Sutherland House Hotel & Restaurant Southwold

Right...23 Days to go!! Not long now since i started counting at 385!!!
Only 10 actual days of my "real" work left to do then i'm out of here! I can't actually belive i'm going it somehow does not seem real!
I think the nerves are setting in and the waves of happiness and fear come and Go!!!!!
I never though for a minute i would leave the comfort of a perfectly good job, home and my family and friends to travel on my own ...

With time rapidly dwindling I went down to Banbury way this afternoon to visit my brother et famille before I leave, taking the opportunity to say goobye to two young nephews - one of whom was able to appreciate some of the implications of what I am doing, "But what if you get sick?" he asked. :-)

Back up to Stoke in the late evening. Last day of preparations tomorrow.

A quick update. Things have moved on, including us. We're pleased to report that a few days ago Brian the van was declared healthy, after some serious re-constructive surgery!

On Monday we left Norfolk and began a series of public transport journeys that would take us from Norwich to London, London to Cheltenham (to visit with friends for a couple of nights) and then Cheltenham to Birmingham to finally pick up our beloved Brian. We ...

... to work, then during the day we kept losing broadband connection. With an over booked plane it was imperative I checked in as soon after 7.20pm as possible so as I could to preserve our precious seats. Eventually after fraught nerves but good assistance from son Stephen I got the job done.

Off to bed with some relief.

... for them: clearing cupboard andwardrobe space, and giving the place a thorough spring clean. Vanda has spentweeks getting the (already very clean and tidy) house in tip top condition.There are places I’m not allowed to go now for fear of making them dirty oruntidy again.

As a riposte I preparedanother list: “The House Sitters Guide to Living at Nsansa”. At least Barbaraand Steve will know where things are and what to do if they go wrong.

... up early to be first in the check-in queue, smile at the check in lady and, standing on tip toe, ask for the emergency exit seats, because you say, with such long legs the other seats are too cramped. But airline have now got used to the wily passenger and have started charging extra for extra legroom seats.

To find the best seats (and there can be several which are not exit seats), find out what plane ...

... flew around us and wandered in between the long grasses. We both took time to take in the scenery, we both felt alive, our legs had warmed up and we were really enjoying the walk.

We reached the end of the Kessingland beach after 1 hour and 15 mins. We came to a river crossing that took us over to Benacre, one of the most amazing, and best kept secrets on the east coast. Why I have not spent more time in this fantasy land escapes me but I will not be ...

... current was fierce. We tried a variety of warps at different angles and got nowhere, neither could we winch ourselves back in. Fortunately, at this juncture, a helpful owner of a 4 wheel drive Suzuki arrived and who coincidentally, was also a member of the local lifeboat crew. Within 5 minutes, we had Celtic Warrior safely back against the pontoon. The Dutch, who managed to put the owner on shore, were hovering out in mid channel as he came over and offered his profuse apologies ...

... I was allowed to tie up alongside a lifeboat as we took on fuel. I fervently hoped that the crew wouldn't get a 'shout' whilst we were thus engaged! All was well, however, and we were on our way by 10:00. Once out in the bay, we were able to switch the engine off and commence sailing roughly in the direction we wanted to go ie south. For once it was quite sunny and the breeze was lowing at a F4 from the South West. The tidal current hereabouts runs at about 2 ...

... again and followed his directions through the tube system to a little joint on music row called 12 Bar where we were joined by Richard England for a lively and productive conversation. Chris and Richard are working together on a film project which purports to produce a Stooges documentary, and I'm telling them about my movie TWENTY TO LIFE being ready for release this fall. It's just been accepted for screening at the Raindance Film ...