Friday

 Good morning, everyone!  

Real Life has intruded into my long awaited and very much enjoyed holiday.  I had an email yesterday from Chelmsford City Council advising me that it would be a good idea if I tested for Covid twice a week using the lateral flow test.  It's because Chelmsford is one of the areas that has some cases of this Indian variant.
I'll order some tests today, being a Good Girl and wanting to keep myself and everyone around me safe.  Mind you, having been out of the area for a week . . .

Another Real Life intrusion - because of forecast high winds, Sutton Hoo won't be opening today 'for your safety' as the email says.  That's rather a disappointment as I'm not sure when I will be back but there you go . . .  At least, being a NT member, they won't have the hassle of refunding anything.

I have a few ideas about what to do today but first, yesterday.

All week I have been watching a sort of avian kitchen sink 'drama'.  About three metres from my French windows and on a wall, amidst ivy, somewhat hidden by a wooden post, a seagull is sitting on her eggs.  The female (I am presuming) eyes me cautiously each time I go to the window but stays put.  The male, presumably her mate, is never too far away and each time I go out into the tiny courtyard he flies down and utters short, sharp cries, presumably of warning.  When I go in again, off he goes, but he never seems to be all that far away.  I was rather hoping the eggs, however many there are, would hatch but no luck thus far - anyone know how long it takes for gull eggs to hatch?
I am trying very hard not to disturb things too much.  That includes not trying to take a good photo so here's just a snap taken through the glass, not a very good one.

Yesterday was lovely in its own way.

I drove across country, on some extremely minor roads that made me thankful I didn't meet anything coming the opposite way, to a nursery and farm shop.  There was a reason for going;  when I was last here, there was a stall in the mini-market that had some fantastic 'organic' garden chairs made from teak roots.  I greatly coveted one but didn't take it any further, to my regret.  The same nursery was there on Monday and there were flyers (but no furniture) so I thought I'd take a look.
It was a lovely place, even in the drizzle and the cloud.  Not posh, not 'glossy' but there were lots and lots of plants and as for the farm shop - well, if I lived anywhere near, I'd be using it regularly.  It's also a PYO - bit too far to come though!
Yes, there were teak root benches but not single ones and not as attractive as those I saw two years ago.  Never mind.
So that was yesterday morning.

In the afternoon, I stayed in and did a general tidy up and started packing.  I have to say, packing at the end of a holiday is a lot easier than at the beginning!  While that was going on, the wind was getting up and the skies were darkening so I wrapped up and set off for the beach.  It was most satisfying with some really decent waves (for Southwold, I mean) and lots of splashy excitement.  I got there not long after high tide and walked along the beach and back again with the wind in my hair and the waves doing what comes naturally.  Very, very  exhilarating and probably, for me, the best time of the whole week so far.  There weren't many people around but those who were looked as if they were enjoying it as much as I was.  How I would have loved to go swimming - had it been warmer!
Here's a few photos, made as big as I can!

OK, not so dramatic in the wider scheme of things but, for Southwold, not bad!  I loved it.

Then I walked back to the fish and chip shop.  Oh, it was delicious.  I couldn't help pondering on those who go out in conditions maybe ten times worse so that you and I can have fish and chips.
Brave men and women!

So - on to today.
My Sutton Hoo plans are no more so I am umming and ahing about a walk along the sands to Walberswick.  The forecast is, indeed, for high winds but I gather there is a motor boat that takes the place of the rowing boat across the harbour mouth, or I could walk up to a foot bridge which, I am assured, it there.

Or I could drive to Aldeburgh and wander around there.

I'm strongly inclined towards the former, simply because a walk along the beach with lovely, big, splashy waves really appeals.

And I have to pack.  I'd like to get most of the stuff in the car today to avoid a mad crazy rush tomorrow morning.

Have a great day and I hope the wind isn't too bad your way.  xx