Marvelous Monday

All good things must come to an end, and so Andrew's time with us was drawing to an end. Quite what to do when he is here is tricky sometimes, as he does not speak much, and says 'yes' to most ideas and suggestions. Anyway, if we keep him supplied with tea or beer and plenty of football to watch, he seems fine. And he said he had a great time too. So, I think we did OK.

As it was a bright sunny day and headed out to the Romney Marsh again for a wander around the streets of Rye.



Rye is the first town in Sussex as you head west along the coast road, and is a picturesque town mostly on a promentary overlooking the mark and the meandering river.



The buildings of the town are made of wonderful bricks, and the town seemed to glow in the autumnal sunshine, and it was just great to wander down to narrow street, window shopping and dodging families with children of old couples with tiny dogs straining at the leash. Lets be honest, it wasn't all bad.

Andrew and I went to the parish church, and after looking inside went up the belltower to sample the views over the rooftops and to the marsh and sea beyond. Needless to say, I took plenty of pictures and felt happy enough with that.

We had decided to have lunch out, and my choice was the Mermaid Inn on Mermaid Street; re-built in 1420, it's all higgledy piggledy, with timber frames and wattle and daub walls. The bar has a few tables and a huge open fire, with a leaded window behind the bar setting the whisky and brandy on fire with light.

We took the table nearest the fire and had a splendid meal; Andrew and I fish and chips and Jools having chicken salad. And then rounding off with crème brulee! The beer was good, as was the company and the fire.

We drove home in the afternoon sunshine, Andrew and my bellies full of good food and beer; we were happy.

That night we had sandwiches made from the cold beef from Saturday's dinner, and it was indeed, good.

And so Tuesday dawned, and time for Andrew to return to Suffolk; after packing we took him to the station and made sure he was on the right platform.

We then headed out to Samphire Hoe for a walk along the base of the cliffs as the tide ebbed, and see what we could find. We didn't quite have the beach to ourselves, but there was enough room for us all, and I took many pictures of stones and various flotsam. The waves had smoothed fallen chalk into wonderful shapes, some boulders as big as a house. Trains thundered by on the line to Folkestone, we walked as far as we could and then turned back home, and back to our lives. We visited Nan in the home, she is fine, and then back home to watch the afternoon turn to gold as the sun set.