Back Home

We're back in Scotland now and the fact that we gave a sigh of relief and "home at last" as we arrived at the caravan shows how well we've settled into St Andrews. We missed Sarah, Duncan and Rose very much while we were away and it's going to be very hard to find ourselves living five hundred miles away in a few months' time. But at least we've got the caravan and can spend plenty of time here next year. I loved this photo of Sarah and Rose that Duncan took and I'll be getting a copy to frame.

We couldn't wait to see the family, so, as soon as we'd got ourselves straight after the trip and sorted out a few more bits and pieces for Framlingham we joined Sarah and Rose for a coffee in the excellent Mitchells in the town centre. Rose demonstrated what a tea cosy is really for.

I don't often write reviews on Trip Advisor but I thought that the Crown Hotel in Framlingham merited a mention after popping in for a quick lunch on Monday. It's a wonderful old building at the heart of the town centre. When we first visited back in February it was nothing to write home about. However it came under new ownership in the summer and has improved in leaps and bounds on every visit. We only had a sandwich and a game terrine this time but both were absolutely delicious, the service was prompt, polite and friendly and the atmosphere is getting much livelier. We've high hopes for the success of The Crown - it can really make the difference between a vibrant and a dull community.

It's not all about Sarah and family though. We're very excited about the forthcoming visit of son Paul and daughter in law Josephine together with our granddaughter Catherine. I'm picking them up from Edinburgh airport on Friday for what is literally a flying visit. There's breakfast at the marvellous Old Course Hotel and dinner at the excellent Rufflets on Sunday as well as plenty more arranged by Sarah and Duncan before we get them back to the airport. We can't wait to see them.

Spare a thought for Marion. She's struggling with her new phone and when she tried to write a message the other day and this came up it was almost the final straw. Fortunately it's pretty indestructible.