It wasn’t really our holiday, it was mother’s
holiday, and we went as her ‘carers’ but it was most certainly a break
for all of us. With the dog safely in the kennels and hubby looking forward to
a lie-in on Tuesday morning i.e. not having to take the dog for her 6.30am
walk, we were out of the house by 6am on Monday heading for The North – we
always chuckle at the English big blue road signs: The North, The South, The
Midlands etc! An ‘Early Starter’
breakfast (plus one Red Bull for the driver!) at a Little Chef in Thrapston was
welcomed, but like most meals on the road, was a necessity and not something to
write home about! It would be nicer if these places made an effort to make the
places look nice – replace tatty chairs, wipe down the tables properly,
make sure the toilets are always clean and have a decent knob to pull
the door open – but although the chairs and loos were not wonderful, the staff
smiled and the food was edible!
About an hour after arriving in Chesterfield we were on the
road again with Mum, heading back the way we’d come – altogether we drove 8
hours on the first day of our holiday – and the same on the return journey on
the Friday!
But the destination was worth it! About four years ago we
went to Rumburgh Farm in Suffolk following the tantalising description of a
“Fishing Lodge with a trout stocked lake on the doorstep.” I haven’t stopped
talking about it since! Bungalow style, no stairs for Mum; spacious, nothing to
fall over; dishwasher, washing machine and tumble drier; both bedrooms
en-suite, one with shower, basin and toilet and the other with bath, shower
attachment over bath, basin and toilet; and the best was the lake on the
doorstep – literally! To be able to sit
on the verandah and listen to the birds, watch the duck families, and watch
hubby expertly casting his own hand-made fly for the trout, was the most
relaxing thing I could ever think of doing on holiday! Oh yes and he did get up
early on Tuesday morning - to ‘go’ fishing!
Two duck families came for their scheduled swim each day;
one mummy duck with three fluffy yellow ducklings and three darker, probably
slightly older ducklings, would plop into the water near the reeds and swim and
play their way around the perimeter of the lake then waddle back up the grass
home. One day two little yellow fluffy ducklings decided they didn’t want to go
home with Mummy and stayed on the edge while Mummy and four obedient ducklings
waddled home. It appeared quite exciting at first being out on their own,
although one seemed a little unsure. “Mummy said if ever we’re in danger to get
in the water.” They both plopped in and suddenly realised they were on their
own! The little beaks quacked as they swam in circles at the edge, no longer
having fun. When it was obvious Mummy was leaving them to pay the consequences
of their rebellion, and that they might not get tea or a warm cuddle if they
didn’t repent and go home, they waddled as fast as they could up the little
grassy hill, with stubby yellow wings balancing little webbed feet. Next
morning they were back sticking close to Mummy and their siblings!
Another time one of the slightly older ducklings caught his
first fish catch! Mummy scooted over but there was no way this proud duckling
was going to let Mummy get hold of his catch! However, the poor little fishy
was perhaps a little too big for ducky’s mouth and as soon as he dropped it Mum
caught it up and swallowed it whole. Hmph!
From our previous visit we remembered a fishing tackle shop
in nearby Beccles, right opposite Tesco’s car park, so on Tuesday we parked in
the superstore car park, went in to buy a few necessities, and wondered why a
shop like Tesco was so quiet! Mum asked which shop we were in and I quickly
responded although the signs were not the usual Tesco blue. A staff member
packing shelves, turned and quietly said, “This is the Co-op!” Oops! Many apologies and laughs! We eventually found the fishing shop
(opposite the Tesco car park!) and we found our way back to the car - in
the Co-op car park!
On Wednesday we walked the length of Southwold’s promenade
and pier and then had fish & chips/scampi & chips/cheeseburger &
chips on the beach front sheltered from the cool breeze in one of those
industrial looking, ugly but useful booths, and went home with slightly
sun/wind burnt noses.
On Thursday the 2012 Olympic Torch was doing its rounds in
Suffolk – the ideal day to stay at home and relax and not get caught up in
traffic or crowds! A final evening meal
at the Rumburgh Buck finished off the holiday feeling. It’s a cosy pub,
probably not easy with a wheelchair, and even with Mum and her stick, we were
up and down little steps, and uneven stone slabs, but then it is a 16th
century building with low ceilings (warning for the over 6-footers!). The
choice of main meal wasn’t great, but a beef curry, and two chicken pies went
down a treat, although I would have preferred full-on Coca Cola and not watery
cola :(And finally - the awesome sunset!
