Friday (last bit I think).

 

Snapshot from middle of Boxford along lane that I always intend to stroll along, but never have. Cheers, everyone.

Still more Friday.

 

Bank of snowdrops beside track about three miles from home, on way to Stoke by Nayland. At Sudbury, went to usual tailor's shop. Purchased pyejams. Talked to tailor about flannel trousers for summer, and possibility of finding grey/blue weskitt to go with (two piece) grey suit with faint blue stripe. Tailor pointed out (not for first time) that it might be easier (and not much more expensive) to have one built rather than searching for it. Agreed to this, and he will put matters in hand. Ann shopped at Waitrose - I carried basket. Then to small (but good) coffee bar in corner of Waitrose. Liquid refreshment, then home, via Boxford.

Still Friday.

 

Snapshot from top of hill (contrary to popular opinion, we do have them in Suffolk, but as you can see, they are reasonably sized, well behaved hills). Stoke-by-Nayland Church can be seen on the skyline.

Friday.

 

Worked in workshop this morning, tarting up antique weaponry purchased last Saturday morning. Went well. This afternoon we went across to Sudbury to purchase pair of pyjamas. I never wear the things. EXCEPT when in hospital,which I should have been today for an internal adjustment of the ageing plumbing arrangements. This was cancelled late yesterday afternoon by the hospital, but rearranged this morning for next Friday. This indecision on the part of my hosts was, in the end, no bad thing, as when I read the small print it said I must take pyjamas and a dressing gown with me. Dressing gown no problem, but no (respectable) pyjamas, so off to Sudbury to purchase pair of jimjams. Respectable attire the more necessary (I suppose)as it is a mixed gender ward. On the way in stopped along route to take photies to illustrate blog. Above snapshot is of Ann in Stoke by Nayland. Machinery playing up, so will publish what I've got so far. Back in a minute.

Still Shrove Tuesday.

 

Ann, take by surprise when about to toss pancake number three. All pancakes were successfully tossed by the traditional method.

Shrove Tuesday.

 

This morning we motored across to Bury St. Edmund's Hospital, where my new hearing aid was waiting to be fitted into my right ear. I wasn't expecting much in the way of improvement as I was fairly convinced that I was stone deaf in that ear, but the young lady in charge was convinced that there was 'some residual hearing there' and, blow me, she was right. The hearing is very 'metalic' and muffled in that ear, but the new aid is supposed to work in conjunction with the slightly better ear, and I do think that I really can hear rather better with the new aid in situ, and 'every little helps'.
We went for lunch (as per usual) at the refectory. We both had venison - our waitress told me it was from the Ixworth Estate- and very good it was, too. Ann had cherry pie and custard for pudding, and I had toffee apple ice cream -recommended by the same waitress, and not bad at all.We came home via Long Melford, and stopped off for coffee at the Bull.
This evening (it being Shrove Tuesday) we had pancakes. I made the first two for Ann. As we judged there was enough batter to make four pancakes, we changed places and Ann made the next two for me. We then found there was enough batter for a fifth pancake, which we shared. My Norfolk grandfather (though not generally a man to spoil himself foodwise) always insisted that the best way of serving pancakes was to have the pancakes flat on a hot plate, spread the pancakes with muscavado sugar, sprinkle it with lemon juice, roll the pancake up, sprinkle a little caster sugar on top, then eat it with a knife and fork. I have tried pancakes and crepes in many different guises since and have never come across a better method! Yesterday was our forty sixth wedding anniversary, but we've celebrated today, and I'm now going to go upstairs and pour us both a sloe gin to round off our celebration.
Goodnight All. God bless you.

More Monday.

 

Photo of windmill mentioned in previous blog. Photo taken on Friday afternoon, beside A47 road, somewhere between Wansford and Uppingham. Goodnight.

Monday.

 

It's been a good, active weekend. On Friday morning we motored across to Wisbech, stopping on the way to take the above photo of snowdrops and celandines in Outwell churchyard. Had lunch with Gran, then eventually, on to Peterborough, and took the A47 road towards Leicester, stopping to take photo of windmill, probably illustrated in next blog. Nearing Leicester we turned off left and negotiated cross country route, via villages to Carl and Judy's, where we stayed the weekend. Niece Jess popped in during the evening, and invited us to see her new house sometime over the weekend. Dinner was mainly superb cold collation (cold beef, Melton Mowbray pork pie, pickles, etc.)Saturday morning called in on an old friend/business aquaintance, and was able to do business. Had coffee with sister Margaret and her husband, Mark. Hadn't seen their new home. It is a very pleasant semi, backing onto grassland and,eventually, Leicester racecourse. Good to see them. Sunday morning we went (as per invitation)to see Jessie and Paul's new home. Lovely house, built in the early fifties, but kept very up to date -all mod cons. Lovely garden, which they have plans for. House very central, but with a belt of trees beyond their garden so 'rus in urbe'. Younger generation seems to be doing very well , I'm glad to say. Set out for home at 8.30am this morning, got back in time for lunch and then on to lip reading class. Been a full day after a good weekend. So : Good night all.

Still Tuesday.

 

Distant prospect of Old Newton Hall, which is about half a mile from church, ilustrated below. Goodnight all.

Tuesday.

 

Killed several birds with one stone today. Motored over to Stowupland and called on niece Rebeccah and her husband Matt. They are organising a family get-together at a pub/restaurant, so placed our orders from the menu with them and pre-payed our bill. As we were rather earlier than we had arranged we did a bit of exploring, and came across the village of Old Newton (suppose it would have been Old New Town originally). We came over a low Suffolk hill and in the middle of largely bare countryside was the above large church. It's one of the delights of Suffolk that in a sparsely populated agricultural area, where there's a farmhouse and a few cottages in sight, you can suddenly come across a church that's the size of a modest cathedral. Mean to go back and have a good look at it. I suppose it must have been a much more prosperous area when the church was built,six or seven centuries ago. Back to Becky and Matt's and, as stated, ordered and payed for meal, to take place on 21st March. Had coffee and biscuits with them, then on to Colin and Christine's, where I had to put long case clock to rights. Fairly successful job (I hope) then had lunch with them. Colin had cooked a fish pie, followed by baked apples with ginger and cream. Then coffee. Lunched by large picture window giving onto their garden and farmland in the depths of Suffolk. Bird feeders close to window so we had views (at a distance of a few feet)of pheasants, blue tits, cole tits, great tits, long tailed tits, green finches, wood pigeons, doves, and a superb yellowhammer. Hadn't seen on of those -close up- for a long time. Watched him for about ten minutes, then went to car to get my camera. When I got back he had (of course) gone. The others said he flew when he heard me shut the front door - he must have better ears than I have. Motored home at about three, as I had an appointment with Mr. Farrow the foot fellow, or to put it another way, my chiropodist. Feeling better for his ministrations. Ann's calling down that supper preparations are well under way, so had better go up and join her. More later perhaps.

Sunday.

 

Photograph of shop front with incredible carved beam in same town as last two day's illustrations. Not sure when it was built - XIVth/XVth century I should think.

More Saturday.

 

Still in north Suffolk. One more well known building(in family history anyway) which should be of interest to Nea. Good night all.

Saturday.

 

Photo taken of Ann yesterday near the (in)famous pet shop.

Friday P.s. (sorry).

P.s. And (before anybody thinks to ask) NO dead zebras, either.

Last bit of Friday.

 

And this is a snapshot of your blogger outside petshop, the smell of which hasn't altered much in forty odd years, either. Should perhaps add (to avoid any possibility of legal action) that there are now NO dead zebra finches in shop window.And must add that most of this blog is for benefit of Nea.

Still Friday.

 

Here is a photo of the clock we delivered this morning, now happily reinstalled in its case. It is a very simple country clock. As far as I can see it is completely original. It was made in Banbury between 1778 and 1789. It was a very satisfying clock to work on.

More Friday

This is the inside of the petshop, and the architecture hasn't changed in two centuries.

Friday.

Today we motored up to North Suffolk to install a clock movement that I have been renovating. It looked really well when back in its long case. May publish a photo of it later. We then went on to a North Suffolk town that we lived in for a while forty odd years ago. Above is a snapshot of the petshop on the Market Place, looking just as it did in the sixties. The only difference I could see was that there are now rather fewer dead zebra finches in the window.

Tuesday.

Over the last few days all the snow (not that we had much here) melted. Then last night it rained (all night I think). So this morning, when we had to drive across to Bury St. Edmund's the journey was rather dodgy. Sheets of water in unexpected places. The little River Brett was so swollen that at one place where there is obviously an old ford (perhaps twenty feet wide normally) there is now a stretch of flowing water at least a hundred yards wide. One of our white egrets was flying above it, whilst a great flock of seagulls was foraging on its edges. Still we got to Bury without having to make any real detours and took the car to Banks for its first service. Did a little shopping. Bought a pair of light grey flannels to wear with my navy blazer -old ones (so Ann informs me) are no longer respectable. Had coffee at the Angel then picked up car. Back to Angel Hill and had lunch at the Refectory (quite as good as usual). On to Lavenham and called to see Margaret Tinworth (John out at his art class). She has recently had op, so took her some primulas. All things considered we both thought she looked well. Home through floods (Brett even higher than this morning) but not much water actually on the road. Hope it doesn't rain tonight - got to go to Frinton tomorrow - old friend John's funeral - see entry for 16th December last year. Must close now. Good night all.

More Tuesday.

Wintry sunset in Suffolk. Took this on the way home from Ipswich. Went into Ipswich on 'Park and ride' from Copdock. Very efficient service. Went to Co-op Bank in morning. Then had lunch at Ipswich Institute restaurant. Had three games of scrabble in Conversation Room at Institute in the afternoon. Modesty prevents me saying who won, but all were good, close faught games. Two tables of three. Ann (who had been shopping) got back to Institute just in time to take a hand in the third game, at the other table, and won it. On way home pulled into gateway near Hintlesham to take above photo. Must knock off now, as I've got to get ready for Long Melford fair tomorrow, and lots to do still. Good night all.

Tuesday.

Went into Ipswich this morning, and took photo of main doorway (inside small porch) of St. Mary Elms Church. It' a pretty little Norman doorway, with what appears to be the original door (complete with wrought iron decoration) still in situ. Had a good busy, weekend. Had friends Cath and Derek Harper, and Diana and Terry Robertson, to lunch on Saturday. The six of us make up a good group, and always seem to enjoy each other's company. On Sunday we went to lunch with Heather Gibson. Heather invariably puts on a good, interesting meal; but she also invariably manages to have interesting people to meet. This time there was our good friend Hilary, and also Bob and Liz, who we have met before, but we were able to get to know them better. Knocking off now for tea. More perhaps later.