We were yet again in Aldeburgh on a two night break but, shock and awe indeed, we stayed not at the Wentworth Hotel but The White Lion. I unilaterally decided to give the White Lion a try, as it was the only one of the big three (Wentworth and Brudenell) that we have never stayed.
Travel
Breaking Free
Or, alternatively, another mid week break, this time back to the Wentworth in Aldeburgh for another two nighter. On this occasion, opted for a sea view room – very pleasant but, on a purely personal note, prefer the walk in shower to bath with shower over arrangement. Worked fine though.
Local Environs
Two short breaks, either side of Denise’s birthday. Both very local, hence the title. Am also aware that I’ve been more than a little remiss on the updating front, although this entry is reasonably timely. The first of the breaks was a fortnight ago and the second was Tuesday and Wednesday of last week. As for the Covid ‘breakout’ holidays of late last year, a little judicious editing will ensure they are chronologically sequenced correctly when they are finally written up. 🙂
Oxford (finally)
Finally, because we have long wanted to visit the city and we eventually managed to get there last week, along with our friends from Essex (the China couple, as we have never actually called them). Additionally, the miracles of posting technology means that although I am writing this a ridiculously long time after the actual event, a little musing wizardry means it will appear in the listings in its chronologically correct place.
Midlands Meander
Another late update to the blog. I won’t repeat the twisted logic surrounding its arrival, other than to say that it’s an earlier vacation but an even later entry than the Oxford visit – but still finds its orderly location in the blog. This was a week’s visit to Oundle and Stamford, split as three nights in Northamptonshire and four in Lincolnshire. This was what I would call our first significant foray beyond our immediate environment during the easing of the second lockdown restrictions. The first of our stop-offs was the market town of Oundle.
Catsitting Two!
Up to Sunderland to cat sit for Scott as he took a break with G and family down in Somerset. It now feels like a long journey (obviously, it’s exactly the same length but we’re now doddery old people) so we broke the journey by staying overnight at the Wentbridge House Hotel just off the Al. Wedding on the day we arrived and the next day but we were never rushed or hurried. In fact we had a pleasant chat with the very recent bride and groom in the bar as they took a break before the reception in the Crystal Room.
Return To A Favourite
Back from a return visit to North Norfolk, although this time we had to split the four night trip over two locations, as we couldn’t find a single hotel that could run to a four day stretch. On the plus side, gave us the opportunity to try another hotel!
The Travelogue Continued…
The title might be a slight misnomer (ok, exaggeration) but we have continued to expand our horizons with two further trips in the last ten days or so. On the Wednesday we decided, somewhat on a whim, to visit the market town of Diss for probably only the third time since 1995!
Steady As She Goes…
Slowly but surely….as lockdown tentatively releases its grip (hopefully) we ventured a little futher afield and took a week’s break in peak district Derbyshire in Ashover, where we were joined for the first weekend by Mrs. No Name’s son and girlfriend SJ & G. The cottage was lovely and large, so we could adapt to the limiting circumstances, although we at least are now fully vaccinated.
Bircham Break
So, this was the big one as we painstakingly reintegrate ourselves into the ‘normal world’. Well, not really but it was our first foray into paid for accommodation, which we eased back into with a return to a lovely hotel that we had first visited in more placid terms around two years ago – The Kings Head Country Hotel at Great Bircham in Norfolk.
Cat Sitting
This was the next in the new environment….armed with masks and gel, we made the 307 mile journey up to Sunderland to cat sit to allow Scott a well earned week away. The journey up went remarkably smoothly, helped by a picnic lovingly prepared by yours truly. Managed to catch up with Scott and Gilli before their next day departure and then eight days of us and the cats. It should be said at this point that Mrs. No Name admirably handled virtually all of the domestic cat duties throughout the stay, including a transformed but still tetchy Bingo, who although generally much more placid still managed to showcase disdain and distaste for her nightly medication.
Audley End
After the experiment that was Covehithe, yesterday was the next enticing stage in the new normal, a trip to Audley End and to a meeting with friends. Audley was a compromise as it was equidistant for both and had the very real added advantage of being open!