July & August 2014 - and still catching up

JULY

We visited Felixtowe for a day out in early July. It's a funny place, Felixtowe... I really like it and at the same time would like to get a huge broom out and give the whole place a jolly good tidy up.....but I guess it would loose it's charm if one did.... It is very hickelty pickelty, full of boats and fisherman's huts and fishing equipment, just lying around all over the place. 

And then, amongst all the little dinghies, shacks and piles of lobster pots sits this beauty...A private holiday home (which was features in Country Living a while back). Every time we go I am trying to get a god peek...would LOVE to have a look around the inside! 

Another garden visit with the Suffol Gardener's Guild - this time 2 private gardens in Orford. Orford is a lovely palce anyway, so I was quite excited about this outing! As usual, we started with coffee...meeting point was the wonderful Pump Room Bakery - I LOVE the large table and those lights!!!!!!!!

We liked it so much that we had our lunch here too. I had a goats cheese tart, which was square. That is what sold it to me :) - and it was very much worth it!! Also stocked up on their fantastic Sour Dough Bread - one for now, one for the freezer!

Garden Number 1 was a slight disappointment to me...not terribly inspiring, but a beautiful view and a lovely HUGE rosemary hedge....

Garden Number 2 made up for it!!! Beautiful and clever panting and full of interest. Just look a the seize of the Annabelles!!!!! And that box cloud!!! I now NEED to plant one...Christina has already started hers!

A few more Orford impressions, making our way back to the car.....

AUGUST

Early August saw a day out for the boys...The Classic and Sports Car Show at Helmingham Hall. Now everything Helminghall puts on is always terribly well organized and just right! (Am already looking forward to their autumn plant day in late September!). And yes, I can think of more exciting things than cars...but even I quite enjoy it! We always take a picnic and sit under the huge oak trees which line the the main drive up to the Hall, car owners get a chance to give their motors a spin and go up and down infront of us....

 And of course there is other entertainment and all sorts of refreshments are available....

And then their is the setting...Helmingham Hall is beautiful - and still lived in! - surrounded by a moat and with lovely gardens to visit.....

Contrasts of Ipswich, our nearest town...and not my most favourite place. Which is a shame as it has it's areas....and I think it is getting nicer, slowly but surely...!

 We had an afternoon strolling around the Marina and having coffee at this lovely place...

And that was it....Augsut seemd to just fly buy and I CANNOT beliebve that we are in September now.....Oh well....

Love

nicola xx