Friday 18 June 2021

More Tennis News and Eye Castle

Thank you for all the comments yesterday about my new home. I once said I'd never live in a village again but things change. Apart from getting older it's also the being alone thing- only one person - me- to do the driving. The same with getting a dishwasher that I always said I wouldn't have -  when all the washing up sits there and only me to do it!

 Bad news for us Rafa fans yesterday when we heard that he has pulled out of Wimbledon and mixed  news from Queens Club with Andy M out but Dan Evans through to the quarter finals. Andy's opponent Berrettini served about 100 aces - maybe a slight exaggeration -  Andy isn't yet moving well enough to get them back.

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Early in  2020 I had an idea for visiting some local touristy things. I even began writing a list, starting with the nearest.....

Eye Castle Mound 
The Crowe Street Cottages at The Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket
Framlingham Castle
Woodbridge Tide Mill
Pakenham Windmill
Orford Castle (and the church)
Southwold Pier (and the church)
RSPB Minsmere
Bury St Edmunds Moyes' Hall Museum
More churches from the 100 Treasures in churches book (Still 50 left to visit).
Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich

 Of course that was Before Covid  and suddenly there was nowhere to go and even now booking is needed for many places.

But not for Eye Castle - although there's not much to see but it was somewhere I'd not visited despite going to Eye for shopping dozens of times and it's the nearest......... only 5 miles from home.

So a few weeks ago I climbed the steps.......

And this is what's at the top
The few inner walls inside the Motte are actually remains of a folly built by General Edward Kerrison to house his batman who had served him and saved his life during the Battle of Waterloo
 
 

As I said not much there and even the descriptive board agrees........ Is this it?


 There were some small white flowers beside the steps - I'm not really sure what they were, someone will know - I thought they were part of the allium family but no onion smell

 

And then I went down the steps again and home.


A very quick visit to all that remains of the nearest castle to home and one thing ticked off my list. 

HERE is the wiki website for more info.

 

Back Tomorrow
Sue

35 comments:

  1. I love your listing of places to visit. It's not just your "challenge" to yourself: it would be useful for anyone visiting your area. I might have to make my list for this area.

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    1. It's a start, there are lots of places in the South and West of the county that are interesting too

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  2. I must make a Visit List too. I can recommend the Bury St Edmunds museum. The term "batman" confused me as a child - these officers' servants had nothing to do with cricket (or caped superheroes) I hope that the summer brings you lots of opportunities for outings. And now you can get a bus pass, you'll use less petrol too!

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    1. Still waiting for my pension - because I applied late it's taking a while to get sorted and a bus pass is pretty useless around here as there are only buses to Stowmarket and Ipswich a few times a day

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    2. Pension letter now arrived today!!

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  3. I've got a list going too - not of local places to visit but places in the UK that I've never been to and have been shown on peoples blogs or on TV etc.

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    1. I'm very lucky because we could never afford abroad so all our holidays were always in the UK and I've been to many coastal areas and inland places too although there are areas I'd love to go to again

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  4. An interesting little castle with a great history, and mentioned in the Domesday Book no less. There is a connection with the Bigod family and I can remember meeting a chap called Bigod (from this area) when we were camping in Aberdeenshire, many years ago now. How strange.

    I must make a list of places to explore around here although, as you say, we can no longer be spontaneous any more.

    Could the flower be Grass of Parnassus? Although I think that likes marshy ground.

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    1. Looked it up - it said late summer and marsh and this was mid May and up a hill so not that

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  5. I was gutted when Rafa pulled out of grass tournaments, so no Wimbledon this year, I love the passion he plays with.

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    1. He's getting old! hopefully he'll be back next year

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  6. There's an app (possibly one of many?) called Leaf Snap. Brilliant and I use it all the time for plant identification since we moved house and have all sorts growing here that I don't have a clue about!

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    1. That's another reason I need a better phone, my cheapy doesn't like apps much - makes everything slow down

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  7. Nice idea to make a list of what you would like to visit, so many steps to go up good for the waistline?
    We only have 1 bus aday in our village which is enough to the town which has a nice selection of shops.
    I had a nice surprise yesterday my GS came on his way home and did a few jobs in the garden and we had a good chat.
    Hazel ๐ŸŒˆ๐ŸŒˆ

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    1. I needed to go up those steps several dozen times for them to have any effect on my waistline I reckon. It's got bigger with covid!

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  8. look a little like garlic chives

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    1. That was my first thought so I rubbed a leaf and sniffed but no smell

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  9. I do like your list. I've been to some of them and enjoyed each one. xx

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    1. I've been to most but some not for years and years so a good idea for another look without small children!

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  10. I love discovering new places and as the places you go are probably not going to be anywhere we will get to visit I love going on your trips out too.

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    1. That's why I love some blogs from the USA - the wonderful views of wide open spaces I will never get to see

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  11. It's always good to explore. As I lost my job before lockdown, I had done the same as you, made a list of days out to maximise my free travel pass. Like you, this was done Before Covid.
    I dislike players who serve constant aces. I deprives us of the rallies, which is what I enjoy more than ace prowess.

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    1. Years ago I wondered if the day would come when someone found the ability to serve endless aces - it's happened and is very boring!

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  12. I've never forgotten having coffee on Southwold Pier with a dear now departed friend who lived within walking distance of it.

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    1. We used to visit Southwold a lot when we were at the smallholding and the children were still young enough to enjoy the beach - it was only 25 minutes away then. But I've not been for years

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  13. I need to do that - make a list of things in my area that I have never really explored or haven't seen for a long time. That would encourage me to get out of the house. Thanks, Sue!

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    1. You're welcome.
      I have visited several of these places but not since the children were young and they're now 33, 39 and 41!

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  14. Adore Woodbridge!!! I could live there if I had the money (which we have NOT). If you go to Orford make time for the boat trip to the Ness. Its very strange and the history displayed is worth consideration.

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  15. Thank you for showing Eye Castle. I love seeing such ancient places as that. I also read the wiki you linked and enjoyed that as well. I doubt I will ever be able to visit your lovely country but I sure do enjoy seeing the places you visit!

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  16. Hello! First time commenting although I have been reading your blog for years, I'm just a little shy ;)
    I'm coming out of lurkdom to suggest the plant you found is 'three cornered leek'. I know you say it doesn't smell onion-y, but it sure looks like it to me! Take care, Sara

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    1. Hi Sara thank you for your first comment - don't be shy!
      You could be right about the plant although the flowers were more cup shaped

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    2. I agree about the 3 cornered leek!

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  17. We saw something very similar on a hike in the mountains. I loved the small white flowers peaking out of nowhere.

    One place visited off your list. Thanks for sharing it with us.

    God bless.

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  18. I just love that sign! Someone has quite the sense of humour!

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  19. I love the look of your new home, very neat and tidy and just right for you. I guess I should make a list of 'local to me' places to explore once we have moved and settled down a bit, and I'm able to drive or walk anywhere again, I really feel the urge to explore.

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