Out for a walk with the prospect of a posh dinner in the evening.
Jamie, Simonne and Vixen went to Run Free in the morning, but we stayed at home and lazed about.
After lunch, Jamie drove us all to Levington on the River Orwell for a walk. We walked from The Ship Inn down through the dried reed beds to the river. From there, Simonne suggested we walk west along the banks of the river. We walked for about a mile to Nacton Shores then turned north for a few hundred yards, then north east through woods until we reached a road. We followed the road back to the pub at Levington where we had a refreshing drink before being driven back to the house.
Back at the house it was time to get ready for dinner. We were booked at the Brewers in Rattlesden for 6pm. First thoughts were that it was just a noisy pub with ideas above its station. How wrong can you be?!
Starter:
Seatrout tartare for Scamp
Lobster risotto for Simonne
Lamb + black pudding for Jamie and me
Main:
Scallops for Scamp
Beef fillet with kale for Simonne and Jamie
Pork belly with black haggis for me
Dessert:
Treacle tart for me
Date pudding for all the rest
All washed down with a variety of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, from zero alcohol beer to a porn star martini.
On the drive home through the gloaming along the misted narrow lanes that populate this countryside, we passed a statuesque looking deer that watched us, fearlessly, not 50 metres away in a borderless field. Countless pheasants risked life and limb by darting out in front of the car, but Jamie saw us safely back to the house without turning a hair.
A rum and coke each finished off our day while we watched a strange South African series with far too much swearing (and not ‘good’ swearing either) and a dialog that switched constantly from Afrikaans (with subtitles) to English. If you’re looking for it, don’t. It’s called Unseen. Might have been better all in one language and using actors who can act.
Tomorrow the weather fairies say it’s going to rain.