He said:
I relaxed today and took no photos, it was wonderful. Outside, the rain is coming down, inside, we are reading and organizing. It's nice to have a day off.
She said:
Eastbourne (Ocklynge Manor)
Slept well.
This morning we ate breakfast with the other guests - Ilsa and Katy, from Finland, and Ilsa's daughter, Emma and her husband, Joe, from London. We talked weather and saunas and technology and travel and architecture. We were all agree that we loved how small the world is now and the opportunities that affords us all.
The colors in the garden are vibrant this morning as the heavy rain last night saturated the plants.
We spent a couple of hours in the summer house at the back of the garden while our hostess serviced the rooms. The summer house is fantastic - a small, cozy, comfortable place for reading and relaxing with, of course, great views of the garden.
It is raining, so we are not likely to be out sightseeing today. In any case, Eastbourne does not hold an attraction for us as it is a seaside resort and seems mostly to have just shops. We are lolling around, reading and surfing, and enjoying our non-scheduled day. I am thumbing though British home and garden magazines and R is maintaining his online photo galleries. When we look up we see the beauty of this garden and feel the satisfaction of our walking accomplishment. These hours seem otherworldly to me - surrounded by flowers and away from any cares. Excuse me while I sit back and just "be" for a bit.
More later...
Back in our room after our "outing" for the day - walked down to Waitrose for dinner supplies for tonight and sandwiches for the train tomorrow. (And, cash. Our upcoming accommodations and driver in Bletchley are cash payments only.)
Yes, a small excursion, but, as Rick says, this is the first vacation day of our vacation. So, we are lolling and hanging around.
Plus, it is raining like crazy, has been all day, and is supposed to continue for the next few days. It is much more relaxing to stay in.
We are now watching my favorite show on British TV - Spring Watch. It started yesterday, so I have been suffering without it for the last couple of weeks. It is a very low budget nature program (one camera on the commentators) that follows the births and developments of the birds, foxes, and various other countryside animals via "nest" cams. So quirky and kooky and fascinating. (Night cams of the badgers are great.)
About Ocklynge Manor (OM) -
OM is built on the sight of a Commandery of the Knights of St. John, 11th century until the suppression of the monasteries in 1540 (remember Henry VIII and his land/$ grab).
A Roman font was found on the sight, so settlement and occupation of the land was even earlier than the Knights.
After 1540, the land reverted to the crown until the reign of Charles II, when it was offered for sale. The Hurst family lived here for 4 generations and until 1894, there were 32 acres of land, a chapel and a windmill included in the property.
The present garden includes an original 18th century gazebo, an 18th century grotto and a deep well.
A very famous resident of Ocklynge Manor was Mabel Lucie Attwell, the children's story illustrator most well known for her drawings of Peter Pan and Wendy.
The present house is over 300 years old and has been lovingly and meticulously restored and preserved by the current owners, Wendy and David. They raised their family here and after their youngest left home, they changed one floor into three en suite B+B rooms. Our "room" is more like an apartment - large bedroom with a sitting area, a second bedroom/dressing room, a hall and a bathroom. Completely comfortable.
Train tomorrow to Bletchley. Looking forward to the museum of the code-breakers.
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