Well, my dream/nightmare of five days offline has evaporated, as our cottage has Internet after all. According to Dave it wasn't listed in the amenities shown on the web site, which said if something isn't specifically listed it's not available -- but there's an exception to every rule, I suppose.
Anyway, here we are!
We arrived with no problems, though it seemed like a long trip (about three hours, door to door). We took the overground from West Hampstead to Clapham Junction, where we caught a train south that came straight to Pevensey (with other stops along the way, of course). There was some confusion in Clapham Junction about which train we needed to catch -- I asked a railroad employee on the platform who acted like I was speaking a foreign language. "Pevensey?" he said, repeating it back to me. "I haven't heard of that before." He dug out his mobile device and ascertained we wanted the train to Ore via Eastbourne, and that train was crowded and hot for the first part of the journey. Olga and I had to sit on the floor -- with Dave electing to stand -- until Gatwick Airport, when a load of people got off and we finally got seats.
Sleepy Olga let out a big yawn, which prompted the same reaction in Dave:
That just makes me laugh so hard.
When we finally got to Pevensey we caught a cab to the cottage, which is FABULOUS. As I told Dave, "It makes me feel so adult!"
It has glass bifold doors that essentially open up the entire wall to the beach. We have a little walled garden with hardy plants like cardoon, globe thistles and valerian, not to mention lounge chairs, a grill and a fire pit.
It's the ideal spot for coffee or martinis!
I took Olga for a walk on the shingle beach -- she seems uncertain about all those pebbles -- and found a beach-worn glittery geode.
Dave, meanwhile, ordered groceries and had them delivered, which eliminated our need to get another taxi. Yay for grocery delivery! Now we're equipped with all my essentials: milk, cereal, coffee, peanut butter, gin and wine. (And some other incidental nutrition, too.)
Today will be a laze-around-the-cottage day, with Poseidon (I think?) standing guard.
I still get a giggle at what the English so lovingly call a beach. I am allowed to. I am a pom who ended up in Australia where a beach is a stretch of golden warm sand (unless it's winter but it's still a stretch of golden sand!)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your break. It sounds marvellous.
Well THAT was certainly worth the trip. Wow. Wow. Wow! That GIF is hilarious. Good of Dave to let you share it. Have a great time. Oh, heaven!
ReplyDeleteYou have found a perfect spot for a lovely seaside break. I just hope that the weather gods are fairly kind to you.
ReplyDeleteP.S. The pebbly beach looks so much more interesting than a golden Australian strand. (Take that Sparkling Merlot!)
Dear god, that looks like heaven. I would walk and walk, and then sit on the little patio every night. I love how you take Olga everywhere; she is blessed.
ReplyDeleteIO will first say, before I forget it, that the cottage seems lovely, because I keep going back to Dave and Olga yawning!
ReplyDeleteThat's not a beach! Go to the Yorkshire coast for lovely miles of sand. I'm with Olga on the shingle. It seems that you're set for a nice time, anyway!
ReplyDeleteWell, it IS a beach, albeit a different sort than what some of us are used to. As long as you have an ocean in front of you, it's a beach as far as I'm concerned.
ReplyDeleteAnd that little cottage looks so charming! I love the idea of being able to open up an entire wall. Of course you could never do that in Florida- bugs. Even the gulls would probably come in, looking for food.
Enjoy it.
The view there is truly beautiful in every way. What a great place for a vacation for you, Dave, and Olga. Have a wonderful time there. Looking forward to your photos, Steve.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great vacation cottage and what a view. The place sounds perfect. I love the Dave and Olga yawns.
ReplyDeleteoh, what a fabulous place. jealousy oozing here.
ReplyDeleteGreat place to spend some free time.
ReplyDeleteThat picture of the double yawns, LOL. Does Dave think it's funny too? What a beautiful place you're staying. The blue sky is particularly promising!
ReplyDeleteThat view from your cottage is so lovely, Steve. Hope you and Dave and Olga have a terrific time with fabulous weather!
ReplyDeleteOmg, that gif is priceless—I imagine it with sound, each singing a note.
ReplyDeleteWhatever you call that ocean shore, I’d take it!
Love your essential holiday groceries too —but what will you mix the gin with?
PS I think Dave looks like actor Jeff Daniels here—does he in real life? Nice looking guy!
DeleteI love the dueling yawns - excellent film work by you. And that cottage looks perfect! I hope you have a fabulous week.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I agree with Fresca - Dave does look like Jeff Daniels. Cute!
I could watch that boomerang of Dave and Olga all day long! 😂
ReplyDeleteEverything looks fantastic. I'm wondering about Poseidon, though... it looks like something is bleeding and I'm afraid to ask what!
THE YAWN, staring Olga and her human side kick, well defined characters , lofty plot, impeccable timing.Award winner of the day. The beach looks fabulous, I love the stones that Sarah and I pocketed, semi- drilled by the sea. Excellent choice of get away. Looks like it may cost a month's salary but- life is short.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great cottage! Love the GIF. Too funny!
ReplyDeleteWhat a splendid place to visit the beach. And Dave and Olga might have to go on the Comedy Circuit one of these days. Ha! Enjoy yourselves.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of whitstiple
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the yawns for a little, sure enough, I was yawning as well. I read somewhere that this means you're empathic, which means you're most likely not a mass-murderer since most of them lack this.
ReplyDeleteI am not one indeed, although god knows some days I'm tempted!
The GIF is very funny and what a fantastic place, even if the beach is ah, different. Incidental nutrition? Snacky things I guess.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cottage! Your gif with Dave and Olga is hysterical.
ReplyDeleteOh! What a lovely spot! And I'm with Ms Moon, if there's an ocean then there's a beach, no matter what it looks like. Although that might be because we have some very rocky beaches here along with the sandy ones :D
ReplyDeleteThe gif is hilarious and sweeet!
The cottage looks nice, I could sit at that table and stare at that view forever.
ReplyDeleteCaro: Well, it IS a beach, but yeah -- not the kind you're used to. (Or I, since I'm originally from Florida!)
ReplyDeleteMitchell: Well, Dave didn't know about it, to be honest. But he laughed when he saw it, as I knew he would.
YP: The weather gods are due to begin frowning tomorrow, as I understand it.
Elle: I hope she appreciates it. Dogs mostly like their routines. But she DOES want to be with us.
Bob: Yeah, that's the highlight of the post for me, too!
Boud: It's weird how some beaches here are sandy and some are shingle. The beach around Broadstairs is beautiful sand.
Ms Moon: I was sitting here the first night thinking, "How amazing that there are NO bugs!" And there really aren't. An occasional bee or butterfly, but not inside.
Robin: We are enjoying it!
Sharon: It IS perfect. We couldn't have asked for better.
Ellen: It's MUCH cooler than Texas, I must admit!
Red: We think so!
Margaret: Yes, he got a kick out of it. He didn't know I'd posted the GIF until after I did it, but I knew he wouldn't mind.
Ellen D: The weather has cooperated so far, but it gets dicier tomorrow, as I understand it.
Fresca: Ha! Now I'm going to have to find music to pair with the GIF! Yes, Dave has been told before that he looks like Jeff Daniels. I didn't notice it when I first met him but I see it now.
Bug: My hubby the movie star! LOL
Kelly: Ha! Yeah, Poseidon is scary in many ways. And yet, I like him.
Linda Sue: Yeah, it wasn't THAT cheap, but it's well worth it!
Jim: I laughed so hard while making it!
Catalyst: I love how he responded to her yawn. We were all feeling that way, on that warm, airless train!
John: I have never been to Whitstable. One of these days!
Brigitta: I've heard that about yawning too, though I didn't realize the hypothesis had been tested on mass murderers!
Andrew: No, I meant incidental as in actual FOOD, as opposed to gin and coffee. My wry sense of humor again.
Allison: The perfect souvenir of our trip! LOL
Jenny-O: I imagine most of the beaches in the world are more rocky than sandy! The only time I'd ever say there's NOT a beach is if cliffs drop straight into the sea, or it's a muddy mangrove coastline.
River: It's a pretty amazing view!
Wow -- NOw that place is spectacular -- what a view! And Internet too. Probably just slow to update the website. I like your essentials -- works for me!
ReplyDelete