Friday 4th – Driving up to Orford

Couldn’t collect the keys today until sometime after 3pm, so that gave us plenty of time to water the garden, pack and generally get set. It’s only about 88 miles away so quite a leisurely drive.

Upon arrival, Orford was drenched with sun and looked like a lovley village. I had to collect the keys from under a plant pot in a nearby cottage. Sadly the plantpot was huge and had just been watered. No wonder the keys looked a bit manky and rusty.

The Loft is as good as described. Pleny of space for all four of us. In fact it sleeps up to 8 with two twin rooms, a double, a funny little bed by a window kind of above the stairwell and a pull out bed in the large galleried twin-bed room (hereafter referred to as Stephen’s room).

Arriving in hot sunshine we went for a wander around the village, taking lots of photos, and then went out to a pub that had high recommendations in the guest book; the Kings Head. We had thought to go to the Jolly Sailor which is just down the road, but have all read some blogs and reports that it isn’t the most friendly place. I think we shall eventually give it a try – but maybe just for a drink first to suss it out. No point in wasting a nice meal in somewhere less than perfect. The landlord in the King’s head was incredibly helpful and friendly. The food was brilliant – I had free range egg omlet filled with crayfish and dill and it was the best. I had a lovely side salad with it. The food the others has was just as good.

When we arrived it was full of people, so the landlord asked this group of three incredibly fat customers if they’d mind moving. One of them was so big she was sitting on one buttock on the chair and leaning from their four seater table onto the adjacent four-seater table, with her handbag on the chair at the next table. This meant that they were effectively taking up 8 seats for the three of them, so the landlord politely moved them a bit, making space between the two tables so that we could sit down.

When we did so, the most unfortunate thing happened. Dave sat down and said “Gosh, I can hardly fit on this chair”. The kids looked at each other in shock hoping that the really really fat lady hadn’t heard. In fact, what Dave meant was that the seat of the chair was a bit too short for his legs, but it just seemed a bit pointed. Hopefully she didn’t hear.

We’ll definintely go back there.