All of a sudden I seem to have a bit more time on my hands. Thinking more deeply about why that might be, it's most likely related to having re*ired from the world of work at the end of May 2026, ditto the Good Lady Wife. That very first Monday we took the bikes on the train to Brampton (not far from the Old Hall) and cycled seven-or-so miles to the outskirts of Bungay to find The Silo Cafe, aka hipster central, for two quality sausage rolls and a composting loo. That was 1pm. By 4pm, more B-roads explored, we were nibbling Eccles cakes in Twyfords before ending the afternoon in lovely Lowestoft. Hulluva first day of re*irement.

Talking distances, I'd do a 15-mile round trip on the bike Monday to Thursday pre-re*irement. So when Andy suggested a midweek trip, I nominated a destination 10 miles away: can easily do that on two wheels, I thought. Hadn't properly considered the 30+ degree temperature outside, necessitating numerous hydratation (stet) breaks. I arrived a sweaty mess at Newbourne Kitchen. Another eatery in that village? Nope: Nourish moved out to Helmingham after seven years and a fella named Noel Kearney has started afresh here at Newbourne.

Andy, post-physio and pre-ping pong, met me outside. Shall we go in? Boiling out here. Now, I'd assumed it'd be more or less just us on a sweltering Wednesday. Very much not so, the place being crammed with active oldies which, in a sense, is very much us too. And, unlike my VW Polo, the air conditioning works. They go hard on the breakfast items here at the Kitchen with the odd P+Q+S too, panini and quiche and salad. To fit in with the bakin' conditions out there, I'll have the blueberry pancakes with maple syrup and bacon (£11.50) and he'll have the smashed avo bagel add bacon (£12). Remember, kids, bacon's a treat. With a Frobisher's for me and a Cawston's for him. As per Nourish, the quality is high.

Inside and out are obviously much as they were in the Nourish era, with stacks of exterior seating and a deceptively spacious wooden interior. Like the large-footed chickens roaming freely in the garden, nobody's in an awful hurry. Still gotta keep half an eye on the clock, however, since Andy's off to practise his push shots in Woodbridge this afternoon. We agree that a shared slice of their banana loaf will set us up nicely, him to pong to pings and me to push some pedals. Final note: I decided to get my Boardman on the train back from Woodbridge and bumped into TT friend Steve, who'd done 50 miles in today's heat. I felt a bit weird at one stage, he said, and couldn't really speak. Mind that pesky sun, readers.

• Instagram -- Newbourne Kitchen

If it was a car -- Noble M15.
If they were passing by -- Nadia Sawalha.