The last time I looked at the compost bins was the 6th of June, https://localitystories.com/2026/06/06/2016-the-compost-bins/

I have to admit that they look unpleasant, but they don’t smell unpleasant and that is very important.

Hopefully, next week it will be a bit cooler. I have some jobs to do on the bins. I’m going to look at West. It’s quite likely that there is some good compost to be taken out of it. If I can get a couple of tub loads, that would be good. There’s going to be space in both of them to give them a good turn over, and I can put some cardboard in to help.

Whilst my view is that they don’t look good, and are too wet, my compost advisor is not so worried. She thinks that they are cold and wet, which is fine, as the composting process is kind of more chemical than biological; both end up with perfectly good compost.

I am disappointed that the composting is nott being bug driven, especially slow worms, but perhaps we can turn that around? I’lldo another report in a few weeks.

Another hot day. I seem to have this thing where around 10AM ish I feel irresistibly tired It’s very difficult to resist.

I had to set an alarm, if there was the possibility that I was going to fall asleep I needed to make sure that I woke up in time to get to the shop, where I was due to spend my first afternoon in a month, and only my second afternoon in the shop.

I did fall asleep, and the alarm did go off. Luckily, I did get to the shop in time. I had intended to walk in to town, but as I was passing the bus stop, a No. 9 was approaching, it was just too appropriate.

The afternoon in the shop went OK. I can’t say that I was massively excited by the afternoon.

We were in Southwold when the hot weather really started. I was uncomfortable, but not massively so.

The drive back was made more than tolerable, the A1120, see Tuesday’s post https://localitystories.com/2026/06/23/2033-the-a1120-the-tourist-route/
and the run around the M25, which was one of the best in a very long time. Not really relevant to the matter of the heat, but it was a hot day, so we were thankful for the air con.

Yesterday, I managed to get out for a walk in the morning, before the temperature really started climbing. Today, as we had the granddaughter, I didn’t go for a walk. For the second day, we shut ourselves in, with fans running, and we exhausted the ice maker – we drank loads of water.

Apparently, temperatures will be maintained tomorrow, but we may also be facing thunderstorms. That might clear the air.

Apologies for the delayed publication. The letter was written last week, so the timing references are out.

Dear Steve,

Once again,  I find myself in the position not being able to follow, through this letter, the topic of Gilbert’s Letter XVIII.  He talks with much detail on the appearance of the Loach.  I have to be honest and say that I don’t think I’ve ever seen one.  He then moves on to the topic of a woman who claimed to have a cure for cancer through the use of toads, he even uses the expression “marvellous cures”.  I have usually associated quacks and snake oil salesmen with the Wild West, but I guess there’s no reason we wouldn’t have them here as well.  Indeed, I believe the victorians had pretty wild “cures” for various ailments.

Gilbert talking about fish, and me writing about Gilbert writing about fish, is always going to be problematic.  I’m going to be a bit hypocritical and say I don’t like handling fish horrible slimy feeling, Yuck.  But then I will happily eat cod, haddock, scampi, prawns as long as they are fresh. I “tolerate” salmon, it’s just under the threshold of being too “fishy” in taste. I don’t recall ever eating things like trout or bass. 

I wonder if it was because my mum used to love pilchards and sardines and would eat them straight out of the can, whilst I found the sight and the smell disgusting that I developed a dislike of fish in general?

Moving away from my eating habits, we were in the garden yesterday afternoon,  I commented to Elayne that it looked lovely and green, I think the word would be verdant. We had moved our seats the previous week to give the grass a chance to recover. The new location seems to suit the local fox which has started using the space behind it as its restaurant, I found feathers and the shell of a chickens egg.  Unfortunately, we’ve realised they are now perfect for the starling squadron to perch whilst waiting for their turn at the feeder.

I also noticed that somebody has used one of the tubs of fresh compost as a toilet.  Really chaps, come on.  That’s Not on.

All the very best

Bill

I’m just sorry that I don’t have a picture of any part of the A1120.

As we left the cottage this morning, the last thing I heard Mark shout was “Go via the 1120, the tourist route“. I’m ashamed I have to confess I had no idea what he was talking about. Luckily Elayne did.

We picked up the A1120 after just a few miles down the A12. Oh my, what a lovely road this is. For two reasons it made our journey to St Neots so much more pleasant than it could have been.

As I was driving my focus was very much on the road, but it was clear that we were passing through areas that were very likely steeped in history. It was one of those times that we had a schedule to follow, so weren’t able to stop and appreciate them. If we ever go that way again, I’d like to think that we could build in some time to explore a bit.

The second reason was the quality of the road for by far the bulk of the journey, the ride was incredibly smooth, I really felt like we were just gliding along. I can’t think of any road where I’ve had that feeling, even on the AutoBahns.

Actually, there is a third reason why that way was such a delight, and I am sure that it was just a quirk of timing. For most the journey, I had no cars behind me and no cars ahead of me. That does happen occasionally of course. But this was notable as it was for most of the length of the route we had. I am willing to bet that the road could, at times, be a nightmare.

But not today. Today, it was a delight.

Today is our last full day here. The town has entirely lived up to my expectations. It really is quite delightful.

Although we don’t have a dog, our friends do, Dilly is delightful, and it is lovely to see a town which really cares about dogs, and it is clean. We Haven’t encountered any mess.

We had a lovely breakfast in a local cafe

Today we visited the pier. Another favourite spot, as quirky as they come with an admittedly small amusements area, contains some rather unusual games.

This evening we ate in a slightly unusual restaurant our booth was a beach hut. They had been introduced during covid as a way of keeping guests apart, and have been so popular, that they kept them on.

The food was delicious.

A lovely end to a lovely day.

Dilly has had a fabulous time here in the sea. The temperature has been a bit cooler as we’re by the coast with a refreshing breeze.

Today we walked from our cottage along the edge of the golf course down to the creek to a pub for some lunch. We didn’t have to book and it wasn’t as busy as we expected, so it didn’t take long for the food to turn up whist we were sipping drinks outside in the sunshine.

After lunch it was a meander along the river to the sea, passing lots of simple restaurants mostly serving fish and chips but they all seemed busy. I noted to come along before we go home to buys some kippers and fresh crab…yum yum!

We had an ice cream near the dunes then Dilly could run free on the way back to Southwold. by the time we got back we were all knackered and needed copious tea and flopped onto the sofa.

Dinner was cheese and biscuits and a few chocs….yum yum!

A nice relaxing day and we’ll do it all again tomorrow!

I can remember seeing a TV programme some years ago about Southwold. I had thought that it was Coast. But I have the DVD set of the first season of Coast. The segment covering the town is not what I remember, so it must have been some other TV show.

What I remember is an image of a town that was really quite lovely. It. Was a happy place and looked really quite beautiful. I have to say that my experience so far pretty much matches that.

I went out with Mark to take the dog for her morning walk. As we came onto the sports field area, we were discussing the car park, and whether it was free. There was a lady sat reading a book, and she said “sorry for listening to your conversation, but the car park is free, but if you can make a donation, that would be good”. We thanked her and then had a very pleasant chat. At one point I asked if the locals didn’t get fed up with all the tourists. I think her response was immediate and sincere, and very much in support of the visitors, that we are very welcome. I’m not sure everyone will think like that, but for a random engagement, it was a very nice response.

During the day, when we went for a walk, and stopped in a local pub for a drink, I really got the impression of a happy atmosphere. Everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves.

I would very much like to find that original clip, whichever series it’s from, because whoever did it, got it absolutely spot on.

We went on a journey today. In the car. It was one of those journeys where you encounter all sorts of people. Today, it was mad drivers. We were particularly entertained by a lady in an expensive car, who was determined to get ahead by lane hoping as much as she could.

She was driving very assertively, and for a brief period, she did get ahead. We kept on catching up with her. She gave us one of those looks. Luckily, she turned off.

Another driver was being really quite aggressive. It didn’t do him any good. He was as stuck as we were.

We just plodded along, it was almost pleasant.