All of a sudden I seem to have a bit more time on my hands. Thinking more deeply about why that might be, it's most likely related to having re*ired from the world of work at the end of May 2026, ditto the Good Lady Wife. That very first Monday we took the bikes on the train to Brampton (not far from the Old Hall) and cycled seven-or-so miles to the outskirts of Bungay to find The Silo Cafe, aka hipster central, for two quality sausage rolls and a composting loo. That was 1pm. By 4pm, more B-roads explored, we were nibbling Eccles cakes in Twyfords before ending the afternoon in lovely Lowestoft. Hulluva first day of re*irement.

Talking distances, I'd do a 15-mile round trip on the bike Monday to Thursday pre-re*irement. So when Andy suggested a midweek trip, I nominated a destination 10 miles away: can easily do that on two wheels, I thought. Hadn't properly considered the 30+ degree temperature outside, necessitating numerous hydratation (stet) breaks. I arrived a sweaty mess at Newbourne Kitchen. Another eatery in that village? Nope: Nourish moved out to Helmingham after seven years and a fella named Noel Kearney has started afresh here at Newbourne.

Andy, post-physio and pre-ping pong, met me outside. Shall we go in? Boiling out here. Now, I'd assumed it'd be more or less just us on a sweltering Wednesday. Very much not so, the place being crammed with active oldies which, in a sense, is very much us too. And, unlike my VW Polo, the air conditioning works. They go hard on the breakfast items here at the Kitchen with the odd P+Q+S too, panini and quiche and salad. To fit in with the bakin' conditions out there, I'll have the blueberry pancakes with maple syrup and bacon (£11.50) and he'll have the smashed avo bagel add bacon (£12). Remember, kids, bacon's a treat. With a Frobisher's for me and a Cawston's for him. As per Nourish, the quality is high.

Inside and out are obviously much as they were in the Nourish era, with stacks of exterior seating and a deceptively spacious wooden interior. Like the large-footed chickens roaming freely in the garden, nobody's in an awful hurry. Still gotta keep half an eye on the clock, however, since Andy's off to practise his push shots in Woodbridge this afternoon. We agree that a shared slice of their banana loaf will set us up nicely, him to pong to pings and me to push some pedals. Final note: I decided to get my Boardman on the train back from Woodbridge and bumped into TT friend Steve, who'd done 50 miles in today's heat. I felt a bit weird at one stage, he said, and couldn't really speak. Mind that pesky sun, readers.

• Instagram -- Newbourne Kitchen

If it was a car -- Noble M15.
If they were passing by -- Nadia Sawalha.

Myself and Andy have been pinging pongs in the Ipswich & District Table Tennis League for over 30 years. Ain't often, however, that we attend the AGM. Thought we should rectify that this year what with one or two proposed changes. First, though, maybe get an early evening bite pre apologies for absence?

Ten minute bike ride for YT to the rear of the doing-well Anglia Retail Park (including a mandatory nifty nip up Whitton Lane and Fisk's Lane), home to The Range, Tim Hortons, my nearest Costa, plus some ancient standing stones. Facing KFC is a unit once home to the retro-named Carphone Warehouse and repurposed in 2024 as Ipswich's first Taco Bell, probably unconnected to the recent City of Culture bid. Bonus for me: unexpected Sheffield hoop bike stands right -- well, left -- outside the entrance. And here's Andy fresh from his eco VW.

My first time in one of Taco Bell's 8,000+ outlets. Not so, Andy, who'd visited one in the US of A three decades back. To make it easy for us, there's a row of flat screens to order, except we then struggled to switch from crunchy to soft despite our many combined years in IT. Another bonus: it's Taco Tuesday! One of those, please, then it's BOGOF. Add five "sweet habaneros chicken tenders" and some fries to share (though mostly for me). Plenty o' salt there so I'll take a Mountain Dew -- in a bottle -- and Andy an empty cup, giving him a choice of:

• Pepsi Max
• Pepsi Diet
• Pepsi Max Cherry
• 7 Up
• Robinsons Apple & Blackcurrant
• Lipton Peach Ice Tea
• Tango Orange
• Tango Apple

Note no Coke in sight since Taco Bell was bought by PepsiCo when I was at school.

Booth for the two of us, a good spot to watch the many people of the town coming and going and sometimes grabbing a table, and to enjoy our fast food. Does a job: those tacos were tiny and gone in a couple of bites. but the chicken bits were tasty if messy. Decent fries, too, and no doubt part of my five-a-day. Prepared me perfectly for the peevish and petulant ping-pong proceedings.

If it was a car -- Bell Model 17.
If they were passing by -- Geiovani dos Santos.