Tuesday 31 March 2009
Monday 30 March 2009
Exmoor March 2009
Day 1 – Finally set off on a much needed break for the trip to the White Horse Inn, Exford where we would be spending the next few days including the Missus’s birthday.
On the way down we took a detour to check out Weymouth, drove past the footie ground (scene of 9-0 thrashing as youth team had to play due to financial problems) and parked up at the RSPB reserve there. Enclosed between Weymouth town center and the surrounding suburbs it was a nice wander through lakes and reedbeds – plenty of the usual waterfowl though no sight of bitterns or birds of prey. Day 2 – The missus’s birthday, the other good thing not to have changed was the all you could eat Fried Breakfasts, still the best we have come across on our travels. Once full we ventured south and hit Exmouth. Parked up and had a wander along the seafront, much nicer than Weymouth, a proper seafront town with lovely beach. English bull terrier on it was icing on the cake for the missus, the old WW2 defences Coastal Defence and railway carriage cafe’s interested me. Day 3 – Headed off towards Porlock , but took an impromptu detour and ended up at DunKerry Beacon Highest point in Exmoor - decided to walk off breakfast and got to the highest point in Exmoor, cracking views over towards Wales and the surrounding countryside. Then headed on to Porlock, where we saw a nice dog picture that ended up being purchased and then a quick trip onto Porlock Wier. Would have a had a drink in the nice pub but were running out of time so headed back to the White Horse as we were due on the Safari. Day 4 – After one final glorious breakfast we were packed and off, a quick stop to purchase the chair (thankfully still available) then it was off trying to find market town we had stopped at previously and purchased some decent stuff – but it was not Honington or Axeminster (home of River Cottage Shop – expensive stuff. Then decided to return the way we had come as it was a sunny day, this time was able to see more than 10 meters and had a nice drive along the coast, stopped off for a wander along the beach before having a pint at the Ship Inn in Abbotsbury – very nice with good views over the fields able to see buzzards, kestrel, rooks, jackdaws, llamas,goats etc.
Then headed to the seafront, not too shabby though a lot of digging work going on on the beach so slightly marred. On the way back got some Kentucky for lunch. Carried on but dense fog meant quick stop at abbotsbury to eat the KFC before heading to exford direct after giving up on the scenic route so missed out on Chesil beach and the Jurassic coast.
Fortunately the White horse had changed little, a cosmetic change to the fireplace was noted but with the fire on and sloe gin available we were able to relax and look forward to the decent meals ahead.
Seafront over we headed into the town center for a pint at the delightfully named Powder Monkey pub – the missus managing to attract a local nutter during the brief stop.
Then headed along the coast to find the RSPB marked spot near topsham – village looked really nice (had the proper butchers, grocery store and a fair few pubs) and after parking up we wandered along the river side to the RSPB spot overlooking the estuary – godwits, redshanks and curlews in abundance with their eerie crys making it seem far more desolate than it was.
Then headed into the village , came across a great antiques place where we saw a cracking Library chair and an ideal table for the darts room. Retiring to the nearby pub – The Lighter Inn – had a couple of pints in the nice evening sun and decided to look at purchasing the chair aswell – got told we had to sort out delivery but they gave us some numbers of delivery vans to try. Headed back to the White Horse for more pints and food
Slightly worried when it was just us and 4 old age pensioners, but 2 at least were quite lively and entertaining and was good fun being chucked about in the back of a land rover seeing different parts of Exmoor (the roads were far too narrow for my liking so glad someone else was doing the driving). Saw plenty of red deer and buzzards for the missus. On return we sorted out the delivery at a decent rate so just needed to make sure the chair was still available the next day. Had our final meal which for me was the best as able to get steak and chips, alas the missus had too much rubbish fish and not what was on the menu – butwas the only issue of the break.
Then it was straight back to Pompey in time to have a wander along the beach in the afternoon sun before a welcome back pint in the Leopold.
Friday 27 March 2009
Visiting Marka
On the 7th March , we headed up to check out Marika’s new pad up the road from Ironbridge. After stopping off on the way for a much needed Kentucky we eventually found the place and quite nice it was too.
Saterday Morning saw us being made breakfast (accompanied by much muttering) by Marika which actually turned out ok. This set us up for the day, beginning with a tour around Marika’s old houses – making you realise how nice the new place was. On our return we checked out the local pub – the Beacon.
Inside of Marika's Local
Which turned out to be a good proper boozer. Some cheap pints later we headed off down to Ironbridge but had been intrigued enough by the advertised Saturday nights “Tez Experience” to endevour to return later that night.
IronBridge turned out to be a good little village nestling in the gorge, with far too many shops that the missus liked spending money in.
The Bridge
After picking up paintings, stags heads & housewarming gifts for Marika we toured a couple of the pubs there (none matching the Beacon) before having a quality chinese.
After it was a taxi back up the hill to the beacon and the Tez Experience which turned out to be a fella belting out some classic tunes and who was eager to fulfill our requests for Neil Diamond songs – a good night.
Tez in fine voice
Next morning had a dodgy throat, (nothing to do with Marika’s cooking), picked up the assorted house stuff and headed out to see Marie, who looked well (too fat in her opinion) and had a nice cuppa and chat. Eventually left with free choccies which the missus proceeded to eat.
Headed home, still feeling a tad ill, Little Chef on the way back before getting home
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