I've already written a couple of posts on our meanderings in the vicinity of Cromer -- as far as Overstrand in one direction, and Sheringham in the other.

North Norfolk has a seemingly inexhaustible supply of walks, both long and short, so the local permutations have continued, without the need to use public transport.

On Sunday we walked to West Runton again, going out along the beach and back via the cliff path.





Monday was Wells-next-the-Sea day, but yesterday, having given back our car, we continued to walk locally, pressing on past Overstrand to Sidestrand.




This is the area that accommodated Victorian poet and eventually controversial theatre critic Clement Scott, who arrived by train in Cromer, found little solitude there, and pressed on east.

Based on his experience here, Scott began to publicize "Poppyland", roughly the section of the North Norfolk coast between Sheringham and Mundesley.

The term first appeared in a poem entitled The Garden of Sleep, composed in the churchyard of Sidestrand's original church, which had been situated close to the cliff edge, and had already toppled over onto the beach. The ruined tower, however, still remained in Scott's time (it finally collapsed in 1916). The current church at Sidestrand, St Michael's, was rebuilt in 1881 (only a couple of years before Scott's first visit) using flint from the original structure. The new tower was a replica of the original 15th-century octagon.

Scott, notes Literary Norfolk, rather sniffily, "wasn't a particularly inspired poet ... but his writing helped to kick-start the Norfolk tourist industry".

The Garden of Sleep, it's true, is a little mawkish. But -- in today's so very uncertain times -- there's something rather poignant about it:

... In my garden of sleep, where red poppies are spread,
I wait for the living, alone with the dead!
For a tower in ruins stands guard o'er the deep,
At whose feet are green graves of dear women asleep!
Did they love as I love, when they lived by the sea?
Did they wait as I wait, for the days that may be? ...


We walked home via Northrepps, and today we returned to this pretty village, whose church, St Mary's, is visible for miles around.







Being able to walk is an absolute life-saver in these strange times.

But the times are getting stranger, and more stressful, by the hour.

We confirmed today that under Malaysia's new regulations we can't go home, at least until 1 April. And who knows what the regulations might be after that?

More flux. More uncertainties.

I am so looking forward to primroses returning to our life path.