In the pink and dreaming of chocolates...

Our introduction to Suffolk is a visit to Steve's school, where he started his teaching career, Culford Independent School. The magnificent building started life in the late 1700s as the residence of Lord Codogan. We get to walk the grounds and experience a leisurely stroll over a stone and iron bridge, one of the very first built. The arched bridge spans what appears to be a meandering stream complete with geese and swans but is, in fact, part of a small lake. It feels like we are walking in the footsteps of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy.

Haverhill, pronounced 'Hay-ver-hill', is an industrial market town and our home for the next few days. From here we venture into the countryside and with Steve's help explore Suffolk's treasures.

Sunday 15 we visit two lovely little villages of interest, Clare and Lavenham. At Clare, we walk around the historic motte (where the Clare Castle and village once stood) originally built by the invading Normans. It is, however, the medieval village of Lavenham that really captures my heart. The village made its wealth through the manufacture and export of woollen cloth. Early built houses are unbelieveably crooked and twisted. It is believed that they were built from green wood and thus warped over time (the poem Crooked House was possibly inspired here). We visit little art galleries, antique and gift shops and enjoy a 'cream tea' in a tea shop in part of the Merchants Guild. We also visit the church of St Peter and St Paul built in the 15th century. Steve is the perfect guide and fills us in on the history.

Colours of the cottages dotted across the countryside are a visual treat - washed in 'Suffolk Pink' (traditional), bright blue, deep gold or white. We are intrigued by the thatched roofs which give these cottages the quaint 'chocolate box' effect.

Hares boxing a-top a cottage ridgeline

Inticate patterns across the ridgeline are not only decorative and a signature of the thatcher but also an anchor to keep the thatch in place. Little thatch animals run and prance across the ridges - hares, foxes and pheasants. In the old days, small animals used to shelter in the thatch roofs but when it rained it became slippery and the animals would fall off - hence the saying 'it's raining cats and dogs'!

Every little village produces these cottages but we never tire of them - each has it's own character and personality. 

As I sit in the late evening to write, little Pipistrelle bats flit around the garden reminding me of those little toy aeroplanes we used to have, you know, the ones we anchored to the ceiling and they flew round and round in circles...