Saturday

Morning.
I am an utter and complete wally and nothing else.
When was I booked to start my holiday?  Yesterday? No, not yesterday, today.  Doh.

Of course, I didn't realise until I got there and found my little building well and truly occupied.  Thankfully, before I went storming in, I checked the paperwork.  Phew.

So I found a parking slot (not as hard as I thought it would be) and made my way to the booking agents where I 'fessed up and gave them a chuckle.  In return, they gave me the name of somewhere with parking where they might have a room for one night.  I went there but alas, no luck.  They recommended somewhere else and gave me sketchy (and slightly dodgy) instructions about how to get there.  I tried at that place and hit gold.  No, not a room, sadly, but an extremely helpful receptionist chap who said sorry, they were full (it was starting to feel like 'no room at the inn) but then he looked up on the internet and not only found a B&B with space but also phoned them for me and let them know I was coming.  AND let me use the hotel loo!

So here I am, sitting in what is a converted and extended garage (definitely not a stable this time) with three extremely clean and neat rooms - bedroom, bathroom and everything-else room, haven woken way too early but I don't care  The things in my chill bag are in the little fridge getting thoroughly cold so they should be fine.  There's wi-fi and a big telly and, apparently, a resident hedgehog who comes a-visiting in the night and sets off the security light, not that I noticed.  At eight thirty, the lady of the establishment is bringing me my breakfast. 
How's that for landing on my feet, eh?


Yes, I could have gone back home, that's the bottom line, but I really didn't want to and I didn't have to, I had a little adventure instead and had to with my 'thing' about finding somewhere I haven't looked up and planned beforehand in great detail.  Mind you, I was so glad I had the sat nav.

And I still have seven days in Southwold.

I'm going to drive back to Southwold later and park in the pay and display car park I found beside the first hotel/bar I tried, right by the beach between Southwold and Walberswick, pay for a day's parking and then walk along the beach back to Southwold and have a good explore.  I can pick up the key at four and I now know exactly where my home for the next week is and where I can park.

So no stroll along the sea front yesterday evening but I will this evening and it's a great opportunity to get to know the place.   Diane, I have located the Amber Museum!  It's right next to where I have to pick up the key.  I've also located key places such as the supermarkets, the butchers and the Adnams shop!

I had to laugh yesterday morning - I had washed out the bird feeder and needed to top it up so I went to the French window and lo and behold, as cheeky as you like, a pigeon was regarding me solemnly, for all the world as if he was about to tap on the window and ask for his breakfast!  I'm not getting many small birds at the moment but a pigeon and a couple of magpies, for which I am grateful because, as you know . . .
One for sorrow,
One for joy!
Hopefully the smaller birds will come when other food gets scarcer again.

It's going to be a super holiday.  I can feel it in my bones.  It has to be after such a start!  And I really MUST get an iPhone!

Have a great day.  I know I will.  xx