And so back to work

Well the time has come, and tomorrow I go back to work, although I do start on reduced hours and restricted duties.
I have been off for 8 weeks, so I think it will seem strange after all this time, but it it had takern this long just to get somewhere near "back to normal"

So I will report back in the next blog.

I have just thought, this is like going to a new school, so I have included a school photo

Well maybe I had just left school by then, and yes, I did used to "tread the boards"

R&R weekend away

For those of you that also read "My Cruise Ramblings", you will know that at the start  of October I was taken poorly and ended up in Hospital, and since then I have been on the road to recovery.

I now felt recovered sufficiently, that the good lady and I could go away for an R&R weekend before my return to work. It was something we had discussed before I was taken poorly, as it was also our 41st Wedding Anniversary on the 18th.

So after some searching on the internet, and thanks to www.laterooms.com we booked a three night break at Milsoms in Dedham.
They are a small chain of hotels in Dedham (and other places) consisting of three premises in Dedham within a short distance from each other. We had been to Maison Talbooth for afternoon tea in the summer (see previous blog).
So after the school run on Friday to pick up our grandson, and deliver him back to our daughter, we set off on the short drive to the hotel.

After unpacking we decided to go down to dinner, even though it was still only 6 pm.
The hotel only has 15 rooms, and is situated well off the beaten track, but the restaurant was extremely busy. You are not able to book a table, its just first come first served, but resident do taken priority.
Its approach was also quite unusual, as there was a pad of paper on each table and you had to write your order down and take it up to the bar to order your food.  I will very briefly move on to Saturday night, as if we thought Friday was busy, well Saturday it was heaving, we managed to grab the last table (again at 6pm) and still people were streaming through the door. It just goes to show what a reputation can do for a business.

So after breakfast on Saturday morning, we made our way over to Flatford Mill ( a place we have been to many times before) for a very pleasant walk along the river.

We have walked at Flatford Mill in all seasons, but this time of the year, it just has dog walkers, and the die hard fans like us.















From there we then went to Wherstead Park (just outside Ipswich) for a Christmas fayre. It did seem rather strange at first as we pulled into the car park, as in a previous life I worked in Ipswich in IT, and Eastern Electricity were based at Wherstead, and were one of my customers.
This was all over 13+ years ago, but the memories soon came flooding back.
After that, it was into Ipswich town centre for some retail therapy, and finally back, exhausted to the hotel.

Sunday morning saw us just taking a stroll around Dedham village, but we still still managed to find a few footpaths we had not walked before.
But then it was time to head back to the hotel to get changed, as we had booked lunch at Le Talbooth, still part of the same group, but very classy.
Lunch was excellent (but not cheap) but I had the best roast beef ever, and the other courses weren't bad either.

And so Monday arrived, and time for us to depart.
Did we enjoy ourselves ? you bet.
Do we recommend the hotel group ? you bet.

So until the next time

bye bye
and back to work for me

I'm sorry......

For the lack of blogs recently, but I have been a bit poorly.

It all started back at the beginning of October, when one Saturday, the good lady and I went over to our local Supermarket to purchase a few bits.

On the way way over there I said to Sue that I did not feel too well, so I waited in the car park whilst she went in to do the shopping.

Well, it went a bit down hill from there, culminating in an Ambulance being called, and me being taken to Colchester general hospital.

I soon had tubes and pipes coming out of lots of parts of my body, when after many blood tests, ultra and CT scans, I was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis.

So, after all these years I then needed to overnight in hospital, in fact for 10 days.

But I am pleased to report that I am now at home home, pain free ( most of the time ) and recooperating so that I can return to employment. Which I feel is going to take some time.

So until the next blog, I wish you all good health

Working with the younger generation

I was lucky enough to obtain some funding to work with students from the Harwich and Dovercourt High School

Our end product is below

Watch it here

Christmas

And the day has finally arrived, and I have spent most of it in the kitchen. Yes, it's that time of year ? Time to make the Christmas Pudding ( well, in fact the ingredients made 4 ).

It's been more years than I can remember since I last made a Christmas Pudding, but with my trusty Jame Martin cook book, a suitable recipe was found. 

So now they sit in the kitchen cooling after 3 hours of steam, waiting to be wrapped until we get nearer the 25th, when they will be given a little "drink" as as near the big day.

We wish you a Merry Christmas......

Well, I have just been to the local supermarket and purchased the ingredients to make my Christmas pudding next week

#itwillsoonbehere 

Where have all the Children gone ?

So, as the weather forecast for this afternoon was heavy rain, my good lady and I decided to have a walk from Frinton Golf club, along the sea wall to Holland Haven nature reserve

It's a walk we have done many times before, but today it was made even more pleasant. It was 20C with a cool wind, but, as you can see to beach was empty.

It's nice to see the front packed with holiday makers and children. But it's even better for us locals on days like today.

So until the Summer of 2014, thanks to all the holiday makers, and see you all next year.