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The last three days have been very relaxing.

Although at times busy, they have been relaxing in a very contented, and nice-to-do-things-at-home kind of a way.

My weekend started early, as I drove up to Lowestoft to see Lee and Sam, who, rather shockingly, I hadn’t seen for six months. They’d had their second daughter at Christmas, so my day off was the perfect oportunity to call in and introduce myself to baby Ellie, and say hello to big sister Olivia, who is now three.

From there I stopped at mum’s and sorted out some more of my stuff from the shed in the back garden. Rather surprisingly, I managed to bring home a car full of buts and pieces, but not before I’d stayed for Bart’s yummy spinach and cannelloni supper, and beat mum at three games of backgammon; my winning streak obviously seeing fit to return.

It was down to Chelmsford for the weekend proper though, and unseasonably warm April weather for the second weekend in a row let us pot more plants in the greenhouse on Saturday, after we’d visited Sandford Mill, and explored some of the town’s industrial past.

Industrial collections at Sandford tell the surprising story of Chelmsford’s industries, from milling and brewing to the pioneering 20th century technologies of electrical engineering, rolling bearings and telecommunications.

It was International Marconi Day on Saturday, and the event marked the anniversary of radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi’s birth. Celebrated around the world with a 24-hour marathon by Amateur Radio operators, who attempt to link up with other special Marconi stations. The mill itself is rarely open to the public, and it was certainly worth paying a visit.

Sunday saw us enjoy an outside breakfast on the patio, after which we mowed lawns, washed cars, and popped to Galleywood for a sardine and prawn barbeque lunch.

More good food and garden-lazing gave way to a walk in the beautiful Essex countryside, strolling among the pink blossom carpeted lanes, and bluebell-lined woodland paths under the Marconi radio mast. With the sun setting a vibrant orange, turning the sky a soft lilac and a lone hot air balloon drifting slowly by, the two-hour trek was filled with birdsong, chat, and the sound of the cars on the distant A12, zizzing their way home from the weekend.

A Polo GTI at the local Volkswagen dealership provided an interesting diversion, too. I’ve seen very few on the road since the range-topping model was launched last May, but with its 148bhp engine, 0 to 62mph time of 8.6 seconds, and striking looks, I’m sure it could zizz with the best of them.

Good Times Indeed.