LAST DAY IN EASTBOURNE

Today was my last day in Eastbourne, so when you read this I will probably be on my traind to London, or see the crown jewels or sit in the Eurostar to return home to Brussels.

For the last day my friends wanted to show me little more of the beautiful countryside in East Sussex.



First we stopped in Hastings, where you can see the Hasting's castle, sitting quiet high on a rock,



and then we went to the seafront, where no parking was available, only the seagulls found a place to sit.



We drove further to Winchelsea dated from 1281 !



We visited the old graveyard which is still in use, so you have very old graves from the 14th century until today. Even the little dog which we met liked to play between the old stones. It made me think of my Midsomer Murder series !





The inside of the church was very beautiful and rather huge, huger than it seemed from outside with gorgeous stained windows.

After this interesting visit, we were quiet hungry and had a sandwich in this very cute Pub !



There were so many people that we had to wait more than 45 min to be served. Fortunately it was so nice to sit there outside in the garden, that it didn't matter that much.

We returned home, where Anne prepared my "last" meal, lamb with vegetables and potatoes, and ice cream.

My stay here went by so quickly ! This is always the case when you feel well and homely.

FRIDAY's Fave Five

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.


1. After a wonderful holiday week at the English coast I am back home in the rain again ! Apparently it had rained the whole week I was away. My cats seemed to be very happy to see me again, only Kim the black one hadn't even noticed my absence.



So now I am at home sweet home and nothing had changed. Not even the grass had grown !

2. We have made quiet a lot of excursions to different places in the area.



in Hastings we visited the Fisher museum, had a walk through the city and my friend bought some T-shirts. I didn't find anything to buy.

2. On Sunday we discovered the Arundel castle , had a little walk around the lake there and



stopped for the traditional tea with scones and clotted cream ! The portion was enormous and delicious !

3. As the weather really seemed to be good the whole day, I went to Eastbourne's beach.



I walked around the pier and sat there for an hour before I had a sandwich at the beach and just did nothing but watching the waves and the people. I even got a little burnt in my face.

4. The last day we met Anne's friends in a Restaurant had a nice meal a lot of laughter and fun and I think we were a very noisy table. Unfortunately we couldn't do our little walk together through Eastbourne, because it was the only day where it rained from morning til evening. Probably the heaven was crying because I had to leave the next day.

5. I left Eastbourne early morning and was in London at 11 am. I left my luggage at the St. Pancras International station, so I could walk around London without my suitcase.



It was nice to see "my" old town again although for the moment it doesn't look very nice because there are construction works and renovations everywhere and no street is without building or street work. It seemed to me like a huge construction site. The city prepares itself for the Olympics in 2012 !

A VISIT TO HASTINGS

Yesterday morning when I woke up it was all grey and it rained and so was my mood except that it didn't rain in my brain. But nevertheless we decided to go out somewhere and not sitting at home watching TV.

We went to Hastings (famous for the "Battle of Hastings") and which had been for centuries, an important fishing port although much reduced, it has the largest beach-based fishing fleet in England. Today it is also a nice seaside resort and the city is lovely.



We walked through the city and my friend bought some clothes, I didn't find anything and anyway I have to watch my suitcase !



I had been here already, but it is always nice to see it again.



Just on the rocks over the sea sits this old castle. You can go up there with a lift.



These were old fisher houses, now shops where we bought a very nice ice cream and ate it while looking over the blue sea.



These wooden houses were quiet high and used to hang up the fishermen's nets, so that they could dry. The little house besides the boat was one of where they lived.

It had been a very nice day.

SUMMER STOCK SUNDAY

more participants here at Robin's Around the Island

I enjoy my holidays in Eastbourne (England) very much. The weather could be a little better, we sometimes have showers and it also could be a little warmer.





I love to see these typical English houses and also window shopping on the main street



There is the Eastbourne Airshow going on so we went to the beach had a sandwich and watched the planes



Lots of people had the same idea and also sat on the beach



There were boats watching the airplanes from the sea



We also went to Hastings for a walk and had a Burger there which was very good.



and sat at the beach looking over the blue sea and I was watching the seagulls.

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts a “Friday Fave Five” in which we share five favorite things from the past week. Visit her blog to see other participants.

1. Just a week ago I was watching the annual airshow in Eastbourne. There were thousands of people sitting on the beach or promenade, having a picnic while they watched. It was a special event to me I had never seen one. I was not so interested in the planes, but more into the cheerful athmosphere, with children having fun, people all talking to each other and I had the opportunity to listen to the life story of various people and why they spent their holidays just here in Eastbourne.





2. I then went on the Pier. These piers were built to allow leisure boats to board and go on land. They go from the beach far into the sea.

As the airshow lasted 3 days we went the next day above Eastbourne to Beachy Head. It is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, rising to 162 m (530 ft) above sea level. The peak allows views of the south east coast from Dungeness to the east, to Selsey Bill in the west. Unfortunately its height has also made it a notorious suicide spot. The green grass ends suddenly and down it goes.

We had a nice picnic up there and a lot of fun as you can see. All together we were eight and everybody had carried a lot of food. We spent the whole afternoon at this lovely place

Beachy Head


At ten the Airshow ended with a firework.

Lewes

3. We also made an excursion to Lewes, which has a very ancient history. Archaeological evidence points to prehistoric dwellers and it is also thought that the Roman settlement of Mutuantonis was here, large quantities of artefacts having been discovered in the area. The Saxons built a castle here, having first constructed its motte as a defensive point over the river; they also gave the town its name. It is also famous for its Harvey Brewery.

Hastings

4. Another day we spent in Hastings. Hastings was, for centuries, an important fishing port; although much reduced, it has the largest beach-based fishing fleet in England. As with many other such places, the town became a watering place in the 1760s, and then, with the coming of the railway, a seaside resort. We walked through the city and had lunch there too. The city is invaded by seagulls ! they are sitting and walking around everywhere ! When we went to the beach, they even sat on our car ! I could make some funny videos and pictures.

5. On my way back to Brussels/Waterloo, I spent the day in London. I had been there just for 3 h last year, but this time I had decided to visit as much places as I could which I knew so well in the past, as my son had lived here for 7 years. I bought a daily travel card and off I went with tube and bus to Oxford Street and Picadilly Circus, to Leiscter square and Covent garden. First I was lost because I had forgotten a lot, but then in no time all souvenirs came back and I had no problems anymore. I felt so happy to walk around, the sun was shining and lots of tourists had the same idea as I.

Covent Garden

In Covent Garden nothing had changed, there were still a lot of stands and artists making music or a show.

Leicester Square is the centre of London's cinema land, and one of the signs marking the Square bears the legend "Theatreland." It is claimed that the Square contains the cinema with the largest screen and the cinema with the most seats (over 1600). The square is the prime location in London for major film premieres and even co-hosts the London Film Festival each year. Most of the Theatres are here and people were lining up to get tickets.


At 5 I was at the station again to take the Eurostar back home. I had noticed that London had changed. The traditional Pubs have seats outside now, due to the non smoking law. It has lost its charm of being a "Public House" which people could use as their second living room. Everywhere inside it smells cold cigarette smoke of hundreds of years of smoking. Even non smokers are not happy with this law. There is also a lot less traffic, because private cars have to pay quite a lot of money to be allowed driving in the center. So you mostly see buses, taxis, trucks and delivery vans.

There is also a lot of construction going on, everwhere buildings are pulled down or built up, holes are digged everywhere, underground lines are closed for work, I wonder if it is because of the forthcoming Olympic games.

FUN MONDAY

This week's question is : Show me your favourite photograph and tell me why it's your favourite. It can be one you've taken yourself or one someone else has taken, a snapshot or a more professional image. Is there a story behind it? Do you love it for the memories it gives or just because it's pleasing to the eye?

more at The Lurchers

That is a rather difficult challenge for me. I don't have especially favourite photographs. It depends on my mood. When I am on holidays somewhere my favourite pictures would be of this place of course. When I am at home it would be probably photos of my cats but as I am on holidays at the South East coast of England, I made a selection of my actual favourite photos.


I loved this fountain at the Albert memorial just in front of the Buckinham palace !


and the palace itself


The cable car in Hastings


and the fisherboats