Sunday, December 30/2018

Last day with the car, so we head to Felixstowe. It’s about ten miles away, probably a bit more by the scenic route we take. The Stour and Orwell rivers converge here, with Harwich International Port on one side of the estuary and Felixstowe, the UK’s largest container port, on the other. The Orwell is interesting, not least because George Orwell took his name from the river he loved rather than the river being named after the writer (who was originally called Eric Blair). More houses for sale here than in Aldeburgh, and for somewhat lower prices, although we don’t see the (to Canadian eyes) very specific « under contract «  and « sale pending » signs of yesterday. Stop briefly at the waterside, but it’s a pretty chill breeze. Two hardy young men about to launch their boat, nonetheless. Later a fish and chips meal at a little place in Felixstowe. The manager (owner?) is from Istanbul, and very friendly, but eager to point out his wife is English, possibly worried about anti-immigrant feeling. Return the hire car to Ipswich and take the bus home. 

Watch one of the Spy in the Wild series. Fascinating close up views of birds and animals interacting, taken by hidden cameras, some in animatronic animals.