Rye Smile

Sorry about the dreadful pun but Karen and I spent a superb weekend at Rye on the South coast. We didn't wish to travel too far from home; for various reasons we've been feeling rather tired lately and needing a little time just to ourselves to recharge the old batteries and put a smile back on our faces. We love this area as it always seems to delight us with its fabulous wildlife, fresh air, beautiful landcsapes and 'skyscapes'.



This hut is so photogenic situated on the shingle beach accompanied by Yellow-horned Poppies.

I find being beside the sea so inspiring.



The other great feature of this weekend was the amazing food and hospitality that we received. On Saturday evening we strolled around Rye enjoying the many old buildings (these cobbled streets must have many tales to tell).
We also dined in style at Rye's superb Webbe's Fish Restaurant. Karen kicked off with 'Tiger prawn, aubergine, courgette tempuraThai cucumber and chilli dip', whilst I tucked into  'Hastings potted crab and toasted soda bread'. For main course Karen chose 'Grilled Flounder with smoked bacon, pan fried potatoes and cider sauce'. I treated myself to the 'Steamed panache of fish ( plaice, salmon, prawn, mussels, bass, cod & grey mullet!) with baby vegetables and saffron sauce. I finished off with 'Pear and blackcurrant crumble with vanilla custard and ice cream' - phew, it was sumptuous. I promise we did lots of energetic walking the rest of the time!

We were completely 'spoilt' by Tony and Diane Hayes, the owners of Oakland's B&B. In our all too short stay they made us feel like true friends and took time to chat with us and put us at our ease. Their house is on the ridge overlooking Rye and just down the road from Hastings and Battle (the whole area is known as 1066 country). Our room had stunning, uninterrupted views to the sea and over all the surrounding, beautiful countryside.  They were also responsible for the fact that we did not need any lunch - their wonderful breakfasts seemed to last us right through to the evening (well, apart from a cup of tea and cake at around 4pm)! Our breakfast cosisted of:
Fresh fruit and fruit juce, croissant pastries, perfectly cooked porridge, followed by bacon, sausage, tomatoes, eggs, black pudding & mushrooms - all made with very high quality ingredients. Then (just to make certain), toased homemade bread with their own delicious jams and marmalade. They even made tea just how we like it best - a 50-50 blend of 'Earl Grey' and 'breakfast tea'. Well we do have a certain reputation to maintain here in England!

I have NEVER seen so many dragonflies before. It is their breeding-season and the lovely sunny weather had brought them  out... all at once.



A final view looking over to Camber Castle. Henry VIII should really have named it Winchelsea Castle and I don't think the locals have forgiven him yet. In ancient times the town of Winchelsea stood on a shingle bank, behind which was situated a large bay called the Camber, which made an ideal safe anchorage for ships. In the 13th century the shingle bank was washed away and Winchelsea was submerged. Winchelsea was rebuilt on higher ground farther to the west in 1288.
When Henry VIII enbarked upon a vast coastal defence program (undertaken to protect vulnerable or important places on the south coast) Camber Castle was built at the location of Old Winchelsea.
History lesson now over; I'm off to join weightwatchers!!!