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.

Domain name

Thinking of buying a domain name or two for the blogs.

Any views ?

How much ?

As it was a bank holiday, and our son and grandchildren were joining us for lunch, my good lady and I decided to grab a quick walk this morning on Frinton sea front.

We were walking past some beach huts ( those on stilts by the golf course), when I saw a "For Sale" on one of the huts "£30k ONO. 

Now I know it was some time ago, but I only paid £32k for our last family house in Kirby Cross.

I now know I'm getting old

as as I sound like my mother lol

PS photo is not Frinton on Sea 

So long ago

What I did when I was young
Although I am not sure I remember all those years ago
This is me

Walton on the Naze

Well yesterday saw Sue and myself taking a walk up at the Naze, it's a 20 minute drive from where we live and it probably 30+ years since we have been there. With the sun shinning bright and the holiday makers keeping to the beach at Walton, it made for a very pleasant walk. Of course I had the obligatory ice cream at the end of the walk.

 In the evening we met up with our son James and his family as its our granddaughters Jessica birthday ( I will be back at work by then) on Thursday, so we went out for a meal

This afternoon after chores in the house this morning, it's been garden, paper and a glass of wine or two whilst Sue works on her PC 

EACH

Today, my grandson Jack abseiled down Colchester Town Hall to raise funds for EACH

It was a sunny day in Colchester, as more and more people made their way, the hard way, back to ground level from the roof of Colchester Town Hall.

So well done to all who took part, and thank you

Wrabness Nature Reserve

Well, an unusual weekend off, lots of grandchildren activity this weekend, but today we had a walk to a newly discovered place, that of Wrabness Nature Reserve, which I found last night as part of my work. It was a tad chilly, but a great walk along the rive stour. If you are ever that way it come highly recommended, that is if you can find it, as it is in the middle of no where.

Walk anyone ?

Last of my rest days today and back at work tomorrow ( the joys of shift work). So this afternoon the good lady and I took a stroll along Frinton on Sea, sea front. Well we nearly made it back to the car before I had to deploy the brolly, but the shower was short lived, but did nothing to diminish the humidity, if anything it increased it. 

Boys day out

I looked after my Grandson Josh today, we decide we would spend a few hours at Colchester Zoo. The normal 30 minute drive took a little longer than normal, but we finally arrived and parked the car. But after walking to the entrance the queue stretched for a looooong way. Now normally this would not be a problem as we are Gold Card holders and do not have to queue, but Josh's card had expired so I needed to pay to get in before I  could renew his card. So a joint decision was made, "abort".

Next on the list was a walk at Flatford Milll, but an RTC caused a long tail back on the  A120, but we made it in time for lunch, after which we had a pleasant walk and then some ice cream.

Harwich Sea Festival

Have been working today (Sunday 28th July) but spent most of the day at the Harwich Sea Festival. Its held on the Quay in Harwich Essex (road is closed) on an annual basis, with lots of ships of course, and lots of activities for all the family. Today was very very busy, with the festival culminating in a display by the RNLI and a Sea King helicopter. the whole day went without any major incidents, so fun was had one and all

Busy Bee

Well after an afternoon in the garden, which was a mixture of weeding, watering, reading and listening to the IPod ( but not in that order). I come into prepare dinner, and after a short while, sat down in the lounge, when I feel something on my arm. To be precise, up the sleeve of my T shirt, an explority hand up the sleeve, caused a buzzing sound to be heard.

It has to be said at this point, that I broke the world record for T shirt removal, only to find a very large bumble bee.

It was safely deposited back into the garden where it belongs.

I can report that neither the Bee or myself were injured lol

Afternoon Tea

Well last year in November, my good lady and I celebrated our 40^th Wedding Anniversary. One of the gifts that our family bought us, was afternoon team at Le Maison Talbooth  in the Dedham Vale.

http://www.milsomhotels.com/maisontalbooth/

Well we decided to keep this treat until the summer, and today was the day. 27C sitting on the terrace, it was a very pleasant hour spent.

I'm here as well

Thought I needed to start another blog, as I wanted to keep my Cruise blog, just for cruise relayed items. So this is where you will find all my other ramblings.

Enjoy !