Friday, August 04, 2006
Ekatarina in Littlehampton and Arundel
Today we took Ashley and Ekatarina to 2 of the places that have become familiar to us. Bill and I have enjoyed walks and something to eat in both Littlehampton and Arundel after the Saturday car boot sales at Ford.
The last time we were in Littlehampton was March. We felt then that this slightly run down seaside resort was just beginning to wake up after the winter. Today we saw that in the summer time, seaside resorts are as popular as ever. The beach was quite crowded with families and also coach parties, settled into their little beach domains for the day. People were playing in the sea and on the sand. There were ball games and sand castle building. Families sat together with their sandwiches, sausage rolls and flasks of tea.
It was not so unlike the days when Bill's family went by train to Littlehampton for the day with their suitcase full of sandwiches.
We had not planned for a day on the beach. I think if Bill and Ashley had had their way we would not have spent very long at all on the beach.
They both feel rather like a fish out of water and have no yearning to be doing what all the other people are doing. They walked for a bit whilst Ekatarina and I played in the sand - we really had to improvise because we had no buckets and spades.
So we found little stones and shells and created wheels on the sand, decorated with stringy sea weed.
We all walked together to the River Arun estuary, as ever there was a large flock of swans patrolling the entrance to the river.
The plan had been to get some chips and sit by the river, but it was crowded and we decided it might be better to eat inside where there is access to a loo. So we ate again in the Balaton cafe.
I enjoyed a jacket potato with a dressed crab.
There is a small fun fair close to the sea front and we promised that Ekatarina could choose one thing to have a ride on. She said that we should look all round and that she would think "really hardly" to decide what she would like.
I am so glad that she chose the small carousel with its prancing horses.
She liked it so much.
So of course we let her have another ride.
We walked back along the sea front - passing the seaside gift shop with its stand of shining, sparkling windmills. And Ekatarina just had to have one!
Then we drove back to Arundel, passing the entrance to the Ford boot sale on the way.
Arundel looks good from all angles. I especially like the narrow road up towards the High Street which has the cathedral towering above you.
This cathedral is Roman Catholic, which obviously suits Ashley very well. And Bill and I had never been inside, despite passing it many times. It used to be a landmark in the days before were married when Bill would take me in his little mini to the sandy beach at Clymping.
Ekatarina saw the candles burning in the church and asked to light one. I like doing this too, although I have no specific strong faith. I just like the idea of letting positive thoughts and wishes go free in a beautiful and spiritual environment.
I asked Ekatarina what her special hopes were as she lit the candle.
Sorry - no deep and meaningful reply!
She was hoping for really good birthday presents!
Ekatarina and I enjoyed looking at the windows and the statues.
We noticed that the local saint - St Philip Howard had his dog in stone with him.
She loved the big round stained glass window and she took this photograph of it.
This cathedral is not really old - built in 1880. But a medieval style was used and it has a good feel to it. The ceilings are very high but it is not too big and felt very much more like a big parish church, with a living faith, rather than the tourist attractions which some of our biggest and best known cathedrals have become.
Then we went down to the bottom of the town and walked along the banks of the river Arun - just a few miles upstream from the estuary we had been by in Littlehampton.
The castle makes a splendid backdrop.
It has been a full and tiring day and both Ekatarina and I enjoyed some new experiences. At home Ecky has decided that she really enjoys a shower - and has had 2 today! In the cafe she devoured the plate of bread and butter that Ashley ordered. Not so strange - except that before today she has always demanded just dry bread. And I had never eaten dressed crab before.
In the car as we travelled along we played pretending games as usual. Today we were 2 butterflies who liked interesting experiences but we also had to look after our large families. We competed in the butterfly Olympics - guess whose butterfly won the gold medal! I'll give you a clue - my butterfly won silver!
The last time we were in Littlehampton was March. We felt then that this slightly run down seaside resort was just beginning to wake up after the winter. Today we saw that in the summer time, seaside resorts are as popular as ever. The beach was quite crowded with families and also coach parties, settled into their little beach domains for the day. People were playing in the sea and on the sand. There were ball games and sand castle building. Families sat together with their sandwiches, sausage rolls and flasks of tea.
It was not so unlike the days when Bill's family went by train to Littlehampton for the day with their suitcase full of sandwiches.
We had not planned for a day on the beach. I think if Bill and Ashley had had their way we would not have spent very long at all on the beach.
They both feel rather like a fish out of water and have no yearning to be doing what all the other people are doing. They walked for a bit whilst Ekatarina and I played in the sand - we really had to improvise because we had no buckets and spades.
So we found little stones and shells and created wheels on the sand, decorated with stringy sea weed.
We all walked together to the River Arun estuary, as ever there was a large flock of swans patrolling the entrance to the river.
The plan had been to get some chips and sit by the river, but it was crowded and we decided it might be better to eat inside where there is access to a loo. So we ate again in the Balaton cafe.
I enjoyed a jacket potato with a dressed crab.
There is a small fun fair close to the sea front and we promised that Ekatarina could choose one thing to have a ride on. She said that we should look all round and that she would think "really hardly" to decide what she would like.
I am so glad that she chose the small carousel with its prancing horses.
She liked it so much.
So of course we let her have another ride.
We walked back along the sea front - passing the seaside gift shop with its stand of shining, sparkling windmills. And Ekatarina just had to have one!
Then we drove back to Arundel, passing the entrance to the Ford boot sale on the way.
Arundel looks good from all angles. I especially like the narrow road up towards the High Street which has the cathedral towering above you.
This cathedral is Roman Catholic, which obviously suits Ashley very well. And Bill and I had never been inside, despite passing it many times. It used to be a landmark in the days before were married when Bill would take me in his little mini to the sandy beach at Clymping.
Ekatarina saw the candles burning in the church and asked to light one. I like doing this too, although I have no specific strong faith. I just like the idea of letting positive thoughts and wishes go free in a beautiful and spiritual environment.
I asked Ekatarina what her special hopes were as she lit the candle.
Sorry - no deep and meaningful reply!
She was hoping for really good birthday presents!
Ekatarina and I enjoyed looking at the windows and the statues.We noticed that the local saint - St Philip Howard had his dog in stone with him.
She loved the big round stained glass window and she took this photograph of it.
This cathedral is not really old - built in 1880. But a medieval style was used and it has a good feel to it. The ceilings are very high but it is not too big and felt very much more like a big parish church, with a living faith, rather than the tourist attractions which some of our biggest and best known cathedrals have become.
Then we went down to the bottom of the town and walked along the banks of the river Arun - just a few miles upstream from the estuary we had been by in Littlehampton.
The castle makes a splendid backdrop.
It has been a full and tiring day and both Ekatarina and I enjoyed some new experiences. At home Ecky has decided that she really enjoys a shower - and has had 2 today! In the cafe she devoured the plate of bread and butter that Ashley ordered. Not so strange - except that before today she has always demanded just dry bread. And I had never eaten dressed crab before.
In the car as we travelled along we played pretending games as usual. Today we were 2 butterflies who liked interesting experiences but we also had to look after our large families. We competed in the butterfly Olympics - guess whose butterfly won the gold medal! I'll give you a clue - my butterfly won silver!
