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Oh The Places We Will See

I haven't been everywhere, but it is on my list.

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One of the things keeping me sane at the moment are flowers. I am spotting beauty in corners of people’s postage stamp sized front gardens, in overgrown corners down streets, in parks and in graveyards. In fact, I would never have believed that my corner of the world had such beauty in it, that would normally go completely unnoticed by me. I don’t need to travel as far as I thought to spot blossom and bluebells and perhaps I will remember this in the future and be more content with the things that are closer to me. I might not have country lanes close enough to me to walk down, but there are some small park areas that I have discovered. They are a bit of a hike away and the walk to them thorough the outskirts of town isn’t always pleasant, or in anyway scenic, but the extra effort has lead to some extraordinary finds. If there is anything more beautiful than this crabapple blossom that I discovered on one such walk, then I am not sure I have seen it. These small treasures are worth the hunt.
Where would I like to go when I am free to travel again? Here would be near the top of the list. The freedom of being out on those cliffs on the end of the earth is very appealing. I love these cliffs. I have walked them in searing heat when we had the heatwave and drought (remember that?) and I have walked them in torrential rain. On both occasions the Beachy Head pub was a welcome sight for cooling off or drying out. One day perhaps, I will walk them in less extreme weather conditions! I love the walk as there is so much to see, starting with this gorgeous view which I will happily stand and stare at for hours. Next comes the stunning landscapes of Cuckmere Haven and the river which has the most perfect meanders, then you are onto the Seven Sisters themselves with their steep ups and steep downs. If you are flagging, soon you will reach Birling Gap which has a @nationaltrust cafe and shop, so a perfect lunch stop with tea and cake. After lunch, there is the reward of not one, but two lighthouses! First you come to Belletout which is now a BnB and soon after that, the iconic red and white striped lighthouse at Beachy Head - another point where I am happy to stand and stare for hours! If you need refreshments, the Beachy Head pub is now nearby. If you still have some energy, it is an easy walk from here into Eastbourne, so a handy place to book a hotel room if you want to stay in the area and rest those weary legs! Look out for my stories later, I feel the urge to recreate the walk in pictures now I have recreated it in my mind.
This week, I feel as if I have settled into the lockdown life with a calm that I haven’t felt since all this began. A walk in my local neighbourhood was slightly less fraught than usual today as the lack of sunshine seemed to have kept more people in doors. I spotted lots of the flowers that I would normally travel to go and see in people’s gardens which normally I wouldn’t even notice. Lots of little clumps of bluebells, an array of tulips, a rhododendron beginning to flower, a fuchsia bush and even some poppies. These lovely blossoms are in view of my window and I have really appreciated them this year, more than ever.
So, rumour has it that the wisteria is blooming. In which case, is that earlier than normal? This photo was taken at the end of May last year and the wisteria was looking wonderful then. The lovely Ebrington Arms has been serving beer to the locals in Ebrington since the 1600’s. It has been rated by The Times as the number one village pub in the UK. They serve amazing food and if you don’t want to leave at the end of the meal, there are five beautiful rooms available to stay in with views of the Cotswolds and a full English to wake up to in the morning. How blissful! Somewhere to head to once we are free to roam again.
Living in a small flat in a town isn’t easy when you are in lockdown. I realise more than ever, that my holidays are what keep me sane and get me out and about. However, one thing I have been grateful for is that in my car park, there are the most beautiful blossom trees which I have appreciated far more than normal this year. My neighbours think I have a screw loose when I keep going outside and taking photos of the blooms.Try not to imagine while looking through them, the hulking great white van which is permanently parked underneath!
Englefield House is a stunning Elizabethan country house. The gardens are magnificent and are open to the public (when we aren’t social distancing) on a Monday throughout the year. The estate has royal connections as the Middleton family live nearby. Pippa Middleton was married at St Mark’s Church on the estate and the reception was held inside the house. The Middleton family are often seen at events such as the summer fete and have been known to take Prince George and Princess Charlotte with them. The estate is often used for filming, including ‘The Crown’ where the house doubles as Sandringham. I had been looking forward to a spring visit to the gardens. Fingers crossed now for next year.

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