Portuguese upset Dereham

Image by Ginger DJ via Flickr

It was our summer visit to Norfolk. Too many people to see and no time to enjoy the scenery. Not that we really saw any as the majority of Saturday was spent in Dereham, my home-town. They've added another shopping centre nearer the library and there's a lot more houses, otherwise it’s the same type of people: old people (which includes my mum) and chavs. There is a minority which include teenagers waiting to move out either to university or Norwich as well as a growing number of Portuguese (due to cheap labour for Bernard Matthews). My mum was first on the list and although in good spirits, she's starting to repeat things which is a worry including her obssession over some rabbit that's taken residency behind her garden. We walked into town for lunch passing a couple of places including the Portuguese owned bar/restaurant filled with smoke.

Later we caught up with Mark, our best man and one of my oldest mates. He was proud to show us his latest project completed, the pimped-up, more bling than camp, VW van. Over a couple of pints in the Bull pub he shocked us to say he's selling his pride and joy to the atmosphere of the England first half. We watched the penalties back at my dad's whilst trying to sort out his PC (updating AV software updates with dial-up is impossible).

The result had upset the locals which provided some interesting entertainment at an Indian restaurant in...Dereham again (couldn't get away from the place!). Through the bay windows we could see that England flags and shirts had invaded the Portuguese bar/restaurant with police all around the area. No punch ups or furniture wrecking, in fact they were really well behaved. It was the singing and staggering of those outside then a Portuguese bloke in a Renault Espace flying a huge Portugal flag from his window tooting his horn in celebration that wound everyone up including the police.

After a spinach filled Chicken Massala (didn't mix that well), we headed out to Josh and Christie's via classic Norfolk roads. After the normality of traffic lights and pedestrian crossings its nice to return to high banked twisty single tracks, with wildlife using the roads as much as tractors, pensioners and boy racers - we even followed a badger for awhile. Old person quote coming: Their garden was looking fantastic and our envy was obvious.

Sunday was even hotter and a trip to see our friend, Bernard for a catch-up. Mr. B's back-yard was a frog and dragon-fly fantasy with jurassic style fauna. Further up the garden was pen of 4 chickens, all lounging or stretching in the heat. Anyone curious to know that chickens are very cheap to buy at only £1 each, full size.