Gidea Park and Rochford

Where and where? I hear you say. Today Anne and I went ‘back to our roots’. Anne started life in Gidea Park, I was born in Rochford. So Anne is an Essex Girl and I’m an Essex Lad. We arrived in Gidea Park and Anne asked me what I wanted for lunch, I said, “Gizza cort a panda I’m feelin a bit lafarjik I tol ya a fazzand times awready.” Thankfully, as soon as we left the area, my speech returned to normal.

The day started at our third B&B in Duxford. For breakfast, all six guests sat around a huge dining table. We met Bob the builder and his wife and Cameron the car enthusiast and his wife. The theme of the conversation was the best way to kill rats. Oh how we laughed. Onward to Gidea Park.

Both Anne and I got a little nostalgic visiting the homes of our past, Anne lived in Gidea Park until she was eight years old. The house was just the same except the beech tree in the back was much bigger. Her school at the bottom of the road was still there as well. I was born in Rochford in a District Hospital that has since been bulldozed. We found another hospital in the town and took a picture. It’s not like I remember what it looked like anyway.

A quick diversion south to Saarfend. Sorry, feeling a bit Essex again, Southend on Sea. Lunch on the beach looking east to the Pier, south to the refinery and west to the sewerage plant, larverly. Actually, the west beach at Southend is quite pleasant.

Two more hours driving (released-the-belt) and we reached Canterbury. 

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