On any major trip that we have embarked upon in recent years, the “Relly Run” has become a mandatory component. Living, as we both do, half way round the world from extended family and our birth place, we always need to reconnect with our roots. This includes family members we hold dear but see rarely. Hence the “Relly Run” – time spent with various relatives in different parts of the country.
Back once again in Stapleford, following our long arduous journey from Malta, we spent the final weekend with our girls, relishing the warm sunny days. A very casual few days included walks along the towpath to Ilkeston, the old mill town market square crammed with lovely old pubs, shops, a church and a large outdoor market area, as well as the usual trips to the local Wetherspoon in Stapleford and home cooked dinners. On one walk into Stapleford we encountered an old tradition that’s growing in popularity – a horse drawn hearse in a funeral procession along the High Street. Beautiful polished black carriage behind two shiny black horses in plumed livery and attendants wearing top hats and tails.
Nicky and Mark, who live in Great Baddow, were our generous hosts once more and we love spending time with them in their gorgeous home. Great Baddow itself is a rural village on the edge of the fields just a 25 minute walk from the hustle and bustle of Chelmsford town centre. With England’s second heatwave of the summer upon us, we barbecued in their garden along with extended family members (Brian & Chris, Bec & Ian), and took a trip out to Canvey Island where Brian & Chris have recently relocated. Beachfront on the Thames Estuary with Kent on the horizon, funfair and amusement park, cockle shed and pie & mash shop – so very British!
We also met up with Sue’s second cousin John who lives nearby and we accompanied him to Stifford Clays to visit his mum June. Nice people and lots of reminiscing about days long past.
Our second Enterprise Car Hire experience landed us in a Nissan Qashqai from Chelmsford branch. We had booked a small car but this relative monster was the only model available on the day. So in our upgraded SUV (kind of) we set forth towards relatives in Anglia to fulfill one of Graham’s dreams. En route we stopped at Lavenham village in Suffolk, home to a gorgeous 15th Century church, half-timbered medieval cottages and circular walks. In medieval time Lavenham was one of England’s wealthiest settlements and Sue has fond memories of visiting with her grandad as a child.
From Lavenham we ventured into the Breckland District of Norfolk and the town of Dereham west of Norwich. Our plan was to visit Graham’s ageing Aunt Mary in Cromer on the North Coast and we needed somewhere to stay for two nights before heading South West to Cambridgeshire. Dereham was the perfect location, first because it’s an interesting town and secondly because it has a Wetherspoon Hotel. Spacious, clean, comfortable rooms, recently refurbished, for £64 per night with the added benefit of Wetherspoon’s famous breakfasts and other pub grub over the bar. We are definitely buying shares in the Wetherspoon franchise!
Dereham town centre has some old stone buildings of note and a few typical half-timbered houses and also a preserved steam railway that runs between the town and nearby Wymondham (pronounced “Windum”, of course). We visited the cute little railway station, seemingly untouched since the 1950s, and watched a restored steam locomotive return to the station on a practise run.
Visiting Mary in her static park home on the outskirts of Cromer reinforced how old we are all becoming. Impaired mobility and memory is beginning to affect so many of our older relatives now. But it’s always a delight to visit and catch up nonetheless.
After a second night in the Romany Rye Wetherspoon Hotel, and a wonderful night’s sleep accompanied by sweet dreams of more happy nights to come in a variety of other Wetherspoon Hotels across the country, we left for Haddenham in Cambridgeshire and Graham’s cousin Val and husband David. They live in a beautiful home in a rural setting among fields and quaint villages. We drove to St Ives nearby and had a lovely walk through the stunning old mill village of Hemingford Grey (gorgeous, grand thatched houses – another Lotto dream location) and along the Ouse canal. That evening we were joined by Val’s brother and Graham’s other cousin Philip for dinner and a night of chatting and catching up on family news. Good times.
Clapmacks Foray into Retirement 