I took myself off for a walk this morning. Oh look! There’s a hill! Now I need to get fitter and work a bit of weight off, so let’s go up there!
It turned out to be even steeper than it looked. Almost vertical as I approached the top of Beachy Head. But the view was worth the effort, as my old home town was laid out before me like a living map. I tried to breathe like a normal human being as I enjoyed the vista.
Back at sea level, I discovered a park next to the sea which I’d never known about when I lived in the town. It’s called Helen Gardens, and I spent a very pleasant twenty minutes on a bench in there, just like a retired civil servant is expected to do in a town such as this.
I did witness an older gentleman throwing a ball for his little dog. A normal past time for many I know but I note it here because there was such a show of love between this man and his companion that I found it quite moving. He was throwing the ball, the dog was scampering after it at full speed and the guy followed at a hobbling stroll. But when the dog returned they both seemed excited to be reunited again, and there was lots of excited yaps and laughter. They were a joy to watch and it put a smile on my face.
The afternoon saw us munching sandwiches in Abbott’s Wood, a beauty spot near Hailsham which seemed like a haven for dragonflies. There were dozens of them all eyeing up our sandwiches.
Onwards to Michelham Priory. I don’t know whether the “ch” is soft or hard, so if you do, please let me know. I used to go there as a boy with my family and parts of it were very familiar.
It’s a beautiful building, despite the visit of Thomas Cromwell in the 1530s, which saw him destroy a lot of it after turfing out the resident canons. Apparently they were given some cash – five shillings was mooted – and told to bugger off and find a real job. They got off lightly. A lot of their contemporaries were murdered.
I don’t want you to think that this trip is all about food but where there’s a tea room there’s peckishness. Which lead us to a coffee and walnut cupcake under the trees. We walked all that food off by walking round the grounds afterwards.
After the Priory we arrived at the nearest pub to sit in the sunshine and while away the hour and a half before going to another pub. What? It’s a holiday! We sat outside at the Old Oak Inn near the Priory. This part of Sussex is dotted with old country pubs and they rarely let you down. Local beers, old buildings, beer gardens and beautiful scenery. What’s not to like?
The last call of the day and we are at the Cricketers Arms in Berwick. Not THAT Berwick, if you are reading this in the north of England. This one’s a little village off the A27, nestling at the foot of the South Downs.
The Cricketers Arms is quite possibly my favourite pub in the whole country. It’s SO Sussex. There is a beer garden that is busy with all kinds of different bushes and plants, the old building – which dates back hundreds of years – has low beams and ancient uneven walls. They sell decent food, although the ploughman’s was off the menu at the time we visited, and local beer. We had been to this place five years previously on our last trip to Sussex and I still love the place.
A walk up the adjacent lane took us past an old church to the foot of the South Downs. The light on those hills at this time of year when the sun shines is breathtaking. I can’t do it justice with words so here’s a picture.
Back to Eastbourne afterwards, across the top of Beachy Head and down into Meads. Tomorrow we are hoping for jolly boating weather. Because we really are going boating. The outlook is good.
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