I am absolutely not a patient person, and -- in my own defence -- I think I've been pretty patient over the last few months. Partly, because I know these are unprecedented times; partly, as I keep saying, because I am genuinely grateful to still be alive; partly, because Cromer has been such a wonderfully therapeutic place to be; and partly, because I'm lucky enough to have an endless supply of interests that can be pursued at home. So, for an impatient person whose life revolves around travel, I think I've been pretty damn good...

But the last few weeks have been getting increasingly difficult, and this week I have really struggled.

You will remember that I noted a little while back that Sarawak MM2H visa-holders were still not being allowed back, despite the change of regulations at national level a couple of weeks before that. Well, we're still in the same position.

Malaysia yesterday entered the Recovery Movement Control Order phase of its anti-coronavirus strategy, and we'd been hoping for some encouraging news. We'd already read on 9 June, for example, that incomers (Malaysians and certain visa-holders) could now do quarantine at home.

But then we learnt that a) this doesn't apply to Sarawak; and b) we still can't get back in anyway.

Now, I am making no criticism of the authorities here. Malaysia has done REALLY well at controlling this pandemic (as of today, there have been just 8,338 cases, and 118 deaths). So I totally understand that they want to be cautious.

But for those of us locked out, and baffled by regular changes of procedure, the uncertainty starts to grind you down.

And there's another issue. A brief research foray by Nigel yesterday indicated that there are plenty of airlines out there who seem to see us personally as the bail-out fund they have been looking for. The prices are stratospheric.

Meanwhile, the UK's reopening -- rightly or wrongly -- is proceeding apace, and holiday accommodation is due to come back onstream by the beginning of next month. So we do need to move before a) the rent goes up; and b) Cromer becomes a very different place.

So, it's a conundrum, I can tell you, and not one that I'm wearing well right at this moment.


Anyway, what else has happened?

Well, the weather has continued unseasonal. Or, actually, maybe June in Cromer is often thus:

"The first caravan used for holidaying was made in 1880 for Dr William Stables, a travelling writer who called himself a 'gentleman gypsy'. When he came to either Cromer or Sheringham in his basic caravan he found it rather chilly. A Victorian postcard from Cromer said: 'No hope of bathing this holiday -- almost ice floating about'. It was posted in June."

Actually, I don't mind the cool stuff. It's nice for walking, and it keeps the crowds at bay.

We had a great walk on Tuesday, back to Sheringham via the cliff path. (We've walked to Sheringham several times, but have only once -- way back at the beginning of our stay -- been able to walk the seaside route, as it was closed for a while.)

Back then, we weren't so sensitized to war-time remnants. But now, "the outline of a Y Station -- a listening post spying on enemy boats during the Second World War" -- seems much more significant.


Also from that walk:




And we finally got to photograph a fox! I so hope Monsieur le Renard is a good omen for us...