nearthec teens

As we've noted before the Shepherd and Dog at Forward Green still has a TO LET sign and the recently expanded Stowupland  Co-op petrol station attractively has planters on the grass verge.

Designated Public Place Orders (DPPOs) were enacted in a bunch of near the coast  towns over ten years ago.  They aren't simple drinking bans, it's not illegal to have wine with a picnic as long as a copper doesn't ask you stop ... read the question.  DPPOs have been replaced by Public Space Protection Orders and last month East Suffolk Council resolved (didn't they vote?) to remove the DPPOs (number seven in the minutes).  Impressively they also thought to remove the signs that imply Framlingham Fen Meadow is the haunt of drunken muggers rather than sober(ish) dog walkers.

Very sad to report that the multi-talented James Holloway passed away some days back.

The level crossing at Westerfield is open again.

The Prima Donna festival at the end of next month near Pettaugh does pretty much what it says on the tin.

Roughcast Theatre are touring Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer's Night Dream around near the coast finishing with a dash over the channel for two shows in the Dordogne ... perhaps because it might be their last chance:)  Tomorrow there's a free performance at the Laxfield Low House.

Driving from much of near the coast to Norwich there was no petrol station until Long Stratton and that one on the wrong side.  Since May there's been a BP petrol station on the Scole A140/A143 roundabout near Diss.

Expect some delays tomorrow around near the coast when the 2019 Women's Tour 2019 journeys from Beccles to Stowmarket.

Council elections around near the coast today but you would be hard pressed to know it.  A stunning lack of information about who the candidates are.

We've added a judge and spectators at Butley to Suffolk Gentleman and a gratifyingly side lit rider to our Flickr portfolio ... it's been a while.

Building work at the Co-op petrol station Stowupland will continue until at least May and possibly July.

It's all the go in and about near the coast, temporarily closing petrol stations to re-model them, not an insignificant matter when there are so few to start with.  Woodbridge (has it re-opened yet?), Co-op Stowmarket (not closed but building going on), Haynings Framlingham (reportedly will have a 24 hour self service pump) and now the BP garage on the west bound A14 near Newmarket.  Fortunately services just off the A14 on the other side of Cambridge are copiously resourced ... three Costa Coffee machines!

All we could find on the web about Sunday's motorcycle trial was it was Sunday and somewhere around Butley.  In the event it was a mile or two from the village, well signposted with orange pennants, had a burger van and an enormous free car park.  Lots of women judges and unlike our last trial visit eleven! years ago there were a lot more modern bikes including two electrical jobbies.  We always like the surreal cinema image of a single motorbike making its way through the woods.

On a Long Stratton corner opposite the Shell garage the smaller open all hours Co-op is now Funeral Services so on Sunday nights useful to know the Stradbroke Spar is open for travellers returning to near the coast.

Last night a woman died in hospital after a two car one driver collision in Friston.

The DAB (digital) radio network is to get 182 new transmitters with near the coast benefiting from new transmitters at Aldeburgh and Blythburgh.  Picking the bones out of a government document is an unsatisfying experience and we can't find a date for these two newbies beyond completion of all by 30 September 2016.

Internet community station Deben Radio ended broadcasting at the end of last year but listen again has remained up but today is its last day.

We can't ice skate but are told it's quite different from roller skating and at last year's highly successful skating In Framlingham we were told the dry plastic surface does make it easier ... despite that there were some spectacular falls.  So presumably expect more falls when indoor ice skating starts at Stonham Barns tomorrow.

Last weekend in Knodishall someone was poking about in cars not their own.

The gritting lorry was out last night.

The Orwell Bridge closed as of 9:15am and 10:30am, and a fence down in Stately Terrace Framlingham ... as of 12:30pm the Orwell Bridge now open.

This is what we love about near the coast, a fence panel in Woodbridge damaged possibly by someone sitting on it is a recorded and reported crime ...

Shingle Street isn't the end of the world but you can see it from there.

The Brewer has given us the bad news that the hop farm just outside Sibton has given up and it might be the last one in Suffolk ... although there could be another at Monewden at least.  Either way we hope the splendidly industrial machinery at Sibton has found a home and the Brewer is modestly confident he can keep the character of his beers with other hops ... and the barley still comes from Brandeston.

We paid some £12,000 for our first house, it sold in May for £230,000 ... in the meantime recent house sales near the coast imply Aldeburgh's off the boil.

In our happily not broad experience of near the coast county councillors they are always Tory and really fancy themselves.  Tomorrow you have a chance to try out some new faces.

Things to do near the coast this weekend include Brief Encounter tonight at the Peasenhall Picture Palace (bring your own tissues), open day at Woottens charming plant nursery in Wenhaston tomorrow and in the evening bright as a button (and about the same size) comedienne Lucy Porter in the Haverhill Arts Centre.

When we first moved to near the coast last century we weren't surprised but interested that the wall of model toys in HG Crisp Saxmundham was nearly all farm machinery, seems perfectly ordinary now.

Though the chums we mentioned it to were aware we've only just noticed that one time and once upon a time local mp John Selwyn Gummer became Lord Deben back in 2010, good thing he didn't want to be Lord Framlingham and good thing Lord Framlingham didn't want to be Lord Brundish.

Sorry to hear from Deano that St John Ambulancer and Suffolk Land Rover Owners' Club marshal Ron Beadle who was awarded the MBE at the beginning of the year passed away Saturday.

Blimey!  The Keeper's Daughter theatre company could rival James Brown for hard work, A Christmas Carol is out on the road all over December with four double headers, the first pair on the first weekend ... what's more it's Dracula in Stowupland village hall tonight.

Parking at this year's Suffolk Show plus a family ticket on the gate is £48.  Just three quid more and it'll be cheaper to supply alcohol to the under aged (£50 fine) but not to wander into a bus lane in a large town near Chelmsford (£130 fine).

Well done near the coast!  So many of you turned out to vote that counting the parish/town polls Suffolk Coastal hit the pause button Friday night and will start up again Monday and Suffolk county chief exec Andrea Hill has gone on handbag leave.

Depressingly nearly three quarters of the parish and town councils in Suffolk Coastal will not have a contested election this 5 May.  Encouragingly 30 will have contested elections a significant increase on 2007 so maybe it's time for regime change where you live ... and we agree, there's probably a parish out there that hasn't had an election since Princess Margaret was a goer.

Predicted warmest day this year so far near the coast, maybe 20+°C.

Full time chef needed in Pettistree (digs available if wanted) Robert 01728 747979 and a FREE three piece suite in Framlingham.

We predict that at in 2011 near the coast's great and good will continue to kindly agree, munch scrummy cake, vote the minutes a true and accurate record and relentlessly pursue niceness ... but also the Maverick festival will delight, The Outlaws will do the odd gig near the coast, and who knows?  Maybe roller derby will find its way to Suffolk ... but don't hold your breath.  Happy New Year!