28-29.07 - Days 195-196 - Chelmsford to Norwich to Bury St Edmunds

Sunday 28th July - Chelmsford - Norwich (Day 195)

Time for a little road trip. It’s two hours north up to Norwich where a couple of Kate’s former flatmates still live. We arrive at Leigh's house at the same time as Naomi along with James and their three kids Sophia (who Kate had met and hosted as a baby in Australia whilst I was in South America with Krish), George and Silvia. 

It’s a full afternoon and evening of catching up with each other and on others who were all part of our lives back in 2000-2003. Whilst Leigh’s two kids (Elliott and Ottalie) are away on holiday with their dad Toby the other 5 kids entertain themselves, not least with the Olympics that is now well underway to which Seb is becoming addicted. 

Later into the evening, rarely seen but thankfully well labelled photo albums emerge as Adam Peaty is pipped to gold in the 100m Backstroke and Jess Fox wins her first guild medal in the Kayak Slalom. 

Leigh kindly accepts Kate inviting herself and RJs to stay the night, which makes for a very relaxing afternoon and evening.

Monday 29th July - Norwich - Bury St Edmunds (Day 196)

Leigh heads off to work whilst school work gets off to a slow start. 

We drag the uninterested kids to Muriel Road - Kate living at 49 for 2000/01 after which I lived there for 2 years having by chance met Kate at Wimbledon that 2001 summer (Ivanisevic the wildcard winner). Kate lived at 35 in 2001/02 with Naomi, Leigh and Gemma. 

The kids are re-energised at the glass cased Millenium library in Norwich city centre before we wander around Norwich Cathedral with lunch at the market after. 

We walk around the UEA campus, Sienna and Seb marvelling at the size of my old lecture theatres and the multi-storey library. The main bar and LCR all seem a little smaller than we remember. There is a pause in the car listening to the countdown of the Men’s Cross Country biking which Tom Piddock wins in thrilling fashion. 

After her shift Leigh joins us for a final catch up in the sun outside the Ziggurat accommodation building Kate stayed in in her first year. We found her room from outside, including the kitchen explaining to the kids 12 people shared the space. Overall fond memories of our 3 years there and that chapter in our life. 

As we drove away to Bury St Edmunds, Tom Daley and Noah Williams secured silver in the 10m Synchronised Diving and the Equestrian team a gold. 

Our hotel has an old country manor feel to it and the kids are happy running around the lawn and making a potion on the covered well.