Mike And Su's New Home.

It's in Romford. Apart from a trip to Southend last year, I don't know Essex at all. That'll be changing now.

We went for lunch at The Orange Tree in Havering-atte-Bower. I'd recommend it.

Afterwards a trip to B&Q to buy paint and paint stripper and cleaning materials. The woman who sold Mike and Su the house from put her name to a document saying everything was in working order and they arrived to find half the lights were fused and the shower and downstairs toilet were broken and...argh!

See the trees beyond the house? That's where the local park is. They have an uninterrupted view into it from their front windows.

A Story I Borrowed From The Hidden London Website

King Edward the Confessor had a palace or "bower" in the locality.

One day he met a beggar who asked him for alms.

"Sorry" said King Edward, "But I don't have any money on me- so have a ring instead."

Later the same beggar appeared to some pilgrims. "Here," he said, "Take this ring to your king and tell him he has only six months to live."

And that's how the village of Havering-atte-Bower got its name.

(The bit about the palace is true.)