Suffolk Walks--new year's walk in Clair in Suffolk

We had very quiet? new year's eve and day. Just like we did last year. Is it called getting old? I love being chilled out and peace, no more parties for me. Having say that, I would love to do Ibiza before get too old. Marcus wants to do it as well, so as some of our friends.... I watched the Cream video on YouTube, wow! the club was massive! Now, I'm feeling like closed phobics... Too may people in confined space, makes me feel sick. Mind you, even my clubbing days, I didn't really like the confined space till.....when I was off my face. Then, I didn't care anythinng after that. Well, I wonder if I could last all nite without any substances even alcohol....Bear in mind, I'm not twenty something anymore, I'm getting into my so called middle age... Well, I can try! ☺

We went to bed after 12pm, as soon as said happy new year to each other, Marcus quickly was off to bed... So I followed. Following morning, we had sunny day for a change. It was lovely. Still, some places were flooded, fields were very wet and looked like a lake. 

We wondered, where shall we go for a walk? Few suggestions, but Clair sounded perfect to me as we hadn't been for ages, I wanted to go. 

I like the place, cute quaky village, some houses looked haunted...very old indeed!!!! Saw lots of posh people with dogs. They look funny, they always wear same green jacket, hunter wellies, green hat, speak with funny posh accent. Clair is a posh village, but it also has lovely cafes serve teas and cakes! AGAIN, we forgot take our dear flask....when can we get to use it??? Keep forgetting... Is it again, called old age? 

Anyway, parked our car at the car park, free for today, new year's day... We started walking along the river, fed some ducks, they didn't look hungry at all. Swans were. They liked being hand fed...

Walked towards old railway road, we took left turn into houses, walked over the first railway bridge.

We saw a old disused mill at the end of the road. walked past Clair Mill house(very posh house with huge garden and field), into their field...It was open for public footpath to a farmer's field next. Cor blimey, it was really muddy, I could hear my wellies go deep into the mud. 

This is dis used part of the mill.  Water running inside moving really fast!

 Lovely field!

Due to rain we've been having, this river is now mucky and water level is very high.

Anyway, we followed the footpath, now we came out from the farmer's field onto the road. Turn left, walked about 10mins or so, we found a footpath and bridleway. So we took bridleway, looked more interesting... We walked another 20mins or so, found a cute little house/bungalow in the middle of nowhere! Here, we also found footpath, they were everywhere. we found some people who took second footpath we found, into another field. Wondered where it lead to. Those people seemed to have some maps, therefore, hopefully, they knew where they were going... We didn't and we don't most of the time. I now get used to Marcus's "walk", not knowing where to go, more like wondering rather than walking....anyhow, it's fun and adventure. I didn't get grumpy, why? Because, I wasn't hungry.

After an hour or so, we walked back where we came from, it was getting cloudy and dark already. Found many footpaths in the area, maybe it is good idea to get walking map? That gives us an idea where to go. 

When I got back home on wed 2nd, which is today, I spoke to my mum. She left message on my landline. I think her and my dad are missing me, and, I want to see my parents. Hopefully this year I can go home & see them.... My mum told me she's now 67! Co, blimey. It was her b'day today. they usually got for walk to where emperor lives(Koukyo) in Tokyo. It's very funny, everytime I speak to them I can feel as if I was in Tokyo with them. I might not be able to go other places this year....I can't do everything....

Everywhere now gone back to normal, noisy, busy, and chaos for Jan sale....

Essex walks---- Mersea island

Wow, I always wanted to go to the Mersea island. But I didn't know much about it apart from it was an island in Essex, and a substance misuse rehab (treatment center) there. That was it! Somehow it touched my curiosity, wondering how small/ big the island was, bridge between mainland and the island...

Apparently, certain time of the day, due to the tied, bridge disappears into the sea. I quite often heared how people stuck there.

So, bless him, Marcus drove me there for nice walk.... It was cute and quaky place. I loved it! There were some cute cafes and restaurant where served Essex oysters. If I was still easing sea foods, I would defo try them. Those restaurants were in west Mersea, by the harbour. Hot cuppa with home made cake would be lovely. I think that day we bought a flask from Colchester TK-MAXX(my favo shop..one of..), thinking of hot cuppa after walks. We haven't used yet, but can't wait. It's sometimes nice to walk into a cafe. I quite like that too.

Here are some photos from west Mersea!

quaky!!!

Boat houses! How cool is that to live on the boat! Some boat houses were huge and had cute garden on the front. Also I saw smoke was coming out from a chimney! Very cozy...

This is the beach before getting to the beach huts!

those beach huts are not as expensive as ones in Southwolds. I think those are sold by holiday park people near by.

These are the first row, and second, and third row. Cheaper as it gets to the back. Still, second and third rows are higher so that still can see the sea from those huts.

 It's me wondering if I should've worn my wellies..... It was sunny by then, stated getting warmer, also, regretted wearing too many clothes.... never mind, sun shine on the beach made our walk worthwhile...☺☺☺

I loved this island lots, I thought I could live there. We already looked some flats/houses we liked on the website. Those were sold out...when we got back home, we looked into "rightmove.com" for house/flat search again! "let's go inside!!!" is my phrase to check properties out. We found some, but we are still looking. West country sounds, looks very attractive. At moment, halesworth(and near by area) looks very very attractive to us for future reference...

Suffolk Walks--Thetford forest - Lynford Arboretum

I didn't write when we went for a walk in thetford forest last Nov. It was a bit cold November Sunday. And cloudy. Anyhow, we had lovely time walking in the forest. this part of the forest isn't as popular as some, then again, this forest is huge stating between Norfolk and Suffolk border. It carries on and on. It has a camp sites, some activities called "go apes", hire bicycles and more.

Of course, we love walking where no-one around. But it's impossible here in the forest, although it's huge forest, people love walking and cycling here. Anyway this is where we went:

Lynford Arboretum. It was interesting. Didn't feel like we were in the Thetford forest. It was quieter and different plants, scenery. Good thing about this is: free to get in. Theses days, everywhere you go, need to pay. I can understand to preserve the nature and I do support RSPB nature reserves. I think they do very well.

We just pottered round the area. Found some footpath. Indicated very well here.

 "The Arboretum contains many interesting trees for example mature Norway Spruce usually only seen as a Christmas tree, Chinese Fir and Serbian Spruce which is extremely rare in the wild. It has been calculated that the ancient oak tree planted in the south of the Arboretum was planted in 1671 and therefore would have been a substantial specimen when Lynford Hall and estate was purchased in 1865 by Mr Stephen Lyne-Stephens. Since then the Arboretum has grown and has over 200 tree species, with future plans to increase the collection." (from the forestry commission website)

So, we saw some pretty flowers. Apparently these came from Japan!

Is it really? To be honest I've never seen it in my entire life. Even when I was in Japan. Then again, I didn't even notice when my mum bought a bunch of flowers in vase in our living room...If it was today, I would certainly notice!

Cool tree!

This place became one of my favo walks. It's easy to miss turn to get there from the main road.  We didn't spend long time there, it was getting dark already. It seems like few different footpaths to walk. I'm sure there's big/small circular walks too. Peace and quiet walk, this is the place for defo.