EDitorial ± 28-May-2017

130Story: Spot / Sensible / Permitted / Aware

The rules of 130Story are simple: given a random seed word, write a story in 130 characters.

Spot

Sensible

Permitted

Aware

More to follow.

EDitorial ± 26-May-2017

Felixstowe Light Lunches: Spa Pavilion Terrace

Absolutely glorious day demands that the trio trot out in search of sun, sea and sand. That's right, Felixstowe it is since there's talk of a dead whale. That, and word of a new eatery. Replacing Winnies, reassures our whistleblower, is the promising sounding Waffle Shack. We park, we stroll, we sigh. Doors are shut today. Like James Bond, we shall return.

Thinking fast and not wishing to retrace our steps, we agree to prom it along to the still-standing Spa Pavilion. Dear old Grenvyle was with us when we first came here back in 2008. Following its re-opening, we revisited a year or so back dining upstairs in The Lounge. Can I find that review? No, I cannot. Sloppy.

Downstairs in the dark underbelly lurks The Terrace. Weather such as this, chaps such as us require outdoor seating. Brief pop inside to grab menus which, we hadn't realised, apply to both up and down. Guess that's fair enough. Timings are strict:

  • 9:30am to 11:45am, breakfast
  • 2:30pm to 4:30pm, afternoon tapas
  • 2:30pm to 5pm, afternoon tea by prior reservation only
  • midday to 3pm, Sunday lunch but only on a Sunday

Fortunately we're past the 11:46 to 11:59 no-food-for-you slot and automatically into the lighter bites or main menu. Not feeling the need for a big plate (burger, steak, pizza, fish), Andy and Kev go for pulled pork paninis and nachos while I go for a ham & coleslaw sandwich. Expecting something functional, what got delivered to our table was excellent with dressed salad, Doritos and vg bread. Thirty bonus points for a J2O spritz with pear and raspberry.

Would love to report on the sweet stuff but for once we didn't. I offered to buy the boys a cone from the wonderful Little Ice Cream Co. and they declined. What's become of us? Double cake next week.

If it was a car -- Renault Zoe Z.E..
If they were passing by -- Terence Stamp.

EDitorial ± 21-May-2017

130Story: Denied / University / Shaking / Abandoned / Rights

The rules of 130Story are simple: given a random seed word, write a story in 130 characters.

Denied

University

Shaking

Abandoned

Rights

More to follow.

EDitorial ± 18-May-2017

Light Lunches: Wild Blackberry Cafe, Bromeswell

Bromeswell? Yeah, good, thanks, although I do still try to say "fine" rather than "good" 'cos of the whole adverb thang. Not that I've got anything against Americanisms, you understand. Language evolves, does it not?

News reached me via a review in the blessed EADT that the righteous Ruddy Duck, attached to Swann's Nursery, had issued its final quack. In its place is now the Wild Blackberry, a fruity offshoot of Woodbridge's long-lasting and BLT-tastic Wild Strawberry. I'd like it noted that I like that leap from Fragaria to Rubus.

Dead of winter on our 2012 visit yet snug and cosy within. Now deep into spring and the place seems outdoorsy and relaxing. Much decking, many tables. Andy engages in some berry banter with the hard-working ladies behind the counter and gets as good as he gives. Special of the day is lasagne, a tad warming for a day such as this. I'll stick with the toasted panini with hummous. Takes a while but then again it's surprisingly busy for somewhere apparently so out of the way. Food well worth the wait, though.

Had a power cut at work that morning hence no particular desire to return in a hurry especially when we've got everything we need right here. Me having shelled out for firsts, Andy pops back in for seconds, followed shortly after by a very good flat white and a quality slab of carrot cake. Breakfast, lunch, and open seven days a week. Nice one.

If it was a car -- TX4 Black Cab.
If they were passing by -- Alastair Campbell.

EDitorial ± 14-May-2017

130Story: Answers / Component / Violated / Exposure

The rules of 130Story are simple: given a random seed word, write a story in 130 characters.

Answers

Component

Violated

Exposure

More to follow.

EDitorial ± 11-May-2017

Ipswich Lunches: Starbucks Drive Through

Morrisey-esque morning courtesy of a punctured bicycle. I would go out to work and all that but that is one depressed wheel. No fun driving on a gorgeous day like this so may as well WFH. Chance to catch up with Jarvis on his Sunday Service, neck far too much Nespressso and rearrange the fruit bowl.

Planned light lunch outing off the menu. Hold up, Andy's got business in The 'Swich later. Am I free for a mid-pm meet? Heck, yes. Why don't we, I tell the Boyton Brigadier, try that new Starbucks? Flippin' yonks since we did that one in town.

Perched prominently on the Pet Shop Boys Promenade (close to The Mermaid) is a brand-new 'Bucks. This is one of those DTs, possibly a sympton of over-caffeination but actually a drive through. Pull in opposite the Volvo garage, swing past Burger King and speak your order into the grill if you can find it. Was a time when me and The Middler considered a trip to Stansted to find an SDT, and now we have one of our own in Ippo. What A Time To Be Alive.

A(ndy) in the Z(oe) beats me to it. I hitch the Raleigh to the post then stroll in. To my left, Andy. To my right, The Boy. Yes, I've walked in at the precise moment of my son's job interview. Did I walk quietly to the bar to order? Nope, I ruffled his hair and wished him good luck. Gone 3pm and sadly a little late for a bacon roll or croque monsieur or tuna panini. Never too late, though, for a venti latte (3-4 shots, please, barista) with a salted caramel cookie. Andy's going for it with a cold brew coffee and a slab of shortcake. We is gonna be buzzin'.

May not be to everyone's taste but I like the way they do these places. Glass galore, stacks o' space and a wide choice of seating from comfortably low to formally mid to windowed high. Chuck in some free WiFi. laptop power points and the fact they're open until 10pm weekdays -- let's pause on that thought -- twenty-two hundred hours Monday to Friday, and that's a proposition.

PS He got the job.

If it was a car -- Chevrolet Trax.
If they were passing by -- Simon Helberg.

EDitorial ± 7-May-2017

130Story: Showing / Letting / Notified / Coin / Adventures

The rules of 130Story are simple: given a random seed word, write a story in 130 characters.

Showing

Letting

Notified

Coin

Adventures

More to follow.

EDitorial ± 4-May-2017

Felixstowe Light Lunches: The Turtle and The Bear

Since Felixstowe's River Of Life has apparently dried up, thought we'd check out its Hamilton Road replacement, the Vintage Tea Rooms, only to find it vamoosed with a scary looking official notice on the door. Where now?

Along a windswept Langer Road, the Huckleberrys mother and daughter have hung up their aprons and and made way for The Turtle and The Bear, "est. 2017." There, for starters, is an intriguing name, non? Takes a few minutes to get inside due to hungry folk queueing for their freshly made baps. That wind bites so not for us the outside tables.

Relief to be seated at one of the high stools tucked either side of the door. Struck by the classiness of the joint from those snazzy lightbulbs to the wooden decor to the high-quality signage. Branding continues with the nifty sticker holding my greaseproof paper together. Innards are an absolute treat, a funky fresh club sandwich reminiscent of Carrot Cake, and that's some high praise. Bread's from The Bakery on Hamilton Road, too. Vanilla coke for me and a tastily experimental banana and peanut butter smoothie for Andy.

Tiny premises and that front door is rarely shut thanks to the steady flow of punters, most of whom the ladies behind the counter seem to know. Thankfully there's time for a vg Paddy & Scott's flat white with an equally fine slab of lemon drizzle. Well played, TTATB.

If it was a car -- The Turtle, DIY car made in Ghana.
If they were passing by -- Janet Sumner.