CLIVE AND THE NEW FOREST

The start of half term combined with a Bank Holiday was marred by ghastly weather. Cold and raining. We had arranged to go down to the New Forest and stay with Clive Bowring for a couple of nights, and with dire warnings about the likelihood of millions of cars on the roads, we left early for the drive down to Fritham. And of course, the traffic was quite ordinary!! So we reached Winchester by 9 am and decided to have some breakfast and then have a look at the famous Cathedral. Very impressive of course and highlighted with a viewing of the Winchester Bible, a 15th century document. In addition there were other early tomes dating back to the 13th century - quite remarkable.

On down to Clives where we were met with a bottle of Moet pink champers! Clive's friend Dave arrive and we went off for a drive through the New Forest which was alive with sightseers, and dozens of the New Forest Ponies -lots of them with newborn foals. Visited Brockenhurst where I had lived in the 1930's. The photo above is of the house that we lived in.It is now a private residence but when we were there it was the Police Station with Dad as the local bobby.Brought back a lot of memories. Drove on to Lymington and walked down to the Quay and had a drink in the quayside pub. Then back to Fritham and Spaghetti Bolognese with copious quantities of wine before retiring to bed!

It was still raining on Sunday, but notwithstanding the dreadful weather we all decided to take the high speed ferry across to Cowes on the Isle Wight. Found a great little clothing shop where Carol bought a "hoodie" as she was feeling the cold. Then into a magnificent old pub for a delicious meal and a dram or two. Back to Clives and a quiet late afternoon - I watched the BMW Masters Golf while Clive had a nap,Carol read, and Dave departed for his place. We had planned to go out to Lyndhurst for a Chinese dinner, but I suggested to Clive that the weather was too awful,and we scratched around his batchelor kitchen and managed to cook up some delightful omelettes.

We left about 10am on Monday and drove along to Peter and Mary's place where we had arranged to have lunch with them. So another Pub - this time with a French restaraunt,a delightful meal and then home to Langdon Hills. Despite the weather we had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and now look forward to flying over to Berlin for three nights.