A Royal Visit

by

“I have got some very bad news for you“, our churchwarden told us one sunny morning a fortnight ago, “We’re expecting a VIP visitor to the church and for security reasons all books have to be removed from the church asap“.
“ALL BOOKS? What do you mean with all books?“
“All. All the ones on display, all the ones in storage beneath the table – and in the book shed.”
“But that’s easily more than 5000 books!“

“Ich habe schlechte Nachrichten für euch“, eröffnete uns unser Gemeindevorsteher eines sonnigen Montagmorgens vor zwei Wochen. “Wir erwarten den Besuch eines Prominenten in unserer Kirche und aus Sicherheitsgründen müssen alle Bücher aus der Kirche entfernt werden.“
“Alle?! Das kann doch nicht wahr sein.“
“Wirklich ALLE. Die, die ihr ausgelegt habt wie auch die, die ihr unter dem Büchertisch und im Bücherschuppen aufbewahrt.”
“Das sind mindestens 5000 Bücher.”

The good news, however, was that the police arrived with a good-humoured search party of five officers who sat down on the lawn in front of our book shed and leafed through every book in the sun. Not to find money or letters from Einstein or Darwin in them, but explosives. The group at church did the same. Then the books in the book shed were sealed and the ones in the church went into another room that was also sealed.

Die gute Nachricht war jedoch, dass die Polizei mit einem gut gelaunten Suchtrupp von fünf Beamten anrückten, die sich auf die Wiese vor unserem Bücherschuppen setzten und in der Sonne jedes Buch durchblätterten. Nicht, um Geld oder Briefe von Einstein oder Darwin darin zu finden, sondern Sprengstoff. Die Gruppe in der Kirche machte das Gleiche. Dann wurden die Bücher im Bücherschuppen versiegelt und die in der Kirche kamen in einen anderen Raum, der ebenfalls versiegelt wurde.

In the meantime, the rumour circulated in the village, no doubt because of the admonition to secrecy, that Prince Charles is coming to visit our church for a concert with the world-famous guitarist Craig Ogden, who will play with the English Chamber Orchestra (the world’s most recorded chamber orchestra!), among other things, a piece specially conceived by William Lovelady for the occasion. Prince Charles will come to this premiere in his capacity as patron of the Society for the Promotion of Music in Country Churches, which became clear when traffic cones with the inscription ‘Royalty’ were erected. The concert was initiated by Desmond MacCarthy, Emma Bridgewater and Matthew Rice to support Wiveton Church which is in dire need of roof reparations.

Inzwischen ging das Gerücht im Dorf um, sicher wegen der Mahnung zur Geheimhaltung, dass Prince Charles unsere Kirche besuchen kommt und zwar zu einem Konzert mit dem weltweit berühmten Gitarristen Craig Ogden, der mit dem Englisch Chamber Orchester (das am meisten aufgenommene Kammerorchester) u.a. ein Stück spielt, welches von William Lovelady extra für diesen Anlass konzipiert wurde. Prinz Charles kommt wirklich zu dieser Premiere in seiner Eigenschaft als patron der Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Musik in ländlichen Kirchen, was spätestens klar wurde, als Verkehrskegel mit der Aufschrift ‘Royalty’ aufgestellt wurden. Das Konzert wurde initiiert von Desmond MacCarthy, Emma Bridgewater and Matthew Rice um Wiveton Church in unserem Nachbardorf zu unterstützen.

To commerate the visit by HRH The prince of Wales to Cley church - designed by Mattew Rice

Siri, secretly of course, laughed wryly at the way some people behaved in the face of the onslaught of high nobility on our church. Dina was pressed by some that they really wanted to be photographed with Prince Charles. Dina was the only photographer allowed freely to take pictures.

Siri lachte sich, im Geheimen natürlich, schief, wie so mancher angesichts des Ansturms des Hochadels auf unsere Kirche sich verhielt. Dina wurde von einigen bedrängt, dass sie unbedingt mit Prinz Charles fotografiert werden wollten. Dina war nämlich die einzige Fotografin, die zugelassen war.

The music was superb, Prince Charles had relaxed chats over G&T and champagne during the break and with some visitors after the event, and all that was left for us to do was unpack and re-sort the books again. What especially Masterchen loved. However, much more work remained on Dina, as she had to finish pictures that appeared in the Eastern Daily Press on August 3.

Die Musik war fein, Prinz Charles plauderte entspannt in der Pause bei G&T und Champagner und nach der Veranstaltung mit einigen Besuchern und uns blieb nur noch übrig, die Bücher wieder auszupacken und neu zu sortieren. Was besonders Masterchen liebte. An Dina blieb jedoch viel mehr Arbeit hängen, da sie Bilder fertig machen musste, die in der größten Zeitung East Anglias am 3. August erschienen.

That was probably one of those events that you will tell your descendants about here. We hope to have given you a little insight and say goodbye for today

Das war wohl so ein Ereignis, von dem man hier seinen Nachgeborenen erzählen wird. Wir hoffen, euch einen kleinen Einblick gegeben zu haben und verabschieden uns für heute

The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

.

© Text and illustrations, Hanne Siebers and Klausbernd Vollmar, Cley next the Sea, 2022

173 thoughts

  1. Well done to Dina for having her photos in the newspaper, and being the ‘official’ photographer. I am not a Royalist, so I will just say that I am glad it raised some money for the restoration. 🙂
    Love from Beetley, Pete and Ollie. X

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  3. What an exciting event to have not only been part of but to have been an official photographer too! Loved the way you told the story around the books. A great role for royalty to play in preserving country churches and music. Looks like the weather cooperates too. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Indeed, the weather was fine as fine can be.
      Thanks for your comment. Of course, it was exciting – even for non-royalists and un-churchy people 😉
      Wishing you an easy week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Dear Jacqui,
      we tell you a GREAT secret. Dina was quite excited. But she did well, didn’t she?
      She didn’t foresee how many people wanted her pictures now.
      Thank you VERY much for your kind words
      Wishing you a great week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • I don’t know that either 😉 but see her sitting for days on the computer to edit her pictures or learning about using Photoshop and other means for editing.
      Keep well
      Klausbernd 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  5. It seems to me a ludicrous waste of police time having to go through all those books! But there is no denying Dina’s skills as photographer. She did very well and kudos to her for being the official photographer.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • The amazing thing is, all these preparations and care-taking safety actions take place every day all over the world. Not only of royal; for politicians, movie stars and famous people …
      Can you imagine what it costs when one the royals visits a library or when an event take place in Westminster Abbey, a museum …?

      Liked by 2 people

  6. That book collection is remarkable – I remember your earlier blog post about the impressive number of books. Very interesting post and kudos to Dina for the excellent photos documenting the big day. Best, Babsje

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Babsje,
      thank you so much for your kind words.
      Well, we are very bookish. This book corner in the church is like our child and makes the church to our second home 😉
      Keep well
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Many thanks for your kind note and apologies for my tardy reply. I have been off the grid because of 2 surgeries with 2 weeks in the hospital and nearly 7 weeks post-op in a rehabilitation facility and subsequently my eye sight has failed (temporarily I hope) and so blogging and WordPress have been off the table for me since May more or less. Wishing all The Fab Four of Clay good health and much happiness. Best, Babsje

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Babsje
      we are very sorry to read about your health. We wish you that you get better soon. Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma are sending you golden healing fairy dust.
      With lots and lots of love from us
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  7. 5000 Books 😃 wow.
    But I think there are worse tasks for the police than searching for explosive materials in books 😄
    Dinas fotos are very well done – wonderful documents of this big day.
    Best wishes to you 🍀🍀🍀🍀
    Sabine vom 🕷 🕸

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Sabine 🕷 🕸,
      especially one of the policemen was quite interested in books. We thought that this is probably the best job in the police force.
      Thanks for liking Dina’s pictures. You wouldn’t believe it how much she took.
      All the best to you as well 🍀🍀🍀🍀
      With love ❤ from
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you sooooo much for your kind words, dear Tina 🙏🙏
      Hanne-Dina could hardly sleep the days before so excited she was. But when she went down to the church from ours, just a ten minutes walk, she was very cool.
      With lots of love from the sunny sea
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • I certainly now know why so many wedding photographers are thrilled to quit their work and photograph something else! 😉 Thank you very much of your kind comment, Tina! 🥰

      Liked by 2 people

    • Hi Timothy,
      well, both start with an A 😉 We had neither Bakunin nor Kropotkin on display.
      We never thought about books for hiding explosives either.
      Thanks for commenting
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks a lot, dear Robert 🙏🙏
      Dina worked many hours to edit these photos.
      It was an exciting event for our little village and probably it saved Wiveton church.
      Keep well
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  17. Fab Four of Cley,
    It appears a lot of the pomp and circumstance was ignored in favor for a closer, more informal affair. That I think would be far more enjoyable for the locals. It helps to bring Royalty into perspective. They really are just like you and me, eh?
    I’m so happy Hanne was allowed to move freely with her camera. She has truly become a great photographer.
    I hope you all had a good time, and thank you for sharing us in the festivities!!
    GP

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Dear GP
      the expense of this visit was enormous although Prince Charles came for a ‘private visit’. And it wasn’t only him, there was a lot of nobility. As a German it is strange how people behave in such situations. For us nobility is something from cheap glossy papers and chick lit. Anyway, Charles was charming. He did his job well and we had a great time.
      With the best wishes from the sunny sea and thanks for commenting.
      Keep well
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Klausbernd,
      I don’t quite understand it either, but a lot of that expense, etc. is used for “celebrities and politicians’ as though they were royalty, over here.
      I’m glad Charles at least did a good job. It at least made for a good photo op for Dina.
      GP

      Liked by 1 person

    • Good morning, dear Ute,
      we enjoyed this visit of all the nobility very much. The next day there was a fine picnic in the garden at one of the local nobility. But now we enjoy normal live again.
      Thanks and cheers
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Why would books be a more likely place to plant explosives than, I don’t know, inside a flower vase? Or–well, okay, I don’t spend enough time in churches to come up with likely locations. But books? I always heard that they could be explosive, but it was a metaphor.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Every loose tile was turned upside down, every seat, every vase, every cupboard, including tea bags inspected. 5 policemen skimmed absolutely every corner, every bag and finally a police dog was let loose to ensure they hadn’t overseen something. Absolutely amazing.

      Liked by 2 people

    • Dear Ellen,
      indeed, books can be explosive – well, in a metaphorical way. But you can hide something in books. Maybe this action going through all the books is just a gesture or ritual aimed to take the prince important.
      Thanks and greetings
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 3 people

  25. Da habt ihr ja was erlebt, liebe Hanne und lieber Klausbernd.
    Meine Güte, welch eine Arbeit! Die ganzen Bücher verschieben. Ich glaube dir, Klausbernd, dass du Freude hast, jedes in die Hand zu nehmen und neu zu sortieren. Welch eine Freude! Da wirst du einiges an Zeit benötigen.
    Schade, dass keiner von euch beiden mit Prinz Charles zu sehen ist. Gibt es solche Fotos überhaupt?
    Liebe Hanne, sehnst du dich schon nach der Ruhe, deine eigenen Dinge machen zu können, statt herumgereicht zu werden?
    Ich wünsche euch vieren einen schönen Tag, Susanne

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Guten Morgen, liebe Susanne,
      ich benötigte zwei Tage, um alle Bücher wieder anmutig zu drapieren und eher traurig aussehende Bücher auszusortieren. Ich bin ja kein Royalist und habe mich von dem ganzen Zirkus ferngehalten. Na ja, beim Picknick im Garten am nächsten Tag, bei dem der Hochadel ein Stelldichein gab, bin ich doch hingegangen. Von Hanne-Dina und Prinz Charles gibt es kein Bild, da sie die einzige Fotografin dort war.
      Die Frage, die du Hanne-Dina stellst, finde ich sehr berechtigt. Außer, dass sie auf ihre Kamera einen Aufkleber “by appointment of HRH Prince Charles” kleben kann, ulkte Siri :-), hat das ja nichts gebracht außer viel Arbeit.
      Übrigens ganz herzlichen Dank für die Samen. Lachsfarbene Mohnblumen, das stellen wir uns toll vor. Wir haben nur knallrote und knatschgelbe in unserem Garten.
      Mit ganz lieben Grüßen
      Klausbernd 🙂

      Like

    • Lieber Klausbernd,
      es ist schade, dass Hanne bei aller Arbeit, die sie mit dem großen Ereigniss hatte, nichteinmal ein Foto von sich und Charles hat. Vielleicht ist es Hanne aber auch genauso wenig wichtig, wie es dir wichtig wäre 🙂
      Ich bin gespannt, wie der Mohn bei euch im Garten blüht.
      Heute fahren wir in den Spreewald und wandeln auf den Wurzeln meines Vaters. Er lebte von 44 – 52 im Spreewald, bevor er 1952 wieder zurück nach Berlin kam.
      Ein schönes Wochenende wünscht euch,
      Susanne

      Liked by 2 people

    • Liebe Susanne,
      sorry, ich dachte, ich hätte dir schon geantwortet. War wohl nicht so, denn Array wurde sofort, wie wir jetzt erst sahen, in den Spam-Ordner verbannt. Uns hatte das mit Array auch verblüfft, als Reihe oder Feld (die Standardübersetzung) machte das für uns keinen Sinn. Anyway …
      Also Dina war ja die Fotografin und ehrlich gesagt, lässt sie sich auch nicht so gerne fotografieren. Sie sieht ferner das mit Royalty ähnlich wie ich.
      Den Mohn werden wir aussäen, wenn es irgendwann einmal endlich regnet. Z.Zt. ist der Boden viel zu trocken. Für die nächsten Tage sind jedoch Gewitter angesagt. Wir sind schon mächtig gespannt, wie der aussehen wird. Wußtest du, dass Mohnsamen Jahrzehnte lang in der Erde ruhen können und dann plötzlich aufgehen.
      Mit ganz lieben Grüßen von der viel zu heißen Küste
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Du hattest schon geantwortet 🙂 :-), lieber Klausbernd.
      Bei so vielen Kommentaren kann man da schonmal durcheinander kommen. 🙂
      Bei uns soll es heute gegen 17 Uhr stürmen und gewittern, ich bin gespannt. 🙂
      Liebe Grüße von Susanne

      Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Derrick,
      a lot of women and men here are tattoed all over. It’s the nautical tradition here starting with Captain Cooks sailors.
      Keep well
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  28. Aaah, so good to read from you again! You have been busy!
    Congratulations, dear Hanne, what an honour for you and great recognition for your photography. Music in Country Churches seem to be an outstanding musical highlight event in the calendar.
    The English parish churches, quite contrary to the churches is Sweden and Norway, plays such an important role in the village composition and the village life. From your involvement with the books in the church, I get the impression more or less the whole village is involved supporting the grand rural church. For the local community this must have been mind-blowing!
    Kram to the Fab Four
    Annalena Xx

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thank you so much, Annalena!
      You are absolutely right about the parish church and its role in the village.

      Matthew Rice, author, the artist behind Emma Bridgewater pottery and chairman of Music in Country Churches says;
      “Our parish churches are an inalienable part of Englishness, the vertical centrepiece in every village composition, and the focus of so much that is important in our lives.”

      We hope you are well and enjoying the summer in your stuga.

      Klem, Hanne and The Fab Four Xx Xx

      Liked by 1 person

    • Good morning, dear Annalena,
      the churches are owned here by the community and therefore they are acceptable to non-religious people like us and to believers. Cley has an outstanding beautiful und big church, it’s like a cathedral. In the middle ages when it was built, Cley was very prosperous and an important harbour. The ship owners and merchants demonstrated their power with this church.
      In our village the church is an important venue for all different activities. In other villages it is the pub or the village hall. You are right, most locals here do some charity work that has to do with the church like baking for the village fete, flower arrangements, play music every Thursday, and we with our book corner f.e.
      Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma are making jokes, saying the church is our second home as we go there every day looking after our book corner and Dina is locking the church in the evening.
      Lots of love ❤ and KRAM xxx
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Ich sende euch herzliche Grüße und genieße die Feigen aus Nachbars Garten, der ehemalige Zahnarzt aus Rumänien versorgt mich immer mit frischem Obst!!! Gott sei gedankt!!!

      Like

    • Liebes Pialein
      Wir haben auch gerade ein paar Feigen von unserem Baum geerntet. Lecker!
      Wer die Leute sind, kann dir Dina schreiben. Ich kenne nur einige von denen, Dina kennt sie alle.
      Mit ganz lieben ❤ Grüßen von der sonnigen Küste
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
      Die Frau in Rot ist der High Sheriff von Norfolk
      Der Mann im blauen Anzug mit roten Schlips und auffälligen Augenbrauen ist Desmond MacCarthy, Landadeliger und Enkel des gleichnamigen Mitbegründers der Bloomsbury Gruppe. Er wurde durch seine TV Serie “Normal For Norfolk” berühmt.
      Der Pfarrer ist Richard unser Pfarrer hier, seine Frau neben ihn ist Konzertpianistin

      Liked by 1 person

    • Ja danke, interessant! Jedenfalls hat Joaquin Rodrigo auch mit dir Geburtstag, und ich wusste gar nicht, dass Braille auch eine Schrift für Musik gefunden hat…
      Alles wieder hochinteressant.
      Schade, das Konzert hätte ich gerne gehört.

      Wir planen im Herbst eine “Aschenputtel” Aufführung in einer Mannheimer Kirche, es gibt eine neue Kantoratsleiterin….ich werde den Taubentanz einstudieren u.a….
      Hier mangelt es etwas an Prinzen…auch die Rolle des Königs ist noch zu besetzen…(notfalls muss ein Mädchen singen)
      Achtung und jetzt kein Witz: Die Prinzenmutter, also unsere Darstellerin hier, hat schon vor der echten Queen gesungen!

      Da ist echt was los in eurem Dorf!

      Regen ist leider erst Mitte September zu erwarten, sagte die Nachbarin auf der anderen Seite, Mist! Von ihr bekomme ich manchmal Kuchen. Fast paradiesische Zustände.

      Herzliche Grüße euer Pialein

      Liked by 1 person

    • Liebes Pialein,
      du würdest dich wundern, was es nicht alles in Büchern gibt.
      Morgen ist Hafenfest, wir freuen uns darauf. Da ist unser Dinalein wieder die Fotografin.
      Wunderschönen Abend noch und dann Träume vom Feinsten
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  30. In reply to your description of them checking the teabags, if I ever have a need to plant explosives (either in real life or in a novel) I’ll consider teabags. I just know I can do something with that bit of knowledge.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  31. Difficult to accept the unusual and uncommon, but easy to welcome the widely popular (and handsome)
    Fabulous photography perfectly illustrates this unique one time event. How wonderful it is to hear about
    it dear friends. I don’t think there would have been a better source than yours! Great post!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Dear Eddy,
      thank you so much for your kind words 🙏🙏 They are VERY much appreciated. You made especially Dina smile.
      Actually, everything surrounding this one time event was a lot of fun. At times we felt like anthropologists in our own village.
      Wishing you a wonderful and happy rest of the week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  33. Greetings from far away, where churches are nothing like this! It’s wonderful that a beautiful old structure can still play an important role in the life of the community. Congratulations to Dina for being chosen to photograph the event. And wow, what an amazing story about the books that had to be searched! It’s the modern world and the old world, jammed up together. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Good morning, dear Lynn,
      Cley Church was built in the early 14th c. at the hight of the middle ages. Around here we also have round-tower churches that are about 200 years older. Churches are nowadays secularized, mostly a venue for exhibitions, music etc. In a lot of villages they are the place where the locals meet.
      Well, with the books that was a shock. Fortunately the police searched and stored them away. But then we had to unpack them.
      We are now in a kind of festive season. Today is Harbour or Pirate Day. People dress their boats and themselves. There will be a best dressed boat and best dressed pirate competition and walking the plank. That will be much fun. Most of the villages here have either a pirate or Viking festival. There the old world and the modern one meet again. That’s typically English.
      Thanks and keep well
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  34. Dina – your photos are fabulous. You captured the spirit of the occasion – fun, excitement, energy and the sound of music. Yes, I am certain that I heard the concert through the WiFi. I was imagining what it was like to watch the five officers examining all the books. And speaking of books, I am enjoying The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room. I follow her on Instagram and am thoroughly enjoying the interviews and book suggestions. This is her website: https://royalreadingroom.uk/

    Sorry I am late to this most excellent post!!! I have just returned from a 3-day family wedding held out in nature surrounded by mountains and rivers. I have the mosquito bites to prove it! But it was lovely.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Good morning, dear Rebecca,
      first of all thanks a lot for telling us about the Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room.
      Thanks as well for liking Dina’s pictures. Oh dear, now she is a much asked for photographer. Today she will photograph at the Harbour/Pirate Festival here. (Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma: “It’s a secret that our dear Master prefers the pirates to the prince.”)
      We hope you are well – besides the mosquito bites.
      With big hugs from the sunny sea
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • I am so excited for Dina! Her passion and creativity energizes every photograph. Siri and Selma – I share your dear Master’s preference for pirates.

      “Seaward ho! Hang the treasure! It’s the glory of the sea that has turned my head.”
      Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

      Liked by 1 person

    • Good morning our dear friend Rebecca,
      the first picture in the third group of pictures of the man in a dark grey suit with his beautiful lady is a direct relative of Robert Louis Stevenson. After he has lived for quite a while in China and Russia he lives here full time and is very engaged in all the local activities.
      Love ❤ ❤ ❤ for you and all of the Budd family
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Roberta,
      he visited our church because there was a premiere of a piece of music played by the world famous guitarist Craig Ogden with the English Chamber Orchestra. Prince Charles is the chairman of Music in Country Churches. But he visited Cley next the Sea as a private person. Royalty visits our area quite often. Sandringham, the home of the Queen, is not far away from Cley.
      Thanks.
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  37. Ja das ist eine große Überraschung! Abgesehen von der Arbeit mit den Büchern….Irgendwie habe ich eine innere Verbindung zu Prinz Charles. Seine Mutter ist am 21.April 1926 geboren und meine Mutter am 29. April 1925. Prinz Charles und ich sind dann beide 1948 geboren. Ist für mich nur logisch den Lebensweg vom Jahrespartner zu verfolgen. Auch mit der gescheiterten Ehe ist es uns gleich gegangen. Nur bei den Sternzeichen liegen wir weit auseinander. Ach, ich freue mich für euch. Best regards to you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Hallihallo, lieber Ernestus,
      jetzt wissen wir, dass du etwas über ein Jahr jünger als unser Masterchen bist. So gehören wir alle der gleichen Generation an – Klasse Generation, isn’t it?!
      Wir erholen uns gerade von einem Seeabenteuer gestern. Abends mitten auf dem Meer fiel die Kühlwasserpumpe an unserem Boot wegen Überhitzung aus und so mussten wir in den Nachbarhafen geschleppt werden von zwei hilfreichen jungen Männern, denen wir uns bemerkbar machen konnten. Außerdem ist es uns z.Zt. viel zu heiß mit Temperaturen um 24 Grad. Für uns nordische Menschen ist das nichts, ständig Sonnenschein und solche Temperaturen. Mit einem etwas kühleren und bes. mehr regnerischen Wetter fühlen wir uns besser.
      Dann wünschen wir dir ein wunderbares Wochenende
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  38. Was fuer eine Ueberraschung: die liebe Dina ist nun koenigliche Haus- und Hoffotografin geworden! 😉 Gratulation! Hat sie jetzt auch das koenigliche Siegel fuer ihre Bilder? Verdient haette sie es ja.
    Liebe Gruesse in kleine Dorf am grossen Meer,
    Pit

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Lieber Pit
      ja, ja, so geht’s, sie könnte jetzt einen Aufkleber an ihren Fotoapparat kleben “by appoiment of HRH the Prince of Wales”.
      Heute hatte sie eine große Doppelseite von Bildern in einer nationalen Zeitung, der EDP. Das war jedoch über unser Piratenfest.
      Mit ganz lieben Grüßen von der sonnig heißen Küste Norfolks
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Das Blöde ist ja, dass selbst das Meer warm ist, unbelievable …
      Heute Abend gibt es Schwimmen und Picknick am Strand.
      Keep cool, drink a lot and you know
      in wine there is wisdom
      in beer there is freedom
      in water there is bacteria
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • In Port Aransas ist die Wassertemperatur z.Zt. 30,5 Grad. Und das ist, weil es dort gerade Gewitterstuerme hat, nur knapp unter der Lufttemperatur.
      Deinen Ratschlag nehme ich gerne an. Der Spruch erinnert mich an einen meiner Mutter. Sie sagte immer, “Wasser hat Floehe.” 😉
      Liebe Gruesse, und froehliches Picknick und Schwimmen,
      Pit

      Liked by 1 person

    • Lieber Pit,
      nun sind wir gerade von zwei Bootstouren mit einem größeren Boot zurückgekommen. Es war toll, das Meer war ruhig wie ein See und man konnte an manchen Stellen gut bis auf den Grund sehen. Wir sahen auch einige Harbour Seal und größere Grey Seals. Hanne-Dina knipste sich den Finger wund.
      Das Picknick war lecker. Irgendwie schmeckt alles am Strand viel besser.
      Bei uns liegt z.Zt. die Wassertemperatur etwas über 20 Grad C, was für hier außerordentlich warm ist.
      Gleich werde ich den Schlauch ausrollen, dass wir heute Abend vorne und hinten den Garten wässern können, der es bitternötig hat.
      Liebe Grüße an Mary und dich
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Bootstouren auf der Nordsee!!!
      Lieber Klausbernd, Du machst mich neidisch. 😉 Auf’s Boot moechte ich auch mal wieder. Am Lake Champlain hat es mich wirklich in den Fingern gejuckt, wieder zu segeln.
      Hier waessern wir unseren “Rasen” zwar auch, aber die kurze Zeit, einmal pro Woche, in der wir das duerfen, reicht hinten und vorne nicht. Wir ueberlegen jetzt, nachdem wir im Fernsehen einen Bericht ueber die Stadt Phoenix gesehen haben, die ihre Rasenflaechen beseitigen laesst und durch sehr wassersparende Bepflanzung ersetzt, ob wir nicht einen (grossen) teil unseres Gartens umwandeln. In der New York Times war vor ein paar Tagen ein Bericht, dass insgesamt 5 Millionen Swimmingpools gefuellt werden koennten, das in den USA fuer Rasen Waessern verbraucht – und im Grunde verchwendet – wird.
      Liebe Gruesse,
      Pit

      Liked by 2 people

    • Wir haben bemerkt, lieber Pit, auch wenn der Rasen im Sommer völlig braun und verbrannt scheint, dass er mit dem Regen im Herbst schnell wieder grün wird. Auch wir wässern nur einmal pro Woche.
      Wenn man wie wir am Meer wohnt, dann muss man einfach regelmäßig Bootstouren machen. Zur Zeit haben wir erstaunlich hohe Fluten noch bis Mittwoch, dann gibt es zu wenig Wasser, um aus den Hafen zu kommen.
      Wir wünschen dir eine höchst angenehme Woche
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Unser “Rasen”, lieber Klausbernd, jedenfalls das Bermuda- und St. Augustine Gras, ueberlebt auch eien Trockenperiode. Es geht sozusagen in einen “Sommerschlaf”. Aber wir haben zum Einen auch noch andere Grassorten, die die Trockenheit nicht abkoennen, und zum Anderen auch einen sich ausbreitenden Pilz im St. Augustin – und der macht es kaputt. Mal schauen was wir machen.
      Liebe Gruesse,
      Pit

      Liked by 1 person

    • Huch, lieber Pit, ich weiß überhaupt nicht, wie unser Gras heißt. – Das gute an dieser Dürre ist, dass nun das ganze Moos abstirbt.
      Was wir beobachten: Das Gras wird braun, aber das Unkraut sprießt.
      Mach’s gut
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Nun ja, lieber Klausbernd, ich kenne auch nur die beiden Sorten Bermuda und St. Augustin Gras, Das sind sie hierzulande fuer Rasen ueblichen, weil sie Sonne und Trockenheit am besten vertragen. Mit Moos haben wir gar keine Probleme, bei unserem semi-ariden Klima.
      Liebe Gruesse,
      Pit

      Liked by 1 person

    • Lieber Pit
      Hier vertrocknet im Sommer das Moos, um im Winter fröhlich zu wachsen. Das lässt jedoch die Wiese im Winter saftig grün aussehen.
      Frohe Woche
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • We had a problem commenting at one blog whereas it was without problems at other blogs.
      We keep our fingers crossed that everything works again soon.
      Have a happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Good morning, dear Amy,
      thank you very much.
      It took six people from morning until evening to go through all these books. They found lots of shopping lists, letters, tickets but unfortunately no money or notes from famous people.
      Have a happy day
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Carol,
      most of the work was the editing of the pictures afterwards for the papers and our blog here.
      The roof fund benefited greatly, indeed. And we had a great time.
      All the best from the sunny coast of North Norfolk
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  48. Thank you, Klaus yes I can imagine all the hard work after the pictures were taken…I have recently returned from the Uk…I took the sunshine with me, unfortunately, I didn’t bring it back…but it is low season here and the reason it is so green is the tropical storms and torrential downpours which are a daily occurrence at the moment but welcome in many ways as it cools it down somewhat… 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Dear Carol,
      we are Nordic people, we don’t like sunshine every day and when it is too warm. For us it just too warm and sunny the last summers. Fortunately it rained two days ago. People were so happy about it that they came out and were dancing in the streets. We are hoping for more rain.
      Wishing you a wonderful weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Carol
      We are all brought up in Scandinavia and loved it there and still love it. We were on expedition in Northern Greenland and Svalbard and now we are holidaying in Scotland. We like Northern Scotland and especially the Orkneys. The North is our area where we feel happy. For us the South is a challenge. We had to live for a while in Greece and in India as well but we couldn’t cope neither with the climate nor with the mentality of the people there.
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Dear Bert and Rusha,
      thank you so much for your kind words. Dina took a lot of pictures at this event, a national paper printed some of these in the weekend issue. It was quite a job editing the pictures as at such events the scenes are usually quite cluttered. Decluttering takes ages.
      Wishing you a wonderful week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  51. I was right there with you thanks to your great prose (books? who’d guess that all book were possibly explosive?? Ah, well, definitely figuratively, but literally??) and to the fabulous photos by Dina. No matter our politics, this kind of event is fun and joyful, particularly when it centers on beautiful music.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thanks a lot, dear Pam.
      Well, it gave us a chance to order the books in a new system. You wouldn’t believe it, it was Dina’s idea to arrange the books by colour. Siri and Selma had to coax our dear Master helping them doing so. Now, a month later, we see that as much books are sold as before when we arranged them alphanumeric following the Dewy system. Of course, it looks great.
      The royal visit was a joyful event for the whole community, indeed.
      Wishing you health and happiness
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • In our private library, we have organised the books by subject groups and within the groups alphabetically by author name. That has the advantage that we can find a special book easily. Nevertheless we use a library program as well – iBookshelf.
      Wishing you a wonderful weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Ja, das sind sie, liebe Brigitte. Als Charles kam, war es jedoch abzusehen, dass er bald König sein werde. Zumindest gingen viele davon aus.
      Dank für deinen Kommentar.
      Liebe Grüße von der stürmischen See
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Oh, das wusste ich nicht.
      Ich war komplett überrascht (und traurig), denn zwei Tage zuvor hatte die Queen ja noch ihre Pflichten wahrgenommen. Ich wusste nicht, dass sie soooo krank war.
      Alt natürlich und gebrechlich, aber sterbenskrank?
      RIP Queen Elizabeth
      Liebe Grüße, wir haben hier gerade Gewitter.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Nein, liebe Brigitte, die Queen war nicht sterbenskrank. Soweit ich weiß, ist sie an Altersschwäche gestorben.
      Hier scheint gerade eine milde Nachmittagssonne 🌞
      Liebe Grüße
      Klausbernd 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  53. Wow, wow, wow! Dina these photos are incredible… and with King Charles as a subject to photograph ~ you indeed are the one to do such a masterful job. Congratulations and what a wonderful story for both you and your community. ❤️

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thank you so much, dear Randall.
      Kate and William are quite often in our area and it was not the first visit of Charles to Cley but the first one that was celebrated in such grand style. Cley next the Sea is not that far away from Sandringham. But as we wrote before we are no royalists.
      Love from us all ❤
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

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