NORTH NORFOLK - anyone moved here from London?

[SilkStockings]

We were thinking of moving to (roughly) the Cotswolds next year but after a couple of holidays in North Norfolk, around Holt, are more in love with the landscape there than in the South West. Any advice on Norfolk - schools (primary for now but long term thinking so secondary too) - stuff to do - making new friends etc. Do you live there? Do you love it?

The cinema at Cromer is good.
The Little Thetare at Sheringham should have a sitcom made about it.

DS wants to go to the Carol Concert at the Thursford Steam Museum...

Thursford is fabulous

my oparents go to thursford every year. Ive only been once, but it is so good, really got us in the festive spirit.

blu-you are so right about the little theatre, it is like slipping back in time.

If I ever start being wistful about making a move from London to Sheringham, my partner, who grew up there, just laughs and rolls her eyes.

I mean, prepare yourself for the Potty Festival, where local people walk around town in black up a la Black and White minstrel show.

(but in its defence isn't blacking up for morris dancing traditional from way back not attempting to be a la black and white minstrels? - and therefore not intended to be racist? may still offend though I suppose?) I don't really get the morris dancing in general though!

I like the Little Theatre - not high drama I agree but not too bad for a night out in the sticks. Some of the am dram is good.

I went to Sheringham primary and secondary, and was good when I went, seems to still have a reasonable reputation now. I think Cromer may have the edge on Sheringham as a secondary atm.

There are plenty of uniformed organisations etc to join - Guides, St John's Ambulance etc if that takes your fancy, and Round Table/Ladies Circle, gardening type stuff, am dram society and a few nice places to eat out in N Norfolk, but it can be quiet in the winter and v busy in the summer.

It is possible to live there and be happy while youngish - relatives do so, but I wouldn't want to live there atm - I moved up North for uni and stayed.

Panda- I think it is one of those traditions from way back that people in general agree are best dropped, regardless of intention to offend or not.

yes Charliegal - on reflection I I agree with you - certainly not something I would countenance doing! In defence of the Potties - the local morris side do not black up, I have seen them in the summer at the carnival enough to know that, it is a visiting morris side for the festival that do - still a weird hobby imo!

I am sitting here wondering if I know any of these Norfolk MNers!

I found myself at some kind of morris dancers' knees up in the summer - they all congregated outside a pub in Castle Acre in Norfolk - loads of different outfits and styles of music etc including the black face ones. Was with a black friend who didn't think it had any relevance to him at all - didn't see it as a race thing - just weird pagan folk stuff. Very different to the whole Mammy Dixieland schtick. He did think it was hilarious and was delighted to see it all though. My son (aged just 3) thought the black face guys were utterly terrifying though - they were quite nightmarish with their tatters and harsh shouts.

The black face tradition was to do with disguise though, not race (although some think there is a link to Moorish dancing). It refers to poor people disguising themselves to earn money moonlighting in other jobs or for poachers who need to creep about in the shadows - and remains in the folk tradition as a symbol of rebellion against authority. I don't think it should be dropped at all - and my black friend (whom I've just called about this) thinks it would be patronising to assume intelligent people would be offended. Said in the context in which he saw it, it's quite clear it's not a race issue and people should just chill out. But I do think people should learn about such traditions and what they teach about their own social history. Poverty is just as relevant and it's much less dull than just reading about it in a class room.

By the way - the black facers we saw weren't from Norfolk they were from the Welsh/ English borders. Maybe a mining reference too?!

silkstockings i think they were the ones who came to the Great Massingham Duck Fest this year, are they called molly dancers or something?

I think they might be. I like all that old pagan stuff - I think it's fascinating and think if it's presented in the right way there's a lot to learn about our rural and usually poverty stricken past - it should be a positive thing. I have a lot of friends from ll kinds of ethic backgrounds and we often talk about the lack of understanding of old English customs being understood. Not so much Irish and Scottish since they are more alive. I guess England concentrated on being top dog and Empire building and forgot all the local ritual that other regions have keep alive to maintain their identity.

interesting comments silkstockings. more food for thought...

Must make it to the duck festival one year. It always seems to clash with something

I have been heavily pregnant for the last 2 duck fests so im hoping next year to actually be able to sample the beer tent delights It was very good this year with the music in the evening.