Travel

It’s that time of year again, this time for two weeks, returning last Friday – another journey up the A1, this time with a little controversy thrown into the mix. On the way up, we did not overnight at Wentbridge Hotel! To avoid those pesky roadworks we veered away from the Al onto the A57, then onto the M1 to stay at a Premier Inn just off the aforementioned motorway. Superb, as instead of the predicted three and a half hours, it took us only six hours to get there – admittedly with a one hour lunch stop included. Great decision eh. Them’s the breaks!!

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Just back from a return to one of our favourite places, albeit the first visit for eleven years. Still remembered many of our previous visits, as the old haunts featured in the collages will hopefully demonstrate. First things first – just to get it out there, the Duke of Richmond hotel is the most expensive we’ve ever paid for a night’s stay (or, in this case, eleven nights). It was very pleasant and the food was exemplary. For a rate from which I’ve only just recovered however, there were a few minor niggles that we feel should not have been present in a hotel of this ‘standing’. But I’ll let these go for now and focus on the positives, of which there were many, just like on all previous visits to the Channel Islands.

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The first of our 2024 cat sitting ventures, this time coupled with a meet up with friends in Nottinghamshire on the way back (of which more later). As usual, we made our customary overnight stopover at the Wentbridge Hotel on the way up to Sunderland; not sure if our expectations have changed but whilst perfectly fine, it no longer appears to be the special treat delivered by previous visits. Anyone else feel the same? No. Just me then 🙂

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Returned from last week’s Rhone cruise, which was a first on so many levels. For a start, it was the first time on a flight since September 2019, after which the pandemic forced a blindingly stark retreat into home isolation and very restrictive travel options; and although we have had a number of holidays since, all but one (the Saga cruise) had been on home turf. The flights were also operated by Ryanair, a company I’d always sworn blind I would never fly with again. But, the Rhone and this particular itinerary was always on our list, we could fly out from Stansted and we aren’t getting any younger, so, ermm…. hey-ho!! To be fair the flights themselves were fine – both delayed but I don’t in all conscience blame that on the flight carrier, much as it pains me to say so. Anyway. so far so good.

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Although it was just one at the start, when we decided we shouldn’t keep putting off visits to ‘attractions’ on our doorstep but should seize the day. So, off we went to the “Wherstead Area” to grace Jimmy’s Farm with our presence. However, when we then discovered that even the overflow carpark was overflowing, we decided the time to visit the farm was when the kids were back at school. So, watch this space….

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Didn’t see S&G at Christmas on this occasion so it was good to finally welcome them down to sunny(ish) Suffolk for a long weekend this Easter. They arrived on the Easter Friday and stayed for four nights which was long enough for us to squeeze in a couple of long overdue outings. In no particular order of importance we indulged in the following…

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For what has become something of an annual sojourn after the post Christmas festivities, we took our usual trip up to Aldeburgh, for three nights on this occasion. This time around it was the Brudenell hotel, and any cursory search on this site would tell you it is one of the three hostelries in the town that we have previously had the pleasure of staying at. Took the package deal that gave us evening meal on two of the three nights which, given the vagaries of the North Sea “breeze”, we thought was a sensible option.

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Although it wasn’t that short a visit, as we enjoyed a leisurely five night break at the National Trust Coach House Lodge, all organised by Mrs. No Name. The lodge proved to be a lovely base and, as it was a National Trust property and adjacent to Peckover House, had the additional benefit of ‘out of hours’ access to the house gardens.

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No sooner back from the cruise and we were off on our trip to serve the cats for the second time this year. Overnight stop in Wentbridge on the way up didn’t prove to be as successful, with a few issues at breakfast that rather put a dampener on proceedings. Recompensed, but worrying enough to consider alternatives in the future….

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