Tag Archives: Birthday

Steve’s Birthday in Southwold

Blasdale Home Posted on by

24th October 2022

Rosemary and I set out in Morrison the Campervan for what has become an annual event, Steve’s birthday in Southwold. We set off in the van on the 21st heading for Norwich to stay at Ann & Lizzie’s. We have not visited Unthank Road for lobger than a year, visiting in August 2021 after we had a summer break in West Runton. It was good to see Ann, Liz and Bob and catch up on what last year had brought us.

The next day (23rd) we headed on to Southwold and the Southwold Camping and Caravan campsite. There have been changes since we last visited – a new shower block, and more hard standing areas with electric hook-ups. The new electric hook-ups and shower block were not yet up and running. We assume they will be ready for 2023 There are a couple of problems with the site. When we use the site, we need hard standing, the site can become very waterlogged in October. So, for us it is best to book early and bag a hard standing area. The other major problem now, is the price, The price of off-season hardstanding with electric hook-up is £40 for 2023, and they also want to charge you an extra £8.50 for an awning. The campsite is becoming awfully expensive, unfortunately it is the most convenient campsite in town, with easy walking to Blackshore, Southwold and Walberswick.

We set up the van and headed down to the Sail Loft for lunch. It was wet as you can see from the photographs. We had booked lunch at the but it was not necessary as the restaurant was not very busy for Sunday lunch. We consumed a couple of Espresso Martinis which were on offer.

After lunch, the rain went away, and incy wincy spider came out to play. We took a walk along the harbour pier and then down Blackshore to see if anything had changed.

Birthday

The sun broke through for my Birthday. The weather though looked stormy with interesting clouds and a choppy sea. It did make for some interesting experiments in photography with my new phone, a Pixel 7 Pro. The handheld pictures of a rough sea using the silky shot setting, no need for tripod or ND filters, and the fast speed action shots of the waves breaking. Then there is the optical zoom for reasonable quality pictures of birds. Yes, the true digital camera can still take better pictures in demanding circumstances, but a phone camera is always with you. If you don’t have your camera with you and ready, then you lose that shot.

We walked along the sand dunes to Southwold, ending up at the Swan Hotel for lunch. The restaurant was not terribly busy, then it was a Monday lunchtime. We ate very well, and then walked back to the campsite. On the way visited the Harbour Quay and watched the sun set over Blythburgh.

Nature Walk

Today we visited Walberswick, this is across the river Blyth, a short walk from the campsite. Head towards the Coastal Voyager quay and wait for the rowing boat to come across the river. Unfortunately, in this cashless society they don’t take online payments and we didn’t have any cash. We promised to pay on return and were taken across the river. Our first stop was one of the tea shops for a coffee and a small amount of cash.

We then headed south on the sand dunes looking for birds in the reed area along the river Dunwich. They stayed away. We walked back for lunch to the Bell Inn where it was warm enough for us to sit outside. We did spot a camp site on the other side of the river, which may be a possibility, but I can’t find any information about it on the web, and will the ferry be operating every day?

We headed back across the river, paying both the outward and the return fare. I did use my new Canon camera to take some pictures of Herring Gulls and Geese. I needed some practice at getting the camera to behave and to focus on the object. Out in the reeds it had insisted on focusing on reeds and not birds or insects. I have some learning too do.

This evening I tried my phone camera for night shots. I was quite pleased with some of the results.

Pumpkin Walk

The weather has been good to us this year. Today was another bright and sunny day, so we headed out across the marshes to Pumpkin Hell. It is a cafe/restaurant called Old Hall. Definitely a tourist trap, bring on the children, adventure playground, a Maize Maze, and of course at this time of year, the American import of Halloween and pumpkins. I know some of my followers who would steer a million miles from this place, but it is a pleasant walk, and you can get a good coffee and a reasonable quick lunch. Also on the plus side, we noticed one of the waiters boot out a group of visitors who had a misbehaving dog.

Along the way there was a herd of bullocks who were grazing on the path, as we approached, they soon lost their nerve and headed off. There were flocks of starlings flying around. I did grab a practice photo, not sure why, we can have thousands of starlings at home.

We arrived at Old Hall, ate lunch, and headed back on an inland track to take us to Southwold, and then back along the sand dunes to home.

Night Time Photography

I decided to take the phone out for some more Astro photography. On one setting it allows you to take a photograph for over 5 minutes. It is advisable to keep the phone rock steady during this period. No tripod, so I held it against a suitable post for the time. The two pictures of Blackshore are in the gallery above. The first facing west towards boat yards, and the second facing east towards the RNLI and Europe. I do need a tripod and a holder for the phone, then I could select a better place to photograph. I was quite pleased with these, better than the night before.

One other output of the phone camera is a 1 second video condensing the 5 minutes down to a second video. I love it.

sdsdsds

Back Home

We left the next morning, on yet another glorious October day.

Birthday Boy

Blasdale Home Posted on by

Back in October we took Morrison the Campervan to Southwold, our fifth visit to Southwold with the van. We have been there several times for my birthday, eating in the Swan Hotel for lunch on the day. Following after my grandmother, she used to stay in the Swan for her summer holiday. They do some delicious food, and have their own twist on the Negroni cocktail.

This year we arrived a couple of days before to an extremely high tide (Full moon, Northerly wind and Global warming). Our first stop was thwarted by the high water. We drove past the campsite towards the Harbour Inn on Blackshore, only to find the road was flooded by the high tide. Morrison waded through several deep floods, but the nearer we drew up to The Harbour Inn, the deeper the waters became. We later discovered the pub was closed because of the flooding, unlike back in 1953, when rowing boats delivered the beer to a seriously flooded pub. Instead we found our pitch at the campsite (not flooded) and walked into Southwold for a beer at the The Crown.

Next day we were blessed with a lovely sunny day, and ventured along the Blackshore, stopping at a fish and chip restaurant for some oysters as well as fish and chips. Walking back towards the town, the day became darker, with a little rain and rainbows over Southwold.

Friday we took the foot ferry to Walberswick and picked up some lunch at a small deli called the The Black Dog Deli, and continued our walk back to Southwold crossing over the River Blyth on Palmer’s Lane. The Black Dog Deli appeared to me to be a meeting point for coffee and men of an older age. This bridge had been closed during the Summer season for repairs, making it extremely profitable for the ferry company. Back into Southwold for a pint at The Nelson. Was nice to see a pub which was only selling beer and no food. Great Nelson memorabilia.

Sunday, my birthday, was another rainless day. Meandered into Southwold for our lunch at The Swan, a beer in the bar to start with, and then into the Still Room to dine. The Swan serves some excellent posh nosh, so we typically spend several hours there enjoying our food and company. After lunch a gentle walk back to the van to veg the rest of the day away.

On the road to recovery after over-eating, we spent the next day walking along the river and then heading over for a light snack at Old Hall Southwold Café. We found this place last year. Service is a little slow, half term, and all the kids around had seemingly come to buy their Halloween pumpkins. After lunch we walked back to Southwold, past the railway centre and then into Southwold to visit the museum. The railway centre has very little track and was closed. Southwold used to be on a railway line, but all those disappeared years ago. The museum, despite our many visits always seemed to be closed, but this week it was actually open. R delighted to find a link to Penelope Fitzgerald amongst the exhibits, so re-read The Bookshop (set in Southwold) on her return.

Waiting for my next birthday in 2022!!

Southwold for my Birthday

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We headed off to Southwold on the eve of my birthday. The drive to Southwold is quite a long way, more than three hours. Google had us doing a shortcut on country lanes from the A14 to the A12. Disaster stuck behind a large sugarbeet lorry on its way back from Bury.

Arrived at the site, we had not booked as there was plenty of space on the website. We checked in, and there was the response, “sorry no space”. But the field was empty, though looking again we could seek the lakes across the grass. After some consultation, it was decided we could use a hard standing area for the two nights. If we had been staying longer, we would have been out of luck. As it was, the campsite staff were going to have to cancel many of the weekenders.

We parked and quickly headed over to the Harbour Inn for lunch, a light lunch because we were going to have supper later. Despite the sun being out, it was a tad chilly sitting outside, in the shade behind the pub. Would have been better at the front. Anyway, we ate inside.

A walk along the footpath across the fields, over the golf course to Southwold, was somewhat fraught. The far end of the field was flooded, and there was no way through without wading in water. We backtracked and walked along the road, then across the golf course. Arriving in Southwold we seemed to attract people who started to explain where the museums were.

We looked through several shops, even visited FatFace, but ended up not buying anything, other than some chocolate twists for breakfast. Walked back to the campervan along the coast road. We set up for the night. Then we dressed for dinner and headed out to the Sail Loft. The card behind the bar asked if we had booked, we said no, so he, looking at all the empty tables, said fully booked, in half an hour a huge crowd of people were arriving. Damn, what were we going to go, asked him if there was any way we could eat. He relented, only joking. I swore at him calling him a Ba****d. (He laughed!)

We sat down, me with a Ghost Ship and R with a G&T and we ordered out supper. Here we had a large meal, starter and main. R did not do justice to her mushroom risotto. I did struggle with my two-course meal but was not vanquished.

Back to the campsite for an early night.

Next day was my Birthday, opened my cards, ate our very nice Co-op chocolate twists and headed into Southwold. Today it was due to rain, so jackets were required. First on the day’s events was a tour of the Adnams Distillery. When we had booked we were the only two on the tour, today the tour appeared to be full.

Having some time to spare, R pounced upon a market stall and bought a couple of tops, I don’t know who was more surprised, me or her.

We were shown a film, then taken to the distillery. Immediately before entering the distillery, there is a room with several small stills where the distiller experiments with recipes and they also hold their gin making taster courses. There was one in progress when we arrived.

The reflux stills were shown to us and explained. In these, they make the Vodka required for the Gin making process. Apparently they make three Vodkas, one using barley grown and harvested only a few miles away. Their Vodka is not filtered and retains some of the flavours from the malt. This was especially noticeable with the Vodka made from rye. Apparently Adnams has twice won the best Vodka in the world prize, beating the Russians and Poles. There were two more stills to be seen, one still a more traditional whisky type one.

Down now into the stores, where we see the barrels. Their whisky is stored in fresh French oak barrels, so not flavoured from bourbon or sherry. They decided not to compete with Scotch whisky. Now the important bit, the tasting. We started with the different Vodkas, and then the gins. Different gins based upon the different Vodkas, plus some extra botanical differences. Each Gin was tasted neat, and then with tonic. Finally, there were whiskies to be tasted. As the tasting progressed, the conversation turned from almost silent, to chatter and then loud conversation.

Finally over, we headed to the Adnams outlet shop to buy some Vodka and Gin. Now it was into the Swan for the birthday lunch. We were seated in the Stillroom restaurant and ordered our drinks. I ordered a Hopped Negroni, and R a fizzy Rose. My Negroni came with a thin biscuit topped with Marmalade. The full ingredients were Adnams Copper House Gin, Campari, Adnams Port, Cherry, Beetroot, Adnams Dry Hopped Lager & Adnams Broadside Marmalade. Not like a normal Negroni, not bitter, sweeter.

Starters arrived. I ate Local Seared Pigeon Breast, Butternut Squash Parfait and Pickled Girolles. Very nice, though the breast was a little overcooked. R ate a Heritage Beetroot, apple and candied hazelnut salad.

A bottle of Viognier accompanied the starter and mains.

The main course arrived, Seared Halibut, scorched gem lettuce, blue meat radish, chilli, soy gel and mussel broth for S. Very good. R launched into her Suffolk roast pork tenderloin, breaded cheek, orzotto, parsley root puree, charred leek and truffle. While in Suffolk, the Suffolk pig is a must. So much free-range pork in Suffolk these days.

The rain was starting, and Rosemary seeing the market stalls closing, suddenly jumped up, rushed out and bought another top. The alcohol must have been loosening her inhibitions.

We finished with a double espresso and a one Apple & Wild Wave. As we were leaving the doorman suggested we have a drink in the bar, it was hammering it down outside. So another drink. Later we headed on out and back to the campervan for a relatively early night.

In the morning we packed up and headed off. I thought I would drop in on the G…s, friends of my parents from years back. So we headed over to East Green, and as we arrived a vehicle was leaving driven by Robert. Introduced myself and we had a short chat, he was off and could not stay around, but gave us directions to where Tony and Jeanette now lived. Not far away, so we visited them. They were very surprised to see R and me at their door. We chatted with them for over an hour. In their 90s and still very sharp.

It was then back home for us. The next day washed and cleaned the van before putting it away for the next few months.

Birthday

Blasdale Home Posted on by

My birthday was celebrated at Canaletto with Ian and Julie, and of course (well, she paid, too) Rosemary. Had a very good meal there, and a reasonable number of other people, considering it was a Tuesday evening, were also dining, My main course was Monkfish which set me thinking about serving Monkfish at home. I have cooked it before, but please read my next post, about my trials and tribulations buying Monkfish the follows nag weekend.

Rosemary’s birthday

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To celebrate Rosemary’s birthday we visited the Plough and Anchor for Supper. Invited the next door neighbours to participate. After a few bottles of wine and a very good meal we retired home after midnight. I had an unusual starter salad of Mango, Avocado and honey, with a main course of Halibut