Rye, the town, not the stuff you drink

Today was a day on the coast in Rye. Well not exactly on the coast but in ancient times it would have been. Now it's more of an incredibly flat marshland inhabited mainly by millions of sheep, sheep next to massive power lines and under giant wind turbines. We had a bit more of a stereotypical English day weatherwise. Bright, sunny and warm one minute, cool and drizzly the next ( with a bit of a downpour for good measure.





We walked around a bit and then headed to a proper pub for lunch. Ethan had bacon and eggs, Emma had a blt, mark had a ploughmans lunch and cristian and I had scampi and chips.





(in case anyone was wondering, we aren't neglecting Sara, it's just that her puppy Georgie is in recovery and Josh is sticking to his schedule. Also our numbers would necessitate another vehicle for each trip). With any pub meal you must have beer so the adults happily obliged. I found it amusing that the bathrooms were in a building out the back door, much like a converted shed.





It had started to rain when we had finished so we promptly walked up to the church for some shelter. When the rain had let up, we headed to the castle, a small one in comparison to Dover but with a very curious attendant.





He told us his own ghost story when I asked if the castle was haunted. Too long to explain in the blog but definitely worth asking next time you see me. There sure are some curious houses on Rye on those little cobbled streets. One is labelled 'the first house', another is ' the house with two front doors' and yet another has a front door that would challenge a hobbit.





Not sure if it was the weather, wasn't a particularly long or strenuous day but we all seem rather wiped by it all. Tonight we are having a feast on Indian food, mmmmmmm!!


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Location:Ashford,United Kingdom

Ghostbusters

Ok so we had no confirmed ghost sightings but we also had no shortage of ghostly events. As we left Great Chart, we drove past a graveyard. What would walk across our path but none other than a black cat. We arrived in Pluckley proper and took s stroll through the graveyard at the church, right at dusk. It was very overrun and rather ghostly with some strange sounds but the strangest was the man walking his three dogs who said NOTHING when I said 'hello' and 'hello puppies. It was as if he never even saw us!!


We entered the pub where Cristian tried to buy drink but because he had no cash couldn't. You see, the man behind the bar had only just taken over since the previous owners had just 'up and went'. As he put it, they left the keys on the bar and walked out. I asked if business was slow and he said it had been ok for him. He said he'd lived in the area forever so you'd think he'd know why they'd gone. Scared by the ghosts in the graveyard next door perhaps???


He headed to the Dering Inn but it had closed, despite having people still inside and out. One of the locals started to tell us all about the best businesses in the area, the best one being Newhouse farms, coincidentally (or not) Mark and Cristians grandad used to own that farm! Did I mention the bar that flew in front of the vehicle??
Well not as spooky as anticipated but lots of fun just the same.




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Location:Sprotlands Ave,,United Kingdom

The great gardens of Great Chart

This is the Italian gardens, long and skinny with a really skinny but long rectangular pool (it's kinda orange though so I'd pass on the swimming)


-some lovely ripe peaches growing in the greenhouse, known as a hothouse here.


close up.  Don't they look delicious????


A really funny apple tree.  Looks like its elbows are leaning on the ground.  I believe it may have been grafted.


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Location:Ashford,United Kingdom

A day around Great Chart

Today was a bit more mellow but no less enjoyable. Cristian headed into London to the office so we opted for a day around Great Chart. We had a breakfast of crumpets from marks and sparks along with some Kentish strawberries. Yum! We headed out for a walk with Sara and Joshua, intending to go on the two hour circle route.


The problem was none of us had ever done that route, Sara included. We were walking in cow fields and the only obstacles were the gates that don't allow for a stroller to pass. It was a four person job, two on one side and two on the other to lift the precious cargo over. From afar we could see the Stately home to which Cristian and Sara's home (a converted barn) used to be associated.


As the lane there said it was private, we opted to continue on our path, lifting the stroller over many more gates and passing precariously close to the dreaded and poisonous giant hogweed.


Somehow, despite our best efforts, we ended up at the stately house, many of us regretting web hadn't brought any water. We decided to tour the gardens an boy was it worth it. It felt like we had been transported back to the times of Jane Eyre and Sense and Sensibilities and that we had just arrived after a long trip from London.


After our visit, we weren't as cautious about traveling on the private lane, opting instead for the shortest route back. Later tonight we will be heading to the Dering Inn in Pluckley, reportedly the most haunted village in all if England. I'll have to post our ghostly sightings later, if I'm still alive that is...




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Location:Ashford,United Kingdom

The rest of the rest of day three

We got to drive on one of those roads that look like you're in a tunnel only this time it was a tunnel of trees. Then we drove on another that could be best described as a paved bike path. So narrow that if you meet another car, one of you has to back up until you find a spot to pull over. Even a jogger had to move off into the grass to let us pass.








I found this unbelievable: there are no automated gates at the train crossings but rather a man who opens and closes it!! Makes the train crossing take a bit longer to say the least but also quite entertaining to me. Here's a pic of him walking away after a job well done!






And finally, let me talk about food. This is a divinely delightful cherry pie from marks and sparks. We also had an apple one. Emma picked them out. I'll spare you the extensive descriptions but will suffice to say the apple pie was pleasantly tart and firm while the cherry pie was most definitely NOT made from canned pie filling, and if it was, we need some of those cans in Canada.
Got some big fat crumpets too that I'll be enjoying for breakfast.
TTFN





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The rest of day 3

Here's Emma stepping out of her phone box (Ethan is still looking for his blue police box from doctor who) with her newly purchased cloud nine (?) monkey' from a card shop in Canterbury.



Can you believe they sell single serve wine glasses in marks and sparks? Just peel the cover and drink. Cristian says they're aimed at commuters!!

Look at this beautiful store bought birthday cake. Can anyone name for me a grocery store in Canada that sells fondant cakes? I thought not...





A hedgehog cake. Need I say more??

I think they're will be one more post since I have a few more pics from today. Hang tight.
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Location:Ashford,United Kingdom

A trip to Canterbury

Day 3

Another beautifully sunny day in the UK. We headed out for a visit to Cantebury.


While there is a wonderful cathedral where all of the archbishops of Canterbury have presided for the past 1500 years, there is also a perfectly lovely shopping area. We had a great day, first in the cathedral and then walking about.


We had a rather amusing lunch at a Mexican place (emma's request) where the food was good but the service bordered on horrific. Nevertheless, we were well fed and headed out for a bit of shopping and also to walk on the wall of cantebury (the only remaining walled city in England) bit reminded us a lot of Quebec city. We finished up in the old favorite, marks and Spencer where we stocked up on groceries and drooled on other yummy stuff.






When we got back to great chart, we sat around for a bit before ordering 'chinese takeaway'. It was a bit different from Chinese food at home, no chicken balls to be found and no fortune cookies but a really good Peking duck that you eat like a fajita in a pancake and some crispy beef and ribs that the carnivores loved. Despite being exhausted from the day, we were all up till 11, ready for another exciting day tomorrow.
Oh and by the way, I think every blog will take more than one post since this silly app crashes after the fourth or fifth picture. Stay tuned for the continuation....


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