Or indeed, a trip to God’s Country I suppose, but I’ve always been an introverted Yorkshireman, so I draw the line at County rather than drawing parallels between my county of birth and the whole of the country – it wouldn’t do the latter any favours he says with fervour. We could have done without the unseasonably cold snap, where the heavy snow put the first two legs in serious jeopardy! Then again, I didn’t expect a simple invitation to an 80th birthday lunch for Mrs. No Name’s cousin to lead to a fourteen day sojourn and five hotel stays either….

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Back from a three nighter in North Walsham in Norfolk at the Beechwood hotel, a place we’d often looked at but had never actually got round to trying. Encouraged by a deal, we fell for the DB&B rate, although the thought of a true four course dinner three nights in a row ‘fuelled’ a little trepidation in the elderly visitors – that’s us by the way, how we yearn for the robust appetites of our younger selves.

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Recently, it has occurred to me that this blog goes relatively long periods without entries of any significance or, worse still, no activity at all. Well, knock me over with a feather duster and call me Beryl! This of course does not mean that I am lying prostrate on my chaise longue surrounded by cherubs feeding me grapes and generally attending to my every whim (apparently).

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Well I say magical mystery tour. It was less a tour and more an unknown destination as this latest short break away was organised by Mrs. No Name with zero input from me. All I was told was that I should pack for three nights only and it would be casual throughout. Oh, and it would only be around an hour away.

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Or, as it is much more usually named, the Long Shop Museum at Leiston. Finally found our way there, another of those ‘we’ve lived in the area 25 years and still haven’t been to one of the many local attractions’ moments. Of course, we’ve been to Leiston before and to the remarkably well preserved Abbey ruins, but it’s taken the Arts Pass to shake off the inertia and visit the museum.

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Barely three weeks after the last catsitting sojourn, we were back there again whilst S&G ventured to the highlands of Scotland. This one lasted over a fortnight and I managed to secure four hotel visits travelling up and down the country.

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No sooner was Mrs. No Name back from a four day catsitting whilst son and girlfriend attended Latitude than we were scheduled back up in Sunderland for the longer holiday vigil. So we bookended the visit to make it a little more of a holiday break, blessed by lovely weather throughout.

Took a two nighter at Wentbridge House hotel, fast becoming the customary stopover on the way up. Took two nights so we could sample a couple of National Trust / English Heritage properties:-

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