Happy Shopper in Ormesby St Margaret, Norfolk

Finding a ghost sign at the old Happy Shopper shop in Ormesby St Margaret, Norfolk.

We were surprised and amazed to see an old Happy Shopper sign while en route to Hemsby during our East Anglian Road-Trip last month.

We had taken a couple of detours because of traffic and ended up on a different road towards the seaside that took us through the village of Ormesby St Margaret. We're always looking for points of interest and new things to spot when on our travels and as we drove past the village shop we both said to each other jokingly "I wonder if that used to be a Happy Shopper?"

Imagine our shock when we saw a really old, classic Happy Shopper sign in one of the shop windows!

Fletchers Mini Market in Ormesby St Margaret used to be a Happy Shopper shop

I almost crashed into the village pond such was the excitement of our discovery.

During the pandemic we've been feeling very nostalgic. One of the brands we've been thinking about is Happy Shopper - the name alone conjures up images of the 1980's.

We didn't think there would be many - or any - of the original orange and yellow branded shops still around, but we were happy to find out we were wrong when we saw one in Preston last September.

Since then we've been lucky enough to spot and snap a few more on our limited travels outside of lockdown. Take a look at my posts about other Happy Shopper shops in:

• Preston
• Sheffield (Sharrow Lane)
• Sheffield (Page Hall Road)
• Ilkeston
• Hitchin
• Ashwellthorpe
• Lowestoft (2011)
• Lowestoft (2021)

Halloween 2021...

from Imgflip Meme Generator

Lost World Adventure Golf in Hemsby, Norfolk

A revisit to the Lost World Adventure Golf course in Hemsby, Norfolk.

We got to revisit one of our all-time favourite courses during our East Anglian Road-Trip last month.

Lost World Adventure Golf in Hemsby, Norfolk is a superb 9-hole adventure golf course and was one of the first adventure golf courses to open in the UK.

We've played there a number of times over the years, including in two tournaments, and it's still a fantastic attraction.

The course was proving to be incredibly popular on our visit which was very nice to see.

We're already planning a return visit next year.

Check out the Lost World Adventure Golf website for more information, opening times and prices.

Lost World Adventure Golf also has a free scorecard and loyalty app which shows each of the holes, with tips on how to play the course.

The Lost World Adventure Golf course in Hemsby was the 88th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in May 2009.

An End to Sleep Miniature Golf at von ammon co in Washington DC

There's an art-based minigolf course at the von ammon co art gallery in Washington DC, USA.

I've found out about a new art-based minigolf installation at the von ammon co art gallery in Washington DC.

The playable six-hole miniature golf installation has been created by Detroit based artist Tony Hope and is called "An End to Sleep", with each hole based on a scene from the Nightmare on Elm Street films.

The course opened on the 11th September and is playable up to and including Halloween itself.

Visit the von ammon co website to find out more.

We've played a number of art-based courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We're big fans of horror movies and Halloween too so An End to Sleep Miniature Golf would be a very interesting layout to view and play.

Crazy Golf at Herrings Green Farm Birds Of Prey Activity Centre in Wilstead

A look at the Crazy Golf course at Herrings Green Farm Birds Of Prey Activity Centre in Wilstead, Bedfordshire.

My brother Christopher sent me these photos of the Crazy Golf course at Herrings Green Farm Birds Of Prey Activity Centre in Wilstead, Bedfordshire.

The course became the 1,005 visited on our combined Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!

It's not the first time we've seen the course as our friend Cheryl Angel sent us some photos of the course from her visit to the centre back in 2016.

Visit the Herrings Green Farm Birds Of Prey Activity Centre website for more information.

Halloween Mini-Golf at Lahey Family Fun Park in Pennsylvania

There will be Halloween-themed mini-golf at Lahey Family Fun Park in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, USA.

Lahey Family Fun Park is hosting Halloween Miniature Golf on its 18-hole course. Starting on the 24th September you can then tee-off on the haunted course every weekend in October.

Check out the Lahey Family Fun Park website for more information.

The Putt Park Annual Mini-Golf Tournament Las Vegas

Looking back at The Putt Park Annual Mini-Golf Tournament Las Vegas.

I won The Putt Park's Annual Mini-Golf Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA back in September 2011.

We had first played miniature golf at The Putt Park on our holiday to Las Vegas the year before. It was the 178th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Playing at The Putt Park

Sadly The Putt Park is no longer there. It was a brilliant 18-hole course and at the time the only outdoor minigolf course in Las Vegas.

Stonehenge - The BIG mini golf in Hemsby, Norfolk

A revisit to the Stonehenge minigolf course in Hemsby, Norfolk.

Last month we swung by the 18-hole Stonehenge-themed miniature golf course in the seaside town of Hemsby.

Stonehenge Big Mini Golf was the 174th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in June 2010 when it was a 15-hole layout. We first visited it in May 2009 when it was a 12-hole course.

Social distancing footprints next to the entrance sign

We were back in Hemsby during our East Anglian road-trip.

Miniature Golf Day 2021

There are two 'minigolf days' each year - the second of which is coming up soon.

Miniature Golf Day is always on the 21st September. This year that is a Tuesday.

Playing the Putt in the Park Miniature Golf course at Battersea Park in London on Miniature Golf Day 2015

The other minigolf day is National Miniature Golf Day. That is always on the second Saturday in May. In 2022 that will be the 14th.

Fantasia Adventure Golf in Felixstowe, Suffolk

A revisit to one of our most visited minigolf courses.

We swung by the Fantasia Adventure Golf course on Sea Road in Felixstowe, Suffolk during our East Anglian Road-Trip last month.

A new sign for the course on the seafront

We've been going to the seaside town for years and the 9-hole course is one of our most visited layouts as we go there about three times a year. However, the pandemic has meant this was our first visit since 2019.

It was originally the 7th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Lovely Jubbly

We saw this Del Boy advert at Bed Centres 146 in Clacton-on-Sea during our East Anglian road-trip last month.

Lovely Jubbly

It's one of a number of homages to Only Fools and Horses we've seen over the years.

A Happy Shopper shop in Lowestoft, Suffolk

A look at a Happy Shopper shop in Lowestoft, Suffolk.

We didn't only visit minigolf courses during our East Anglian Road-Trip last month. We always try to pack in as much stuff as possible when we're out and about and one of our interests is in lost brands, retail archaeology and interesting signage.

By the time we reached Lowestoft in Suffolk we'd been to a lost Happy Shopper shop in Ashwellthorpe and been shocked to discover one in Ormesby St Margaret too. We knew there was a Happy Shopper in Lowestoft as we'd been there in 2011.

At a Happy Shopper shop in Lowestoft

As with most things in the seaside town, the Happy Shopper is the 'easternmost' example of its type in the British Isles.

The Happy Shopper newsagent, general store and off licence in Lowestoft retains the classic yellow and orange colours of the brand, but differs from other Happy Shopper shops as it doesn't feature the smiling face anywhere on the logo.

Take a look at my posts about other Happy Shopper shops in:

• Lowestoft (2011)
• Preston
• Sheffield (Sharrow Lane)
• Sheffield (Page Hall Road)
• Ilkeston
• Hitchin
• Ashwellthorpe
• Ormesby St Margaret

Only Foals and Horses in Accrington

A look at the Only Foals and Horses charity shop in the Accrington Arndale.

What a shop name!

We've found quite a few Only Fools and Horses business names, gimmicks and signs on our travels.

Packri Monster game at Retro Replay

We spotted this nice old handheld game from Bandai on display in the window of the Retro Replay Arcade, Gaming Lounge & Bar at the Castle Quarter shopping centre in Norwich last month.

Check out that Woolies price sticker on the box too

It's one of a number of retro gaming items in the window at the arcade bar.

Visit the Retro Replay website for more information.

Looney Golf in Bradford - new Crazy Golf course alert

A new indoor crazy golf course is opening in Bradford.

A new indoor minigolf course is opening on North Parade in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Looney Golf is being created in a former retail unit in the city centre.

Check out the Looney Golf Facebook Page for more info.

Looney Golf will be another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Family Adventure Golf at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft, Suffolk

A look at the easternmost Adventure Golf course in the British Isles.

We visited Lowestoft in Suffolk on our East Anglian road-trip last month and revisited the 20th course we ever played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Back then it was called East Point Family Golf.

The Family Adventure Golf course at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft is the easternmost Adventure Golf course in the British Isles.

Happy National Video Game Day

Today is National Video Game Day.

The Flintstones Crazy Golf

A look back at The Flintstones Crazy Golf course at Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth, Dorset.

The scorecard from Tee Time Miniature Golf in Ocean City, New Jersey that I recently blogged about reminded me of The Flintstones Crazy Golf course at Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth.

That course was the 77th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in October 2008. It's long gone now.

Pirates Island Adventure Golf at Norfolk Premier Golf in Blofield, Norfolk

A look at the Pirates Island Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Premier Golf in Blofield, Norfolk.

We swung by the 12-hole Pirates Island Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Premier Golf in Blofield, Norfolk on our East Anglian road-trip last month.

The course was the 971st visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Visit the Pirates Island Adventure Golf website for more information, opening times and prices.

It's always fun seeing minigolf vehicles

Haunted Miniature Golf at Putt'n Around in Delray Beach, Florida

Putt'n Around in Delray Beach, Florida, USA will be having a Haunted Miniature Golf course throughout October.

It's always fun to hear about Halloween-themed minigolf courses and events.

Putt'n Around Delray Beach is home to two 18-hole miniature golf courses. Hopefully we'll get to play them on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour one day.

They've got a fun mascot at the course too.

Check out the Putt'n Around Delray Beach website for more information.