Thursday, 1 August 2013

Suffolk Sunday 21 July 2013

I am on a five day tour of the Suffolk villages today which should be a whole lot easier driving wise than my previous tours this year and those ahead of me.
A later start than I’m used to with my first pick up in Petersfield at 09:30 and then Liphook and Guildford.
We are away from Guildford at 10:45 and within twenty minutes stop at Cobham services for a loos and papers.
From here it is 45 minutes to our next stop at Polhill Garden Centre near to Sevenoaks where we shall stop until 14:30. Just over two hours may be a little too long for some but it is a lovely sunny day and there is a large restaurant with plenty of seating inside and out. Polhill is a large garden centre and a popular one we visit on day excursions.
I leave here on time and drive the hour to our hotel – Marks Tey Hotel in Marks Tey on the outskirts of Colchester.
I do miss the correct turning off the roundabout in Marks Tey and end up back on the A12 but it doesn’t take long to go up a junction and back and reach the hotel at the second attempt.
The hotel is a modern building built on two floors (ground and first) and the service on arrival is very efficient with our key cards ready for us and two lads take the cases away immediately. By now it is very hot but the bar/reception area are nice and cool. When I reach my room it is obvious it is not so cool in the bedrooms! There is a notice on the reception desk saying a limited amount of fans are available and I quickly return to reception and manage to obtain one. Happy now!
Dinner is at seven so plenty of time to unwind and watch the golf (British Open) or cricket (Ashes 2nd test). We are smashing the Aussies at cricket so plump for the golf and glad I did. Phil Mickelson won and Ian Poulter came joint third and I had a couple of quid on each! Even happier now!
Dinner was a bit disappointing with the majority complaining about the hard new potatoes which were hard but I don’t mind that. My chicken was okay at best though very bland tasting. These issues were raised with the manager and hopefully all will be well tomorrow.


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