Over the last few days, bar one, I've managed to get out in the garden. The lawn has been mown, paths have been cut back (of nettles mainly!), the covered patio has been weeded, and the driveway is nearly all weeded. It was so hot out there today I wilted a bit, and then Charlie got bored and barked at me to come and play with him, so I did that for a while too. He's so good, I forget sometimes that he's still a youngster. Ruby, my old golden retriever, would have just had a snooze whilst I worked away. I have plans to move the picnic table out to the front garden, near the front door, but this involves creating a level patio area out there as at the moment there is a significant slope! It will be good once done as the front garden is south facing, and in the summer guests could breakfast out there or have dinner there.
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I read about this festival in my National Trust magazine. I didn't know we had a Council for British Archaeology, but I'm so pleased that we do! Britain has such a rich archaeological heritage, and we are still finding amazing things. I visited Sutton Hoo, in Suffolk, last year for the first time, and found out that when the remains of the Anglo-Saxon ship/burial chamber were made in 1939, they didn't find a body because it had dissolved! All the treasures in there, which are now in the British Museum, indicated that it was a royal burial but to this day we don't know for sure who was buried in that boat.
I'm hoping there will be some archaeological sites near here for my guests to visit, as part of this festival. It seems like they are still putting the programme together. The best place to be on a hot day. I love sitting by the stream and hearing the running water. Charlie the dog is getting more confident about getting down steepish slopes into the water. I wanted to spend the whole day in the woods yesterday! I must be due a forest holiday! We are so lucky in Bexhill with a variety of places to walk our dogs: Highwoods, Collington Woods, Broad Oak Park, Bexhill Down, The Seafront and Beach, Egerton Park, and The Polegrove. You can also walk to Hastings along the coastal path (which is a cycleway too) from Galley Hill, or just go up the hill for the view. There's a cafe over the other side of Galley Hill (with access nearby to the Ravenside Retail Park where you will find M&S, B&Q, Curry's, B&M, Tapi carpets and floors, Tesco, Pets at Home and Halfords. There is also a swimming pool.) A little further along the coastal path, in St Leonards, I can heartily recommend The Bathing Hut Cafe which is vegetarian and has very tasty vegan snacks and cakes. Do check whether they are open as it will depend on the weather.
This post is for guests with young children (and dogs.) We are very lucky in Bexhill with our many play areas. The best large scale play area is in Egerton Park, overlooked by Bexhill Museum and a 5 minute walk from the seafront and the De La Warr Pavilion. Dogs must be on the lead in the park. You could walk to Egerton Park in 30-40 minutes. However, there are smaller playgrounds much closer to Nab Cottage, like this one below on Bexhill Down near St Stephen's Church. Most are fenced in but this one isn't, so you can take your dog along. There's a fenced playground on St George's Road, at the junction with London Road, a 10-15 minute walk away, and that one has green space around it for walking your dog. Sidley Recreation Ground, also 10-15 minutes' walk, has a fenced play area and an unfenced zip wire, and quite a bit of green space for a little walk with your dog, around the BMX track (pictured below.) Little Common Recreation Ground, which you can walk across Broad Oak Park to, has a fenced playground in the far corner (which is also right next to the Rec car park if you want to drive there.) If you walk from Nab Cottage it will take about 20-30 minutes depending which route you take.
This month St Michael's Hospice has a couple of fundraising events. Check out their website if you fancy paddle boarding along the Rother river, or checking out some Open Gardens. The National Garden Scheme also lists gardens to visit throughout the year. Just search for East Sussex to see the gardens in this area. Some allow dogs on leads. Next month sees the popular Bexfest at the De La Warr Pavilion - tickets are selling out fast!!
I'm all booked up here for the May bank holiday weekend. Hastings has many live music events over the weekend, mostly connected with the Jack in the Green festival (programme below.) It will get pretty lively there! Bookings are coming in for the summer here at Nab Cottage, so if you are thinking about booking, but haven't yet, don't miss your chance!
A few festivals near here:
Hastings Comedy Festival 10th-16th June: https://www.hastingscomedyfestival.com/ This festival has been running for a few years now and has plenty of comedy shows in various venues around the town. A pottery festival takes place at Glynde Place 10th-12th May: https://potfest.co.uk/visit/potfest-glynde-place/ Glynde Place is an Elizabethan Manor House in the village of Glynde which is open to the public on certain days in May and June (see their website for details: https://www.glynde.co.uk/) They also hold concerts. You can take the train from Bexhill to Glynde and then walk 10 minutes to Glynde Place (I've never done this so I can't vouch for the route. It looks straightforward, just one road - Lacys Hill - but I don't know if there is a pavement or how steep the hill is.) Glyndebourne - A must for opera lovers since 1934: A purpose-built opera house in Sussex, just outside the village of Glynde. The setting is fantastic, everyone dresses up to the nines, elaborate picnics are partaken of in long intervals (or there are indoor eating options), and the opera is world class. Their summer season runs May to August but they also have other events through the year. Glyndebourne is just 45 minutes' drive from here. They do run a coach from Lewes station (4 miles from Glyndebourne) at a cost of £10 return, and Bexhill is on a direct train line to Lewes (48 minutes) so you could enjoy some champagne with your opera picnic! https://www.glyndebourne.com/ |
Cathy Larkin
Owner and manager of Nab Cottage B&B. Archives
July 2024
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