Dom Davis (The Blog)

It’s Cromer Carnival at the moment and this evenings it’s the big parade. Now, if I’d been sensible and thought about this, I would have taken today off. The Zozo has a day off which we could have spent together; at some point I need to nip to the doctors which is going to require me not being at work; I’d get to see the Red Arrows for once; I’d avoid the hordes on the way home.

Sadly I didn’t think about it so instead in going to leave work an hour early, meet up with The Zozo after she’s been shopping in Norwich and head home with her to watch the big parade. As is traditional on these types of outing dinner will consist of a dodgy burger or suspect hotdog from a friendly street vendor.

Last night The Zozo and I went to Chez Denis, a Caribbean restaurant on the outskirts of Norwich. The Zozo had found it via a Groupon offer and we’d decided to give it a go.

Denis, the proprietor and head chef, is a St Lucian and, as with all Caribbean men, prides himself on his rum punch. Having Bajan roots myself I’m partial to a good rum punch and like to think I know a good one when I have it. The best punch I’ve had was made by Anthony Hunte at his home in St Joseph, Barbados. His exquisite garden is open to visitors and the entry price includes a punch or two.

The most lethal punch has to be the “Jungle Juice” served by Island Safaris in Barbados. Just two plastic cups of that and I was slaughtered. To be honest I’m surprised the plastic doesn’t melt with whatever they’ve got in that punch.

Denis made a punch that sat between those two. Made from rum that was 80% it had quite a kick but wasn’t quite the rocket fuel that jungle juice is. To my taste I prefer it just a little weaker, a tiny bit fruitier and with a touch more nutmeg, but that’s only if I’m being ultra picky. For a rum punch in the UK it was fantastic and it went down very well. Too well.

By the time out starters were ready I’d already finished my drink so, with a tiny bit of fake protest, I allowed myself to be made a second drink before we were shown to our table. I then proceeded to scarf down my crayfish tails (gorgeous, could have had a plate 5 times larger for a main if I was allowed) and slowly sip my drink.

Since it’s not often I drink, and not often I find good rum punch, and The Zozo was driving, and I still had my main to go I thought I may treat myself to a third drink. Denis seemed a little surprised, but happily served me another with our main – a rather tasty jerked pork for me.

By now it was getting a little hard to focus on things more than about 5 meters away and my face was decidedly numb, but I felt OK and we still had pudding to go through so maybe a sneaky fourth drink would be in order to go with that.

I think 4 was the sweet spot and any more would have me paying dearly. As it was I had to get up a few times in the night and breakfasted this morning on a large handful of pills. I think we’ll certainly go back, just not on a school night this time

One of my birthday presents was a slushy maker. I love slushies, especially the Tango Ice Blasts that you can get at the cinema¹. Hopefully when I get home tonight all the required ingredients (ice, salt² and sugary drink to turn into slush) will be in place and I can make some icy goodness. I’m very excited

¹Toys have been thrown out of pram on more than one occasion due to broken Ice Blast machines denying me iced sugary goodness.

²That rather surprised me at first but the ice and salt go into a central “freezing column” used to chill and slushify the drink. The ice and salt don’t actually go into the drink itself.

Last night we had takeaway curry with part of my family up at the Zoo. Since we were going to be driving to get there we offered to go collect the curry, after all, we just need to drive along the high street, quickly pull into the bus stop while one of us dives into the curry house, and then continue along the road, turn right and we’re practically there.

No. Not so easy. We got as far as half way along the high street before encountering a sea of blue flashing lights courtesy of a number of police cars and an ambulance. Cromer town centre is basically a one way system so our options were turn right and get spat out of town by this, turn right and go round again or ram the police car. I took option two, letting Zo out to go collect the curry. I actually ended up going round four times before finding a parking spot. Ironically enough as I walked to get Zo I realised the police had mostly gone, so I jumped back in the car, scooped up Zo and headed to the zoo.

From what we can work out three or four marked cars and one unmarked car with lights descended on Cromer with no sirens, blocked a section of the high street and all the roads leading to that section of high street. The ambulance may or may not have been a later addition. After a period of time the road block was lifted leaving only the unmarked car and ambulance.

Given the scale of the operation (Cromer isn’t exactly big and that’s a lot of emergency personnel to have in one place) I’d love to know what was going on. I shall have to keep an eye on local need sources for the next few days, see if anything crops up.

* Well, Cromer.
** Or more likely just bog standard plod.

This year is the first year I’ve been about for Cromer Carnival which is a week of festivities including the crowning of the Carnival queen ¹ (Saturday), airshow² (yesterday), fireworks (tonight) and fairground (all week). I believe it’s one of the larger carnivals in North Norfolk.

Last night was the big parade. Cromer is closed to traffic and floats, bands, dancers and becostumed people paraded along the streets to throngs of happy, cheering and quite tipsy people. The Zozo and I went out to see this spectacle, eat burgers, hotdogs and doughnuts and generally join in with the revelry.

Being my first carnival I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was very impressed by the quality of the floats and costumes. I was also stunned by the number of young girls in leotards twirling batons. Either they were imported from round the county or Cromer has the highest number of twirlers per capita of anywhere in the world.

Parade over the Zozo and I investigated the fun fair and the Zozo treated me to a few goes shooting prizes with cork guns (she won 3 prizes, I only managed 1) and a go throwing surprisingly light balls at clearly weighted cans. Neither of us won a prize although I managed to cheat and catch the ball on a rebound without anyone seeing giving me a fourth shot. Didn’t help

We went to sleep that night with full bellies, smiles on our faces and the sounds of revelry drifting on the night air. All in all a great evening.

¹ which was more of an afterthought after the long and boring speeches by local dignitaries
² the Red Arrows pitch up and do their thang. I missed that unfortunately