This is the view from our bedroom window this morning - the sun is shining, the sea is calm and the ferry is on its way from Newhaven just along the bay to Dieppe in France. We took the trip across last summer to visit some friends in Normandy but the sea couldn't have been more different - it was blowing a gale and very rough and I was VERY ill. After church yesterday, Christy and Phil went for a swim while I got lunch ready. I noticed thatthe water temp at the lifesavers hut showed 16deg - a bit nippy!!
Phil wanted to prove that he can take photos too. On Saturday we walked a section of the Ouse Valley Way which begins in Seaford and goes along the river bank for 42 miles. We just did about 8 miles but will do another couple of sections this week.
For the past couple of weeks there have been shoals of mackeral coming into our bay each morning and evening and the local fishermen have been having a field day. They have a trace with about 6 hooks on it and some red feathers instead of bait. Every time they cast out they haul in 4 to 6 fish. This chap came down for about 10 minutes on Saturday and then left with a full bucket. Even Keith Knox would enjoy this sort of fishing - no smelly bait and success on every cast.
Seaford was a hive of activity on Sunday afternoon. The local brass band marched past on its way to the Martello ( a fortification from the days of Napoleon just 200 metres along the bay) where there was a market. We had a look around there then headed off for the recreation ground for a game of Boules. Olive was giving Phil a bit of coaching - she looked quite frail but was quite a shrewd boules player - I was hopeless - too much speed and not enough accuracy. Also at the Rec Ground was the regional finals of Stoolball - a game we have never ever heard of - there were 4 games going on simultaneously- all the players were women, mostly in their 30s and 40s - its a cross between cricket and softball - quite strange.
Then it was time for Christy to go to Heathrow to pick up Andy - he has been in Northern India and Bhutan for the last month with a group of 24 diadvantaged or disabled young people - many of them have significant physical and emotional problems including 2 who are wheel chair bound - their website is at www.jolttrust.org.uk. We have only spoken to him briefly twice and he seems to have had a wonderful time inspite of a few tummy bugs. Christy has had me making clothes while I've been here - she's wearing one of the dresses to meet Andy.
