EIGHT DAYS IN ENGLAND

The past eight days in England were just as I had hoped: a calm, slow-paced escape from the norm back in the States.  Not that my regular norm isn’t slow-paced, for it is, I just needed to get away temporarily, to a new setting, to sort through thoughts and feelings.  Mission accomplished.  I feel stronger now, am dealing still with the loss of my son, but am feeling better. 

How could I not improve with the diversion of more than a week in Weymouth, Dorset, one of my favorite places on earth, with my dear friends Martin and Ali?  Of course they must be grateful to be back to their normal everyday routine after my departure, I’m sure of that.  Lol lol   We did do a lot of pubs while I was there.  I was on a quest to see all the old world, most charming pubs in the area.  And that we most certainly did.  Another mission accomplished. 

My favorites were the Springhead in Sutton Poyntz, the Nothe above Weymouth harbor, and The Cove Inn at Chesil Beach.  The Cove, where we had Sunday lunch, used to be my most favorite, but now I have to say the Springhead tops the list.  Plus we went to a restaurant that I will return to, we all three agree it is tops - the Bistro at the harbor.

On Tuesday night I went with Ali and Martin to a Chamber of Commerce get together at Stables near the new George Inn that used to be my favorite, now is not, it’s been modernized.  The George Inn, by the way, isn’t at all like I wrote in my novels, not at all.  New owners changed that totally, so instead of an Old World pub, it’s a trendy restaurant/bar.  Not my kinda place.  Anyway, we went to Stables on Tuesday and had one of the best gourmet pizzas ever!  I met some of the local businessmen and women, great group of people in the Chamber.  One was the owner of the Bistro Restaurant, quite an interesting woman – an attorney, lived in the Middle East at one time, was married there, now divorced, quite pretty and flashy, very outgoing.  Afterwards we all went to a neighboring gay bar with a handsome gay friend of hers that we met at the C of C, his partner is a Marine.  What an evening we had … Karaoke at a downstairs gay bar, a really neat place! Loved it.

On Thursday afternoon Ali and I drove to Dorchester and had lunch at Napper’s Mite, a place where Trish and I lunched last time we were in Weymouth.  It was built in 1615 and was used as an Alms house for ten poor men for a period of time and it even became a workhouse in the early 1800s.  Quite a history and is so quaint with all its heavy beams and nooks and crannies. Just love places like that. I had a cheese and onion Panini and coffee. Dorchester is Thomas Hardy country, of course, one of my favorite authors. There’s a museum there that houses artifacts of his and about him. I’ve done that on previous visits, didn’t go to the museum this trip. We did some shopping after lunch and returned to Weymouth to get ready to go to dinner with Ali’s daughters – Kelley and Amy, Kellie’s husband Sam and their three sons.  It was a lot of fun doing family stuff this time, I really enjoyed the time visiting, and of course the dinner at the Springhead. This trip was a lot about eating and drinking, friends and family, me thinks. 

Friday  morning I took a long walk (walked everyday as a matter of fact), this time to Greenhill park and crossed over to Brewers Fayre for a simple lunch before walking back to town and shopping for a couple hours.  That night, Friday, we had dinner at the Bistro, scallops to die for on my last night in Weymouth.  It was wonderful!  We ate, drank, and conversed with our owner friend till closing. I had also met her friend Alison (another Alison) at Stables on Tuesday and she joined us for dinner on Friday too.  Another story there, Alison was born in Bahrain of British parents, is a nurse.   

On looking back the eight days in England were all about eating, drinking and having camaraderie with Ali and Martin and their family and friends.  I met a few very interesting people along the way, every day brought new insights and conversations on my outings, and even during interaction with the Wellers at their beautiful and inviting guest house on Weymouth Beach.  You must add it to your list of places to stay in England … The Channel View Guest House in Weymouth. 

 

See you in St. Malo, France ... next stop!