It’s difficult to ask for your money back. You need to feel cheated somehow. Unexpectedly hoodwinked. Taken for a ride. Feel able to justify your demand. It’s especially difficult when the item, or service, is perceived as being free
We arrive at Sutton Hoo with high hopes. Unbeknown to us Netflix have recently released “The Dig”. Fortunately, we haven’t seen it. If we had, our hopes would possibly have been higher.
On entering the first exhibition building, our hopes start to get flattened. Like a couple of pancakes at the mercy of a steam roller. Part of the ‘you enter at your own peril’ blurb, advises visitors to engage their imaginations. Never a good sign. Around a couple of two parallel rounds, the exhibits are beautifully exhibited. They are all in brand spanking new condition. Shields, knives, utensils, jewells et al. All reconstructions. AKA fakes. Beautifully reproduced. But nevertheless, not the real McCoy. Ah well, mustn’t grumble. It is free.
We move on. Tranmer House houses info about Edith Petty & co, and the actual dig. We feel slightly less cheated. Though, it’s still disappointing. One room looping three simultaneous video/audio clips, discombobulates our ability to think straight, or take in and recall anything from the information boards. Ah well, mustn’t grumble. It is free afterall.
In any event. The ‘piece de resistence’ is yet to come. The house and land is set in wonderful countryside. We enjoy the walk over to the ‘Royal Burial Ground’. The grand finale to our visit. What remains of our high hopes gets shot down in flames. Our expections have conjured a vision that’s Mary Rose-esq. If only we could switch our minds into imagination mode. We can’t. The dig and all it’s glory long gone. On the plus side, the viewing tower is closed due to Covid!
