November in Southwold – special light
So many weekends late in the year are bright and clear, and the light levels over Southwold produce some wonderful photographic opportunities, or just the chance to enjoy enjoy the wonderful scenery.
Category: 2012
blog posts from 2012
Halloween special: Blythburgh on BBC 1
The One Show on Wednesday 31st had a predictable Halloween theme, except that this time, the setting was the dimly lit vast Blythburgh Church, with Gyles Brandreth reading to children the story of Black Shuck, the huge ghost dog said to haunt the church, and the subsequent “Devils Clawmarks” that appeared on the North Door.[…]
Blue skies over Snape
A trip to Snape Maltings today for a special lunch, gave us the opportunity to wander around the shops there, and although we don’t spend a lot of time shopping normally, this really is a special place. The huge open space of the main gallery is beautifully laid out, particularly now that we are not[…]
October in Southwold
Now that the town is gradually emptying in the run-up until Christmas, it’s time to enjoy the autumnal feel of Southwold, with haymaking in the fields behind Mandalay, the late flowering plants, and of course blackberry picking. The sunsets were taken from The Perch in Ferry Road, courtesy of Gillian and Ian, and show the[…]
Guest blog: Daisy Hatami
Our thanks to photographer Daisy Hatami for contributing some of her beautiful photos towards our blog. You can see more at prettygreenteaphotography.com >> I was delighted when @HolidayMandalay asked me if I would like to do a guest post for them. I like nothing better than heading down to Southwold beach with my camera and[…]
A most unlikely favourite beach – Sizewell
Now that the main holiday season is over for this year, we are given a chance to revisit some of our favourite haunts, and although on the face of it, no-one would want to go to a nuclear power station, don’t miss the opportunity to visit Sizewell beach, near Leiston and Aldeburgh, about 10 miles[…]
Wild flowers in the dunes near Mandalay, Southwold
It’s always a surprise to find just how many wild flowers there are hidden in the marram grass of the sand dunes, but they are there if you look hard enough. Today I have found sea peas in abundance, with their tiny bluey-purple and white flowers, the bright yellow and orange tiny flowers of birds[…]
Our own time in Mandalay
I am sure that everybody thinks that we are a bit crazy spending two weeks on holiday in our cottage Mandalay, every year, even though we live only five minutes away, but the truth is that life is so very different there, with just the sound of the waves, and the view of the ever[…]
Olympic torch on the Reydon webcam
Tomorrow is the day that the whole shooting match arrives in Southwold on Thursday 5th July 2012. If you want to watch it live on the Reydon webcam, you should be able to see it twice on Reydon Corner, first at about 11.15ish – when it arrives, on its way to Southwold, and then again,[…]
No Costa Coffee for Southwold. Sense at last!
There has been much press coverage on the resistance of local people in Southwold to a plan to open a Costa Coffee Shop in Southwold High Street. Histrionics on local websites have talked of “Southwold snobbishness”, but the real truth is that we just don’t need another place to buy coffee here, and a feeling[…]
Asparagus season
This is the time of year to visit Southwold if you love fresh asparagus as it is one of the local speciality crops, and from May through to the end of June, there are plenty of farm shops by the side of the road where you can buy it freshly cut. Cooking instructions: Simmer in[…]
Mandalay as an artist’s subject
Over the years, Mandalay’s coastal location and its striking blue have inspired many an artist. We have selected a few of their images, which in their different ways capture the atmosphere of this relaxing corner of Southwold. More links to artwork from known artists feature at the end of this post ≠ Artists’ websites: Matthew Garrard[…]
Southwold birdwatching
One of the best ways to see the wildlife near to Southwold is to take the circular footpath that circumnavigates the town. The scenery changes from shoreline to river bank, reed beds, meadowland and hedgerows. Hence there is a considerable variety of habitats to support the bird, mammal, insect, amphibian, fish and reptile life. Winter provides[…]
Under the Pier Show one of top 10 things to do in Britain
The latest Rough Guide to Britain ranks the Under the Pier Show at number nine in its list, ahead of major tourist attractions such as The British Museum, The Edinburgh Festival and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. This Southwold talking point is the work of inventor Tim Hunkin, who has created most of its quirky[…]
Tonight’s Countryfile
Look out for Southwold on tonight’s Countryfile – (Sunday 29th April) BBC1 at 6.25pm.
Spitfire over Southwold
For the third weekend running, we have been treated to a free aerial display from a World War 2 Supermarine Spitfire, coming in at wave top level form the south and then climbing into a stall turn over the town. Every trick in the book, including flying upside-down! There isn’t any warning of its arrival,[…]
Artist in residence: Valerie Wood
Those who have stayed at Mandalay will hopefully have enjoyed the artwork in each room – much of which has been produced by local creatives. Valerie Wood, an artist now based in the Lake District, is a regular guest in the beach cottage. Many of her creations hang on the walls of Mandalay; each providing[…]
Easter frolics in Southwold
Mandalay provides the perfect relaxed family getaway. Here’s what our younger Easter holidaymakers have been up to on the beach outside the cottage…
Mary Portas for Southwold?
Will we have Mary Portas along to tell Southwold how to organise the High Street? – we will if the Chamber of Commerce have their way. It may be too late however, as even in the last 12 months, we have had two ubiquitous high street names, Tesco and WH Smith move into the town.[…]
Ghouls in Southwold
Apart from Adnams now distilling their own whisky, gin and vodka, it seems we have always had our fair share of spirits in Southwold, according to this blog post, from the East Anglian ghost hungers. I wonder if the 65-foot long grey sea-monster might just possibly be a porpoise seen after a session on Adnams[…]
Spellbinding skylarks
There is something magical about sitting out in the sun on the wooden deck at Mandalay, overlooking the beach at this time of year, as now is the time that the skylark, which nests in the sand dunes, does its magical vertical ascent, singing its heart out as it rises, until it is just a[…]