Nyckelharpa

Cath Chandler plays her nyckelharpa - not a traditional Engish instrument - Swedish actually - but becoming relatively popular over here.

Skip this first bit if you are of a squeamish disposition (or anybody with a normal disposition actually especially if you are eating) - a rather disturbing start to the morning - to cut a fairly disgusting story short – I did what you have to do first thing in the morning and flushed the toilet to find the water rising up alarmingly in the bowl and then, much worse, toilet water started to flood out of the back where they had a funny little pump thing. Had to rush down to the poor landlady to give her the bad news that she had to get someone in pronto – assuring her I’d not stuck anything down there that shouldn’t have gone down there … turns out a previous guest had (despite the usual notices not to flush away sanitary products).

Managed to eat a bit of breakfast surprisingly after that – then Dave and I went on a short stroll east along the coast skirting the picturesque old oyster beds – some diggings dating from the 17th century – with boats and skeletal remains of boats adding to the atmosphere. Then doubled back through the high street – full of really great houses, from timber-framed, rose-covered cottages to fairly substantial regency mansions. And beautifully-kept gardens. Didn’t see many scarecrows – it was open gardens and scarecrow weekend and last year I managed to take quite a few pics. Really like this town, it has the basics – a butcher, a baker, a greengrocer, a healthfood/local produce shop, an ironmonger’s and a couple of charity shops. Plus a library. Doesn’t feel like it’s dominated by tourists and/or London commuters – and feels very much like a thriving, local community, heavily into their sailing obviously. And quite a few north Essex accents around which was a pleasure to hear.

Had lunch in the Yachtsman’s Arms – a pint of prawns then headed up to catch Jim Bainbridge in the Old Swan pub over a half of Adnam’s. Then after a little bit more of a wander through the town, enjoyed a Pimm’s at basecamp during Pimm’s hour before having scampi and chips in Scooby Snax, an award winning chippie.

Another session to finish the day – again I lasted till a bit after 1am – by this time it was chucking it down, so the walk back to the B&B was a touch soggy.

Essex oyster beds http://365project.org/boxplayer/extras/2012-06-23

23 June 2012
Brightlingsea, Essex

[Pat Knowles]

Sounds a different B&B ..one of my guests last night stuck her heel through the ensuite floor so now I have large hole in the floor!!
Love this colourful lady !

[Boxplayer]

@happypat - don't think she does it all the time or for the normal tourist crowd - we stayed there last year and I got the impression that a lot of her custom is from sailors coming in off the sea and needing a place to stay for the night.