I’ll never forget the drive to our little 2 Bed Lodge in Saxmundham – a proper Suffolk jaunt that started with me, as usual, faffing about with the satnav. We’d piled into the car from London early doors, kids in the back munching crisps and arguing over iPads, when halfway down the A12, I realised I’d forgotten to fill up the petrol tank. Cue a frantic detour to a dodgy services near Ipswich, where the pump wouldn’t take my card and I ended up spilling £20 worth of unleaded down my trousers. “Classic Dad move,” my wife laughed, as I stood there reeking like a Shell garage. Light humour in the chaos, innit? But we made it, rumbling down those narrow Suffolk lanes lined with hedgerows and the odd tractor ambling along like it owned the road.

Pulling up to the lodge just before teatime felt like slipping into a cosy hug. Tucked away in a quiet spot on the edge of Saxmundham – nothing flashy, just a sweet wooden cabin vibe amid Suffolk’s rolling fields – it was everything we’d hoped for a chilled family break. The owner had left the key in a handy lockbox, and as I fumbled it open (more chaos averted), the kids bolted out, whooping at the sight of the place. It’s one of those proper lodges: compact but spot-on for us four, with two snug bedrooms upstairs – one for us, one for the little ones – and a downstairs that’s all open-plan living. The kitchenette gleamed with everything you’d need for a fry-up, and the lounge had this fab wood-burner begging for a fire later.

First impressions? Blimey, it was love at first step inside. The French doors at the back opened straight onto a private decked area with a picnic bench, overlooking a wildish garden that backed onto farmland. You could hear the bleating of sheep in the distance and see buzzards circling – pure Suffolk magic. We dumped the bags and cracked open a round of teas (mine with a splash of milk from the local Co-op we’d nabbed on the way). The kids were straight out exploring the garden, discovering a little wildlife pond and chasing butterflies, while I plonked on the deck with a cuppa, breathing in that fresh countryside air. No city smog, no sirens – just the gentle hum of rural life.

We kept it dead relaxed that first afternoon. A quick wander down the lane – it’s only a short hop to Saxmundham’s high street, with its independent shops and that brilliant little bakery doing sausage rolls to die for. Picked up some fresh pasties and a pint of local Adnams from the offy for later. Back at the lodge, minor lodge-life pandemonium ensued: the youngest tipped over a bag of flour while “helping” with scones, turning the kitchen into a flour bomb site. We laughed it off, hoovered it up, and fired up the barbecue on the deck. Sausages sizzling, kids playing tag in the garden – it was one of those simple pleasures that hits you right in the feels.

As the sun dipped low over the fields, painting everything golden, I had a quiet moment of self-reflection sat there with my pint. Life’s been a right whirlwind lately – work stresses, school runs, the lot. But here, in this unassuming Suffolk lodge, everything slowed right down. No grand plans, just us lot together, covered in flour and grinning like idiots. It reminded me that the best holidays aren’t about ticking off sights; they’re about these little pockets of chaos and calm. First day in, and we were already hooked on lodge life. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.