The Hop on Hop Off bus got a good work over from us today in Norwich.

The day before we had spent with Russell’s cousin Roger Brown, down in Long Stratton. Roger is the grandson of the older brother (Number 1) of Russell’s grandfather Robert Brown (Number 8). It was interesting day of family chit-chat.

Norwich is a very easy city to amble around on and off the bus. The Norwich Cathedral was  a most impressive building, almost 900 years old. Many feet have trod its floors. Henry VIII puritans had whitewashed its interior. Many of its secrets have slowly been uncovered; the intricate painting under the whitewash, hidden artworks, carvings and engravings in the roof work.

The Cathedral from the cloisters

Inside the Cathedral

Discovered upside down serving as a table top a now priceless art work in the Cathedral

We had a great lunch at the Norwich Prison cafe. Run by rehabilitated inmates not long off release. Lester Piggott, the famous jockey, stayed here for a while for tax evasion.

Surrey House is the office of Norwich Union Assurance one of the first insurance companies the underwrote fire protection. Its foyer is almost entirely lined with magnificent marble which had been destined for Canterbury Cathedral but ended up here.

Norwich Prison

Foyer of Norwich Union Assurance

Medieval churches are all over the city as well as pubs. The Adam and Eve pub is supposedly the oldest in Britain and dates to the 1200s. We went there for dinner, but it shuts at 7 pm we got there a bit after and missed out. Maybe we were lucky!

Adam and Eve Pub

After a long day we battled back to the hotel and had dinner there. An Australian was the manager on duty. He came from Moree, had married an English girl. Originally came over to play cricket in the Norwich league. After a bit of chat we discovered he knew Steve MacGoffin  (plays for Sussex), a pace bowler who played for WA in Australian State cricket. Originally though he played junior cricket for Wests Brisbane and had faced the punishing batting of one Mitchell Brown. Small world!

We now head back to Manchester.