The Williams Connection

The Williams, Mike and Kathleen arrived last Thursday to spend four nights with us. Thus began an almost frenzied (but a relaxed frenzy) experience of historical Essex. The first day involved a train trip to Bury St Edmunds (in Suffolk actually)where we visited the St Edmundsbury Cathedral, the ruins of its Abbey, St Mary's Church and a wander through the historic streets. The day was topped off with a personalised guided tour through Greene King Brewery to see how beers were brewed using the drop-down gravity fed method. A sampling of a range of their beers completed the tour and it was with some (slight) degree of regret that the sampling finished an hour later!! However, it was getting dark and we did have to make our way back to the train and from there to home. Good News - we made it. The next day we trained northwards again to Ipswich (again in Suffolk)and spent a large part of the day at Christchurch Mansion and the Ipswich Museum two fascinating locations from which to gain an insight into local history. I was particularly impressed by the Constables on display in the Christchurch Mansion. Wouldn't mind one of those! Back from Ipswich to a dinner out at a local pub in Colchester and to try something new. The Norfolk Hotel despite its advertising of 'fine, home made food' doesn't serve food, so we had to walk into town and a dinner at another pub, The Marquis. It did serve food but even then we were pressed: first options, sorry, not available (and all we wanted was PIE!!)Wonder who ate them all? Sunday morning we were off to Mass, following which we 'morning tead' and headed to Colchester Castle Museum (which we kind of became engrossed in and ended up staying there for the rest of the day.) Three long days, but we've given Essex and Suffolk our best shot - and nice places they are too!