Thursday, 28 September 2023

Too Windy?

 I wanted to show you wonderful views of Felixstowe from the top of this temporary structure. 



I checked the forecast for a calm day and checked the wheel's opening times and tootled off down the A140 and the A14.

But when I got down to the sea front the big wheel was closed even though everywhere was calm and the sea was flat.


So I went up the town and round the charity shops and the big second-hand bookshop instead, thinking perhaps it would be working later in the day.

But no luck - still no-one there and no signs of movement.

I came home via Dunelm in Ipswich and picked up a nice big cosy throw for my new sofa and two new cushion covers to go with the cushions already found at car-boot sales and the ones that come with the sofa.

The wheel is supposed to be open through October before it's dismantled and taken away but if it was closed on a calm day I'm not sure it's worth another trip.

Gutted that I only heard about it a couple of weeks ago or I would have been there earlier - in the queue on the first day!

Back Tomorrow
Sue

29 comments:

  1. How very frustrating. But you made good use of your time anyway, visiting the CS and finding the throw

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    1. Hadn't been to Felixstowe for months so it was good to look round

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  2. Disappointing, though there have been sudden gusts of wind, coming out of nowhere, in the last few days.

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  3. They were probably going by the forecast which was for some wind, cancelling the day before to save staff coming into work. Well, maybe . . .
    xx

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  4. Open until October suggests it closes on 30 September. Maybe closed weekdays once schools went back. You could ring them if you really want to know. It looked pretty quiet around from your photos.

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  5. How disappointing. Obviously the threat of the Big Life-Threatening Storm (a bit windy here and some rain) was too much of a risk.

    At least you had a potter round the charity shops and got what you needed at Dunelm.

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    1. Always good to have a look round the charity shops

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  6. Looks like a white elephant beached on the shore. I only know Felixstowe as a container port which I first memorably visited in February 1987 at the beginning of my career in container handling and shipping. I expect your Dunelm throw was manufactured in China and arrived in the UK in a container. I wonder if it was unloaded at Felixstowe? Going even further back in time Ipswich is where we used to meet UEA students for team racing in 470 dinghies. This was 1980-1983 - somehow I don’t think Rachel would have been one of them! Oh how I loved those days of poetry and prose, sailing up the Suffolk coast, cycling to explore the borderland churches, pressing wildflowers, collecting potatoes by wheelbarrow from the local farm, those endless summer days of wine and roses. Obviously still replicating all that in my life today! Sarah in Sussex

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  7. Disappointing I'm sure, but quite possibly closed in advance of {the then} impending arrival of Storm Agnes. We took quite a pasting here!
    Having worked in tourism for four decades, the one piece of advice that remained constant, regardless, was if you are making a special journey, phone ahead.

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    1. It was nice to see the sea and look round the charity shops anyway

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  8. It's disappointing when plans fall through but you made good use of your trip.

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    1. It was a nice morning out even without the ride around the big wheel

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  9. You're a braver soul than me going on a big wheel. I still remember going on one with my Mum when I was nobbut a lass. Horror! At least your trip wasn't wasted.

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    1. Not a fan of roller coasters but have always liked this sort of ride. There was a smaller one in the amusement park at Felixstowe many years ago.

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  10. I guess they were going off the forecast rather than what was actually happening with the weather, which is always frustrating. Just going to get some sea air must have made the trip worthwhile though, it is invigorating isn't it.

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    1. Always nice to get to see the sea and I'd not been down there since spring

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  11. Didn’t know about Felixstowe - pity, I like a nice Ferris wheel. I was about to brag that I have been in the worlds two largest but thought I should check (always a good idea before bragging) - NO! Only 2nd and 3rd - Dubai now holds the record and I doubt I will be back in Dubai again. Did go up the Burj Khalifa last time I was there - just checked still world’s tallest building.

    Here ends todays bragging!

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  12. You are a braver person than me !! Hope you get to go on the Wheel!

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  13. Not all they are cracked up to be.

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  14. You had the beach all to yourself. I love walking on an empty beach. The Wheel might only run on weekends. This happens with visiting Wheels some times. The shops sound good and you were lucky to find a nice throw for your new couch.

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  15. I am so sorry for you. I am currently on holiday near Aldeburgh having travelled from Cardiff last Saturday. I love Felixstowe and had a great visit on Tuesday. I was apprehensive about going on the Big Wheel, but my Partner was keen, so on we got. I loved it, it went around twice and it was lovely to see the whole length of the Prom from the top. I then went and spent all the 2pences that I have saved for 4 years in the Amusement Arcade - Mannings. I love Suffolk. I just wish it was nearer to home.

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  16. So sorry you didn't get to ride the Big Wheel. The photo would have been awesome.

    God bless.

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