EDitorial ± 26-Feb-2020

Woodbridge Lunches: The Pavilion

Had I had my alert sounds enabled, I might have been woken by Andy's early morning 07:09 email inviting me and Kev to a trip out. As it was, the usual 07:29 alarm kicked in twenty minutes later and was duly snoozed. Zzz.

Come 12:30 and I'm observing his familiar pilgrim's path from Gainsborough to Waitrose to Adastral. Chilly cycle ride over to meet him then off once more to the veritable Bridge of Wood. Prime spot on Kingston Fields means a short stroll across the park and artificial cricket strip into the reopened and revitalised Pavilion. Can it be over 12 years since our last visit? Yes, it can.

Closed since summer 2019, it's now run by the Access Community Trust who also operate coffee shops at Lowestoft, Kessingland, Thetford and Great Yarmouth. Waiting for our grub, we remembered other social enterprise outings to Ipswich (St Lawrence and Town Hall), Poppy's Pantry at Melton, Cafe 66 at Kesgrave, and the Pear Tree Cafe at Sax. Bunch of other customers vg to see. Snug and warm with another big screen telly as per The Edge. Select menu of soups and sausage rolls, etc. Unusually we both ordered the breakfast bap with bacon and sausage. Didn't expect much, TBH, but wow, them was good rolls.

Really wasn't sure what was happening when the smiling counter lady undid both doors fully to let the wind blow through. Then watched as two people on mobility scooters exited. Duplicate desserts -- scone and a flat white -- but Andy had somehow landed a portion of cream. Don't ask, you don't get. News wise, he'd just received acknowledgement of his application to play the role of a 50+ Parkinson's person named Emil. Break a leg, boy!

Excellent service, pretty decent food, very reasonably priced. Maybe we'll gradually tick off the other ACT caffs eventually. Optimist that he remains, Andy had brought his TT bat for a quick knock on the outside ping-pong table. Sadly the wind had other ideas.

If it was a car -- Saab PhoeniX.
If they were passing by -- Derek Underwood.