For a start, Norwich City won 3-1 at Q.P.R and are now just one win away from assuring themselves of finishing top of the Championship, although they made certain of promotion three games ago.
Then things in general are looking up. Popped over the Memorial Playing Field at Hethersett yesterday to take photographs of the new season for the bowls club. The croquet club was also out and it does feel as if things are beginning to return to some kind of normality.
Then in Norwich yesterday I really did look up. Somebody once said "never look at the ground, always look upwards." That's certainly good advice when in a city because there is some very interesting architecture well above eye level.
I particularly like the gargoyles on many of our medieval churches and a few of these are featured in my photo gallery today. Norwich was sunny and there were plenty of people out and about and this will continue to increase over the next few weeks.
I am beginning to look closely at the blue plaques as well. They are very informative. Two that caught my attention yesterday were to Lady Eleanor Talbot and John Harvey.
Lady Talbot c 1436-1468 a benefactress was buried in Norwich with a blue plaque to commemorate the place which is close to the River Wensum. She was also known by her married name of Eleanor Butler. She was a daughter of John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury. She was allegedly the first wife of Edward IV and sounds like a very interesting character (cue more research).
The other plaque read: "Gladstone House - home of John Harvey (1755-1842)." Harvey was Sheriff of Norwich in 1784, Mayor in 1792 and High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1825. He revived horse racing on Mousehold Heath and introduced shawl weaving to Norwich in 1791. The following details are taken from the Norwich People website:
"He was a philanthropist and, when employment decreased and the price of bread increased he, along with The Rev Gee Smyth, started a subscription to supply provisions and coals to the poor at greatly reduced prices. He revived horse racing on Mousehold Heath and started the “Thorpe Water frolic” which is depicted in a painting by Joseph Stannard. He was married to Frances the daughter of Sir Roger Kerrison of Brooke
"In 1779 he bought Thorpe Lodge, was Mayor in 1792 and High Sheriff in 1842. He was a Tory and in his mayoral year to show his pleasure in the restoration of the monarchy, on the anniversary of the revolution, he presided over a dinner at the King's Head. He made various toasts including, “ May the seeds of sedition never take root in British soil. May pain be expelled from every British bosom.”
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The buskers in Norwich really are very good. There was a ballad singer near the market and then two accomplished artists in London Street. The first was singing Puccini opera and the other doing a very good cover of Dire Straits' material.