Not a lot of adventures to report. Continue to have little walks around the village – starting to know our way around. Lots of little walkways and back alleys – short cuts to different places and handy back entrances to peoples houses. Still walk over to Stowmarket – the big smoke – for a little outing or to have lunch or to use the ATM. Also visit the local farm shop and go to one of the local churches. Just enough to keep the fitness level this side of zero!
Stowmarket had a Celebration Weekend recently – lots of music, bouncy castles, stalls and a parade. We decided to go to the parade on the Saturday afternoon so took the now familiar route. Through the fields, over the A14 highway bridge, through the new housing development of Cedars Park, passed Morrison’s Supermarket, and on to the main street of Stowmarket. About a 2 mile walk. The A14 can be heard from our house if the wind is in the right (wrong!) direction. For many of the Stowupland residents the noise from the highway is a continual hum in the background of life. Convenience has its trade off. Cedars Park has about 3000 new homes and is still growing. Developers would love to spread over the A14 and extend into Stowupland but so far the fields next to the village remain. The parade was a lot of fun. Lots of families lining the main street watching the bands, floats and decorated semi-trailers go by. We did a bit of a loop around Stowmarket and headed home.
Visited friends Tim and Irene yesterday. They live in the original farmhouse of our village. The beautiful thatched cottage goes back to the 1300s. It was extended a few hundred years later so the house has two quite different halves. The older part has some very low ceilings – again my health was in danger! – dark beams, beautiful fire places and wooden floors. The “newer” part has higher ceilings but without the beams and no inglenook fireplaces – not as much character but much safer! We had a lovely visit. Tim and Irene have lived in the house since 1967 and have maintained it beautifully. Not an easy task. Lots of old houses in the village. We have a very traditional Suffolk pink house right next to us. Lovely gardens. Apparently the paint was originally coloured by using pig’s blood – but I think that may have changed!
Well, off to Wales tomorrow to visit the Ffald-y-Brenon Healing Centre for 4 nights. Then a stopover in the Cotswolds for a couple of days on the way home. Renowned for its beautiful villages and countryside.
Cheers and love
Di and Reg
This entry was posted in England, United Kingdom
Hey
I look forward to hearing about your stay at the healing centre. Tried to skype last night when i got home but you must have gone already. Love seeing all the photos that you take. You will be fit with all the walking you are doing, one way to walk off the red and the cheese aye.
LYL xxxxxx
Hi Tarsh……had a great time at Ffald-y-Brenen. Will post all about it soon. We are in Cheltenham at the moment, head back to Suffolk tomorrow. Unfortunately our walks have not managed to reverse the effects of our decadent diet! Love Di xxxxxxx