653 AD and TOWIE

I will openly admit my impression of Essex and it’s people wasn’t that great before we moved here. This is an impression which is not helped by such programmes as The Only Way is Essex which fuel the stereotype of dim overly made up, faked tanned women and men with all muscle and no brain.

A year of living in Colchester and this is evidently not the case. Of course you see the odd stereotypically Essexonian around but they are more prevalent around London than this far out.

Essex gets a bad press and it’s undeservedly so.

Richard and I used to holiday in Norfolk and Suffolk but since moving to Essex (the neighbouring county of Suffolk), we have experienced much beauty,lovely countryside, friendly people and lots of history.

Essex is a lovely county and rivals some of the most beautiful places in England. Today proved our case again.

We took a drive to Maldon which is a town of Saxon origin which sits on the Blackwater Estuary. A short stroll through the picturesque town centre and you are on Hythe Quay. Today festooned with traditional clog and bell dancers.

We stopped at a local old inn (The Jolly Sailor), which served the most filling Sunday lunch before which put us in a good position to head out for a walk along the quay. It’s a couple of kilometres long and an adyllic spot. There’s lots to taken in from the boats and ships on the estuary, the Thames barges and the tug boats moored in the quay as well as lots of wildlife and families enjoying the beautiful park.

Following our afternoon in Maldon we headed to St Peters on the Wall this was not an easy place to find. If you ever try to visit and you end up at the Bradwell Nuclear Power Plant then you have gone too far!

St Peters on the Wall is a church built on the foundations of a Roman fort and dates back to 653. It’s located in a stunning spot overlooking the salt marshes at the very tip of the estuary looking out to Mersea Island.

There’s loads of wildlife to encounter as well as lots of history too. It’s a beautiful spot and I am sure this is one we will go back to visit again as it’s stunning and not that far from home.

I haven’t mentioned running as I am on my two days rest but we have walked approximately 7 km today so I have had enough exercise.

I do feel guilty for not running but understand the importance of resting properly. I am surprised how quickly I have gotten hooked by running. Even the post run aches and pains dont seem to be deterring me (mind you my post run rub downs from Richard help 🙂 ).

I’ve also done some powerlifting this weekend as well! Our new living room furniture was delivered yesterday and as it was all ready assembled it was rather heavy and took Richard and I a while to get it upstairs to the living room. That said it is in place and the living room is now complete and looking lovely.

The Study has also had a makeover as the book cases from the Living Room have gone downstairs and they have transformed the study giving us lots more room for storage and space.

Richard is currently outside putting together his new bike and as I watch him ride it I am proud of him and a little bit jealous as I never had any interest in bikes as a kid so have never learnt to ride.

A busy weekend for both of us but a lovely one too 🙂