Almost Strung Up in Essex.

BRADFIELD, MANNINGTREE.

We are camped about a quarter of a mile from the start of the parkrun. I walk along the busy road and into Sheringham Park. The start is easy to find. It's a hot morning and the course is definitely undulating. At the end, I find a trail back to the campsite.

The electrics have tripped overnight and continue to do so this morning. Neighbours tell us that others have also tripped so we feel easier, but not for long.

The target is to get to Manningtree before the England kick off at 3pm. We're there just after 2pm, so in plenty of time.

20 minutes before the kick off, the electrics for the whole site go down. Who could be so thoughtless?

Watch the game and enjoy England's win. Afterwards, we walk along the main street, imaginatively called The Street, and take in the church which dates back to 1200. The campsite is called The Strangers Home.

We find that our electrics have tripped again so we reset them and the site goes down again. You guessed it, we are the culprits. The owner asks to check our lead (cold) and then the battery (red hot). He's concerned that it might explode so disconnects it leaving us without light all night. He thinks that the battery has failed and that we should be able to get one in Holland, easily enough. He obviously doesn't know us.

Reward him for his help by eating in his restaurant. Homemade pies, chips and vegetables followed by crumble and custard.