Saturday 8 November

All out if the house by 815. Tim and Linda going to London to meet up with sam and lou and to have high the at the doncaster and see the poppies . and I am off to spend the weekend with Sandra and her family .

Weather bit overcast but driving down the motorway the heavens opened. I didn't want to drive the motorway in these conditions so left and went via Gloucester. Got very excited as I finally found a sainsbury. Had a 2o minute stop over and managed to spend $100! But all on sale and got some great bargains including one very English Xmas decorations.

On the a48 I got the worst weather ever where I could hardly see. At one time the roads were flooded and we had to drive one car at a time on the footpath and you couldn't see one of the tyres due to the flooding.

Finally arrived to find that sadly Jons mum had passed away that morning. He was very tired as had been having a vigil with the family through the night. So that he could get some sleep we went out.

Sandra, Katherine and myself set out for an old pub for lunch. Sandra knew of an old pub off the beaten track. That was an understatement. We drove up and down little roads in search of this pub but alas it defeated us . We did though come across a road that was completely covered with water. We immediately and agh he'd then  Katherine got out and tested one section with the umbrella but we thought it was too deep until a mini came thru and breezed through it. If a mini can  do it so could we! Shit  shit shit we did it!

We spent 1/2 hour doing about 3 miles but what a lovely drive through the Forrest of dean.

We all agreed on eating  in Chepstow at Witherspoon pub. Lots of laughs as it was Wales vs Australia rugby. Not the best lace to be in Wales when cheering on Aussie. I think I was the only one going yeh each time oz scored a goal. Lucky we left before the final tally as we won!

                                                                         

We took Katherine to her singing practice and went to Eleanor's  house . Lovely to see her and dan and see what they have done to he house.

On returning home Katherine was freaking out as it was the final episode of dr who and we had to put the foot on the accelerator. We stopped in to get some food from tesco and we only had 10 mins. We  delegated  shopping  roles and were out in 8.5 mins. Record!

Phone call to Lexi for her birthday

Lovely dinner in and lots of laughs

Friday 7 November

There is a a lot of build up to rememberance  day on Sunday. Lots of series of the ww1 on tv and a lot of people selling poppies. Tim and Lin are hoping to go into London tomorrow to look at the poppies around th e Tower of London.

We have had a quiet day sorting out sending the few items we have bought back.

Off to hunger ford to look at the antique shops. Bought a few small items and then back to reading for dinner with Linda and Simon.

Thursday 6 November

Very sad to leave rye, it has such a a lovely feel to it. 

Packing the car was a challenge as we could not park the car out the front so had to carry everything down to the car park! Certainly got some looks haha

What a shame there was a bric a brac market on and a flea market!! So we had to support the locals.

Off to hastings for the day. Had a lovely time browsing the shops and buying little nick knacks. Had lunch and then made our way back to reading a 3 1/2 hour journey at peak hour time.

                                                              Forgot about the pebble beaches

Wednesday 5 November

Up and out to go to Ardingly antique fair. Cold and windy and rain. Just the right weather for an outdoor event . NOT.

Still it didn't dampen our spirits and we had a ball. We were there all day and managed to buy a few items not anything extravagant although there was a a lot to tempt us!

Took 1 1/12 hours each way . we were so tired when we got in we just watched tv and ate left overs.

Steps not for the feint hearted at 3 am for a morning piddle

Tuesday 4 nov

Wake to the sound of sea gulls and rain. Had to be careful getting out of bed as the ceiling is so low I would knock myself out. Tim going down the stairs at night missed the bottom step, so it is a bit of a challenge but very quaint. To think it is  > 300 years old.

Today was a day of exploring rye and of course the antique shops. 

Found a lovely coffee house that you see dickens sitting in while writing his books. Rye is a very upmarket area now and a lot of 'out there 'people.

The day would not be complete without having a drink by the fire in the mermaid inn. One drink only as it cost us £10 for a wine and a non alcohol beer. We have found it very expensive to buy food and drink, more so than Australia,but the variety and the standard leaves us for dead in the prepacked items.

Mermaid street.                               

Night in trying to watch tv, that is if you can turn it on. Had to get the owners in and they had to replace it but we couldn't change the station! Settled for a miss marple  DVD which I promptly fell asleep watching !! 

Monday 3 nov

 

6am Couldn't sleep in although we did have 8 hours sleep.

Went for a very long walk on the beachfront from Bournemouth to Poole. An was just coming  up.

 

The sea comes right up onto the footpaths  now so will be endangering the chalets!

                                                         

Had a full English breakfast with Anne and packed up again ( have bag will travel) and went into Poole. Anne was keen to go to the Poole pottery factory. It has changed to when I went there. It was on the quay and was quite atmospsheric. - the quay that is, as it is in the old town. There were lovely old pubs lining the cobble streets and you could just see the sailors getting off the ships and coming over for their rum! Didn't get to take any photos as an almighty storm brewed blowing my umbrella inside out! And we could only just get across the street.

Had a bit of a chuckle watching the suff board riders on the waves.

The facotory was disappointing and very expensive so sorry family no Poole pottery for pressies.

Walked back up the windy side streets frequenting the charity shops for bargains. Just love it!  Got a lovely little dress for maddie. Stopped to have one of those fat free Cornish pasties, no wonder I have put on weight!

We dropped Anne at the bus station and headed off to rye for our 3 night stay of just chilling out and taking in the history. We stopped off to pick up a games table we had bought. Don't fret it is tiny and folded  up and is very old and quaint. 

                                                       Me showing where the door to the house was

 View from the top window down mint st

  The small lounge areA with the wooden beams      

Didn't get into rye till dark as it gets dark at 5.30 these days as daylight saving has gone. We are 11 hours behind sydney. It was a bit if a nightmare finding the house as it is all a one way system. We are staying in mint st which is one of the oldest streets, one back from the mermaid inn. The house has been divided and we sare in a 2 floor 2 bedroom rickety flat with beamed ceilings and walls. Great find.

Too tired to go out we had cheese on toast, couldn't work out how to use the tv so went to bed 9pm unheard of!!

Sunday 2 nov

We were going to have lunch with Sandra but Jons mum has been ill and it was all a bit up in he air.

We drove down to Bournemouth to pick up Anne from the bus station. There was an accident on the motorway so had to take an alternative through the new forest. There were wild ponys everywhere which was amazing. We followed others , big mistake and found we went in a circle for 1/2 hour and ended up where we started ! Hence we were ana you late, but Anne's bus was also late. Totopitoff we couldn't find the bus station! All part of the adventure I suppose.

Anne was well. We found our hotel the travelodge on the seafront ??? ** ok but not the ritz.

Walked around Bournemouth shops and managed to get a few little items had lunch at m&d and walked along the water front. Very cold and windy. The pier is still intact more than I can say for poor old hastings pier.

  Sunset over Bournemouth 5 pm!

Had dinner at the hotel  which was very ordinary but easier and off to bed