Just back from a Sunday overnighter, originally booked in 2020 (and again in 2021), both times postponed because of the pandemic. Went to Ickworth House on the Sunday afternoon and took the “green walk” around the estate. Just a leisurely ramble, but it still took just under two hours and was very pleasant – think we were both secretly pleased we achieved it without any serious injuries!
Travel
Lakes at Leisure..
Well, I say leisure, this was all a little bit touch and go after Centre Parcs. Mrs. No Name was quite poorly for a while and after she moved on to a second course of antibiotics we decided to cancel the first Lakes hotel and hope for the best thereafter.
Another First
In February 2020 we met our friends whom we had first met on “Jewel Of The Seas” (2007), and we agreed to get together again in around six months time. We finally made it over two years later! We chose the opportunity to try a 4 night Centre Parcs break for the first time – sort of killing two birds with one stone, with the added bonus that this particular resort was around an hour away un Elvedon Forest near Thetford.
Easter Visit
S&G came down on the Easter Friday for a three day break and made very good time, despite all the dire warnings about the incredibly heavy traffic. Guess that must have been going on everywhere else but the A19/A1/A14 route down to Kesgrave 🙂
Breaking Free (….continued)
Just a short post to add to our local culinary experiences. On Thursday we tried the Crown at Ufford, a pub we have passed on many occasions but never actually got through the door. Glad to report, it has a lovely interior, very welcoming hosts and a choice of seating – bar, outside (it was a lovely day) or restaurant. We went for the latter, …
This Time Last Week……
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.
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!