Littlehampton Caravan Club Site
First a little note to continue yesterdays blog. While reading the Sunday newspaper, I came across an article relating to a website apparently frequented by Stephen Fry. This site is www.freerice.com. The site is a quiz site asking questions on vocabulary, geography etc. For every question you answer correctly, ten grains of rice are donated to the third world. The rice is paid for by advertisers who use the site to promote their products. So we spent some of the evening answering questions and donated 500 grains of rice to the third world by getting 50 correct answers. That made us feel a bit better about pigging out on Sunday lunch.
Today the sun is back. We decide to cycle to Shoreham-by-the-Sea, using the map we obtained from Tourist Information. Unfortunately the map does not have distances and is not very detailed, so we are not sure we will make it all of the way there.
In the event we make it as far as Lancing, just beyond Worthing, which gives us a 26 mile round trip. We take a flask of coffee, and picnic so we can be out all, or most of the day. It is a beautiful day and we stop off a couple of times to just bask in the sun, plus a couple of lagers and an enormous Chelsea bun on our return to Littlehampton.
This 26 mile trip brings Kathleen’s total mileage, since she got her current bicycle, to 1010 miles, which pleased her enormously. We don't have any photographs to record this momentous occasion because the camera was not with us.
Monday, 12 October 2009
Sunday, 11 October 2009
Sunday 11th October 2009
Littlehampton Caravan Club Site
Disappointingly, the weather forecast is wrong, instead of being another sunny day like yesterday, it is raining.
Fortunately the rain stops before it is time for Kathleen to go to church, but is does not reach the dizzy heights of the sun shinning on the righteous.
I do my usual and find a newsagents, buy a paper and settle down outside of the church for a good read. I just get started on how Alex Ferguson is about to get fined a few minutes earnings for criticising a referee, when someone turns up and starts talking to me. I must have one of those faces which makes people think I really want to talk to them, when in fact I just want to read the paper. My new Irish friend, Liam, is obviously here for the duration, so I reluctantly put my newspaper back in my bag and move into listening mode.
I am entertained for the next 45 minutes by Liam, who I learn:
is a builder
owns a few properties which he rents out
is a keen cyclist, having cycled 700 miles across the Pyrenees at 100 miles per day, and usually does the London to Brighton cycle ride
plays in a band, including gigs in Germany
I for my part give away that I am from Newcastle, which he could probably have deduced for himself.
Just before the end of mass, a fellow Irish man emerges from the church and the pair of them head off.
Kathleen appears and given that the weather is still not too good, we return to the van for coffee.
Shortly after 13:00, we head for the Six Bells pub, which has been highly recommended to us for its food, and where I have booked a table for 13:30.
The meal and wine are excellent, as usual I pig out on all three courses, while Kathleen settles for a main and a sweet.
What is left of the afternoon is spent lying about stuffed full and reading the Sunday paper, what bliss.
Disappointingly, the weather forecast is wrong, instead of being another sunny day like yesterday, it is raining.
Fortunately the rain stops before it is time for Kathleen to go to church, but is does not reach the dizzy heights of the sun shinning on the righteous.
I do my usual and find a newsagents, buy a paper and settle down outside of the church for a good read. I just get started on how Alex Ferguson is about to get fined a few minutes earnings for criticising a referee, when someone turns up and starts talking to me. I must have one of those faces which makes people think I really want to talk to them, when in fact I just want to read the paper. My new Irish friend, Liam, is obviously here for the duration, so I reluctantly put my newspaper back in my bag and move into listening mode.
I am entertained for the next 45 minutes by Liam, who I learn:
is a builder
owns a few properties which he rents out
is a keen cyclist, having cycled 700 miles across the Pyrenees at 100 miles per day, and usually does the London to Brighton cycle ride
plays in a band, including gigs in Germany
I for my part give away that I am from Newcastle, which he could probably have deduced for himself.
Just before the end of mass, a fellow Irish man emerges from the church and the pair of them head off.
Kathleen appears and given that the weather is still not too good, we return to the van for coffee.
Shortly after 13:00, we head for the Six Bells pub, which has been highly recommended to us for its food, and where I have booked a table for 13:30.
The meal and wine are excellent, as usual I pig out on all three courses, while Kathleen settles for a main and a sweet.
What is left of the afternoon is spent lying about stuffed full and reading the Sunday paper, what bliss.
Saturday, 10 October 2009
Saturday 10th October 2009
Littlehampton Caravan Club Site
Sunny and bright today.
First task is to find the Catholic Church. According to Google, the nearest is “Our Lady of the Sea” and is about 2.5 miles away. Google even provides a little map, but of course I have no printer. I can see that it is the same general direction as the Sainsbury Supermarket, which I went to yesterday, so I painstakingly sketch the relevant part of the map, and note the street and road names along the expected route.
We set off on our bicycles, not having looked at the map at all, Kathleen decides she knows best how to find the church and immediately deviates from my carefully prepared route. We still have not found “Our Lady of the Sea”, At the point when we were hopelessly lost in a 1960’s housing estate of cul-de-sacs, Kathleen asked directions of a passing woman (men never ask for directions, it’s a man thing) and was told there was in fact a nearer Catholic Church (St Catherines), which we duly found. This enabled Kathleen to say that she was right all along, and that both me and Google were wrong. You cannot argue with that.
Having cycled about 8 miles to find the church, which was about 2 miles away, we then headed for the tourist information office. Here a very helpful young lady gave us details of some walks, and a cycle route to Arundel, which did not involve any busy roads.
We cycled to Arundel, which is a very pretty place, with a large castle (built apparently by one of William the Conqueror’s Barons in 1069), and a Roman Catholic Cathedral which somehow seems to have escaped Henry VIII's attentions.
We enjoy an excellent lunch and cycle back to the site, 19.8 miles in total, including the search for the church, Kathleen is a trooper, not a word of complaint. The remainder of the afternoon we spend sitting in the sun and drinking beer.
Sunny and bright today.
First task is to find the Catholic Church. According to Google, the nearest is “Our Lady of the Sea” and is about 2.5 miles away. Google even provides a little map, but of course I have no printer. I can see that it is the same general direction as the Sainsbury Supermarket, which I went to yesterday, so I painstakingly sketch the relevant part of the map, and note the street and road names along the expected route.
We set off on our bicycles, not having looked at the map at all, Kathleen decides she knows best how to find the church and immediately deviates from my carefully prepared route. We still have not found “Our Lady of the Sea”, At the point when we were hopelessly lost in a 1960’s housing estate of cul-de-sacs, Kathleen asked directions of a passing woman (men never ask for directions, it’s a man thing) and was told there was in fact a nearer Catholic Church (St Catherines), which we duly found. This enabled Kathleen to say that she was right all along, and that both me and Google were wrong. You cannot argue with that.
Having cycled about 8 miles to find the church, which was about 2 miles away, we then headed for the tourist information office. Here a very helpful young lady gave us details of some walks, and a cycle route to Arundel, which did not involve any busy roads.
We cycled to Arundel, which is a very pretty place, with a large castle (built apparently by one of William the Conqueror’s Barons in 1069), and a Roman Catholic Cathedral which somehow seems to have escaped Henry VIII's attentions.
We enjoy an excellent lunch and cycle back to the site, 19.8 miles in total, including the search for the church, Kathleen is a trooper, not a word of complaint. The remainder of the afternoon we spend sitting in the sun and drinking beer.
Friday, 9 October 2009
Friday 9th October 2009
Littlehampton Caravan Club Site
Not wonderful weather this morning. It is mild, but windy and cloudy. The weather forecast says rain by lunch time.
I am delegated to find the Sainsbury supermarket and to buy one or two things we need, whilst Kathleen does the washing.
The internet comes in handy, I use the Sainsbury Store Finder site to find the nearest store, and even a map of how to get there. Of course the map shows the route if you are driving, and I need to adjust it a little, since I am cycling, and like to avoid major roads.
I find Sainsbury no problem, and in addition to the things we actually needed, get a special offer on wine, 3 * £8.99 bottles for £10, not bad and return at 11:30, just as the rain is starting to fall, a little early!
Given the weather we decide to get the bus into Arundel. Kathleen goes to the “Information Room” to check out bus times (20 to and 10 past the hour), but after lunch we sit around reading, doing the crossword etc, and before you know it, it is 14:45, which means the next available bus is 15:10. We decide to continue lazing about!
Not wonderful weather this morning. It is mild, but windy and cloudy. The weather forecast says rain by lunch time.
I am delegated to find the Sainsbury supermarket and to buy one or two things we need, whilst Kathleen does the washing.
The internet comes in handy, I use the Sainsbury Store Finder site to find the nearest store, and even a map of how to get there. Of course the map shows the route if you are driving, and I need to adjust it a little, since I am cycling, and like to avoid major roads.
I find Sainsbury no problem, and in addition to the things we actually needed, get a special offer on wine, 3 * £8.99 bottles for £10, not bad and return at 11:30, just as the rain is starting to fall, a little early!
Given the weather we decide to get the bus into Arundel. Kathleen goes to the “Information Room” to check out bus times (20 to and 10 past the hour), but after lunch we sit around reading, doing the crossword etc, and before you know it, it is 14:45, which means the next available bus is 15:10. We decide to continue lazing about!
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Thursday 8th October 2009
Littlehampton Caravan Club Site
Another sunny and mild morning greets us, can this really be October in England?
By 10:30 we are packed up and on our way, traffic is light, sun is shinning, life is good.
We arrive in Littlehampton just after 13:00. When we checked the Caravan Club website, it showed this site as fully booked for the coming weekend, with spaces only for tonight (Thursday). Even the Warden at the site is unable to book us in for the seven days we want because “the computer says it is fully booked”. What is the point in having such a useless system? Anyway, he tells us to just choose a spot and we all agree to ignore the computer system.
We have a cycle ride into Littlehampton, it is a typical English seaside resort, a bit faded grandeur. The beach is not nearly as good as South Shields, but there is no North Eat wind blowing off the sea!, so we sit and drink coffee on the “millennium riverside walk”, it is even warm enough to have ice cream, which I do of course.
Looks as if there will be plenty of things to keep us occupied here for a week, fingers crossed the weather holds up.
Another sunny and mild morning greets us, can this really be October in England?
By 10:30 we are packed up and on our way, traffic is light, sun is shinning, life is good.
We arrive in Littlehampton just after 13:00. When we checked the Caravan Club website, it showed this site as fully booked for the coming weekend, with spaces only for tonight (Thursday). Even the Warden at the site is unable to book us in for the seven days we want because “the computer says it is fully booked”. What is the point in having such a useless system? Anyway, he tells us to just choose a spot and we all agree to ignore the computer system.
We have a cycle ride into Littlehampton, it is a typical English seaside resort, a bit faded grandeur. The beach is not nearly as good as South Shields, but there is no North Eat wind blowing off the sea!, so we sit and drink coffee on the “millennium riverside walk”, it is even warm enough to have ice cream, which I do of course.
Looks as if there will be plenty of things to keep us occupied here for a week, fingers crossed the weather holds up.
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Wednesday 7th October 2009
Houghton Mill near Huntingdon
Last night (during the night) it poured with rain, but the morning starts bright and sunny. Kathleen feeds the ducks as has become her routine here, and then it is hair washing day, so not much will be done this morning.
After lunch, we take a walk along the River Ouse and return via Godmanchester Common, calling at the Axe & Compass for a drink.
Last night (during the night) it poured with rain, but the morning starts bright and sunny. Kathleen feeds the ducks as has become her routine here, and then it is hair washing day, so not much will be done this morning.
After lunch, we take a walk along the River Ouse and return via Godmanchester Common, calling at the Axe & Compass for a drink.
Tuesday 6th October 2009
Houghton Mill near Huntingdon
It is my birthday, but it is raining!.
We have a leisurely breakfast and I open my cards etc, I am even excused from washing the dishes.
Given the weather we decide to take the bus to Cambridge (about 15 miles away). Once there the rain stops and the sun emerges.
We have a pleasant day wandering around Cambridge, the highlights for me are a pleasant lunch in Pret a Manger, and a trip in a punt along the River Cam. We could have had some nice photographs on the river, but the person in charge of the camera forgot to bring it along today. Kathleen enjoys herself spending an unexpected little windfall from interest payments on an account she had forgotten about, acquiring a pair of jeans, skirt and two blouses.
I have a wonderful business idea as I sit waiting outside the changing room. Why not have a store, stacked with “bargains”, where women could shop until they drop, but instead of having to all that tedious carrying the stuff home, at the checkout, they just put it in a charity bag for you and dump it at the front door. I think it could be a winner.
In the evening we walk to the “Three Jolly Butchers” pub in the village it is unbelievably mild, we do not even have to wear coats. We enjoy a super meal. Kathleen is her usual restrained self, sticking to two courses, but I go the full hog.
It is my birthday, but it is raining!.
We have a leisurely breakfast and I open my cards etc, I am even excused from washing the dishes.
Given the weather we decide to take the bus to Cambridge (about 15 miles away). Once there the rain stops and the sun emerges.
We have a pleasant day wandering around Cambridge, the highlights for me are a pleasant lunch in Pret a Manger, and a trip in a punt along the River Cam. We could have had some nice photographs on the river, but the person in charge of the camera forgot to bring it along today. Kathleen enjoys herself spending an unexpected little windfall from interest payments on an account she had forgotten about, acquiring a pair of jeans, skirt and two blouses.
I have a wonderful business idea as I sit waiting outside the changing room. Why not have a store, stacked with “bargains”, where women could shop until they drop, but instead of having to all that tedious carrying the stuff home, at the checkout, they just put it in a charity bag for you and dump it at the front door. I think it could be a winner.
In the evening we walk to the “Three Jolly Butchers” pub in the village it is unbelievably mild, we do not even have to wear coats. We enjoy a super meal. Kathleen is her usual restrained self, sticking to two courses, but I go the full hog.
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