(I know you're counting)
So, this weekend we did the dutiful thing and headed up to Suffolk to exchange Christmas gifts and actually meet face to face rather than do the subject dancing on the phone. No, in person, we get to play avoid the elephant in the room. Or herds of elephants.
I won't go into details, but there is stuff, there are things that have come between us, and for the sake of our sanity and tempers, it has been unofficially decided not to mention these things unless conversation hits DEFCON 2 or higher. It didn't come close yesterday.
We got up at half five and after a strong cup of coffee, hit the road on the long road to Suffolk. I say long road, it just seems that way. Or does north of Ipswich when everything slows down real slow.
But, before then we can speed along Kent's wonderful motorway network, up towards the Dartford Crossing. Traffic was light and we got there in about an hour, paid out £1.50 and headed down into the tunnel under the river. And into Essex.
Aah yes, Essex.
Radio legend, John Peel, hated driving in Essex so much, he used to drive round it, it is easy to see why. Essex seems to have more boy racers, middle lane huggers and racing drivers using the roads for practice for drag racing than anyone else.
But, at seven in the morning, traffic was light, and we made good time as dawn crept over the sky and in time the sun rose. In fact the sun rose as we headed into Suffolk, the sun caught the tower of Stratford St Mary's church.This is the first sign that we were in Suffolk, and on other trips i had always thought this looked a fine church; we had time, so we turned off to have a look.
I parked up and got my camera out the back of the car, and then headed into the churchyard to head to the far side of the church to catch a shot of the church in the golden light of dawn. It was worth it, and I got my shots. And behind the wall at the edge of the churchyard, I peeked over and disturbed a flock of sleepy sheep.
Back into the car, and back onto the A12 and up to Ipswich, and onwards into the frosty Suffolk countryside. We stopped off at Darsham at the Halfway Cafe for breakfast. Nothing quite beats sausages, bacon and eggs when on the road, and once full of breakfast, we headed off on the last leg to Mother's.
We arrived at about half ten, and we chatted, exchanged gifts, were polite. I mean, nothing outlandish happened, there were no tears for a change. We stayed for what we thought was a suitable amount of time, until two, and we then packed the car with stuff, including my football program collection from her attic, before heading back south.
Once again traffic was light, and we even got back over the Thames with little trouble, no queues in fact. And were back home by half past six. On the way down, we listened to the football on the radio; Norwich nearly held on to win at Everton, but conceded in the last ten minutes to draw 1-1. Still, and away point is pretty good.
Sunday morning was cloudless but cold and frosty. After breakfast and watching the repeat of MOTD, we headed out for a walk along the lanes and footpaths around here. There was a keen wind blowing, but it did feel slightly warm in the sunlight. The views over the downs to the Channel were stunning, and i snapped them.
And that really was the weekend; apart from an afternoon of football on TV, lighting the woodburner, and snoozing after Sunday lunch.
It is evening; all chores are done, the cats are sleeping and the fire is slowly dying in the hearth.
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