Balancing Act - Online Studio Sale . . . 30% OFF

In most cases it would be difficult to identify someone with a vestibular disorder by simply looking at them. Mostly we look well, so it’s particularly frustrating when people believe that I am making it up while I am trying to be sociable with a spinning head and nausea. Full of scepticism for my plight they tell me how well I look. I have learnt to avoid people like this. They won’t think that there is anything wrong with you unless you offer up a severed limb. For some idea of what it is like with a vestibular problem go to http://vestibular.org/understanding-vestibular-disorder/symptoms

I have been continuing to ‘work through’ dizzy spells when at times I feel that I should stop before I either lose balance or throw up or maybe both. This seems to be the key to recovery from a vestibular problem. One has to do it to re-calibrate the brain - It’s difficult, necessary and beneficial.

Walking in wide open spaces is helping too. Another favourite and regular walk of ours is on the coast at Salthouse. The village takes its name from the production of the once valuable commodity of salt - in the Domesday Book it is referred to as ‘The House for the Storing of Salt’. For what is now a small village of 250 people it has a rich history. Evidence of human activity in the area has been discovered dating back as far as 2000 BC and there was once a Roman Settlement here with a small port. I love the place as it is today, it has a really good ‘vibe’.

Located 4 miles north of Holt, Salthouse looks out onto 66 hectares of costal grazing salt marshes. It is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, part of the North Norfolk Heritage Coast and an area of international importance for wildlife – particularly birds. Part of the joy of walking here is to be amongst the cacophony of birdsong at dawn or dusk. I will never tire of the sensation of being beneath the low flight path of hundreds of geese, or a pair of mute swans. In the summer I regularly spot the turquoise flash of a Kingfisher along the banks of the canals that drain the marshes. Back from the coast in the heath land above Salthouse Night Jars and Nightingales can be heard in early summer. Twitchers Paradise.

Our walk takes Elgar, Turner and me up behind the Dun Cow Pub toward the neighbouring village of Cley over farm land above and back from the marshes. The footpath cuts diagonally across a few wheat fields making this walk fun during the summer. Strolling on a sunny day through golden waist high crop while looking across the marshes and out to sea. At high vantage points along the way we can see the tower of St Nicholas Church of Salthouse behind us and far in front the tower of St Nicholas Church of Blakeney . . . so I’m in good company. After a mile or so the path leads down and toward the coast alongside a large pond at Snipes Marsh. Here we cross the coast road and head back on ourselves along the grandly named “Attenborough Walk” which joins the marshes of Cley and Salthouse. At the end of this path we head out toward the coast and over the sea defences onto the beach, often meeting a seal or two on our way back to Salthouse along the waters edge.  

Any hopes of seeing David along the “Attenborough Walk” are dashed, it’s not a regular haunt . . . he did open it though. The Norfolk Wildlife Trust bought the 8km stretch of land in 2012 and over the following three years the land was transformed from its former use as commercial shooting ground to a protected coastal site. Much nicer to look and appreciate things than to shoot them eh?

Here is today's (bargain) painting:

Little Sunflower

Oil on Gessoed Panel

6.5" x 4.5"

Framed

SOLD

. . . and framed it looks like this (and measures 8" x 6")