Month: March 2023

On the beach and it was a very cold wind!

In the afternoon we went into Bexhill, still a cold wind but another long walk finishing in the Colonnade for a coffee to warm us up. This, we discovered in the past, is another dog friendly cafe. In fact all dogs get a sausage!

We didn’t let Ellie go in the sea as it was a very steep incline and extremely rough and we didn’t want her get washed away.  There were notices on the beach about deep sand holes as well.

Thought for the Day –  “You weren’t born to just pay bills and die.”

The good thing about getting up and out early is the tide was low and this is the first time I had ever seen the entire beach line covered in razor fish, alive, following the rough seas yesterday. The birds were really having a feast.

The other thing we saw for the first time was a lot of Otter shells (Lutraria lutraria). I thought they belonged in regions of the north Atlantic Ocean.  They are huge.

Once Ellie starts walking along the beach, she just carries on and on, she loves it.

Later the rain stopped and it was a lot warmer so we drove into Eastbourne. Another very long walk along the sea front.

We looked for somewhere dog friendly for lunch. The Lansdowne Hotel on the front are very dog friendly. They even have two dog friendly lounges. They made us feel very welcome.

Of course we watched Crufts in the evening. Can’t say I agreed with the winner of the gun dog group but then I am biased!

Thought for the Day – “Smell the sea, and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” ~ Van Morrison

 

Everyone was expecting snow but we didn’t have any. A shame as Ellie loves rolling in it. We took her to the beach but the wind was very cold and the waves rough. Even the seagulls were on the sea surface and not flying. In spite of the cold, Ellie ran to the sea.

We had a quick trip to buy some coffee and spent the afternoon playing cards. We also discovered a fantastic in house music system. I stopped raining, so another longer beach walk, not quite as cold as in the morning.

Ellie enjoys herself so much and then settles down and looks so cosy.

Thought for the Day – “Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the  mind.” ~ Seneca

We had a lovely warm night in spite of it being cold weather.  We had breakfast and then took Ellie to the beach, only a few steps from the lodge. We had requested one away from the road and the location they gave us was excellent. Ellie was happy to be back on the beach.

We went and did a little food shopping and then back to the lodge to keep warm. A nice lazy afternoon.

Thought for the Day – “A holiday is an opportunity to journey within.” ~ Prabhas

We packed some things together and headed towards Pevensey where we had a lodge booked. On the way we stopped for a coffee in Rye. It was difficult finding a restaurant/coffee shop that would allow Ellie in. There used to be a couple of very good ones there but they have closed down. We asked in one and they said no dogs but we could sit at the table outside….in the cold and rain, we told them no thank you. We then found the Cornish Bakery, a lovely place with dog water bowls and treats for the dogs as well.

The coffee was very good as well. Then onwards to Pevensey and we had lunch in the pub we always go to, The Royal Oak and Castle. It is another place which is really dog friendly.  We usually sit in the garden but it was far too cold today

We then gave Ellie a run in the field just by the castle. She was playing with another dog and next thing she had jumped into the stream and was soaking! It was then a short way to Pevensey Bay and this time we had a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, platinum lodge. We were very impressed. We even had slippers and robes, in fact 6 of each!

In the evening we went to the clubhouse, we have something free every day. Today was a pint and so Mal ordered that and a GandT but dogs aren’t allowed in there so we sat outside and chatted to some of the full time residents.  Their ground rent has now escalated and some pay £9,000 so a lot are moving out.

Well, we sat there until it was so cold, we walked back to the lodge with our drinks!

Thought for the Day – “A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.” ~ Robert Orben

We had a cold walk in Sandwich, meeting quite a few people who wanted to stop and chat! So, we got colder. A couple of neighbours asking what we are doing in the garden and asking if we can recommend Beehive….we wait to see, so far so good.

We watched the Man U v Liverpool game, I have no idea what was wrong with Man U. 7-0, Rhys won’t be pleased.

Thought for the Day – “Tell people you love them, life is too fragile to wait.”

We spent the morning at Quex Park. Mal wanted to go to the craft village, I wasn’t to ask why. We also discovered Cheeky Beagles Dog Park and went to look at that with a view to taking Marlene (Rhys’s greyhound ) there in the summer when we look after her. She can’t be let off the lead, so thought this would be ideal. It wasn’t very big, just a high fenced field and you have to book way in advance and it is £15 an hour. What an easy way to make money.

On the way there we talked to a couple who had horses and Shetland ponies at the livery . Piles of manure and they said if Mal’s allotment wanted any, to go and help themselves.

There is a very good garden centre and lots more that we didn’t look at today as it was really cold.

We have often been there before, for the farm shop and also crazy golf with the grandkids.

Disappointing football games in the afternoon!

In the evening we went to an event at Preston Village Hall. We lived in Preston before buying this house and very good neighbours of ours, Jo and Stu were staging the event with other volunteers from the village. Stu’s daughter was singing and also her boyfriend and Sam Brothers. Curries were laid on and included in the ticket price. At the end of the evening Stu even got up on stage and did a couple of numbers with Millie. We had a really good night, it was like being back in the folk clubs in the 60’s. (I wish!)

Mal and I both commented about what a lovely community spirit they have in the village and we could do with some of that at the Jubilee Centre, if Dover District Council ever agree the correct lease!

It was lovely seeing Jo and Stu and we were made very welcome.

Thought for the Day – “You can do anything you set your mind to.”  ~ Benjamin Franklin