General Chat

Had a fright yesterday at 1.45pm, o.h. had gone to work on his bike and he returned home within a quarter of an hour of leaving. I thought he must have come off his bike, but it was just a puncture. so he came back and took the car. Meant I couldn't go out but managed to do lots of other things to fill my time and start getting ready for the off on Friday.

Lizx

Everything crossed for you Liz so that you can get away and spend time with o.h. family and be all together to celebrate his 60th birthday.

Remembering also the dates which will bring you special thoughts of your daughter.

Enjoy your time away and catching up with Tina Marie and sharing news together.

Have a safe journey and relax now. Keep warm and keep well. Big hugs, G xx

Hi Liz, hope you and OH will have a lovely holiday and have a safe journey. Enjoy your meet with Tina-Marie later on in the week, I'm sure you will both have a good natter.lol!!

Take care.

Love, Sallie.xx

Liz i wish you and your o,h all the very best and hope you have agreat day and i know what you will be thinking about Love Dutch en Janxxxxx

Liz i wish you and your o,h all the very best and hope you have agreat day and i know what you will be thinking about Love Dutch en Janxxxxx

hope you and hubbie have a great time have a safe journey. :-D :-D

I'll have my fingers, eyes, arms & legs crossed :-D

Wishing you a great holiday Liz

:-D

Keep those fingers crossed folks, we only have a few days to go before we visit Maldon.

I spoke with the cottage caretaker yesterday and she said we have to contact BT and pay for some internet connection on line, o.h. isn't sure about that so might not be able to use his work's ipad. I haven't got anything yet as we haven't had time to go shopping and I don't know what I want, so might visit somewhere near Chelmsford and see what's what, we will have more time to ponder. If no connection sorted out, we will make do with using his son's wifi at his house and/or find an internet cafe. If you don't hear from me, you will know we didn't get 'joined up' lol

Am meeting with Tina-Marie during the week, late one afternoon, and am looking forward to that.

Forecast isn't too good, lots of rain and maybe some snow but will take lots of thermals and strong boots and enjoy the break and change of scene.

Lizx

all is crossed Liz :-D

I think so Ann, I am usually a pretty good judge when booking places, o.h. is always pleased with what I find us. He is really looking forward to the break away and seeing a new place. He will like the brewery Bob lol

Thanks Frederick for the link to the museum. I have added that to the list of things to do and see

We are borrowing o.h's Dad's sat nav so that will make life easier for us as we have to go to and fro the son's house and the Premier Inn as well. I usually just print out a route and manage quite well as I am good at finding my way around but o.h. panics if we take a wrong turn or whatever. He doesn't even remember routes we drive often, so I can never just sit back and enjoy the scenery and as he can't see to drive at night I have to do a lot of driving myself, not what I thought would happen when I found myself a toy boy lol

I am a bit annoyed that the agency with the cottage charges so much, it's an extra £35. Most of the places I have found before have their own websites too so I can book direct with the owners but no luck this time so he had to cough up. it's a lot of money tho, would pay for a nice meal out and change as well.

Just hoping the weather will be kind, don't want to be snowed in or snowed out!

Lizx

Holiday home looks very nice Liz

there is also a private brewery in Maldon,

Bob

Hi Liz, while you are in the area this is well worth a visit.

http.//www.cmsm.co.uk

F.

HAVE A GOOD TIME LIZ,XXX

Oh thanks folks, what a lovely lot of information, will keep a note of all those places and look at the other things later on. I don't plan to do much cooking so will be trying out nice places to eat.

O.h. loves his photography so I thought there would be lots for him to see if I am having a lie in and it looks as tho there are nice independent little shops in Maldon which we both like.

This is the place we are staying at, it looks cosy if the weather is bad but I am hoping we get weather like today's in Norwich, dry, bright and sunny. It's chilly but that doesn't matter as I have lots of thermal undies lol

http://www.travelrepublic.co.uk/hotels/united-kingdom/essex/maldon/conifers.html

We do enjoy seeing other parts of the country altho we love Sheringham, but with son moving away it's an ideal opportunity to see more places and catch up with them in their new house.


I have to admit that it was always the Romford boys holidaying in Norfolk, that caught my eye. Could have been an Essex housewife myself if I had played my cards right lol I have been to Romford market on a day trip years ago and my son's rellies live in Brentwood and Dagenham/Barking, a friend lives in Chingford and my cousin has moved from Chigwell to Hornchurch so might have a chance to catch up with some of them too.

If we like the Premier Inn we can use it on other occasions to spend a weekend with the grandchildren, more peaceful than staying in their guestroom with two under 4s lol We used to go by train to see them in Stowmarket, so will probably still do that as it's less tiring than driving, but the fare will be doubled so will be a costly exercise to stay over too. O.h.'s not up to driving that far and back in a day and I wouldn't want to try it either after time spent with the children, the little girl is very boisterous and demanding and it's lovely to sit back on the train home and go Phew lol


Lizxx

Here is the web site for St Peters Chapel
http://www.bradwellchapel.org/

I used to go there as a young lad with a bicycle and fishing rod to dry out ... as the web site says the best time to visit is in winter. The moods change - cold blue wide open Essex skies and snow, wild winds off the North Sea.

Since then I have been all over our not very lonely planet and believe the chapel to be one of the most evocative places anywhere.

I don't know why Essex gets such a bad press, imho it is a great place. Outsiders need to make an effort that's all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTYZTCYXKd4

Thanks Rollo I thought it was at Bradwell, very tiny church isn't it and quite isolated. for fishermen I think?

Everthing is crossed for you Liz.

You certainly deserve to have a lovely break away with your o.h. family. Have fun and enjoy the special 60th with him.

Gentle hugs for your week which will naturally be tinged with sadness but hopefully special memories of your little one. She is only ever a thought away. Take care. xx

recommended:

The Blue Boar, Maldon
http://www.blueboarhotel.com/about-hotels-in-maldon/
(As well as good meals excellent hotel but costs a tad more than Premier)

The Ferry Boat. Fambridge
http://www.ferryboatinn.net/

The Chequers, Roxwell nr Chelmsford

There is plenty of scope for photographers at this time of year 'cos of all the overwintering birds - Dengie Hundred, Foulness. Try and see England's oldest church at Bradwell. The disused atomic power station at Bradwell is photogenic if you are into industrial archeaeology.

Romford Market (wed fri Sat ) is good fun but keep yr wits about you. Lakeside ( just off the M25 ) is a super mega shopping mall.

The Rettendon Turnpike is also good for catching overwintering chavs in their mock tudor nests. Watch out for the Essex boys.

Drive carefully - one of my rellies is with the Interceptors grrr !

We know the area well having lived in Gt Baddow from 1968 to 1973 although it has changed since then. However we have a good friend in S Woodham Ferrers who we visit so still get over to Maldon, love it there and have taken lots of photos, especially if there are any barges around. Burnham on Crouch is nice too. And somewhere is a very tiny chapel on the coast, mat be Bradwell, Tina Marie may know. Hope you enjoy it Liz. Shopping is (or was not been for about 10 years) good in Chelmsford.