Day 4 - Sible Hedingham - 11 September 2024

Today we spent with our cousins.  The weather has been great, and we have not been stopped by rain.  The trees are turning to their autumn colours and there is a definite chill in the air.  Today, the maximum will be 15 degrees.

It is lovely to be back in Sible Hedingham which is a beautiful village. We started the day with homemade sourdough (Tim is the baker). The kitchen looks out onto an amazing backyard so, over breakfast, we watched squirrels, wood pigeons and gold finches. There was very light rain which added to the beauty and say, "you are in England". 

The view whilst we have breakfast

A Wood pigeon

Angela and Tim have a conservatory in their house. It is an area with double glazed ceiling and walls. It is such a relaxing place to sit on a chilly day.

So relaxing

Family

We then went to Sudbury, the town where Gainsborough grew up. We parked in the town and then strolled along a public footpath along the banks of the River Stour where we came to a bridge and watched swans, cygnets and ducks.  They fit so well into the English countryside. 

Swans, cygnets and ducks

There are so many people walking along the footpaths, and they are very friendly.  We strolled along the banks to a diversion weir which sends some of the flow along a channel to the nearby mill.  The water then joins the main flow further downstream.  Sudbury is around 25 miles from the coast, however in World War 2, the government was still concerned that the enemy submarines could travel that far up the river so, they built Pill Boxes. They were where soldiers could be protected whilst defending the river.

A Pill Box

The diversion weir

Continuing along the public footpath, we came upon a herd of cows which completely ignored us so that was good. The water in River Stour is crystal clear and, as we continued, we came upon an area of water rushes. There, in the middle was a swan's nest.  I have never seen one before. How interesting they are.

The swan's nest

We headed back to Sudbury. The houses are so well kept and the main street is full of great little shops.  There is a bronze statue of Thomas Gainsborough (the painter). There is also an old church that is now an art's centre. We found it very interesting to walk around the town and look through the church.

Gainsborough

Look at those buildings.

Back to Sible Hedingham because our other cousin (Linda who is Angela's sister) was coming to visit.  However, before doing so, we stopped at a brewery. What a selection of beers. I chose their Growler, a porter which is very much like stout. It is certainly one the best I have tasted.  

Julie, Narelle and Tim

This seems to be indisputable logic

We have not been together for five years and it was so good to catch up. We spent hours just relaxing in the conservatory talking over afternoon tea.  

Cousins

Linda was not able to stay for dinner which was superb. Tim cooked Paella, one of his favourite meals.  It was delicious. 

We continued just talking for hours.  It is great to catch up with family and so, a wonderful day came to an end.