Thursday, May 13, 2010
Looking back to Tunbridge Wells and forwards to Icklesham.
The last two days have been spent making some attempts at getting things straight, making sure that I feel up to date with things.
The attempt has failed, because I still have things on the table that I bought at Ford a week ago and I have not described anything more for EBay this week.
We had thought of going to Ford this morning, but we felt tired and felt that working at home was more important.
I have done the Pilgrims Antiques Centre blog for the week.
http://pilgrimsantiquesweststreetdorking.blogspot.com/
I enjoy doing it; I enjoy the added focus it gives to my life within the shop community.
More importantly we have sorted out what we are doing for Bill's birthday.
We have talked for ages about going somewhere for a couple of days.
I felt it should be special - the sort of hotel that we wouldn't normally go to, maybe.
Bill was finding it difficult to decide on anything.
We knew we would never actually do anything about it until quite close to the event and today we found the ideal compromise.
We are having bed and breakfast in a barn conversion in Icklesham.
We could have not bothered with the breakfast - but decided it would save us thinking about having lots of extra things with us.
Our very friendly hostess will leave all we need for a large and varied breakfast, which we will then sort out ourselves.
We will be away for 3 days - two nights.
We will go on Wednesday morning and return on Friday evening.
This compromise is just what Bill needs - a little house of our own for two nights, from where we can explore Winchelsea, Rye, Hastings etc.
http://icklesham.east-sussex.co.uk/directory/1097/parsonage-barn-annexe/
I am really looking forward to it.
We love to explore. We love to look with our cameras.
On Tuesday we did just that for a while in Tunbridge Wells.
This was where the funeral service was held.
But first we had some time for ourselves.
You can see this picture on the shop blog too.
The tree, laden with blossom, was in Calverley Gardens. It has enhanced my page of items, the colour of Spring blossom.
I remember a band concert in Calverley Gardens on my 7th birthday. It was in the evening and I guess I stayed up late for it with my Grandparents, who I was staying with at the time.
I looked up and saw this panelling of art nouveau style windows round a shop.
There is a fantastic household/hardware shop in The Pantiles.
The buildings of The Pantiles still hold their elegance - but a faded elegance perhaps. We noticed a number of empty shops.
Balconies and columns.
The view from the stage across the floor of the house, with views of balconies and the upper circles.
Balcony detail.
One of the balconies above the stage.
Another stage balcony.
She sat alone with her orange juice all the time we were there.
Above her are old photographs of The Pantiles and The Opera House.
The attempt has failed, because I still have things on the table that I bought at Ford a week ago and I have not described anything more for EBay this week.
We had thought of going to Ford this morning, but we felt tired and felt that working at home was more important.
I have done the Pilgrims Antiques Centre blog for the week.
http://pilgrimsantiquesweststreetdorking.blogspot.com/
I enjoy doing it; I enjoy the added focus it gives to my life within the shop community.
More importantly we have sorted out what we are doing for Bill's birthday.
We have talked for ages about going somewhere for a couple of days.
I felt it should be special - the sort of hotel that we wouldn't normally go to, maybe.
Bill was finding it difficult to decide on anything.
We knew we would never actually do anything about it until quite close to the event and today we found the ideal compromise.
We are having bed and breakfast in a barn conversion in Icklesham.
We could have not bothered with the breakfast - but decided it would save us thinking about having lots of extra things with us.
Our very friendly hostess will leave all we need for a large and varied breakfast, which we will then sort out ourselves.
We will be away for 3 days - two nights.
We will go on Wednesday morning and return on Friday evening.
This compromise is just what Bill needs - a little house of our own for two nights, from where we can explore Winchelsea, Rye, Hastings etc.
http://icklesham.east-sussex.co.uk/directory/1097/parsonage-barn-annexe/
I am really looking forward to it.
We love to explore. We love to look with our cameras.
On Tuesday we did just that for a while in Tunbridge Wells.
This was where the funeral service was held.
But first we had some time for ourselves.
You can see this picture on the shop blog too.
The tree, laden with blossom, was in Calverley Gardens. It has enhanced my page of items, the colour of Spring blossom.
I remember a band concert in Calverley Gardens on my 7th birthday. It was in the evening and I guess I stayed up late for it with my Grandparents, who I was staying with at the time.
Bill amongst the colourful flower beds.
We continued down the hill, down The High Street, with its interesting little shops and on into The Pantiles.
I think Bill has a fetish about shop window mannequins!
They quite often feature in his photographs.
I looked up and saw this panelling of art nouveau style windows round a shop.
There is a fantastic household/hardware shop in The Pantiles.
We have taken pictures inside on another occasion.
On Tuesday I enjoyed the window full of cake tins of many styles.
The buildings of The Pantiles still hold their elegance - but a faded elegance perhaps. We noticed a number of empty shops.
Balconies and columns.
Then we climbed up the hill again - you would have to be fit to live in Tunbridge Wells!
We were going to the Opera House.
It was once a place of entertainment and is now a pub and eating place run by Wetherspoons.
The original character has been maintained and there are occasions when entertainments are laid on. There will soon be a Gilbert and Sullivan night.
The view from the stage across the floor of the house, with views of balconies and the upper circles.
Balcony detail.
One of the balconies above the stage.
Another stage balcony.
We enjoyed a good meal.
We both chose meals which are new to the menu. I had sweet chilli noddles and vegetables, with breast of chicken. Bill had haddock and mozarella fish cakes.
It felt really relaxed as we chatted and wondered about some of our fellow diners.
She sat alone with her orange juice all the time we were there.
Above her are old photographs of The Pantiles and The Opera House.
There are lots of photographs and posters giving the history of the building.
Sometimes Wetherspoons really get things right - and in Tunbridge Wells they certainly have.
Perhaps tomorrow I can get the dining room table cleared at last.
I only have one EBay sale tomorrow - that's the old, broken violin. The bidding now stands at £26.
Time for a cuppa and to catch up with the news.
I am turning to the BBC site for updates on what is happening in Bangkok.
The army now have orders to barricade the red shirt protesters. I am just praying that people can be calm and sensible.
I am not fearful for the country as a whole - the family Monk are in no danger. They live at least 500 miles from Bangkok.
But it is not good for Thailand and not good for those who earn their living from the tourist trade.
Labels: Places in England
