It may only be the beginning of December, but we have lots of guests coming in this month, with the first arriving on Thursday, in time for the Southwold and Reydon Christmas Lights switch on, so the Christmas tree is ready for them, and I must say that it looks quite cheery in the porch.[…]
It may be almost December, but there is still an amazing amount of garden colour in the Southwold area – probably because we haven’t had heavy frosts yet, and as always, it’s remarkably dry. All of these photo were taken in our Reydon garden, and at Mandalay, there are nasturtiums and lavatera still managing to[…]
Crisp bright mornings and long shadows on late autumn sunshine afternoons are the norm at this time of year. Perfect for dog walking, or just a stroll along the beach to walk off a late lunch…
Although the days are drawing in, and the clocks go back at the end of the month, there are still plenty of delightful views available for the observant photographer near Mandalay in Southwold. The light at this time of year is always soft, and backgrounds of green change now to buffs and brown, and the[…]
I suppose being right on the beach, with the town in the background, it shouldn’t be surprising that it figures so often in artists compositions, and here are yet three more that have turned up recently. The first one by Max Brimmell, is interesting for as it dates back to, I think, the 1960s, and[…]
What a summer it’s been, after a dreadful cold start to the year, everything is bone dry now in Southwold, and the sun seems to never stop shining. To be fair, it’s probably been like that in most of the country, the difference being that we’re by the sea, and they probably aren’t. It will[…]
Definitely an event not to be missed and you need to starve yourself a bit before you go to make the most of it. On the last weekend of July, and the first weekend of August, this unique event has been taking place for the last 40 years or so. Set down a quiet country[…]
The Coastal Voyager jetty in Southwold harbour is just a short stroll away from Mandalay, and on offer is a choice of hammering through the waves out at sea at top speed, or a more gentle cruise up the River Blyth to Blythburgh, tides permitting. The latter is the trip that we took, courtesy of[…]
If you’re a gardener, three’s nothing better than being able to nose around someone else’s garden, as there is always something to learn, so the Westleton Garden Trail on Saturday 8th June was worth the short trip from Southwold. The curious thing this year was that many plants were a month behind, so some magnolias[…]
The annual Southwold Pier to Pub swim nearly went horribly wrong this year, when a late start meant that the swimmers found themselves swimming against a tide so strong that they were swept in the wrong direction, and many were trapped for as long as an hour and a half in extremely cold water, awaiting[…]
Blues skies all the way this year, and the Lions Fete on Southwold Common had everything to please the whole family. So much to see and do, from the marching Reydon Corps of Drums to the Dog Show and rolling Zorbs. Not to mention the Racing Pigs and Climbing Tower. Oh, and then there’s the[…]
The unusual aspect of this webcam is that there are multiple views, and it is possible to “get control” of the camera and switch to different views. Once you have the picture on your screen, move the cursor up towards the right hand corner of the picture, and a drop-down men will appear. Select “Get[…]
No need now to buy asparagus that has travelled the world to get to Southwold, as there is plenty available from villages nearby. Take a car trip to Wrentham, no more than a couple of miles away, and you buy it in £2 bundles straight from the farm, and pop the money in an honesty[…]
After a few years where there has been no bus service down to the end of Ferry Road, due to a bus ban along the High Street, at last it is possible to hop on the new Southwold Shuttle Bus at the stop which is only 50 yards from Mandalay’s front door. What’s more, this[…]
After much thought and discussion with guests who use Mandalay, we have finally installed WiFi. The arguments for and against were evenly matched – some said they relished the opportunity to be uncontactable on holiday, whilst others reckoned they would be better able to run their businesses while still enjoying a holiday. Overall, we think[…]
In my blog yesterday, I confidently assumed that we had seen the last of the snow. How wrong can you be?
There have been various comments in the Visitors Book at Mandalay about a seagull, who for the sake of identity, we will call Sammy, who hangs around the cottage constantly, in the hopes that the occupants will chuck some bread out for him. The distinguishing feature of Sammy from the other gulls is that he[…]
I knew that it was too good to be true; a few days of warmer weather does not mean Spring has arrived, particularly when the wind then swings round to the North-East and brings a dump of snow from Siberia and dumps it on the first available land-mass. Us. Hopefully, it won’t last long, and[…]
Blue skies and sun – could it be the start of Spring at last? Either way, it’s more than welcome after some cloudy cold days, and just the chance to go for a long walk in the sun is bliss.
Ever since we have owned Mandalay, which is now 14 years, we have resisted the temptation to re-instate a telephone in the cottage, primarily because we felt that many people relished the prospect of being uncontactable during their precious holiday time. As years went by, mobile phones meant that the need for a telephone line[…]
If you have stayed in the past at Mandalay, you will know that the bedroom nearest the sea has always been a cosy place to stay, and the sound of the waves can lull you to sleep, or gently rouse you in the mornings. We felt that the fabric needed some tidying up, and so[…]