I finally made it to Sunrise VIP near Woodbridge after a bit of a faff on the A12. I'd set off from London full of beans, dreaming of Suffolk's coastal vibes, but wouldn't you know it, I took a wrong turn at Ipswich and ended up in a queue of caravans crawling along like they were auditioning for a snail race. Classic me – always the one to turn a two-hour drive into three. Still, by late afternoon, I was pulling up to this gorgeous little luxury cottage, all pristine white walls and thatched roof nestled in a quiet spot just a stone's throw from the Deben estuary. First impressions? Blimey, it looked even better than the snaps – like a telly-perfect seaside retreat, with a private hot tub bubbling away invitingly and bikes propped up ready for a spin.

I dumped my bags and headed straight for the kitchen, which was kitted out like a proper chef's dream: gleaming Aga, fresh herbs on the windowsill, and a welcome hamper bursting with local Suffolk goodies. No chance I was faffing about with restaurants on night one; I wanted to christen the place with my own cooking. The hamper had a wheel of creamy Suffolk Cyder cheese, crusty bread from a Woodbridge bakery, and some plump chorizo from the farmers' market I'd spotted en route. I rustled up a charcuterie board with a splash of Adnams Ghost Ship ale from the fridge – proper job, if a bit wonky on the presentation. Sat out on the decking as the sun dipped over the marshes, munching away, I thought, "This is living." Light humour in the fact that my "gourmet" slicing ended up looking like a toddler's art project, but who cares when it tastes this good?

Next morning, I was up with the lark, cycling the short hop to Woodbridge's market on the high street – it's only a couple of miles, dead easy. The place was buzzing with stalls groaning under fresh Aldeburgh oysters, tangy pickles, and piles of heritage tomatoes that smelled like summer in a bowl. I loaded up on smoked mackerel from a local fisherman's pitch, some artisan sourdough, and a jar of crab apple chutney that the stallholder swore by. Back at Sunrise VIP, I fancied myself as the next Jamie Oliver with a seaside brunch. Grilled the mackerel on the outdoor barbecue (pro tip: don't let the wind from the estuary fan the flames too much, or you'll end up with singed eyebrows like I did). Paired it with scrambled eggs from the farm shop eggs in the hamper and a pot of builder's tea. Sat in the sunroom overlooking the garden, it was pure bliss – flaky fish, that smoky hit, and not a burnt bit in sight this time. Chuckled to myself about how back home I'd be grabbing a Pret sarnie, yet here I was, playing house chef with estuary views.

Lunch called for a pub crawl – well, more of a gentle waddle to The Crown down the road in Woodbridge. Proper Suffolk boozer, all low beams and roaring fire, even in summer. I went for the fish and chips – massive haddock fillet, chips crisp as you like, and mushy peas that hit the spot. Washed down with a pint of Adnams Broadside, naturally. Chatted with the barman about local catches; turns out the Deben's teeming with bass this season. Back at the cottage, I attempted a pud with market strawberries and clotted cream from the hamper – macerated 'em with a bit of gin from the minibar. Divine, though I sloshed the booze everywhere like a right numpty.

That evening, I fired up the wood-fired pizza oven (Sunrise VIP's got all the toys) for a margherita using buffalo mozzarella and basil from the garden. It puffed up beautifully, though my dough-tossing skills were comically off – ended up with a lopsided beast that tasted ace regardless. As I scoffed it by the hot tub under the stars, reflecting on the day, I had one of those quiet moments: life's too short for rushed meals and bland takeaways. Here in Suffolk, with its fresh produce and cracking pubs, you've got to savour it all. Three days in, and already plotting a return – if only to perfect my pizza flip.