Monday.

Been a lovely day, largely thanks to fellow blogger Z. and her husband R., who had invited us and and about a dozen or so fellow bloggers to lunch and a wall party. Should perhaps explain that the party was to celebrate the completion of a large and complicated garden wall, built by themselves and a fellow blogger Dave (who was also present). We set out for Norfolk (they live just over the county border, about forty five miles from us) at about 11 a.m., and arrived in their village at about 15 minutes past noon. As the party invitation was for 12.30 p.m. we went and had a look round their Church (about three hundred yards from their home) at which Z. is organist. When we went back to their home, our host was waiting in the garden for us and showed us in. Their home is mainly 16th century and is a comfortably welcoming house, having been in their family for some generations. When we'd all arrived we were taken to inspect the wall. It is built of hand made bricks, with several earlier inserts. In a few years that wall will look as if it had grown there. Then back to the kitchen, where our hosts handed us plates, cutlery and a napkin apiece and invited us to help ourselves. We all trouped round the kitchen table, where a fine selection of hot meats, sausages, and vegetable dishes were laid out, and availed ourselves of the invitation to help ourselves. It was a gorgeous meal (one of my grandsons, Matthew, would call it a banquet). We were then offered a choice of puddings, Queen of puddings, bread and butter pudding, and sticky toffee pudding. This was so difficult a choice that we could only see one possible solution - yes dear reader, you are quite right- we both had a little of each. This was followed by a cheese board, and coffee. Conversation was general, but of course mainly about blogging. We were mostly familiar with each other's blogs, or at least their blog comments, and it was interesting to see how nearly we had imagined these other bloggers. One of the most generally heard remarks was "What name do you blog under ?", although sometimes we had a pretty fair idea anyway. The party broke up at about four p.m., which I think is about right for a lunch party. Altogether it had been a very interesting and enjoyable day.

On the way home made a slight detour and took the above photo of a house that I visited occasionally in the sixties. It is easily as pretty as I remember it; in fact in my opinion it's one of the loveliest homes in Suffolk

Drove home via the town of Eye (in Suffolk) and took this photo of the castle remains.

I've just read over this blog, and in view of the quoted question "What name do you blog under?", I think I should make it clear that our names really are Mike and Ann. When I started this blog four years ago (as reminded on the 'phone a few days ago by Godson Edward) it seemed less likely to lead to confusion if we used our own names.

Must end this by saying :-  Many, many thanks for a lovely day Z. and R., or rather, in view of the above remark, Zoe and Russell.