After chilling (in both senses of the word) at the caravan in Scotland a few weeks ago, it's been warming up here in Suffolk and summer is getting into full swing. On Sunday evening we walked down to the castle to watch Chapterhouse Open Air Theatre Company's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
It's one of our favourite plays and the setting within the grounds of Framlingham Castle was quite perfect. Despite the threat of rain that so often mars these open air events, we were lucky to escape with just a few drops before the action got under way. The young troupe put on an excellent performance with plenty of laughs along with the magic. Puck's final monologue always brings a tear to my eye. I don't know why. It's a happy play - perhaps it's just because it's the ending of something good - perhaps the ending of a summer day that we won't have again.
If we shadows have offended
Think but this, and all is mended-
While these visions did appear
And this weak and idle theme
No more yielding but a dream
Gentles, do not reprehend.
If you pardon, we will mend.
And, as I am an honest Puck
if we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue
We will make amends ere long.
Else the Puck a liar call.
So good night unto you all.
Give me your hands if we be friends.
And Robin shall restore amends.
A highlight of recent summers here in Framlingham has been watching the film crew for Mackenzie Crook's Detectorists out and about in the town filming. There was no filming last summer but the clamour for another series was so great that Series Three is now in production and, being a keen detectorist, I fished out this old copy of The Searcher magazine and kept it handy in case I saw them.
It was another glorious Suffolk day yesterday. Marion is now fully recovered from her biking accident but we thought we'd save cycling for later in the summer and went to explore an area I haven't visited before with a walk around Dunwich Heath.
There's a fabulous variety of landscape with coastal paths, forests and heathlands to explore.
We passed vibrant marshland.
And hedgerows that were a riot of colour. It was a great walk with a brief stop at RSPB Mimsmere for a coffee.
Plus a great light lunch at the Eel's Foot. It's a pub we've never visited before but we'll certainly be back. We walked about seven miles in all - a wonderful summer's day.
Summer doesn't only bring the walkers out. Hearing a thunderous noise I looked over our garden hedgerow to see the combine harvester in full flow. Which is excellent news to a metal detector user. I've had a few hours pottering around the edges of fields while the crops were growing but now that they are starting to come up there are going to be opportunities to search the stubble.
I've had two trips to the first field to be cut. I found a lot of rubbish but on each visit I also made a decent find.
It's always great to see the glint of gold in the earth.
This George III quarter guinea dated 1762 is in fairly poor condition but it's a nice find.
I love this copper farthing issued by John Capon Grocer of Framlingham in 1653. It has a picture of the castle where we watched the play on the reverse and is in very good condition - these thing usually turn up corroded beyond recognition.
This Napoleon III coin dated 1855 also turned up.
Plus a cut farthing from the realm of Henry III
And whilst on the subject of detecting and Detectorists, my keeping that copy of The Searcher handy paid off today. We were sitting outside the Dancing Goat having coffee when Mackenzie Crook came out of the The Crown with some of his colleagues. I walked over and asked if he'd mind signing the magazine cover for me. He was very happy to do so. I chatted with him for a minute or two - a really nice guy. Thanks for indulging the oldest groupie in town.
And no I won't be selling it on eBay
Before I finish today, son Paul phoned at the weekend and said that Teddy had asked for a Train themed birthday cake for his second birthday. "When did I ask for a train cake?" he asked.
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| Count the candles. Like father like son. |
