Saturday 21st March 2009

We left the Kings Hotel and went across the road to have a browse in and around Christchurch Priory. An 11th century building, very interesting inside and out - www.christchurchpriory.org .
I worked near here for 3 years and I always looked for the salmon weathervane as I drove under the railway bridge into the town. I have always wanted to go up on top of the tower but it always seemed to be closed due to bad weather or lack of guides when I went into the Priory. Click on the following photos for more detail (that's a clue!)

And here we are at last! 176 very narrow and steep steps up (more like climbing a ladder at times). Thankfully no passing on these spiral stairs. And on such a beautiful day.
The legend is that a watch was kept for Excise boats from St Michael's Loft in the Priory and then the salmon was turned to warn the smugglers. It seemed to always point west when I worked nearby - not that that was in the same era! The Excise boats had to lurk outside the harbour as it was allowed to silt up to prevent them entering - which just shows that rather prominent people were involved in the trade!
Oh yes, this was the home of smuggling with trails leading out of town across the New Forest and into Cranborne Chase. I always took the stories with a pinch of salt until I worked in the museum neaby and saw the documentary evidence!

The Castle ruins, sand coloured Kings Hotel, Gary Rhodes restaurant just visible as the single storey dining room to the right of the Hotel, part of the mews development to the right of that, the Norman Constable's House and the bridge over the River Avon (our river) heading for its outlet in Christchurch Harbour.
Behind all those is the A35 with its Saturday traffic and off that, our route home under the red brick railway bridge.

Christchurch, the Castle ruins and St Catherine's Hill in the background.
Our house is somewhat north of that!

And moving to the other side of the tower, Hengistbury Head in the background with the Rivers Meet of the Avon and the Stour into Christchurch Harbour.

Friday 20th March 2009

To Christchurch, Dorset for our Gary Rhodes's restaurant meal and overnight stay in the Gold Suite of the Kings Hotel, all courtesy of the children as our Ruby Wedding Anniversary present! No photo of the meal as it was too divine to waste time with a camera! A really pleasant, delicious evening and such excellent and friendly service.
I remember this hotel as a tatty rundown building - now the mews has been sold off to pay for the refurbishment of the "boutique hotel" and the gated mews development looks really smart.
We loved the squidgy pillows, the fluffy dressing gowns and towels, the louvred shutters and the power shower - we don't get half that water pressure at home! And then the standard room service "continental breakfast" - how did we manage to eat so much after our Rhodes meal? Too good to leave, that's how!
We did enjoy ourselves, children - if you should want to send us off again ......

Saturday 7th March 2009

Ellie meets Foxy the horse and has a stroke: she also met all our neighbours' geese, sheep, turkeys and chicken!

Saturday 28th February 2009

Great Uncle Mike and Great Niece Issi watch the jackdaws on the roof (yes, the owl was spotted later!)

No photo of Harry - he couldn't stay still long enough!

Issi and Danni get down to the serious stuff - jelly and icecream. Danni waits for her plateful: the bits on her tray already are ones purloined from Issi's plate!