Another Saturday, another savoury sojourn. Swished by Needham Lake, home to the Duck & Teapot, before a sharp and scrupulous left under one of the most bashed bridges in the county. Man, that's one low bridge. Asked Andy to (nearly Christmas) pullover outside Ye Olde Poste Office to drop off an eBay parcel then doubled back, right into The Causeway and left into School Street. Every day's a learning day, amirite?

Here's the Needham Market community centre where outside stands a board for The Angel Community Cafe: Come In, We're Open. Must be related to the defunct Angel Coffee House, methinks. Nice halo over the capital A, by the way. Unusually it's a wait-to-be-seated establishment, and a welcoming woman weaves us to a distant table near a large gathering of assorted females celebrating not quite sure what. Menu has your sandwiches, your toasties, your salads, your wraps, and also your mains including seabass with new potatoes. Midday brunch calls, however, so from your breakfast section he orders the full English and me the breakfast wrap. Oh, and two teas, please. Very reasonable prices and loadsa locals calls to mind the neighbouring Claydon Community Cafe, still going strong.

First time here for the chauffeur whereas I was here on a puncture-tastic Saturday morning bike ride in the summer. Also been in the hall next door many a time for the annual Easter art fair: fair to say I've had more success as a punter than as an artist. Did I sell anything? Not as such. That aside, food's fab and presented with a smile. Generously sized teapot, note.

I've been watching my post-op calories, he says, and promptly orders the waffle dessert. On the wooden bar around the closed corner bar are arranged any number of sweet treats: blondie for me, thx. Those sugary treats: did we really Needham? Not half bad coffee on the side. Great service throughout from the engaging and efficient woman whose name I didn't catch; hopefully a great service or two from Andy at that afternoon's table tennis. I couldn't make it since attending a different art show at the Ipswich Sea Scouts. Sold nowt again. Like Vladimir and Estragon, we go on.

If it was a car -- Reliable used Toyota from Needham Autocentre.
If they were passing by -- Rosalind Scott.

Fully fifteen trips around the sun ago did the original light lunch trio partake of the Cake Shop Bakery at Woodbridge, back in the days when Andy was working and Grenvyle was with us. Forward four years and the extant pair slid down the pole into next door's Firestation for early veggie treats. Those buildings came up for sale in 2022 and, well, here we are again, happy as can be.

"New and invigorated but with ongoing work" applies both to Andy, not long returned from his Scandi noir surgery, and Brownbread, who acquired the old CSB premises. The latter's had the shop open since February 2024, their first actual store: NB they're Essex based and pop up at markets from Worthing to Walthamstow to Wymondham. Ipswich, too. Meanwhile Andy's popping a pantry-full of post-op pills including one made of Alien blood requiring the lucky recipient to stand up for half an hour. Talking of, let's take a seat, of which there's only half a dozen at present.

Too late for the breakfast rolls, alas, so that'll be hot soup (roasted parsnip, apple and honey) or a toasty for we two travellers. Pastrami with mustard mayo and onion jam for me, tack, and a four-cheese for Sgt Steroid. Handy window seats face the entrance to Gobbitt's Yard, once home to the fab Cooks Shed, and allow the fine folk of the 'Bridge to eyeball our foodstuffs. Toasties are delivered in tip-top style within greaseproof wrap in a branded box. Nice, and they very much are with a Fentiman's Cola on the side. Did Andy expect the Marmite with his dairy quartet? No, but he coped admirably.

Fancy a cake for dessert? Are ITFC in the Premier League? Yes to both, though hang on. That is what we in the computer business would term a large array; those pastries and slices and buns go on and on and on for at least four solid cabinets. With his new Worzel Gummidge deciding head, Andy picks the sophisticated spiced apple and almond cake. With my simpler brain, I go for the primary colours of the "kid's favourite!" rainbow cake atop the counter. Smashing sugar hit when paired with a really rather good macchiato. Those ongoing works are 'cos they're busy removing a door to add more seats, which is kind of what the Swedish chefs did to Andy. May both prosper.

If it was a car -- Porsche Macan from Browns of Maldon.
If they were passing by -- Tom Brown.