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wish you were here ...

A postcard from Worthing, from me to you.

Just lately, as the weather has been set fair, I've been cycling into work. It's a straightforward route mostly along a seafront cycle path, about three miles each way.




Remember the 1987 film, Wish You Were Here? Set in austere post-war Britain, this is a high-spirited tale of rebellious teenage girl Lynda, played by Emily Lloyd.

Many scenes were set in Worthing using the seafront, the Dome cinema and a shop in Rowlands Road.

Click here to see a clip of the film. Not only does it show lovely old Southdown buses in the Worthing bus depot, the Worthing outdoor lawn bowling greens, where the English Bowling Association have held the National Championships for over 25 years, it shows Lynda cycling along Worthing seafront just like I do!

Having a lovely time - I shall be next week, I have a week off!

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crabs, donkeys, postcards and silly hats ...

Happy days!

Me and my brother having fun by the seaside, early 1970s.
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country ways ...

What a difference a day makes, today storm clouds are looming with threat of rain.



We decided to get out and about early, and take a walk in West Sussex countryside at Shermanbury.




Through fields of yellow buttercups.



Along green country lanes.



Pink flowers of Red Campion amongst the hedgerows.



An old stump sits amongst white wildflowers.



No picnicking here for a while! Hmm, maybe down to the English weather?

We made the decision to cut our walk short and managed to leg it back to the car before the heavens opened.

On the way home we took refuge at The Orchard Restaurant in Cowfold, where we had a Full English breakfast!

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coastal ways ...

Today we cycled to Brighton. On the way back we stopped to take in the views and to mop up the lovely sunshine.



Houseboats sitting on mud flats, on the River Adur at Shoreham.



Yachts taking advantage of excellent sailing water along this stretch of coastline at Lancing.



Sea thrift on the shingle beach.

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where the south downs meets the sea ...

Green Sussex fading into blue, with one grey glimpse of sea.

Beautiful Cuckmere Haven, where country and sea blend into one.



Sheep seem unphased when hanging off the steep slopes. The National Trust have reintroduced sheep and cattle to graze in this area.



The Cuckmere River meanders from the South Downs to the English Channel. A grey heron wades through shallow water, along with it a little egret.



The beach at Cuckmere Haven was featured in the 2007 film Atonement. A postcard of one of the three Coastguard Cottages overlooking the beach, was a central element of the plot with Robbie Turner focusing on it as the idyll where he and Cecilia Tallis would retire after World War II. The final sequence of the film with Robbie and Cecilia running in the waves was shot on the beach.



The chalk landscape is constantly changing. The cliffs are eroding at a rate of 30-40 cms each year.



Sea kale (crambe maritima). By May the buds have turned into flowers with yellow centres, with a honey scent.

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The Coastguard Cottages as seen in the photo, once kept watch for contraband, a boom industry in these parts 200 years ago.

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On the way home we stopped at Middle Farm, a working farm at the foot of Firle Beacon on the South Downs. The plant section being strategically placed at the entrance of the farm shop!

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More wildfowl. Ducks relaxing and preening by the pond's edge.

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l s lowry ...

I admire the works of L S Lowry.

The other day I discovered a great collection of The Medici Society greetings cards in WH Smith, and brought A Country Road and At the Seaside home with me, with the idea of framing.

I am torn between living in the country ...



... or by the sea.

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yet another blog giveaway prize and friends ...

Have you been Skipping in the Meadow yet! A few weeks back I was so excited to learn that I had won the sweet little knitted bird above, made with different threads of wool and ribbon, in Sumea's giveaway, and he was a runners up prize! He flew, as the crow flies, from Somerset, and I have to say I was itching for him to arrive.

I kid thee not, knitted birds cannot fly, but he did arrive wrapped up in colourful tissue paper tied with ribbon, with a little purple flower for company, along with a lavender scented, pretty cherub card pictured below, which contained silver, sparkly confetti shapes.



Another card I was so very pleased to receive over Easter was the pretty badge card above from Michele at Cowboys and Custard.

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I am long overdue in thanking Michele also, for this treasure of a little mermaid mirror she sent me a few months back. It reminds me of the Mabel Lucie Attwell clip I use as my blog profile picture.

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A huge thank you to bloggy friends.

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Louise x

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blog giveaway prize ...

I've won another giveaway, and this time it has travelled all the way from Portugal, and was sent to me by Meri, a very talented lady, who blogs at Agulhas da Méri, a blog written in both English and Portuguese.

Along with the package came a lovely note written on bark effect paper.



The giveaway prize included a collection of four generous size pieces of cotton fabric, and one huge piece of linen, all made in Portugal ... and



Rakam, a beautiful magazine filled with lots of bright ideas along with patterns and templates. For now, I can only marvel at the photography and the skill of these crafters, but one day soon I hope to have more time to learn a craft or two myself. Until then these will be stashed neatly away in a large crafting box I am putting together.



Included with the giveaway were two gifts made especially for me by Meri, a beautiful doiley and a heart brooch with flowers.



Each little parcel being separately wrapped in tissue paper of different colours and pretty bows. Thanks so much Meri, I appreciate your friendship and loyalty.

Louise x


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the downs link stage one

run common - bramley - st martha's hill

The Downs Link bridleway was established in 1984 to link together the North Downs and the South Downs Way. The trail crosses the Low Weald and mostly follows two former railway lines. Much of the track is owned and jointly managed by West Sussex/Surrey County Councils and Waverley Borough Council.



We cycle alongside former navigable stretches of the Wey & Arun Canal, which closed in 1871, through Run Common. The Wey & Arun Canal Trust aim to restore London's lost route to the sea, back to navigation.



Under a railway bridge along leafy woodland paths where I spot a grey squirrel rummaging in the undergrowth.



Through replica crossing gates into the grounds of the old station. Click on Cranleigh Railway Info for nostalgic photos from the archives.



So the story goes, the enamel sign was returned to the station in the mid 1990s, after being used for many years as a shelf in a greenhouse in Worthing!



When the station building was finally demolished, the corner holding the postbox was left.



A replica waiting room has been built alongside a restored platform edge.



The last train pulled out of Bramley & Wonersh station on its way to Horsham, on the 12th of June 1965.



Blackheath village traces its roots back to 1833, before which there is no record of a rate paying inhabitant. There is a monastery nearby.



Pine with needles and roots underfoot, along with birch and oak, define the landscape in this area.



85% of Surrey heathland has been lost since 1752, and the careful removal of trees is helping to restore this. The acidic, sandy soil is perfect growing conditions for heather and gorse.



During World War Two, the Canadian army were based on the common, which excluded villagers and livestock from the heath.



No doubt this stage is the most enduring, only the superfit can cycle the steep hill up towards St Marthas. My bike was pushed for me on this stage, with me lagging behind with hands on waist!



A 59 kilometre (37 mile) route which is open to walkers, horse riders and cyclists. By reaching this plaque we have now completed each stage of the Downs Link.



Looking down on a beautiful Weald & Downland landscape where on a clear day eight counties can be seen. The woodland here comprises of oak, holly, hawthorn and hazel, and in Spring, bluebells.



Having come to the conclusion we may not visit this area again, we took the final steep incline up to St Martha's church, which sits on the top of the hill. Dating back to the twelfth century, this church became a ruin after the dissolution of the monasteries, and was restored during the nineteenth century.



On the way up we passed a couple of walkers, who had great pleasure in letting us know there is free tea and cakes on offer. No time to sit on this bench!
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We parked up the bikes and headed towards the gathering crowd, the friends of the church, who were holding their annual Easter Fun Day. We left a small donation towards the restoration fund, and with cup of tea and chocolate buttercream slab cake in hand, we sat for a short while before making tracks back to Bramley Station.

After having cycled this stage in drizzly rain and poor visibility, which makes for very difficult cycling and muddy conditions underfoot, it was an enormous relief to see our van parked up, waiting to bring us back home, and dry!

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