday, 4 June 2021

Winter Lockdown 2020-21 - (June 2021)

It’s a bit late but nonetheless perhaps the right time to consider our winter as we are very nearly out of lockdown again, we all hope for the very last time. Meeting up indoors; over a cuppa and cake,  a meal with a glass of wine or beer in a café or pub is the new treat as we follow the one way systems with masks and social distancing remaining until June. Certainly a treat for me as thinking about food has done me in; I long to be served what I have picked and then go home!

A ‘vlog’ of our family celebrations; Milo’s birthday, Christmas and generally playing in the freezing, icy weather, hope you enjoy 😊

Looking back at our ‘Winter in Lockdown’ there has been a lot of events that didn’t happen and Christmas was a much quieter affair, finding perhaps more irritating ways to enjoying ourselves depending on who you are! There are so many events which have not happened it’s an alarming thought they might all happen within the same period of time, outstanding for me is;

  • Tom Jones @ Newmarket, with Vanessa & Steven
  • Cliff Richard with mum @ Royal Albert Hall
  • Beautiful South @ Wembley, a free show for NHS staff with Angie
  • Lionel Ritchie @ South Bank London, again with Angie
  • End of the Pier Cromer Show
  • Sandringham Estate Proms

I think it will be watch this space!

After the summer holidays I returned to my contract in Poole but not long until I was approached to support a previous colleague in the roll out of a Patient Flow programme of delivery, closer to home being North West London. A journey, in relative terms just touches the M25 and half the journey to the south coast, but a humongous challenge in both delivery demands and total difference in organizational culture. In essence although the sentiment of the contracts were the same, the two teams were starkly different like ‘chalk & cheese’; embraced by one, then how hard I had to work for the other team to eventually be accepted and respected reflected by an amazing sendoff of kind words and gifts, very touching.

The second contract in North West London, one of the covid hot-spots in London. I found a place to stay between the two hospital bases, which turned into a regular walk to and from the further hospital, a five mile stride! At some points I thought I was walking through an Indian town with Wembley Stadium as the back drop. It was one of those moments when I really enjoyed the stark differences between where I worked and what I came home to, busy grey international vibe of living in London to the green calm softer tones of Norfolk. This picture is of the River Brent I crossed at Alperton daily; partially frozen in January.

The lockdown came in a wave and at its height (mid-Dec 20 to end Jan 21), I don’t believe I have ever worked so hard in the whole of my nursing career. Christmas holidays cut short and working every second weekend with relentless long shifts. As the pressure increased in the high profile teams (A&E/ITU) the ripple came down the line to deliver the available bed capacity. The role became an operational delivery rather than Patient Flow transformation, to create an available bed for the next patient. This intense operational delivery model got us through whilst continuing to maintain our improved position on the London wide matrix of Patient Flow standards. Brilliant achievements but exhausting times.

On the cusp of lockdown we were still enjoying our caravan from the summer, with Ma n Pa (Sandra and Kevin) squeezing in a trip to join us for the weekend before Boris impounded us all again! They enjoyed their motorhome whilst we spent time together; a take away meal which was out of this world from the Pepperpot exquisite French cuisine, introduced to the hidden skills of fossil hunting then exhibiting artistic prowess in stone painting. Really delightful time together to be repeated, hopefully soon.


There have been a couple of new babies come in to the family through the lockdowns, which has been a strange experience in not being able to meet them and quite curious for their parents in finding new ways to share their little one. My brother Richard and his lovely lady Sophie shared the arrival of Vivienne very early October, keeping us all informed every step of the pregnancy and then some really heart warming pictures and video snippets through out her past eight months. We met baby Viv for the first time just this last May bank holiday weekend, a beautiful happy delightful chatty little girl getting ready to rock the world. Vanessa and Steven welcomed a new grandchild from Jake and Nicola, baby Polly who has now turned one year old in the Spring. Unfortunately I have not met yet as no family gatherings permitted but by all accounts a beautiful placid delight, so looking forward to that family party to say hello!

Baby Vivienne

Baby Polly

Finally I squeezed in an acceptable ‘Boris’ sized family meal to celebrate my Sunday birthday before lockdown at our local pub, included parents and my boys with Milo’s lovely Rebecca. A nice celebration, you forget how grateful you are for these moments until not available to you!

We managed to acknowledge Mother’s Day, with some beautiful bouquets and then Milo presented me with an afternoon tea he and Rebecca had made, under the supervision of Rebecca’s mum. By the time I was back from my bike ride the table was laid with table cloth my bone china (not used very often, even surprised he knew where it was) and lots of homemade delicacies. A surprise, wonderful treat and felt much loved.



Finally a major bonus of the past lockdown winter is after ten plus years I have finally finished my Seasons Quilt, every stitch is done by hand and the design has grown with me over the years. It was locked away in a box when Milo mentioned it so I looked for it, Jerry helped me find the straight edges to then complete the last leg of edging and backing in the 2020 motif of rainbows. Its quite a weight and size, check out below how the quilt is above Dylan's head! We have enjoyed a family cuddle on a weekend movie moment, but now the qulit is tucked away in a cupboard until I know what to do with it. What do you think?



If you have enjoyed my words and pictures, even watched the video’s then please do let me know by replying to my email message or leave a comment on the blog if you can. 

To view more of the blog and see posts from the past then follow this link https://nicolajsteggles.blogspot.com/ and view Blog Archieve

If my videos have impressed you and you want to see more go to my YouTube channel  to view more  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAaA11OvuJjl7mG35HCqwxw



Friday, 22 January 2021

Our Surfing Summer in August 2020 - January 2021

When warm sunny days seems so far away it seems a good idea to share our summer fun at the seaside to hopefully bring a smile to your face and lift your spirits for a moment.

We spent just a few weekends after Lockdown 1 at West Runton at the caravan settling into our weekend retreat catching up with old friends and kindling new friendships, before the whole of August at the seaside. What a treat that was and keen to keep repeating, so hoping Lockdown 2 allows another August to indulge ourselves in 2021.

Dylan had not been at school for the whole of Lockdown 1 so by the time August came he was really missing his school mates, even recognizing himself how 'down' he was feeling stating he hadn't had any proper interaction with another child for 6months. A long time for a young fella, his constant being Jerry, which brings positives and negatives (tongue in cheek!). So we invited his mate Henry to join us for a few days, really good company together.

Enjoying the sea and beach was our focus, got Dylan (and Henry when with us) into Glide Surf School at Cromer. Dylan really improved over the month having a number of lessons and surf school for the week. An enjoyable experience to watch too with a coffee and cake (for Jerry of course!) particularly as Dylan's confidence grew and he just kept getting up and going back out on his board to have another go. 

Looking for fossils has turned into a 'must' activity on West Runton beach for us now, no longer can we go for a good striding walk as always looking at our feet for what fossil we might find. In the video below Dylan is holding a Great Elk or Deer antler found in the Red Crag, a geographical formation up to 2.5million years old. So the antler found was older than the West Runton Mammoth and enjoyed by those who know what they are talking about in the fossil world. We regularly find belemnites (marine animal tail) but at the moment my hope is to find a good quality econode (sea urchin). Jerry has started an old past time of polishing stones and semi precious crystals. As a family we are enjoying painting stones we find at the beach and then decorate around our caravan, which we aim to be off set with the polished stones.

We did some walking, enjoyed all the local eateries for mainly breakfast or lunch and some take away options too. Think we visited them all in West Runton from: Dormy, Corner House, Pepper Pot, Rocky Bottoms, The Links, to Wills Plaice in East Runton and The Feathers in Holt following a steam train ride to return again.

Along with the steam train ride on the Poppy Line from Sheringham to Holt. We visited the Shire Horse Sanctuary in West Runton, lots of animals basking in the sun and shade with some local historical vehicles and equipment, photos and articles. Another time we stretched ourselves to Muckleburgh Military Collection: thrilling for a boy very interested in modern historical warfare, seeing so much artillery in the same place blew his mind! Then we booked ourselves into the Broads Museum at Stalham, with a ride on the steam boat on the Broads, interesting perspective of the Broads, saw a Coypu now extinct even stuffed quite alarming.

In essence a beautiful time; catching up with old friends (Libby & Maz) making many new friends and a few visitors through the month some staying and some just for the day whist the weather was good. The weather turned stormy for some of the time too which meant in doors playing and the purchase of a heating rail system to cope with wet clothes/towels. 

Perfect times!

This video is a good representation of our August holiday, hope you enjoy :)


If you have enjoyed my words and pictures, even watched the video’s then please do let me know by replying to my email message or leave a comment on the blog if you can.

If my videos have impressed you and you want to see more go to my YouTube channel and press on ‘Uploads’ and you can see them all: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAaA11OvuJjl7mG35HCqwxw