We went to Southwold this weekend for a day trip to the seaside. It was a lovely day.
It started in Saffron Walden, where we went to pick up some food and a parcel from the post office. Katy got nibbled on by a duck, which we took to be a good omen for the day to come.
The weather was lovely, and the tourist route we were on to to take us to the seaside was a perfect windy, meandering road (if a bit narrow – we almost had the side of the car taken off by a very wide tractor going rather fast. So wide we were actually relieved that the vehicle behind it was a LGV…) We stopped at a little teapot pottery along the way but didn't buy anything.
Southwold is really, really lovely. It's what I expected a seaside town to be like (not the crass and tacky version I'd seen in Yarmouth). We walked along the beach and stopped here and there to collect nice looking pebbles. I officially love the sound of the ocean. It was sooo relaxing, especially since the beach was mostly empty (except for a few lads drinking beer and people walking their dogs). One thing that shocked me though, which I've only found out today. Those dinky little seaside shacks that have no utilities and look a bit tacky and decrepit sell for about 20K – and you don't own the land they're on – you still need to apply for a license from the council.
Southwold is home to the Adnams brewery. We wanted to go have a visit but apparently they stopped doing those years ago. We did walk next to one of the fermenting room buildings and the smell of the hops coming out of the ventination ducts was beautiful :) We had a quick pint at a local pub then went shopping at the Adnams wine and kitchen shop. I could have spent waaaay too much money, but we were reasonable and only spent about £20. I did succomb to temptation though and bought stout beer-cured bacon. I mean, beer and bacon. Hmmm, bacon. It's nature's perfect food.
We walked around the high street for a bit and then headed home. On the way back, we stopped at Shawsgate Vineyard in Framlingham. The wines are not bad at all, but in our heart of hearts, it doesn't compare to Chillford (but then again, nothing probably will). Their Baccus dry white is nice (we had it with a baked camembert last night for dinner – LOVELY!) and their medium-sweet Harlequin will make a nice dessert wine.
Sunday was a bit of a weird day. I'd planned to go to the Cambridge Gliding Center open day as they'd announced cheap trial flights. Unfortunately, my headache came back with a vengeance and submitting myself to G-forces would not have been the best thing to do. Instead, we went to Tesco for a shop and then went to the garden center to pick up some herbs for our new herb garden. I planted most of those. I did! Yes, me! Those of you who know me well know that I'm not the most outdoors-y type, but Katy and I spent a good hour outside with our hards dirty. We now have two types of sage, two types of oregano, coriander, chives and lemon thyme. They smell really, really nice :)
Finally, I leave you with more pictures;
Tolstoy: http://www.flubu.com/various_pics/tolstoy/30_04_2007/
Southwold: http://www.flubu.com/various_pics/southwold_apr_2007/
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