Tootling around Tunbridge Wells & beyond with David & Teresa

Arriving into London Waterloo by train is very different from 20 years ago!! Vauxhall has, and continues to undergo, a complete rebuild with many diverse high rise office and apartment buildings shooting up over what was once quite a run down, grotty area.  All round Waterloo station cranes tower as construction of a new station continues apace alongside other types of building. Many looked architecturally designed rather than just square boxes, and use a range of colours…… and the sun was shining.

We left Waterloo to walk to the Tate Modern before going onto catch our train to Eridge from Tower Bridge station; what a transformation of the South Bank & embankment! Once we got passed the South Bank theatre complexes we were familiar with (all grey monolithic concrete & billboards) we entered the QEII Jubilee Walk area toward Tate Modern.  We spent a bit of time at the Tate (more on that in the London section) then continued our walk along the Jubilee Walk to London Bridge station where we caught the 3.15pm train to Eridge to be picked up by David, a family friend of Caroline’s.

 

Whisked off to his lovely home where we met Teresa and began a most entertaining 2 full days of talking, and exploring Sussex and Kent.  Friday evening was spent enjoying an summer evening meal with accompanying rose'.  Their gorgeous cat roamed the small but extremely productive garden & sought our pats occasionally before curling up in its little bed. Seeing David works as an insurance assessor we talked about the issues Christchurch has faced since the 'quakes - quite interesting to gain some insight into the international insurance system.

Saturday saw us visiting Tunbridge Wells, Tenterden, and Rye - exploring the area where Caroline's mother grew up.  David dropped us off on the edge of a park so we could walk through it to TW to check out The Pantiles where royalty etc took the waters in the past then wandered on further up the main street but got caught for a bit in the parish church of King Charles the Martyr (quite Protestant looking) talking to the guide. The park was lovely & quite extensive with a good cricket pitch and plenty of forested land for running dogs. The Pantiles were basically trendy shops and cafes so, of course, we checked out the organic grocery before sitting down for a cuppa & cake at one of the cafes.

At Tenterden David & Teresa wanted to check out the carpet store as they were looking to buy a runner for their hall. The store actually designs carpets & has them handmade in India - More by design - as D&T looked through samples I chatted to the owner about his work in India and fair trade objectives, particularly as their carpets are expensive. The village itself is not the most beautiful in Kent but does have a lovely walk out from it and, of course, a number of cafes. We at lunch in one - Welsh Rarebit & scones with tea.
The drive down to Rye was by country lanes - narrow & relatively busy as it was a long weekend - with often a view over the verdant rolling countryside. We passed through lovely villages or farmlets in which old oast houses could be seen.
Once in Rye we just wandered the streets taking in the views over the port and lowlands.

Back in Eridge we spent a lovely evening sharing travel stories over supper - their time living in Tanzania in the late 1970s was pretty interesting & challenging. We then watched a TV detective series in Welsh & English. I also phoned friends - Penny, Penny & EK, and Barbara to arrange catch up while in London.

Sunday morning saw Caroline & I catch a bus to Brighton. It was rather fun sitting on the top of a double decker bus as it rushed its way through the Sussex countryside, thrashing through the overhanging branches & twisting through narrow lanes of towns like Lewes.

It was the last day of the Brighton Fringe Festival so there were plenty of buskers & tents around - surprised to find that one of the event sponsors was Old Mout Cider made also in the UK . We mooched on down to the beach & pier to people watch & dabble my feet in the sea. The strand was chocker with people out enjoying the long weekend in the sun - plenty of bars, cafes & tat shops to keep people happy. The new BAi360 wasn't busy but at 16P a pop we weren't surprised. For lunch we chose a wee place offering icecream where we ate a yummy cheese & tomato toasted sandwich after we each had enjoyed tasty icecreams (honey & ginger was my flavour).  On up into the town to check out The Lanes (a bit tacky) and a couple of outdoor shops (searching for a new thermos), and the Royal Pavilion (looking very tired & dirty). With all the people in town for the festival & it being a Bank Holiday weekend the police presence was high, many being dressed in full combat gear carrying what looked like AK47s; a bit scary for us timid Kiwis!

 

We caught the 4pm bus back to D&T's for another lovely evening of chatting & laughing over salad & pizza. We went to bed very tired after a wonderful day of exploring a place we had both visited (at different times) more than 30 years ago.

After a delicious cooked breakfast on Monday morning, David dropped at station to catch our train up to London. And, so ended our interlude in Kent & Sussex.