Sunday, July 29, 2007
19th July Lewes and The Marina.
One day last week we visited Lewes, a bustling country town built on The Downs below the imposing castle, now ruined.
Lewes has always been an important part of my life. I wonder how life would have turned out if my parents had pursued their interest in buying a house there when I was in my early teens.
This is a pretty cottage gate and garden at the entrance to the castle mound.
The view from the castle takes in a wide area of the Ouse Valley and across to the long sweep of the South Downs beyond, including Beddingham Hill where we used to spend our family holidays in tents when I was young.
We could sit outside the tents and see Lewes and if it was sunny the castle stood out well towards the top of the town.
This is the barbican gateway of the castle.
Down by The River Ouse is Harvey's brewery, where some exceedingly good beer is made.
Lewes was built on a steep hill and the main High Street is quite a climb for the weary shopper.
Lewes has always been an important part of my life. I wonder how life would have turned out if my parents had pursued their interest in buying a house there when I was in my early teens.
This is a pretty cottage gate and garden at the entrance to the castle mound.
The view from the castle takes in a wide area of the Ouse Valley and across to the long sweep of the South Downs beyond, including Beddingham Hill where we used to spend our family holidays in tents when I was young.
We could sit outside the tents and see Lewes and if it was sunny the castle stood out well towards the top of the town.
This is the barbican gateway of the castle.
Down by The River Ouse is Harvey's brewery, where some exceedingly good beer is made.
The Harvey's shops is well stocked and maintained, with lovely flower boxes adorning the building.
The Harvey's shop window displays a special brew of Thomas Paine beer.
Thomas Paine had spent a part of his life in Lewes.
Doing the blog pushes me to learn.... I knew almost nothing about Tom Paine except that he had written a book called The Rights of Man.
He lived from 1737 to 1809.
His time in Lewes was quite short, but it was where his enthusiams for political philosophy began.
He spent much of his life in the USA and was closely involved in the American Revolution.
Revolutions attracted him and he was in France to share in their Revolution also - and he became a French citizen.
But he ended his days back in the USA.
Below is a picture of of the windows of his rooms above the 15th century Bull House.
Lewes was built on a steep hill and the main High Street is quite a climb for the weary shopper.
When we were there it was quite busy - but of course I waited for a quieter moment to take the picture below.
Bill and I felt eager for a good lunch and some peace and quiet. Below are a couple of pictures showing the view from our lunch table at Wetherspoon's at Brighton Marina, away from traffic and noise.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Ekatarina's art work
Ekatarina's drawing has become much more skilful since we had last seen her in November.
Now, we can hope that maybe Jamie will find time to put some Jessica art work onto his blog.
It seems that both of our grand daughters are talented at art.
This shows her skill at colouring in. The Wetherspoon's activity pack has just 4 wax crayons and you may be able to see how she has blended colours to make new shades.
Monday morning - time for school. Her uniform is green, so she thought she would wear her matching cap.
Monday, July 23, 2007
16th July A brief look at Snowdonia.
We stopped for a short while in Snowdonia on our journey back from Bangor.
The A5 road takes us by Llyn (Lake) Ogwen and spectacular scenery. This time we didn't stop right by the lake but at the point where we can look back down the valley towards Bangor.
I have chosen 6 of Bill's photographs and 6 of mine. Some are a little similar - for we have developed a similar eye for pictures, but we did take different pathways for this brief stop.
Here are Bill's 6 pictures.
Llyn Ogwen and the view to the East.
The A5 road takes us by Llyn (Lake) Ogwen and spectacular scenery. This time we didn't stop right by the lake but at the point where we can look back down the valley towards Bangor.
I have chosen 6 of Bill's photographs and 6 of mine. Some are a little similar - for we have developed a similar eye for pictures, but we did take different pathways for this brief stop.
Here are Bill's 6 pictures.
The bridge carrying the main A5 road through the mountains.
Another view of the bridge. We had never seen before that a much earlier little bridge was tucked underneath the road bridge.
Now here are my 6 pictures.
Now here are my 6 pictures.
I love the wildness of bare rocky mountains.
The stream tumbles down from the lake.
Llyn Ogwen and the view to the East.
The view back down the valley.
The stream tumbles down into the valley.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
15th July Lladudno town. Wetherspoons. Owls.
We went to Llandudno (Clan - did - know) for a stroll and some lunch last Sunday. It was quite a dull day, weatherwise, so I bought some postcards for the blog.
Llandudno, like many of our seaside resorts is not as vibrant as it once was, but it is pleasant and the surrounding areas are lovely.
Children's meals come with activity books and crayons.
On the way back to the car we stopped in the small shopping mall where we had parked the car. There was a display of owls.
Llandudno, like many of our seaside resorts is not as vibrant as it once was, but it is pleasant and the surrounding areas are lovely.
The town is built on a narrow peninsular that links the main coast of North Wales to the Great Orme rocky outcrop, which you can see in another postcard.
The art work on the old railway posters is always excellent. In the 1920s and 1930s, when these posters were produced, people were content to go by train to a sea side resort and enjoy a week of bracing seaside weather. This was long before the days of mass holiday flights to Spain and beyond.
This card shows Great Orme. There are lovely views from the top. You can walk up (quite a long way), drive up or enjoy the old style railway or cable cars.
Now for some pictures we took - without the lovely bright blue skies.
We bought a wooden spiral sort of thing to hang in the garden from a shop on the pier. It is the second one we have bought in Llandudno.
The map on the Town Trail sign shows how the town is situated between the sea to the East and the West - though most of the built up area is on the East side.
There were not many people on the promenade. The town doesn't attract families much these days. Liz commented that it is all "old people and wheel chairs".
The view from the muti storey car park over the town to the North Wales mountains.
After our bracing walk it was time for lunch.
After our bracing walk it was time for lunch.
Ashley has recently discovered the Wetherspoon's chain. In Lladudno they are established in The Palladium theatre.
When we were there it was very full - Sunday lunchtime, but service was reasonable. We liked the way Wetherspoon's had maintained the old atmosphere of the theatre.
Children's meals come with activity books and crayons.
On the way back to the car we stopped in the small shopping mall where we had parked the car. There was a display of owls.
They were very beautiful and their feathers were so soft.
Friday, July 20, 2007
15th July Ekatarina in Red
I bought a red skirt for Ecky that she had wanted for a while. It has a very full skirt.
Here is a selection of pictures of Ekatarina the model girl showing off the red skirt.
Here is a selection of pictures of Ekatarina the model girl showing off the red skirt.
