Norwich (and spying)

I've been away in Norwich this weekend, so haven't been able to post today - so just a little something until tomorrow.

Norwich is a fine city, with lots of history (see a previous post). This weekend was the Lord Mayor's Parade with lots of celebrations around the city. The weather was wonderful. We just caught the end of the parade - and enjoyed all the street entertainment and the "extra" markets around the city  (it has an excellent permanent outside market in front of the City Hall). If you ever get the chance - do visit Norwich - the canalised River Wensum is lovely to walk along; the Cathedral and its surroundings are beautiful; and the Castle is magnificent and contains a superb museum. There are lots of old churches and other historic buildings.

On the 'friends who spy on friends' issue. The European Parliament has posted this video.

Thetford & Norwich

On Friday we took a leisurely drive towards Norwich. We stopped in the town of Thetford, just off the A11. It's a town I had always wanted to visit, as it was the birthplace of Thomas Paine. It's a very pleasant small town to visit (Jones the Butchers does an excellent sausage in a bap - and tea is available at the Art Gallery in the Guildhall). There is a town trail relating to Thomas Paine. The leaflet is available in a PDF. We did the trail, and I look took lots of video footage - which I will turn into a short video about him. (It may be a little while as I am currently in the middle of marking W201 eTMAs and preparing documents for my next meeting in Hull for my Ph.D.).

Afterwards we drove on to Norwich. We viewed the exterior of the Castle (a tour will be undertaken on a later visit). There was a memorial to Robert Kett - leader of "Kett's Rebellion" in 1549 - "a notable leader in the long struggle of the common people of England to escape from a servile life into the freedom of just conditions". The rebellion which took his name was one of many at the time againgst enclosures. The already rich and powerful were re-distributing wealth away from ordinary people towards themselves. Eventually some people said, enough is enough.

By the way the Budget Statement will be made in the House of Commons on Wednesday.