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A trip to Oxfam Books, Dorking
I do like Dorking, and there appeared to be a freshness to the place following recent rain. Since I was last here a few months ago, the high street appears to have a few more empty shops, but it’s still a very pleasant, small town. Today’s visit by train was to donate around ten books to the Oxfam Bookshop (and to pick up another three!). Probably over three-quarters of the books I read end up here. I only keep those I flag as highly recommended, the rest are donated to Oxfam Books. A coffee and date-slice in the Two Many Cooks coffee shop rounded off a nice morning.
No comments on A trip to Oxfam Books, Dorking -
A day at Polesden Lacey
A lovely day at Polesden Lacey with the kids. And the bookshop was open, too – see below! Those black specks in the image on the right are actually a flock of birds (not dust on the lens). Click to enlarge.
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Sutton v Chelsea U21
Last year Sutton were the losing finalists in the Papa Johns Trophy competition – I was there to see the game at Wembley. Tonight they took the first step in this season’s competition with an enjoyable and deserved win over Chelsea U21.
Sutton 1 – Chelsea 0
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Library book
My local library is quite small but I can usually manage to find something interesting. Today was no exception – two science books (my daughter would approve of The Knowledge, which is subtitled How to Rebuild Our World After an Apocalypse!), a novel about football and an American crime novel.
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Frédéric Dard
Whilst on a short holiday in Aldeburgh I bought three paperbacks from the excellent The Aldeburgh Bookshop. I’ve just read, in no time at all, the short (160 pages), 1952 thriller, The King of Fools by French author Frédéric Dard. It’s a charming read. At the back of the novel there’s an interesting potted history of the author’s life. I checked out the publisher’s website and found that they have a bundle of 4 of his novels for a mere £20.
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Blue flowers
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A holiday in Aldeburgh, Suffolk
A family (2+2+2 little ones) holiday to Aldeburgh on the Suffolk coast by train – how exciting! Train number 1 took us from North Surrey to Farringdon, then one stop on the super-duper Queen Elizabeth Line to Liverpool Street station, then a train to Ipswich and another to Saxmundham, before a bus to our destination. Less than 5 hours of stress-free travel. Phew (but we would do it again)!
We rented a fabulous home just a few yards from the beach. If we weren’t on the beach we were relaxing in the house and looking out to sea. Aldeburgh is a lovely, little town with mostly independent shops and cafes.
I would never have thought how much pleasure could be got from being on a pebble beach. We did much walking, particularly north, along the beach to Thorpeness where there is a wonderful, large boating lake.
Lots of smoked fish, lots of pastries and a very fine meal in a fish restaurant. The two little ones were, as usual, an absolute delight. A wonderful family holiday!
Chloe’s painted pebbles 
A walk to Thorpeness 
Plenty of smoked fish on the promenade 
The view from our garden 
Thorpeness windmill 
A boat in the distance 
Boots on the beach 
Beach sculpture 
Early morning coffee on the beach -
Born under a gooseberry bush
I didn’t know that!
Topping and tailing lovely goosegogs -
Chess in the shade
Played out in the shade on a warm, sunny day, 3 shocking games of chess against computer bot ‘Laura’ were followed by a well deserved win. Note, I always play black. 
This was a rather embarrassing check-mate on the 5th move. 
Once I’d focused on being sensible, I was rather proud of how I played to win this tense game on move 25. (also see below) 
Well that was an excellent game! -
Out the window
On my son’s trip from Berlin to the Baltic the cat had to be in the front seat, whilst here at home a hot-air balloon appeared first thing in the morning.
Son’s girlfriend’s cat on way to Baltic 
Morning hot-air balloon
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