The Eastern South Downs: My Home

A couple of years ago a friend of ours came to stay for a weekend. We took him along to a local farm to go cider tasting and as we hit the main road he was completely blown away by the view of the South Downs on either side of us. He just gasped and said, "How can you not be amazed by that?"

It's not that we weren't. I've always thought of that scene as beautiful, but I've known it so well since I was small that it doesn't make me gasp out loud like our friend each time I see it. To me it's just the way the landscape looks around my home. I never thought I took these views for granted, but recently his words have come back to me and I'm making sure that I absolutely take the time to love the beauty around me.

The South Downs has been a designated national park for the past couple of years now and I live in a small town nestled inside it. I grew up in a town just on the outskirts, and the village my parents now live in is only a few miles north of it. The South Downs have always been part of my life.

The park runs from St Catherine's Hill, Winchester, Hampshire in the West to Beachy Head, Eastbourne, East Sussex in the East. Its most southerly point is Eastbourne and its most northerly point is some village in Hampshire if I can trust Google maps. I am least familiar with the West side, knowing West Sussex only a little and not knowing Hampshire at all.

Weald & Downland Museum near Chichester -
of the less familiar, but still beautiful West side!

I do, however, know East Sussex like the back of my hand, and therefore I know this part of the South Downs pretty well.

I spent my childhood walking and cycling on the Downs with my friends, or hiking across them as a scout. I've spent my adulthood walking on them and always admiring the landscape at every opportunity. At my last job I had a spectacular view of the Ouse Valley flanked by Kingston Ridge and Firle Beacon on either side. In my current job I can see a ridge of Downland, beyond which lies Beachy Head.

Looking across to Kingston Ridge

One of my favourite places to go is Cuckmere Haven and Seven Sisters. This area is very popular with tourists but it is also very special to locals. The meanders of the Cuckmere River are well known, and the Seven Sisters cliffs are amongst the most iconic features of Sussex, and apparently they frequently star in films as the White Cliffs of Dover!* From trips here with school to walks with my husband, I don't think I could ever grow tired of this place.

The River Cuckmere meandering towards the sea

Husband paddling in the sea at Cuckmere Haven,
near where the Seven Sisters start

A chalk horse wanders across the Downs near Cuckmere

My entire train journey to work is accompanied by the Downs zooming past, and that is where my friend's words have returned to me most as I gaze out of the window, my thoughts often a million miles away. I've been taking the time to watch the new lambs running about the fields, a sight that always lightens my heart and fills me with joy. I give a little nod of acknowledgement to the Long Man of Wilmington, a chalk figure carved out in the grass centuries ago, standing tall above the A27 and the railway line as if keeping us all in order. On the way home, on the sunnier days, I love to watch the paragliders taking off from Mount Caburn, the bright colours of the wings emphasising the blueness of the sky and the greenness of the grass.

I am thankful for the South Downs. I am thankful to live in such a beautiful part of the country. I do not want to take them for granted. I may not always live in this area and so I want to continue to enjoy them for as long as possible.

Photos my own.

PS. Sorry I don't have a picture of the lambs, the Long Man of Wilmington, or of paragliders. I hope to take some in due course!

* Sourced from Wikipedia, but I've seen pictures of them mistakenly described as the White Cliffs of Dover on many a website too!

Waiting for Spring

Spring is... I want to say round the corner but I guess that it is just about here. It smells like spring, it looks like spring, but it doesn't feel like spring. It is still really cold. It keeps snowing on and off, which has never been impossible for March and April but is generally not heard of. Now the temperature is slowly going up, but very slowly. And this delightful north-eastern wind is keeping things feeling wintry.

At least the sun is shining. That gives me hope.

I'm really sorry I've not been blogging recently. I still have plenty to write about but I have been exhausted and just not had the energy to write in the evenings, or even at the weekend. In fact I'm feeling pretty tired now. However, time has gone on long enough and I am determined to get back into this writing thing. I even worked on my novel yesterday, and I have an article to write up for the church magazine. It is time to wake up because I can't wait for spring forever.

So, I thought I would give a little catch-up of what I've been up to recently, other than just dreaming of sunshine and warmer temperatures!

A Race: My husband ran the Brighton Half Marathon in mid-February, on what turned out to be a gorgeous day to be beside the seaside. The sky was a brilliant blue and the sun beamed down on all the runners. He did really well, beating his personal best, and is now more enthusiastic than ever to carry on with this running malarkey.

Palace Pier, Brighton - I was practising with a fish-eye lens.

A Hen Do: At the beginning of March I went to the hen party of my brother-in-law's fiancee, which was afternoon tea at a posh country hotel on the Ashdown Forest. There were plenty of sandwiches, scones, and cakes, as well as lots of tea. I was incredibly full and I only managed to eat just over half of my share of the goodies. It was a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

A Wedding: A couple of weeks later it was the wedding day itself. The weather had taken a turn for the worse - gale force winds and freezing rain. Nevertheless, the bride managed to stay unruffled and looking absolutely beautiful for the whole day and everyone had a really great time.

They got married in the church where her parents had married over two decades before, which was a really nice touch. The reception was at a country hotel - a sixteenth century manor situated in lovely grounds. Although some photos of the bride and groom were taken outside, the rest of us chose to stay in the warmth and just admire the view from the windows!

My husband was the best man, and he fulfilled his duties very well, keeping his brother calm in the morning, looking after the rings, and giving the expected amusing speech at the reception.

It was quite a small wedding consisting of family and only a few very close friends, but it was a great day and we all really enjoyed ourselves. I am thrilled to have a 'sister' now, and my husband and I look forward to supporting them both in their marriage.

Some of us stayed at the hotel that night. We had to duck under low beams to find our room at the end of a passageway. It was huge with an en-suite bathroom, and an extra room which had single beds for children in it! The bed was very grand with a tall, wooden headboard adorned with intricate carvings. It was fit for a king's friend, no doubt!

Other than that life has consisted mostly of work, volunteering, and trying to stay warm! We've also celebrated my brother's girlfriend's 21st birthday, gone in search of a mine (yes, it is as random as it sounds), managed a few chilly walks on the Downs, and tried to enjoy playing in the snow on the days when it has settled thickly. Life continues to be busy and full of interesting things, but I will not be sorry to see a heat wave soon.

I hope that this has now marked my return to the blogging world, and for those of you who follow me, thanks for sticking around, I appreciate it! :)

Bear With Me

It's taking me some time to come out of 'hibernation'. We've just recovered from a freak spurt of heavy snow - not impossible for March, but still not very common in these 'ere parts - so things are very cold again.

I haven't forgotten my blog and there are so many things I've been wanting to write about, but I've been finding things a little difficult recently and just want to sleep. Let's hope that true spring is not that far away now and that I will soon have a little more energy!

This fennec fox and I have much in common right now *hide*

In the meantime, thank you for all your excellent blogs. I continue to enjoy reading them even though I've not been much of a commenter of late.

Photo my own.

Valentine's Day Memories

1992
I was 7. I gave my boyfriend of the time a little cake with a dog on it. He gave me a scented card with a fairy on the front and a single red rose. We shyly kissed in the cloakroom at the exchange of these presents. I was smiling, he went bright red. We were the couple at our school at that time.

1997
I was 12. I was a skinny nerd with a horrible fringe. There was no way the 'cute' guy with the curtain haircut would ever fancy me - he was far too cool, his girlfriend was gorgeous, and most of the girls in our year had a huge crush on him. Yet when he received a box of chocolates on Valentine's Day everyone thought that I had sent them. He barely knew I existed, and I never even talked to him, let alone flirted with him. I swear to this day that I never bought him those chocolates, but I do know who did, and it wasn't his girlfriend!

Valentine's Day got worse each year that I was at school, until the point where I believed I was above it all and no longer needed to acknowledge its existence, even though deep down I still longed to find a card snuck into my locker.

2003
My best friend and I gave each other hilarious, terribly hand-made cards. I never did figure out who mine was really from. Joseph Fiennes? Aragorn? Scott Tracy from Thunderbirds? Or perhaps it was Mr Darcy... Hers was from Indiana Jones.

2006
My halls of residence at university decided to raise money for charity by running a 'postal' agency for Valentine's Day, where you could send a chocolate heart and a love note to someone's room. A friend and I sent one to a friend of ours who had a major man crush on Mark Antony. The immensely heartfelt note read:

Blood is red

Veins are blue

You've conquered my heart

So I'll rally to you.

Rally to me, rally to me

Your Mark Antony

I've never seen anyone so genuinely chuffed with a Valentine. Cleopatra would have seethed with jealous rage.

2009

Our first Valentine's together. Neither of us had ever had a proper Valentine before (the kiddy ones don't count!), so we felt it would be nice to acknowledge it. He bought me breakfast in bed and a small bunch of beautiful red roses. I wrote out one of Shakespeare's sonnets for him in silver pen on red heart-shaped card.

Now

Years of teenage angst and a deep-rooted wish to reject commercialism should have made us hate Valentine's Day. We don't hate it, nor do we love it, but we'll always make a little gesture that is very 'us' and that's it, why not?

Photo my own - Asian short-clawed otters at London Wetlands.

I Love Snow

Snow was not a regular feature of my childhood. Over the past four years we've received a decent amount in England, more than I ever knew when I was younger. Nowadays the snow sometimes lasts for more than a day (imagine that!), so I do get pretty excited about it.

It started snowing where I live on Friday morning, after I had left for work. About mid-morning I decided it would be sensible to relocate to the office that is near to where I live, as public transport frequently becomes disrupted by snow and ice in this country. I sat back on the train, admiring the scenery as it whizzed past, the Downs already dusted in an icing sugar coating.

Back in my hometown the snow was falling heavily, and I enjoyed the chilly walk through it to the office. I logged onto a spare computer by the window where I could steal the occasional glance at the dancing flakes as they continued to twirl and fall from the sky.

By the time I reached home there were several centimetres on the ground. It eventually stopped later that evening. There was no more snow on Saturday, although as the temperature didn't get above freezing so the snow that had settled from the previous day didn't melt. It was a day for staying in, keeping warm, and baking banoffee muffins.

On Sunday we woke to heavier snow falling from the sky. It continued all day, and this time we took the opportunity to go for a wander and enjoy the magic while it lasted.

Snowy train tracks

Through the castle's barbican gate

Traipsing in the snow, drinking hot chocolate, and stopping to admire the views was a welcome boost to my spirit.

I went to work as normal today. There is still plenty of snow around, although it's retreating to the less beautiful, more slushy stage. I sigh because I'm sad to see it go, even though I know it's for the best. This country is not known for its ability to run normally in snowy and icy weather. But I love it. I love the magic and the beauty it brings to this otherwise dull month. I look forward to the next time, whenever that may be.

Photos my own.

Er...Hi 2013...

So far I don't have much to say about 2013. I mean, we welcomed in the New Year in a fun way - leaping into it, Danish style, in the middle of a masquerade ball themed wedding reception - probably the best way I've ever started a new year.

New Years Day was beautiful with the sun shining brightly for the first time in a fortnight. That's not a bad way to start at all.

However, the drudgery of the weekly work routine has set in all too quickly, my husband is working too many night shifts for my liking, and it's, you know, January. BLAH.

A lot of people have been writing inspiring and thought-provoking blog posts about their hopes and dreams for 2013, their New Year's Resolutions, their fresh starts. I definitely welcomed 2013 much more happily than I have welcomed in any other year for some time, but still not with the same gusto as many others appear to have done.

I anticipated that my enthusiasm would disappear within a couple of days, so it's not much of a shock that I feel the way I do now. Flat and grey and tired and bored and apathetic.

Having said that, I am pleased with myself that I am soldiering on. That I am taking the time to drink in the good stuff, and to make plans, and to keep my brain occupied. But it is taking a lot of effort. Every minute of every day I am having to make a conscious decision to stay strong and face the winter. I don't want to. I would rather stay in bed. But I am trying, and am so far succeeding. I will keep going.

I don't have resolutions. I don't have any particular hopes and dreams, at least not any that I feel comfortable sharing on the interwebs. I am making a daily effort to keep at the things that will make life a little better in the long run. I don't like it because it is hard work. I do like that I am not alone in my hard work. And that is how I still soldier on.

Farewell 2012!

The wind is howling, the rain is pouring, and I've got a masquerade ball themed wedding reception to get ready for. So that must mean it's time to wrap up 2012 on my blog! Initially I didn't think I had anything to say, but on reflection a lot has happened in the past twelve months:

2012 was a good year for:

Babies - Seven babies have been born this year to friends, six girls and one boy. Some of the births were tough, others more straightforward, but thankfully each baby is thriving. I have met four of these babies and they are such treasures, each with their own beautiful personality. I have a very special soft spot for my best friend's daughter, who was born in June, and who I finally got to meet at the beginning of December. We don't live close, which I find difficult as I want to be there to help and support my friend whenever I can, especially now that she has a child. The weekend I spent with them was just wonderful. I definitely have a new friend in her gorgeous little girl, who in less than an hour was crawling from her mummy onto my lap and giggling and smiling at me.

Sport - The Olympics and the Paralympics 2012! These two events were fantastic, and it is true that they inspired (most of) the nation. Initially my husband and I had no interest, even ignoring the revered torch's passage through our own hometown. But it was impossible not to become caught up in Olympic fever, particularly as Team GB began to win an ever impressive haul of medals. We found ourselves scouring the website for tickets and ended up going to see the Men's Freestyle Wrestling at the ExCel Centre in London.
We found ourselves back there again in September for the Paralympics to watch the Women's Sitting Volleyball medal matches! Both were a great experience. We didn't get to cheer on Team GB at either event, but the atmosphere was such that you could root for anyone.
Memories have definitely been made. From being caught up in the euphoria at Hyde Park as Mo Farah won his second gold 2012, in the Men's 5000m, to sitting on the edge of my chair in the work tea room as my colleagues and I watched the Brownlee brothers achieve gold and bronze in the Men's Triathlon, to sitting at home catching up on the Gymnastics on iPlayer, and cheering Beth Tweddle on for winning bronze in the Women's Uneven Bars, to watching in awe the outstanding achievements of the Paralympians.
Will I feel the same about Rio 2016? I hope so, and seeing as Brazil has a piece of my heart, I think that I will definitely want to engage in the Games again.

But it's not just been the Olympics and Paralympics that we've enjoyed in the sporting world. My husband has taken up running more seriously than ever, and he ran in his first ever half-marathon in November. We both joined the gym in September, and are both enjoying our improved fitness. I have developed a special fondness for the rowing machine, but I am not convinced that I will be the next Helen Glover or Heather Stanning, as much as I admire them!

Photography - My photography has only marginally improved, despite having complete ownership of one the cameras now. My husband has both the patience and the technical understanding to have mastered the art much better than I. His wildlife photos are brilliant, and he captured the fireworks on Bonfire Night beautifully. He's become so good that he was commissioned to take the official photos for our friends' wedding in Switzerland, and the results are fantastic. He's definitely got a gift there, to add to his long list of other talents!

Travel - Our holiday to Paris and Amsterdam in October was a brilliant break for us both. We had a great time, learnt a lot, and ate lots of different foods. I found using public transport in another country to be less scary than I thought it would be, and my husband found the same to be true of attempting to speak another language. We then went on a day-trip to Switzerland for our friends' wedding in December - crazy but totally worth it! We haven't gone far or wide, but three countries in one year isn't bad!

Academia - Both of my brothers had their graduation ceremonies this year. Brother 1 graduated with a Distinction in MSc Environmental Management with GIS in February, and Brother 2 graduated with a First in BA (Hons) Creative Writing with English Literature in October. I was lucky enough to be present at both ceremonies, and really enjoyed celebrating with my family. My husband completed his MSc in Clinical Biochemistry in June, and finally received his breakdown of results in November, achieving a very well earned Merit overall. His graduation ceremony will probably be in the summer next year, when we will undoubtedly celebrate in style.


2012 was a bad year for:

Weather - 2012 has now been declared the wettest year on record in England, and I definitely believe it! Much of the country has had bad floods, some places through the summer, but many more this winter. The rain and wind have been prevalent through so much of the year, and in 2012 Blighty has lived up to its rainy reputation more than ever.

Garden - Of course, the aforementioned bad weather has had a negative impact on the garden. Every food item we've tried to grow has failed, except for our strawberries, which grew surprisingly well. It was also a bad year for orchards, and my parents' pear trees yielded hardly any fruit so there was no perry brewing for us this year. The only plant that has done well, apart from wretched weeds, is the dark pink cyclamen that we thought we had killed last year. It's a little speck of brightly coloured joy in our otherwise grey and gloomy (and weedy) garden.

Colds - I mean, seriously, three in the space of two months? Not to mention the rest throughout the year. Come on immune system, buck up!

From left column to right - windmill in Amsterdam, USA vs China Women's Sitting Volleyball , Christmas gingerbread cookies for family and friends, fireworks at Newick Bonfire Night, Humboldt penguin at Drusilla's Zoo, Poppy Half Marathon at Bexhill-on-Sea, our exciting badges for our tour of Dover Castle's secret nuclear war tunnel network, birdwatching in late May, flower in the park on our 2nd wedding anniversary.

What will 2013 hold?

Weddings - My brother-in-law is getting married in March, and my husband will be his best man. It will be very much a family affair with quite a small number of guests. The bride gave me sneak-peek at the dress, and the reception venue looks beautiful, so I think it will be very lovely indeed. One of my best friends has recently got engaged, two of my cousins were engaged this year, and a family friend got engaged at Christmas last year, so there are potentially more weddings for 2013, or maybe 2014 - lots to look forward to in any case!

Running - My husband is running in the Brighton Half-Marathon in February, and the Beachy Head Marathon (the alleged hardest in the UK) in October. I will not be joining him, but I will be his most avid supporter. I will undoubtedly be running for the train every so often though...

Writing - I am now one of the official writers for the new church magazine, but more importantly I strongly hope that I can continue my fiction in 2013. I am missing it very much, and I know I need to make more time to write regularly.

I am sure there will be many more adventures, lots of stories, plenty of stress, intriguing developments, and an awful lot of tea drunk in 2013!

I wish you and yours a very blessed and Happy New Year!