Maritime Weekend

The Maritime festival is held annually in Great Yarmouth in beginning of September. The chairman of the organising committee is Aileen Mobbs. Aileen is Kim’s Aunty. Aileen and Nick also run a four star hotel called the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth. This year Kim and I were invited down to the festival weekend to enjoy the occasion and support Aileen.
On Friday Afternoon we flew from Edinburgh to Norwich. Where Kim’s cousin Heidi was patiently waiting (because our plane was delayed by 90 mins) at the airport to run us to Great Yarmouth (45 mins). Kim and I were both lucky enough to stay at the hotel. We arrived at 10pm and had a late snack of sandwiches. Alan was also planning a surprise trip to Great Yarmouth, unbeknown to Aileen, Lindsay or Margaret-Jean. He arrived late Friday night so Kim and I stayed up to see him in by going for a late walk along the Great Yarmouth “Boulevard”. Great Yarmouth is a typical seaside English holiday resort, with eclectic attractions strewn down the main drag.
After sleeping fitfully, we awoke to breakfast of Kippers, scrambled eggs and a fruit sundae on the newly built Terrace. Then we walked down to the Festival. The weather was fine but breezy. We went to the opening ceremony, then explored the stalls and hopped on and off some of the boats moored alongside the wharf. The festival was really well organised, there were acrobatics, shanty singers, firing displays, people in costume and the punters were well entertained. Alan Kim and I also went on historical tour of great Yarmouth, which included a visit to the old Gaol. Following the tour we needed a bit of excitement, so we went for a speed boat ride up and down the river. Back at the hotel I went for a quick run around the track before dinner. Dinner was at the restaurant, Cafe Cru, the food was outstanding and the company even better.
Sunday we went back for some more festival action, including a private tour of the Vigilant, one of the UK’s border patrol boats. The crew were very friendly, even giving us updates on the Rugby World Cup scores. Then Kim and I went to the Great Yarmouth Boulevard for some miniputt, which Kim somehow managed to win! Then we visited the Aquarium and we saw, sharks, turtles, penguins, Catfish and other interesting aquatic species. We spent the rest of the day at the festival, relaxing, eating fudge and listening to music. At 5 p.m. after the closing ceremony, Heidi and Margaret-Jean gave us a lift to the airport. The end of a great weekend.