Day 362. A final 2013 visit.

To Cambridge.

I suspect 2014 will see my loyalties shift slightly towards Norwich. It's closer for a start and after heading there to do some Christmas shopping I fell a little bit in love with the place.

But for now, one last trip to a city that first won me over in the '90s. A place I've introduced my daughter to. Where I've laughed, cried, played, entertained, dined, shopped, shopped and shopped a little more.

I won't fully abandon its cobbled streets, the college backs and the glorious museums; it's just time to discover somewhere closer to home.

Day 348. Macarons & More.

Firstly I'm thrilled this isn't called More Than Macarons. My friend Andrew would be enraged if it was. Just ask him about More Than insurance, then stand back and watch him go.

I finally decided to do some Christmas shopping, in Norwich, with a clear list. Forty minutes in and I was still discovering the joys of the lanes when I found this place. Beautiful inside and out. £20 later and I had made my first purchase. Unfortunately it wasn't on the list and it wasn't a gift. Less than successful.

Next stop The Tannery, a place that assaults your nostrils with the most sensational leather aroma - again, no present purchased here. Just browsing, for me.

A jewellers, still in the lanes, was my next stop where I tried on an exquisite aquamarine ring. I managed to spend fifteen minutes of chatter with the assistant convincing myself I was thinking about my sisters. She knew. I knew. Presents on list - 0. Treats for the Honeybones - 4.

I did finally check my list and the enormity of my task kickstarted some action. All family presents were purchased, a few of them I'l be reluctant to hand over; work gifts were sorted and I gathered a few more ideas for my own wish list.

All in all, a pretty good day.

Day 300. Bonkers about conkers.

After the frenetic pace of four hours in Norwich yesterday today required a slower pace. What? We're bumpkins now. Sometimes city life takes its toll.

A trip to the park with the kids and then a long walk home via the horse chestnut trees where we filled our bags with conkers. Shiny jewels inside a prickly case. I know a few people who bear the same qualities.

Day 299. Wagons roll.

A weekend with the Sugdens and a day in Norwich.

By day I mean half a day by the time we'd corralled three kids and four adults into the car, endured the back seat driving of three of the adults and found a car park because of course it was match day and we hadn't thought to factor that in. By Norwich I mean a restaurant for dinner, BHS for a toilet break and Norwich Castle for some family entertainment.

The Castle, if you haven't been, is a spectacularly good place to visit. We'll definitely be visiting again soon. And for lunch we visited Middletons Steakhouse and Grill - here's my review on Triptease.

The journey home was less eventful and we parked with ease.

Day 223. Go Go Gorillas.

Pay a visit to Norwich this summer and you'll come across 53 life-sized and 67 baby gorillas decorating the city. Painted by artists, schools and community groups there's Optimus Primate, The Ape'd Crusader and Bling Kong. This is Iron Ape and like the swans in Wells, Somerset last year they're making quite an impression on us. When we're back from our holiday I think we'll spend a day trying to track them all down.