Technical mismanagement on my part meant that I was cycling out of Adastral Park at precisely the time Andy was driving in. Quick 180 to follow him back to my office and, scanning for somewhere to lock my bike, saw a handy post. Didn't see the metal sign attached to said post. It'll heal over, I'm sure.

Was my idea to visit Williams Stores, having spotted it on a 2018 trip to Newton Hall Equitation but, aiming for a vague postcode, shot past and ended up by an inviting sign reading "tea, coffee & cake": this'll do. Didn't know of the Dog Deli, a spin-off from the Grundisburgh Dog pub nearby, and Street View shows that this angular white building was the Post Office, until it wasn't. In go the pair of us to a fantastic fine-food-filled space. Olives here, sardines there, and all the artisanal cheese you could want, like a more compact Emmett's.

Asking the nice lady for some plates, though, we get busy with the tongs and choose some savoury goodies -- cheddar quiche, sausage roll, Scotch egg -- from the convenient circular stand. Bag of Kettle chips too, and a Bundaberg ginger beer for the driver with a Kinnie for me, "Malta's favourite drink" with a bittersweet orange flavour. Cute room next door has a handy table for three (plus a sofa and smaller table) and I'm busy divvying up the snacks into halves when Andy reminds me that we're expecting a new face today, none other than TT Johnny. A few crumbs remain when he finally joins us, pretty much fresh from Mauritius, darling. Before digging in, he presents us with random gifts of books, flip-flops, you-name-it: someone's clearing out their spare room. Thanks, Johnny.

He lives in the Kesgrave area and says that he tried and failed to get into Chestnut & Rose recently; not a table to be had. Deli lady appears looking a tad harried: she's on the phone with an IT bod trying to fix their card payment device. Sounds like our sort of problem, so I offer to take over and find that the problem is more-or-less already resolved. Coffees on the house, she says, returning behind the counter to tackle the snazzy caffeine dispenser. Brief return to that carousel for a selection of sweet Italian pistachio and cocoa mini pastries.

All good. All very, very good indeed. Isn't always like this, I try to explain to the newcomer; mostly we're consuming all-day-breakfast baps in humble caffs. But this is the Dog Deli's day.

• website -- Grundisburgh Dog Deli, The Street, Grundisburgh

If it was a car -- Rover Streetwise
If they were passing by -- Dele Alli.

(75 word short story published on Paragraph Planet on Wednesday 15-Feb-2023)

Yes, Ethan could confirm he sent that card.

No, the hazmat-suited guy couldn't disclose how they traced the sender.

No, Ethan didn't know that Amy's mum was also called Amy or that she worked at GCHQ.

Yes, he knew the envelope's exact contents.

Ethan peeked through the head's window: the evacuation of Matlow Academy resembled a zombie apocalypse.

Yes, he could identify the white powder.

From his blazer, Ethan withdrew the Love Heart's other half.

On a dark January evening I encountered a pothole (see previously) in deepest Kesgrave, and that pothole won. Must remember that yawning cavity, I think every evening cycling along Edmonton Road. A week into February I finally stopped by the crater to grab its exact location. Went to report it online next day only to find someone had already done so four weeks previously: "size of a teaplate", they wrote. That's a generous plate. Suffolk County Council promise an 8-week turnaround: we shall see. Oh, and I went straight in and out of it yet again that same day.

Close by is Penzance Road where, looking at the Street View from April 2022, we find Kesgrave Butchers. T'ain't there now -- both the baker and candlestick maker had already packed in -- replaced in January 2023 by Chestnut & Rose. We stop by the One Stop, grateful for a free spot, and, despite that warming overhead sun, we'll head inside rather than take a smoker's outside table. Barely open for a fortnight and man, the joint is jumpin', almost entirely with female pairs. Interior has a striking palette of orange with bluey-green, and those bespoke C&R aprons are a quality touch as are the distinctive wooden wall mounts.

Nicely restrained menu has jackets 'n' sarnies 'n' soup 'n' things on toasted sourdough including creamy mushrooms (for the driver) and homemade baked beans (for his passenger). Both do the job, and my can of Green's sour cherry was a treat; don't recall seeing that brand before. Halfway through my beans, I realise that we're meat-free: this is a fully plant-based cafe. That whole idea seemed a novelty when we swung by The Greenhouse Cafe in Felixstowe.

Andy came direct from the physio and I've worked two-and-a-half days this week so we're both due a treat from the cake-covered counter. My Biscoff rocky road was an absolute treat, and I think Andy enjoyed his diminutive carrot cake: Sarah the owner came over to apologise for its dinkiness and to offer a £1 refund. Sarah's gone from online bounty boxes to bricks and mortar; well, we thought 'er place was ace.

• website -- Chestnut & Rose, 32a Penzance Road, Kesgrave

If it was a car -- Chestnut Bronze Nissan Qashqai
If they were passing by -- Billie Piper.