The Duffs Travels

  My recent trip to Lavenham was a mixed bag. While I loved the place, many of the things were closed due to covid 19, including the spa at our hotel. So, we decided to leave Lavenham today and go to Aldeburgh beach. And, I must say, it was worth it! Despite the miserable weather, we were determined to make the most of our trip. Our first stop was at a gallery, where we stumbled upon two magnificent paintings. We didn't know where we would put them, but they were too good to pass. Aldeburgh was a bustling town with plenty of quirky little shops and eateries. We strolled along the beach, admiring the colourful boats bobbing on the water and the plethora of colourful houses in the backdrop. As we walked, we spotted the impressive 4-meter-high steel scallop designed by Maggi Hamling. Further down the beach, we came across Ash's smoked fish hut, which was very busy. We knew it was one of the best places to have fish in the area, so we waited for our turn. We ordered a tasting platt...

We started our day with a delightful breakfast at the hotel, fueling up for a day of adventure ahead. Our first stop was the charming village of Long Melford, where we wandered the quaint streets and stumbled upon some unique antique shops. The village itself is an absolute gem, with plenty to explore and admire. In the afternoon, we made our way to the impressive Kentwell Hall. Although the house was unfortunately closed due to Covid restrictions, we were still able to marvel at its stunning Tudor architecture and picturesque moat from the outside. The walled gardens were a sight to behold, with perfectly manicured lawns and stunning floral displays. And the best part? We had the gardens all to ourselves!                                                     After a relaxing afternoon, we returned to our hotel to freshen up for our anniversary dinner. The eleg...

We left Nottingham, cold and wet, and travelled to Suffolk in just a few hours. On the way, we passed through some charming little villages, and as we arrived at The Swan Lavenham, the weather was glorious. The hotel is an impressive 15th-century building, and we spent the rest of the morning taking in the brightly coloured streets. We came across a beautiful church, St. Peter and St. Paul, which was built by donations from wealthy wool merchants. The interior of the church was just as spectacular, with a dramatic stained glass window.       Afterwards, we returned to our hotel and enjoyed a delightful afternoon tea of dainty sandwiches and delicious cakes.    We finished our afternoon by strolling around the medieval town and looking at the half-timbered crooked cottages. Because the town got wealthy rapidly, the houses were built with timber that was very fresh (green wood), which caused them to warp later on. By the time this happened, the cloth merchant...

 Well, it's holiday time again. ... Yippee,  A fantastic holiday to Disney World Orlando was all booked. Staying at the Disney Beach Club Hotel with extended family. Nine adults ranging from 17 to 53 years. To suggest we were excited was an understatement. It took us an entire year of meticulous planning every detail. Firstly sorting holidays from work that could coincide with each other then the lengthy hotel discussions. We have spent weekends writing long lists organising restaurants, Park days, rest days, shopping days, and who is sitting with whom on the flight and watching loads of Disney movies. Not to mention all the shopping we had to do, if we don’t own it in a Disney or Pixar format it hasn’t been made yet, it just doesn’t exist yet haha ... I can’t describe how excited we all were. All I can say is with all the planning, it was going to be a holiday of a lifetime. In the words of Mary Poppins.........                   ...

Today was the end of our holiday. We enjoyed our last breakfast and went into the centre of Kranjska Gora  for a last look around. We squeezed a cake in before returning to our hotel to sit on the balcony and enjoy the views for one last time. We had a 3hour drive to Salzburg then a short flight home. We’ve had a brilliant time and hope to keep up all the walking when at home.