The weekend

I spent a quiet Saturday knitting and listening to a book - The Brimstone Wedding by Barbara Vine.  I worked on the ten stitch for a while. Then picked up the Tama sweater and decided to get that out of the way. Peter took himself off for a walk but I didn’t fancy one. We had walked nearly 7 miles on Friday and my knee hurt plus it was grey and miserable. My excuse. There are two sides left to do on the blanket so I’m nearly there. It actually makes me quite warm with so much bulk in my lap so I’m trying to push it to the side the best I can without it affecting my left shoulder too much. I can tell you getting older is no fun. You really feel the changes! I also cast on a cardigan late evening. It’s the Ribbed Baby Cardigan by Debbie Bliss. I’m using Louisa Harding Yarns Jesse (100% cotton) for this. Photo at the bottom. I have added four rows of 2x2 rib to prevent it rolling, hopefully it won’t spoil the finished look.

Today Sunday we walked 9.5 miles - out of the village along the river towards Fen Drayton lakes, then round Elney Lake and back the way we came.  I’m feeling somewhat stiff now! I wish there was a way of sorting out ageing joints. I know if I dropped some weight it would help but …..  Peter fancies doing the Camino de Santiago but it’s such a long way and would take six weeks walking 12 miles per day …… we would need to do some serious training for that. Plus it’s all terrains and weathers

I’ll leave you with that thought and photos of our leisurely flat walk

Mixed bag

This post will be a bit of everything today.  It’s been that sort of day so far.

First stop was some weeding over at the allotment.  All is looking well. The brassicas we put in in the autumn are growing well and we think we may have lost just one.

The onions are doing great, which I’m so pleased about as these were half price in the sale.  The broad beans aren’t doing so well. A few have been nipped by the frost, guess they were late germinating and some have clearly not come up at all. 

The bottom picture is of some unknown bulbs that are coming through in the bottom bed  I had allocated this bed for flowers so it will be interesting to see what these are? The raspberry canes still look brown sticks but there are signs of life in the rhubarb we moved.

Peter decided to clean the car when we got back, after last weeks driving on mucky roads. I went through the seed box and put them in order of planting.  Itching to get started but it’s still too early for most things.  We have our mini greenhouse/cold frame, the compost, seed cells and trays.  As I say ready to go.

Late morning I went off to the Grey House in the village to get my hair done, then Peter met me for lunch at the Grey House Coffee shop.  I had ham and cheese toastie and he had hummus, red pepper and spinach toastie, followed by a coffee and we shared a slice of orange and almond cake.  It was all very good. And the best of it is, it’s just down the village, an 8 minute walk.

The amaryllis has put out some more flowers. So stunning. I’m hoping that bud four puts in an appearance before flower head one goes over. I’ve moved it from the kitchen window sill as it was just too tall, but it’s still getting plenty of light.

The second ten stitch is nearing its completion, 4.5 sides to go and I’m done.  So looking forward to working on something else. Hopefully I will have photos of them in their new home before too long.

Oh so pretty

 

When we returned from our week away we found that someone had started to put on a show in the kitchen. Isn’t this year’s amaryllis beautiful. There are four buds, wether they will all come out together remains to be seen. I did try keeping last years bulb but by the looks of things I just have leaves but it was worth a try.

Suffolk Secrets - Aldeburgh to Sizewell

Thursday 20 January

A grey cold start to the day. Coffee and pastries from Pump Street Bakery of course.

Our walk today was a toss up between the Sailors Walk (Snape to Aldeburgh and back) around 13 miles or Aldeburgh, Thorpness to Sizewell and return.  We decided 13 miles was pushing it as the weather didn’t look great and to be honest I just didn’t fancy it. 

These houses really shout “look at me”

Sizewell Beach, I was really surprised to see a beach side community slap bang beside a nuclear power station. Sizewell has loomed large on the landscape of my holidays for years. Depending on the light it can look huge and close, other times distant. So it seemed strange to see a holiday complex, beach side cafe etc. Just shows that people obviously aren’t put off by two nuclear power stations and the prospect of a third in their holiday photos. Not for me but it was interesting to see it up close after all these years

 

Fancy gates on a disused entrance to Sizewell Hall

After returning to Aldeburgh our thoughts turned to food. We decided to drive out to Friday Street Farm Shop which has a good restaurant and as it turned out a good cheese shop and deli too

Ham eggs and chips for Peter

Steak and Ale pie for me, I didn’t eat the potatoes btw, just too much!

After a bit of shopping we headed back to Orford and a wander down to the quay for a last look

Total walked today was 9.1 miles and as you can see we averaged 8 miles per day over the week. Pretty happy with that. At least it burnt off some of the calories consumed. Though to be honest we only ate two meals over each day so not so bad. Just wish our walking showed some weight loss. I guess we just have to accept that getting weight off is much harder as you get older 

It was a good week. The weather proved much better than forecast. A change of scene and a break from the norm

Suffolk Secrets - forest walks

Wednesday 19 January

Great excitement, today the Pump Street Bakery was open. They are currently doing a refurbishment so only opening for a limited few days. Which to be honest is probably just as well!! Below you will see breakfast in the second collage.

No sea views today, we went forest walking. Tunstall forest is a few miles outside of Orford, easy to get a change of view.  We parked up and just headed out along a forest trail.  We actually had no idea where we were going and how far it would take us.  Hardly anyone about, a few cyclists and ladies on horseback and that was about it.  We just followed trail marks and hoped we would find our way back to the car!

It was a pleasant walk 6.8 miles total walking for the day.

We decided we just had to try the Butley Orford Oysterage. This is an amazing seafood restaurant and we were lucky to get a late lunch table on returning to the village. It did not disappoint. Peter started with oysters and I had smoked fish pate, we both had the griddled seafood platter followed by treacle tart for Peter and Apple Marzipan tart for me.  All so good and we didn’t eat anything else for the rest of the day 

Suffolk Secrets - Southwold of course

Tuesday 18th January.  We couldn’t have gone to Suffolk without a trip to Southwold. 

We decided that we would park at Walberswick and walk over to Southwold.  A good walk along the harbour to the Bailey bridge then along the old railway cutting to Pier Avenue.  A good stretch with the sight of the sea tempting us on. 

Winter storms had moved the sand from the beach to the promenade. A digger was busy moving it all back. A fun job I guess, like making big castles. 

It was such a beautiful morning, clear and bright, cold but not windy

We treated ourselves to a lobster lunch at the Sole Bay Fish Company on the Blackshore. It was very very good. A real treat.

We were surprised to see whilst we were lunching the fog had rolled in!  So cold and creepy.

And then after the walk back to Walberswick the sun was suddenly back. Weird weather.

Total walking today - 7.4 miles