NINTH INSTALMENT...travelling North

Saturday 3rd August

We're off to Warwick....we decide to put our faith entirely in the dulcet tones of Tom/Tom. Who took us to parts seldom seen between Henfield and Warwick! But as we had no time pressures we went with the flow. Booked ourselves in and phoned Taeko and arranged to catch up late afternoon for a drink in the town square.....very nice town this, a mix of Elizabethan and more modern.....Taeko and David have had another child since we saw them last....Almanzo a brother for Ethan is as cute as can be. After a walk o the square and a catch up over a drink in the warm sunshine we went back to their house and had wonderful Japanese curry for tea after the kids went to bed. They are both such interesting people and Taeko a born story teller...apart from the fact that she usually gets the giggles herself before the story concludes....I guess that's because she knows how it ends lol. We are all resolved to maintain the connection and hopefully one day in Australia.

Sunday 4th August

We are off to the Yorkshire Dales to have lunch with Olive and Ray. Ray was on the trip around China that we did a couple of years ago......an interesting and interested travelling companion. We got there in good time and landed on their doorstep in time for a delightful lunch that Olive gone to considerable effort with. Olive is a keenly involved member of the Women's Institute and I'm tempted to join myself if I could make soup and Bakewell Tart half as good as she.

After lunch Ray took us out for an afternoon of sightseeing, walking and driving. They live within spitting distance of the train line between Carlisle and Settle....on which we did a trip on the steam train some years ago. How strange to think we had been almost past the front door of people we would meet many years later.

Gargrave is on the Liverpool/Leeds Canal and we had a walk along the towpath and a chat to a family negotiating the locks in their narrow boat. Then we were off to Malham, a beautiful area in the Dales, where Peter and I walked up to the Waterfall Janet's Foss and then further up to another waterfall the name of which I can't recall. To Ray's astonishment and disappointment we said we had done enough walking so he took us on a driving tour around the area through some beautiful countryside and across some high and narrow roads ....desolate but beautiful...we were getting quite interested in having a cup of tea somewhere but tea shops were not to be found so eventually back to the house where Olive took care of us once again.

Ray is now eighty six and drives these narrow, winding country lanes with gusto.....his reaction times would do Mark Webber proud.

We had agreed earlier that we would meet up again for dinner at the Coniston Hotel which is in a beautiful setting, the rain was now falling with considerable enthusiasm .... but still made a dramatic backdrop outside the vast glass windows.

We have had a super visit and we are all our glad we have made the connection. Ray we knew as a grand man...and can now attest the Olive every bit as delightful company. We can only hope to have their wit and wisdom at a similar age.

 

Monday 5th August

We're off ... We have plenty of time to get to Glasgow so we determine to spend the morning driving through the Dales before we hit the motorway. It's pouring cats and dogs as they say, and waterfalls are running and streams become torrents, we wend around and at one stage had to take a detour which after some hair raising roads we end up exactly where we started! At one stage the Road was so narrow and had precipitous drops off to one side as to set of my weird impulse to jump/ drive over the edge....quick change of driver ensured our safety and survival! We drove from Gargrave to Skipton, Coniston Cold, Settle, Langcliffe, Horton in Ribblesdle, Ribblehead, Hawes, Askrigg, Askrigg, Muker, Thwaite, back to Hawes, Garsdale, and Sedburgh.

Eventually onto the motorway and a smooth run into Glasgow. Park all the gear in the hotel and off to Neilston to dine en famille. Plenty of catch up talk and back along the motorway ( much quicker than our previous route.....thanks Tom Tom) and a pretty good night's sleep.

 

Tuesday 6th August

We spend the morning in the city looking at the architecture etc and then stumble across the parade of some of tonight's stars of the Tattoo. RandE pick us up about 2pm outside the hotel for the trip to Edinburgh. Roger has rejected the offer of Paul's sat nav (he is to rue this decision later....well in fact we will all rue his decision). We make it into Edinburgh with minimum of fuss and locate a handy parking spot. We wander about the new part of town, buy a couple of prints that should look good on our walls, and then cross over to the old town. It's Edinburgh Fringe time so Princess St is abuzz with street performers and touts. There are some interesting performances on offer...alas we have only one night and the Tattoo is our destination. We have a pub meal....some associated issues but eventually all ok and it's off to join the queue.

The tattoo is most interesting and entertaining....I am pleased to report that the NZ Army Band and the NZ Women's (Locheil) Marching Band were the highlights of the night. The band as well as being stunningly competent skilled marching and playing their instruments injected plenty of humour, including a Gangman Style vignette. The women were nothing short of amazing. A very interesting and enjoyable event.

It took an hour to get down from the stands and out of the venue....imagine the potential crowd carnage if there were some sort of "incident"..... It hardly bears contemplation!

Exiting the city proved harder than entry and we were able to take several wrong turns but eventually we discovered the approach to the Glasgow road. Got home about 1am. Nevertheless a great experience and highly recommended.

Wednesday 7th August

Hard to get going this morning but eventually took ourselves off to review the Burrell Collection .....we had been here many years ago and a return visit did not disappoint.

Then we did some driving through the countryside and had a light lunch in Troon before heading back to chez Hoiles. The boys at home and Mark's girlfriend Louise there too. Nice evening although harmony threatened by Elaine's inability to keep stumm about certain sensitive issues!! However as it turned out ...all ended well.

Thursday 8th August

Peter and I spend the morning driving around the Loch Lomond area, first through Dumbarton then Helensburgh where we made haste to the Rennie MacIntosh Hill House but we were too early so it's off to Arrochar....past the UK Submarine Services in the Gare Loch, and beautiful scenery then turned south to come down the west side of Loch Lomond. Stopped off in the very attractive town of Luss which has served as film set site but unfortunately six coach loads of tourists were also there. So off to Drymen to have lunch in the oldest licensed pub in the country.

We had decided that we would backtrack to Helensburgh and Hill House. Slight (!) aggravation caused by the tractor driver who drove along at 15mph for six miles resolutely refusing to avail himself of the many opportunities to pull over and let the line of traffic go past. The last straw was when he proceeded to the roundabout onto the main road, aaagggghhhhh! I must confess there was a little road rage in the Volvo.

Back to Hill house where we were irritated beyond belief when told that photography in the house ....why?

The house was interesting but a bit of a let down too....it could have been much better displayed, but good to have seen nevertheless.

Then it's off to Neilston for coffee and then to visit Louise in her new flat....very nice too......And back home for dinner.

 

Friday 9th August

Around the city this morning and a walk up to the famous Glagow Necopolis. It is the most amazing gothic place. The money spent on these monuments to the dead an indication of the weath that once defined this city. Great monuments to Merchants and their issue and dominated by a towering statue of Knox the Calvinist ....however his god fearing exhortations to the populace do not appear to have the same impact on he contemporary population.

Then out to Neilston where Elaine plied us with scones and coffee and when Roger returned from dropping her sister and bother in law at the airport he took us for a sightseeing drive around the Clyde, Greenock, Largs...where we had a brisk walk along the front in the bracing brisk air...(ie gale force wind). Too bracing for even Elaine to get stuk into a world famous ice cream from Nandini's.

Back for another of Elaine's great dinners.

Saturday 10th August

Last run around the city and one last check on the progress being made by the guy creating a spectacular mural then out to Silverburn to buy a couple of apple pies etc to contribute to dinner....Louise Gareth and Jack joined us for dinner. Wee Jimmy spent some time with us before he was off to his "friends" birthday nod Marc and his girlfriend Louise came over for a while then it was farewells all around. This has been a very pleasant visit.

Sunday 11th August

Left the cark park at 8:30 and arrived in Henfield seven and a half hours later....I think this has been the best trip back ever. The car has been fantastic and such good value, the efficiency of the diesel is undeniably efficient.

Good trip all around.

 

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EIGTH INSTALMENT...more village life

Friday 26th July

We returned from Morton and Anne collected us from Hickstead as arranged. The young-uns are at a pub gig in Burgess Hill. Lee has been admitted to Worthing hospital with suspected heart attack. The kids have had a great week...they have been to the county cricket match, to a great barbecue afternoon with friends of Steves ...and Kazumi was very honoured to have the host's CBE medal draped around her neck, Stephen and Anthony went to the Australian test team/ Sussex County cricket match and sat in a corporate box. And Anthony returned from his few days in Barcelona where he took the guided tour of the football stadium and hired a Twizzler for the day to explore the sights assisted by the pre-programmed GPS....unfortunately it broke down and left him stranded with no idea where he was and no ability to seek assistance from the locals...he having no Spanish language and they having little English. Apparently he found a tour bus so followed that back to base.

Saturday 27th

Tonight is the gala at The Royal Oak ...the Charity fund raiser for the children's cancer foundation. It isn't a very nice evening, cool and rainy...so Anne stayed indoors and Peter Harry and I went to join the festivities.

Sunday 28th

There was to be a farewell barbecue at Lee and Penny's but the location was changed to Tracey and Steve's due to Lee's hospitalisation. The usual suspects in attendance including Cat and Peter and Cheryl John and Mary. A jolly afternoon and evening with some kicking on to the wee small hours.

Monday 29th

Jacky hosted a soirée at their place to celebrate the three recent wedding anniversaries...Jacky and John, Anne and Harry and Peter and me. John had the chemynea on the go sparks and flying cinders and all! Very enjoyable evening but we are all a bit pooped so it wasn't a late night but a very enjoyable one.

Tuesday 30th

Quiet day ...Anne a bit poorly...Tracey took Anthony Peter and I to Heathrow to put A on the plane...he has had a great holiday. On the way back to the village we picked up SandK who had made their way back from London to Gatwick and we joined Charlie and Steve in the White Hart for an hour or so.

Wednesday 31st

Not much going on most of the day...SandK called in on their way home from Brighton...the Prestcotts and Hoiles are off to the Hart for tea. Annie not too flash and news later in the day advised by the Dr that she needs a short admission to Worthing Hospital to have a course of intravenous antibiotics.

Thursday 1st

Dropped SandK at Gatwick at 7am, courtesy Tracey Limousines. Ambulance arrived about 8:30 to take Anne off. Tomorrow we will pick up the hire car and take Harry to visit Anne. Peter and Steve to the Bell and Tracey Harry and I had a quiet conversation in the White Hart.

 

 

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SEVENTH INSTALMENT....Children return and ...depart...go to Morton and the Peak District go

Friday 19th July

Since the last post Anthony has returned from Prague and Amsterdam and Stephen and Kazumi have returned from a three day sojourn in London...and now Anthony has gone to Cardiff in Wales and from there he will fly to Barcelona for a few days. Peter and I take the nat express from Hickstead to London Victoria and then on to Morton via Bourne.

The "Jones's" collected us from gate A at the Bourne international bus station(!) and on to Morton to settle in and off to the pub for "two for one" and very satisfactory it was. A trifle disappointing that the raspberry crop is a virtual failure this year.

Saturday 20th July

Just time to splash around a bit of water to keep plants alive for the next five days through the continuing drought and we're off. Jones claims to have done extensive research and preparation to ensure our driving holiday through the Derbyshire Peaks and Dales....however this seems to have been limited to sending off for about one hundredweight of brochures and then putting them in a compendium. A new sat nav has been purchased however it is used sparingly as Jones sometimes takes offence at "Doris'" bullying and insistent haranguing that he obey her commands and she is relegated to the glove box.

First stop is Melton Mowbray the home of officially the best pork pies in the world....where some ridiculously extravagant purchases were made. Chris could not resist the purchase of three large PPs for a fiver and then added another to the basket so that we could have one each....Peter then couldn't resist a further two because they were topped with Stilton cheese. The cholesterol levels have been raised to the region of 9mm/l just from looking at this quantity of lard and all our livers are developing lumps in anticipation of the digestive/emulsifying efforts that will soon be demanded of them. Then of course it was necessary to purchase two(!) jars of gooseberry pickle for the picnic lunch.

We resisted the temptation to get stuck in immediately and exercised great restraint for a couple of hours...distracting ourselves with just driving through the countryside and having cups of tea in a wee village etc. Finally we found a small lake/stream in a park and settled in to give this feast a good seeing to......even the ducks seemed to be expressing disgust at our gluttony.

More country driving through beautiful and sometimes dramatic terrain....hikers, bikers and cyclists and cavers in abundance. Drove through Mattlock Bath which looked interesting so parked up and had a walk...a bit disappointing in reality a bit like Blackpool all kiss me quick hats and dirty postcards and full to the gunnels with bikers and people who are unlikely to win any beautiful people competitions! This used to be a popular place for Victorian gentlefolk to "take the waters".

Thence Mattlock where we had a wander around in an effort to locate the Duke of Wellington where we had considered bide-ing a wee, but had ultimately decided to move on to Chesterfield where we had a beer in the Rutland and then dined handsomely at the Lombardi. Chris had an interesting interaction with one of the waiters about which least said the better and then we shared interesting reminiscences on gardening.

A super day, we are all a bit weary and looking forward to long and serene slumber...HUH!

Saturday night in Chesterfield after a skinful, the youth of this ancient market town gathered outside our bedroom window and discussed philosophical matters related to existentialism, exchanged sociological observations and witticisms and of course across the full decibel spectrum.

Today we have been through Melton Mowbray, Coalville, Ashby, Newborough, Abbots Bromley, Uttoxeter, Rocester, Ashbourne, Brassington, Cromford, Mattlock Bath, Mattlock, and Chesterfield.

 

Sunday 21st July

Today includes Chesterfield, Chatsworth, Bakewell, Rainow and Bollington.

We start the day with an interesting chat with Jeff Evans one of the UK's cadre of professional cricket umpires. He has been in town for three days umpiring a series of county games. He is a Welshman and replaced Dicky Bird's position on the list when Dicky retired. Interesting conversation covering a range of topics and sharing interesting perspectives on the game, the rules, the press and some of the current and previous players and officials.

Wandered around Chesterfield, into the church with the twisted spire, through the centre of the township but its a bit too early on a Sunday morning for interesting action. So it's off to Chatsworth House the domicile of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire where three quid was extorted from these four old age pensioners to allow us to park the car in the cow field and then a further eight quid a piece to wander through the gardens. All nice enough, maze, fountains etc, nice rockery etc.

Next stop Bakewell for a cuppa and a Bakewell tart. All of you who are munching away on tarts with white icing and a cherry on top are not eating the real deal! The traditional tart is baked as a slab and does not have the super sweet icing and cherry.....you will enjoy much more street cred with the locals if you opt for the "traditional". Bakewell is an attractive town, today it is thronged with milling about tourists aided by the fact of it being a Sunday and the sun is shining. Seems like a thriving local community.

Then it was off to Eyam, the plague village. How fascinating this was, a good, simple but informative museum. This village is thought to have been afflicted when some cloth which was damp and when dried out released hatched infected fleas was sent to the local tailor. The village was quarantined with no one allowed in or out. The villagers buried their own dead.....by this I mean the family was personally responsible for burying their own dead. In this way the villagers contained the outbreak and effectively sacrificed themselves and saved their neighbours in surrounding villages. Some families were wiped out. Some left just a sole survivor, like poor Elizabeth Hancock who buried her husband and six children in just eight days. Each body she dragged from her home, dug the grave, and filled it herself.

Then we are off to Macclesfield to locate our digs for the night. Common Barn Farm. The approach to same is along increasingly remote countryside and prompts the in-car onversation to comparisons with the TV show the League of Gentlemen. All is well however when we finally locate Common Barn Farm and settle in. We drive into Bollington ....the long way ( this will become characteristic over the next few days!) and after sampling a few of the ales on tap to decide our preferences we make ourselves comfortable. The tv is showing the final stage of the Tour de France (muted) which provides a good background. One of the beers...the "old knobbly" according to Jones..... is brewed in this tiny village by a lone handed brewer who brews about three different beers over the annual seasons. The food was terrific but Chris and Peter had to fight over the last available slice of Beef and Stilton pie. Froome won the Tour...good....but Cavendish managed only third for the stage...bad.

We had some interesting parking adventures today....some more interesting than others...enough said!

 

Monday 22nd

Spent time chatting over breakfast with our landlady who is a local girl, but she has been to London ...once. We walked across a couple of sheep dung laden paddocks to get a good view of the dam which now covers the previous farm property.

Then we're off to do some local exploring....sticking to a firm principal, that we have devised ourselves...that the shortest route between two points does not have to be a single straight line. This enabled us to view several sites from different perspectives...and a number of times. This approach stood us in good stead all day today so I suspect we have developed a greater familiarity with sections of the Peak District than most visitors to the area. Peter assures me that adhering to the marine navigation principle of 'great circle courses' is appropriate in these circumstances.

After circulating through Rainow, Bollington etc a few times we made our way to Macclesfield where we located the old Hovis Mill now converted to apartments...on the banks of a canal with a sizeable number of narrow boats both moored and on the move. And interesting to observe a funeral being organised for some chap who lived on one. Nothing much else to recommend Macclesfield so it was on the hunt for the White Nancy beacon in the locality but without success, so on to Castleton, the Caverns and driving through some fantastic scenery reminiscent of a mini Glen Coe, all fabulous.

Then on to Whaley Bridge.....their only claim to fame seems to be the association with the Roman road! However the local railway station is a credit to the service...beautifully maintained and an absolutely pristine toilet....these things take on special significance when you are travelling lol.

On to Buxton which was obviously a grand place in the Victorian era when great use was made of the thermal baths. But as with many of these northern towns, when the mills collapsed the impact on the local communities was devastating. We managed to buy...and consume...the worst milkshake any of us had ever had before. This place has a pillar box painted gold...this denotes the winning of a gold medal in the 2012 London Olympic Games was won by someone in the area.

Then on to Glossop and Windy Harbour Farm....ok....off to the Wheatsheaf in Old Glossop for a dram or two and a scrumptious meal. Back to the Farm lodgings for a night cap in the garden.

Tuesday 23rd July

Woke to a fierce thunderstorm. And after a good breakfast it's off to drive across the moors, to Derwent Waters where they practiced the manoeuvres for the ultimate Dam Busters campaign. It's still raining but all adding to the atmosphere. We were forced at one stage to ford a swollen stream...Jones was like Moses....parting of the Red Sea on a small scale. Fantastic scenery. Into Holmfilth...Home of the Summer Wine country. Had a drink and a hot buttered tea cake in Sid's Cafe and took a photo with a Nora Batty cutout....and then took the LotSW bus tour around the town and surrounding villages which have served as locations for the show. Passed the pub where the local branch of the Luddites would convene to plan the next episode of sabotage on the local Mills.

Back in town we visit the local church ground to see Compo's grave then popped into the 'lephant and (C)as(tle) for a half....but did NOT tarry! On to Brambles....much better..and back there later for dinner.

Back to the room....disaster....the venue next door is kicking off! And it is really hot and stuffy in the room and can't shut the noise out without suffocating......not looking forward to a good night's sleep! Peter makes a sortie to the reception desk to warn them that there was likely to be words in the morning.

Wednesday 24th July

An extremely trying night.....the room which is described as basic at best...is unbelievably hot and stuffy ...and the ghastly Irish band played the same set of kitchen Irish songs at each rotation.....we had to turn the TV up to full volume to counteract. Poor night sleep so words were exchanged with the management, resulting in a very modest discount and no indication whatsoever that any corrective action would be taken for the benefit of future patrons.

Today we are going to mooch until about 2pm when we will head south for home. So it's off first to Saddleworth Moor....site of the burial of the moors murderer victims (Ian Brady and Myra Hindley) Hebden Bridge, Howarth, Ilkley.

Doris in serious trouble today when she maliciously and insistently directed Jones down an ever deteriorating track until he finally became revolting and, after completing a ten point turn in trying circumstances, he retraced his steps until Tarmac was finally under the wheels.

Both Hebden Bridge and Ilkley are very substantial towns with an aura of prosperity about them. Howarth is the heart of Bronte country....full of twee shops and tourists. We went into the (rebuilt) church where the remains of the family are interred. The father outlived the rest of the family none of whom lived beyond 39. More eraser success.

Peter a mite irritable so blood sugar levels were replenished in Ilkley! And we turn South and eventually onto the motorway. Home in good time and off to the Sugar Mill for tea. The place was bedlam customers everywhere and not enough staff...the mild weather and the school holidays has everyone within ten miles out for tea both inside and out. The staff were excellent despite the pressure. Met some new "friends"! At the next table and Jones in awe at our ability to be welcomed into people's lives and homes lol. Good plain tucker and we waddled home to fall asleep in front of the TV prior to climbing the stairs. We've had a great week with beautiful scenery, interesting places and very very good company....oh yes and good weather (in the main)

Thursday 25th July

Slow start to the day....some harvesting of the pea crop...chaps put to work shelling....Jo helping with quality testing. Peter about to make a claim against the household....he has developed an industrial acquired injury...see photo...picture illustrates one afflicted hand although both are afflicted...the Jones could be left completely destitute if the claim is successful. Preliminary diagnosis....Pea Pod Pickers Palsy.

Raspberries next!

Taken out to dinner for the big farewell by the 'Jones' at a delightful Pub in a small Hamlet near Morton called Threekingham. The Pub strangely enough was called the 'Three Kings Inn'. Excellent meal with a good Barmaid.

 

 

 

Friday 26 July

Departure Morton - usual goings on for a day of departure and then it was off to the B I C T for our journey back to Henfield courtesy of National Express.

Uneventful until Peterborough where everyone was kicked off Coach / Bus due to an imminent fire, rear wheels smoking and red hot. After an hours delay we and the other 34 passengers were provided with Taxis and taken to Luton Airport where a transfer to another coach was made to ferry us to London. We just managed to make our connection to Hickstead (picked up for final leg to Henfield).

So another adventure ends!!

 

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SIXTH INSTALMENT new arrivals, cricket on the village greruby in The Bell, Bristol, Bath and the Festival of Steam

Monday 1st July

A wander around the countryside with John and Jacky, taking in Ditchling, Hassocks, Lewes and Eastbourne. Enjoyable drive around visiting new places. Lunch at Lewes.

Tuesday 2nd July

Peter, Anthony and I collected Stephen and Kazumi from Gatwick. K absolutely pooped soon arrival at The estate she was bundled off to shower and have a sleep. S around to catch up with Anne and Harry with a plan to return later for tea with K. Best laid plans etc....K still sound asleep but S dogcame back around for a couple of hours.

The three...A,S and K into Brighton for a first sortie....dinner with AandH......Thursday all the boys to the Bell for the poker game and Hoiles Minor took home some loot from the locals....Friday morning Anthony flew out for a couple of days in Prague and following that another couple in Amsterdam and in the late afternoon evening for those left behind it was off to watch cricket on the village green accompanied by lashings of ale and cider and the odd hamburger or hot dog and chat. Very pleasant way to spend the evening. Saturday it was off to the Bell to suffer the public humiliation of a Wallaby defeat by the Lions and then Sand K and Peter and I went to the Wiston Steam Fair at Steyning for an interesting but very hot afternoon.....where I lost my camera @&$)&?!$! And then off to the pub at Shoreham for a cooling ale.

Sunday 7th July

S and K and Peter and I took off in the hire car to Bristol and Bath ....via Stonehenge to satisfy a childhood dream of Kazumi's. The newly purchased TomTom repaid the investment especially in getting through the cities and delivering us to the accommodation doors. Arrived bout three and made arrangements to meet up again at five - ish for a wander about and then had a very good dinner in an Italian restaurant. Followed by more strolling around on the look out for Banksy's and other street art. Bristol has a very vibrant feel, the waterways and canals have all been tarted up, lots of bars and restaurants, new apartments lining the waterways and people everywhere.

Monday 8th July

First up onto the hop on hop off bus to get the lie of the land.....it's a very hot day and keeping up the fluids will be important! Peter has, as ever, done plenty of homework on essential places to visit and things to see. The festival theme this year in Bristol is Wallace and Grommit and there are 99 Grommits around the city, on ferries, buses and church grounds, inside shops etc etc. it is possible to buy a Grommit passport and then check off all you have seen....shades of the English penchant for train spotting?.....we started taking photos of Kazumi next to Grommits but this excitement palled a little after half a day! One of the highlights was wandering around the Nelson Street area checking out the street art. In all we have spotted three Banksy's ...the grim reaper, the hanging man and the Queen....but there are many other fine examples.

The local church.. St Mary's ....was very grand with magnificent stained glass and vibrant historical record of the town. John Cabot sailed from here in ( need to look up the dates again ) and "discovered" America. This place has been a significant and strategic sea port and clearly a wealthy place. The colonisation of the Caribbean principally Jamaica, is the entry point of GB into the slave trade

 

 

 

 

Kazumi and I had intended to have high tea at the Hotel Bristol but our complementary vouches had not arrived :( so we availed ourselves of two ferry rides along the waterways and then headed off to a pub overlooking the water which had looked promising in the morning when we walked past but the evening reality was a little disappointing.

Tuesday 9th July

Off to Bath en route back to Henfield. What an elegant city. You could expect it to be a bit twee given the cohesiveness of the place with all buildings created with the same local stone but the type of architecture results in gracious and elegant facades. In fact the houses are all quite small and historically were mostly guesthouses for those here to take the waters but arranged to seem like grand houses indeed. Again the hopon hop off bus was the priority mode for getting the best sense of the place then a bit of free time and departed about 1:30: home via a quick detour through the New Forest...ponies etc...then to Midhurst village for a mooch and tea in a fifteenth century pub on the way home. Super few days.

Thursday 11th July

Lucky to receive comp tickets from Vic to the Goodwood Festival of Speed trade day. Another really hot day....the UK is in the midst of a genuine heat wave....spent all day looking at cars, motorbikes, dirt bike riders and BMX displays. Pooped and dusty by the time we got home...but managed to down a curry at the Bollywood in the village after a pleasant drink in the garden at the Fountain Inn in Ashurst on the way home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday 12th July

Anne and Harry Peter and I off to Devon to visit with Rodney and Sonia. Peter and Jo on driving duties to give Anne a chance to be a passenger and just enjoy the scenery. The journey is about five hours with the lunch break included and no problems with traffic which can often be a problem on these roads and motorways.

Whilst we had booked into the White Hart in Modbury village they are closed for three hours in the afternoon and we couldn't raise anyone to Let us in. We knew that Rodney and Sonia were out sailing for the day but rang home on the off chance their son might be there....in luck!...Carl entertained us impeccably and suggested an eating venue, booked us a table and advised RandS where to meet us. Had exemplary fish and chip dinner in the Rose and Crown which is directly opposite the house where the author of the story about Old Mother Hubbard who went to the cupboard to fetch her poor dog a bone....RandS joined us about seven thirty and the chatting, story telling and laughs started!....White Hart a little basic but adequate to our needs.

Saturday 13th July

Spent a little time in the spacious and beautiful garden before going out in convoy to Dartmouth....a place where you could easily spend a couple of days...situated on the beautiful river Dart, plenty of marine craft bustling about, location of Agatha Christie home and other famous persons, also the location for the filming of The Onedin Line tv drama in the 1970's, great shops of all description, lots of artwork I could happily take home, revisited the Simon Drew shops and couldn't resist a couple of purchases. Then we went to Slapton....I don't know how I didn't know this history....during the Second World War several villages in the area were evacuated....people told they just had to go leave everything including crops and livestock and just go as the area was taken over for secret work related to the war effort!

As it turned out the whole area which includes a very long flat beach, was used as a location for the Normandy Landing rehearsal. As it happened and by sheer lucky co-incidence (well not so lucky for the allies!) a fleet of German uboats came across the exercise and caused significant casualties. The locals were eventually allowed to return but of course then had to contend with unexploded ordinance etc. the American legions return every year to the site as a remembrance activity and to pay their respects to the locals. I believe the locals were allowed to return after something more than eighteen months.

There is a famous pub right on the beach at Slapton renowned for its fresh seafood which is caught just in the bay and delivered fresh to the hotel by mid afternoon every day...so it's not possible to predict with any accuracy what will be on the menu.

Back to RandS' for a bit more chat then off to the w/Hart....

Sunday 14th July

Lazy start today. Then drove off across the Cornwall border to a pub at Edgcumbe for a lunch snack....delightful place and nice to know this will become RandS' local when they move down here upon sale of the Modbury property.

About three o'clock we went over to Darren's shipyards at Millbrook for coffee and the a look around the fifteenth century Mill House they are restoring from ruins to what by Christmas will be the most brilliant oak framed business, residence, holiday let, combination of space all with magnificent views. The property RandS are looking to purchase is 300 metres away across the estuary and has a delightful character itself and will be just ideal for everybody. Carl is a key patner as a back room powerhouse in the business.

 

Darren and his partner Alex have worked hard to achieve this dream in amongst running a prestigeous ship building business and notching up ocean cat racing victories.

We then went to the hotel at Whitesands Bay....where we did some celebrity spotting....Timothy Spall is starring in the making of a film on the artist Turner and staying at this very hotel and we tried ever so hard to not look as if we were about to intrude on his quiet glass of cider at any moment and start gushing about how much we like his work!

Back to the White Hart to a minor contretemps...the housemaid had spat the dummy and not cleaned the rooms...Tom the young Barman on duty did his best to sort things out for us and gave us free drinks to compensate for the inconvenience.

Monday 15th July

A quick goodbye visit to RandS.....resisting the temptation to load the suitcases with spider repelling Conker juice and retraced our steps to Henfield after a very enjoyable few days. We couldn't face even thinking about dinner so went the the Henfield White Hart and there could not resist the Partridge Green sausages and mash...waddled home about 8:30 and tried to stay awake in the lounge chairs until the ten o'clock news bulletin....not sure why we bother because it rarely contains anything of interest.

 

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