Next on our rather fluid agenda was back to Stradishall to stay with Trix and May whilst Jenny spent a few weeks exploring Morocco. Loved the quiet, easy life with the old girls. They are very easy company and there are lots of places to wander the countryside.
Stradishall is a sleepy country village with houses called names like Old School House, Old Post Office and so on ............. Of course, we couldn't spend so much time in this area without visiting the pretty town of Clare only a few miles up the road. The girls enjoyed a romp around the country park and ponds. We finished off with the most expensive coffee I've ever had £6.50 for two cappuccinos - and they weren't even very good!
Another pretty village in this area is Lavenham.
It is noted for its 15th-century church, half-timbered medieval cottages and circular walk. In the medieval period it was among the 20 wealthiest settlements in England. Wikipedia" The herringbone brickwork is especially fascinating. Some of the buildings are so old, they have started to give way which makes them lean in all directions like they're "on the piss". A sober reminder of the depth of history in England compared to that of New Zealand!
How to while away our time in our country hideaway? By hunting and gathering an interesting food group .... wild game birds. We cooked a fabulous stew of pigeon, pheasant and partridge for a family Sunday lunch. A tasty dinner which also hit the menu was pigeon poached in cider with shallots, peas and laid on a bed of mash ..... pigeon is an under-rated meat which most people seem not to have tried. Bit surprising really with the number of pigeons around. It looks and tastes like a fillet steak - truly!
Time to give up the quiet life of rural Suffolk to head to Stepney Green, East London. Stepney Green turned out to be an interesting melting pot of mixed cultures. We fitted in really well shopping at the local veg and meat stalls. The flat had a flax bush out front and I soon remembered a weaving skill I learned a few years ago. A bit of kiwiana left behind in Stepney Green.
Here we kept the very good company of the sweetest wee Cockapoo, Stella and a long haired moggy called Warren - love the name!
We had some fabulous adventures with Stella. We romped up the canal to Victoria Park every day chasing squirrels and barking at the water birds. The canal system had me a bit fascinated and we liked to stop and watch the locks in action. We decided we would leap at the chance to "housesit" a canal boat .......... should one ever come up. We found a gaggle of four other Cockapoos in a park - talk about peas in a pod! And also took Stella to do a spot of child minding (my great niece and nephew). James labelled this particular activity Extreme Sitting, most arduous as you can see from the photo below! A great time was had by all. The children loved playing with and walking Stella and she, in turn, got to experience some new places and people. Great socialisation for a city gal.
