After our lovely day out at Titchwell Marsh Bird Reserve in Norfolk, on our way home the next day we went on to a National Trust place called Felbrigg Hall near Cromer. Rob and I have been members of the National Trust since we were in our twenties because we both love a bit of history, old buildings and houses, interesting gardens and nature.
It was a very misty morning as we drove down there and the locals at the pub had told us it was a sea mist that had come in and would take a while to clear. When we arrived the sun was trying to burn through a little and we managed to enjoy lunch sitting outside in the courtyard.
The dove house is spectacular!
There were lots of spring flowers out, everything has started to burst into colour now we have had some warm, sunny weather. The magnolias were out in full.
There is always a good chance to get practising with the camera in these beautiful places, something else we really enjoy.
I loved this chicken house in the orchard garden - very trendy chickens here at Felbrigg!
There were plenty of houses for the bees too!
Very exotic looking plants!
The sun didn't last for very long and we were soon enveloped back in the mist and after such a warm day the day before, it felt bitter cold. We weren't sure anymore whether it was sea mist or the much talked about smog that was on the news that had arrived.
Delicate bluebells in flower.
There were lots of chucks roaming freely - I loved this one!
More exotic plants making a spectacular show in the walled gardens.
We had been lucky to avoid the smog the day before, we hadn't even been aware of it until we saw the news as we had fortunately been in the smallest tip of north Norfolk that had missed it entirely.
The smog that had descended over the UK was a bit of a freak weather condition and was caused by the area of high pressure over the UK mixing with dust and sand blown over from the Sahara with our own pollution and that blown over from Europe.
On the TV the experts we warning that people with heart and lung conditions were at high risk and people were being advised to stay indoors and do minimum excercise. A lot of my friends with PH, heart conditions and transplants were really suffering.
I had a lucky escape on the worst day of it as we just happened to go away from home. Although I have a new heart and lungs that are working well, transplanted lungs are very vulnerable to pollution, which can cause infection as dust and fungi are inhaled. If infection sets in then this can cause the onset of unrepairable damage to my new lungs and the start of chronic rejection.
I must admit I try and guard my new lungs like they are the crown jewels, they are just the most precious things to me, so I was relieved we had been away. As we drove on from Felbrigg Hall towards home, we encountered more lovely sunshine and then as we got further across Norfolk the smog descended and it was really bad. Once home it was a bit better, but still very overcast and evident. I stayed indoors the next day, just to be on the safe side.
It has all gone now thank goodness and I think many of us are 'breathing' a sigh of relief!
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