Turning Wintery

While I have been off work looking for a new job I have been able to make the most of the lovely autumnal days and head out for some brisk walks.  I tend to just head along the seafront but I thought it might make a nice change to head up the hill and along the racecourse.  

There are some really fantastic views from up here and it's nice as it feels almost a bit countryside!

I saw some gorgeous red and orange colours as the different plants were turning and now a lot of leaves have fallen it definitely feels wintery.

Bring on the chilly weather, burning fires, crisp frosty mornings and the wintery Christmas season.

Impromptu Weekend

What a fantastic and social weekend we had.  Friday night we popped over to friends for pizza and Children in Need, on Saturday we headed over to lovely Lewes for a coffee, and on Sunday we drove to Chichester for a Thai Dinner for our friends 30th Birthday.

That was the plan anyway...but Saturday ended up turning from a lunch time coffee into a whole 12 hours of lovely conversations, copious amounts of red wine, a walk around Lewes castle and several pubs.

It is so nice when days like Saturday happen and that you end up having such a lovely time that you just end up spending the whole day together.  My friend Harriet and I had decided to have a coffee and then, realising our other halves had never met, we invited them along.

We headed to the Pelham Arms for lunch where I indulged in a very tasty burger and some wine.  After lunch I made the executive decision that not drinking wasn't fun at all and that leaving the car in Lewes for the night was the best idea!  It certainly was!

After lunch we wandered to Lewes Arms, a gorgeous little pub hidden behind the castle for some wine and to meet friends, after which we headed to the lovely Kings Head for more Merlot.

As if we hadn't eaten and drunk enough we shared a lovely Dinner with Harriet and Ellis at Pailin Thai Restaurant, Station Street, and then headed back to theirs for some late night board games and popcorn!

What a wonderful weekend, and I'm very much a believer that the unplanned, impromptu weekends are often the best.

Merlot at the Pelham Arms

Harriet and Me at the Lewes Castle Gates

So many lovely hidden gems to discover in Lewes 

Taking In Nature

We had such a wonderful time last weekend spent over in Canterbury at my parents house.  They are surrounded by woods and fields and the weather was so nice that both days we headed out for wintery countryside walks.

On Saturday we collected chestnuts and then roasted them in the oven that evening for a tasty treat while watching our own little fireworks display and standing around the (rather impressive) bonfire. 

Family and friends all came to join in and it was such a lovely autumnal gathering with mulled cider, hot dogs and gorgeous roasted chestnuts.

I didn't quite pull of the 'Walking in the woods' look that Eva from Creativity and Chocolate has pulled off here, but sometimes hiking boots, a bobble hat and a waxed jacket does the trick!

When you need some inspiration

I must admit I'm getting a bit stir crazy not having a job. I'm really loving the time to tidy and clean the house, make fun craft bits, do some painting and blog loads more but everyday I'm sitting in doors and I'm missing having people to talk to.

I had to get out the house and was delighted that I did as I discovered Marmalade.  This is a newly open coffee shop about 10mins walk from my house and it's lovely. I treated myself to a latte (soya as I'm trying 2 weeks without dairy) but I was sooo tempted by the lunch time pies, cakes and selection of breads.

The fact that my take out latte came in a pink cup was perhaps the most exciting thing of all! Marmelade I will definitely be visiting you again!

I feel happier this afternoon now I've seen something new and had a bit of exercise and fresh air- I almost feel like I could go for a nap!

Weekend Wanderings

We had had such a lovely weekend made up of birthday shopping for G on Saturday with G's parents at Dirty Harry's, Next, River Island, followed by a tasty coffee and a quick rest of the feet in Nest. 

We then headed for dinner at Jamie's Italian Brighton on Saturday night with gorgeous cocktails, tasty red wine and a fantastic special of the day beef and pork rigatoni.  We headed home to watch Stricty Come Dancing and Xfactor with G's parents while tucking into some tasty Aldi Gin that I had bought G for his birthday.

On Sunday morning I treated us to a tasty pancake breakfast and then I headed out for a gorgeous walk along the seafront on Sunday morning to see the annual vintage car run.  (Fab to see the cars but soooooo windy!)

Pretty Cappuccino in Nest Cafe

Funky light in Jamie's Italian

Bramble Cocktail - Jamies Italian

American Pancakes, Mushroom, Bacon and Scrambled Eggs

Gorgeous Vintage Car on Brighton Seafront

Very Windswept on Sunday Morning
Sunglasses - Cutler and Gross , Jacket - Barbour

Exploring the country

I have lived in Brighton for 4 years and there has been a walk that I have been waiting to do since I first moved in - Cuckmere Haven.  I don't know why it's taken me quite so long to get there, but this weekend I finally did.  My cousin came down to stay and it gave me someone to go with.  

The Park Trail that we picked is a 3 mile round walk which takes you up a hill over the side of the valley, passed the gorgeous meandering river, over and through farmland, and up onto the cliff top looking across the sea and the Seven Sisters.

From the top of the cliff we could see for miles, and most definitely didn't get too near the edge - one gust of wind and we would have gone over!  There is a plethora of chalk that has gathered on the grass and visitors to the area write their names and symbols on the grass.  I liked this heart and arrow - simple but cute.

Not only is the area fascinating for the geography, but also the area is steeped in History. It was used by smugglers in the 16th and 17th Century but the history that is still very evident today is the defences from World War 2.  There are pill boxes and tank defences and you could really picture how it would have been.  The atmosphere was helped by the war planes heading over every 10 minutes to the Eastbourne Air show this weekend.

We headed down the hill into the valley and followed the river onto the beach.  It was brilliant how on one walk we could see so much.

In the end we took a detour off the Park Trail and did a 4.5 mile walk and will all our stopping and examining the plants, pill boxes and beach we took 2 hours and had a fabulous time.

We got back to the car just as the heavens opened and headed back to Brighton for the compulsory fish and chips!

#CompulsorySelfie