BLUEBELL RAILWAY

We had a pretty wholesome time celebrating Stanley's second birthday. It is so nice having a small child around as it often means you wake up early (probably hangover free) and make the most of the whole day. We took the opportunity to go and visit the Bluebell Railway as his birthday treat as it was one of the things both myself and ben visited as children and it is so lovely to be able to re-visit and share childhood experiences we had with our own child. The day wasn't sunny as promised, but it was at least dry(ish) and we had such a fun time.

 

Stanley of course loved it, giant life sized 'Thomas' type trains....hey what is there not to love! The whole station is kept so well, thoughtful details like old posters which makes it all feel very real. There have a lovely little museum there too which we took a wander round. The only part I felt disappointed about was the restaurant. It looked really old fashioned british and not in a good way. Maybe like an early '90s Weatherspoons pub or something. I was surprised it hadn't been given a make-over in keeping with the rest of the place. I was hoping for an old fashioned tea room or cafe like in Brief Encounter, but alas no.

Our train called at two stations (where you can get off it you want to) then it takes about 20 minutes to move the front section of the train to take us back again. We saw lovely countryside, plenty of wildlife including a large herd of deer as well as some hunters out for, I assume,  pheasants. We were frightfully british (and on a budget) and took our own packed lunch, egg sandwiches and leftover birthday cake no less washed down with a cup of tea. I felt like we had fallen straight out of the Railway Children or a Famous Five book, either way I couldn't have been happier!

Here's to a happy 2013 exploring what Sussex, and maybe further afield in Britain has to offer.

A CHRISTMAS WALK

Which started pretty well but ended not so great! Ben got given a pub walks book for his birthday and keen to test it out with friends we set of the other day around half 2. We set out from the Half Moon pub in plumpton. The weather was beautiful - a low, warmish sun and pretty winter light. All was well with the babies snuggled and warm in their backpacks.

Yes it is true - we have matching backpacks we both bought off eBay! (Vaude, if you are interested...) the walk was only 3 miles long, and although it was uphill for a bit of it, it was totally worth it for these views.

Everything was fine until right after I took these photos of the cows. Then both kiddos decided they'd had enough at exactly the same time and without any real warning just decided enough was enough with the walk and they started to cry. Pretty loudly, and would not be comforted or bribed with snacks. Both myself and and my friend had to remove babies from back packs and wobble downhill carrying them in our arms with cries of "mummy mummy" still coming from them!

To add insult to injury the pub kitchen closed 10 mins before we got there. Still, what we learnt from this experience was to go a little earlier in the day when it was warmer, no further than 2 miles, and always check pub kitchen timings! At least we enjoyed a swift ale and some warming up time by the open fire before heading home. I now more than ever though want to move to the country. Around where we walked is ideal, such beautiful countryside, nice pubs and lovely little villages. Money is stopping us move for now, so the farm dreams will just have to wait a while. At least it is only a few minutes drive from our house at the moment to experience this stunning countryside....and I can keep dreaming of course ;)

A BIRTHDAY WALK

My birthday is actually tomorrow, Monday, but seeing that it is a Monday and actually I and Ben have to work we decided to do a little something nice over the weekend instead. We were due to go camping with friends but their little one was poorly so we decided a cold night in a tent would be no fun at all.... So last minute we decided just to take a drive 5 minutes to Devils Dyke for a walk. We are super lucky that where we live we have the sea below us and the Sussex Downs behind us, all within a very short reach. The weather was perfect for a walk, not too hot and no rain. Stanley enjoys being in his back pack so off we set with the promise of a cream tea at Saddlescombe Farm!

the start to our walk 

beautiful wild flowers

hiker's rest

amazing cream tea for two

friendly chickens

sleepy sheep

Stanley's first cupcake all to himself (although he didn't want much more than the frosting!)

on our way back

perfect english countryside

countryside catalogue poses!!!

So then Monday I turn 34. THIRTY FOUR!!! How did I get to be so old?! This birthday has come round so quickly. I also feel that I don't need to celebrate it so much anymore, maybe a baby does that to you. I'm sure Christmas this year will be the same. I'm excited about Christmas for Stanley, not for me. Anyway we have good friends popping in for cake this afternoon, and that will be enough for me. Maybe I'll feel different when I hit the grand old age of 40, I think I'll want a huge party then! But for now, tea and cake and friends suits me just fine.

Hope you all had lovely weekends.
S & s

PS Sorry for the picture quality, I only had my iphone with me, not my fancy pants camera.

AN AMAZING SUNNY WEEKEND

We recently enjoyed some pretty amazing weather down here in the south of england. Ben had a friday off so we took advantage and cycled to the beach near us nice and early to bag the best spot and beat the crowds. We enjoyed a lovely picnic, some sunbathing and a splash in the water. Stanley loved hanging out in his shady tent and even took a long nap in it.

On the Saturday we again headed off early to Cuckmere Haven to go for a walk and test out the backpack carrier we bought second hand. (It's a 'Vaude' by the way and I can recommend it after our walk!) It is such a glorious part of the Sussex countryside, somewhere I've been to a lot as a kid, but not visited recently as an adult. The weather was perfect and Stanley seemed to be happy up high enjoying his view. We went for a little explore in the rock pools, admired the beautiful Seven Sisters cliffs. and ate another picnic lunch before heading back before all the crowds descended on our little bit of peace and quiet. Stanley even managed a snooze in the backpack resting his weary head on the padded head rest!

MAYBE SOMEDAY

i dream a lot about moving into the country. mainly on sunny days when we've gone for a drive. and through each little village i annoy my husband by saying "maybe here?" "or here?" or "do you think we could afford somewhere here?" and yes, that i guess is the main problem. money. i like the little house we have. we are very lucky to own it. not many of our friends own a whole house. it's not big or fancy, it's just a regular 1930s little suburban semi. we have spent an awful lot of time, energy and love on making it home. it was not in a pretty way when we got it. it was unloved and stale, all the 1930's character ripped out of it. i will save the treasures we have found to put back in it for another post ;) and now i love it. i know in many parts of the country it would probably be a cheap house. but here, in the south, property prices are crazy. and the same goes for living in the countryside in the south. what i'd like. well, what i DREAM about is big. is away from others with amazing views. a huge field for stanley to run around in all day. chickens. a goat. exploring, being close to nature. a more simple and quiet life. and that friends needs some serious money. on the other hand though i can't see us moving. making this little house into home has been amazing. stressful and expensive at times too, but now it's stanley's first home too, i feel very attached to it and don't want to leave it. but for now there is always dreaming ;)

1. the countryside of sussex || 2. our veggie plot last year || 3. tomato seedlings this year || 4. stanley enjoying the garden