Hastings- Tragedy on the Beach

I loved Hastings. Hastings is smaller than Brighton and I liked it significantly better. The beaches here were nice and it wasn't so overwhelmingly populated. That being said, we had a great time showing the kids the "rocky" beach. Adessa was bummed that she couldn't make a sand castle and that she didn't have her swim suit. You will see later on that she quickly learned that it isn't swim suit wearing weather :)

A rocky protrusion.

I love rip curls.

Nice big splashing wave.

These next two pictures are the reason why I would offer to take pictures for people at Westminster Abby on my way to the train. You end up with a dorky portrait of me and then a dorky portrait of John, when you could have a sweet romantic picture of the pair of us together. Instead we look dorky.

We loved the beautiful sun rays breaking through the gloomy grey clouds reflecting their glorious beams on the Ocean.

It took a while to reassure Adessa that she could get nearer the water (William was being shepherded away from the water). Adessa is a very cautious child. I typically love how cautious she is, it keeps her out of trouble, but sometimes a little bit of an adventurous bone is good. She finally mustered the courage and started to loosen up and crept closer to the water.

It doesn't take long for all inhibitions to fly out the window. As soon as they think that everything is fine, they jump full throttle into the adventure. As you can see, she has crept really close to the water..... which is starting to draw back. Those of you who have been to the Ocean know what is coming.

The water is drawing back further and further. I am waiting to see what Dad's plan of action will be, yet I sit silently by waiting to capture the whole tragic event on film. Evil evil mom.

And here it comes. Dad runs like lightening swooping in to save the little fella, but miss Adessa is on her own. I can't sacrifice my camera to the splashes from the wave, so I wait for the wave to hit and then run in to pick Adessa up out of the huge puddle of water and sea foam. The poor dear has been knocked over and is soaked wet.

Horrified, she is shaking like a leaf because she is scared....not cold, yet. Wills is still trying to figure out what happened and John is wet through his shoes and up the backs of his pant legs. I was the smart one who wore knee high leather boots and am perfectly dry.

Still upset. I know it sounds terrible, but I love little kids cry faces. Look how cute she is!

Pulling herself together.

Adessa's Aunty Crazy taught her that when you get knocked down "you get back up on that horse and whip it." She did just that. She lingered on the beach long enough for me to empty the rocks, shells, and water from her soaked wet boots.

Ignore the wrinkles, I am sure that I was pondering something earth shattering at this moment. I don't know just what it was that I was pondering, but I am sure that it was good ;)

I loved just how pure white the sea foam was. Whoever named that funky Crayola crayon shade of green "sea foam" never saw sea foam in Hastings because it is PURE white.

The beaches are all rocky beaches with the exception of a couple where they actually shot all of the war film footage for UK war movies. I liked this shot of the rock poking through the hole of the white shell. Adessa thoroughly enjoyed herself wandering around looking for just the right shells to pocket and bring home.

The water was beautiful. We were able to get enough shells to satisfy Adessa and see enough tumbling waves to satisfy the rest of us. I am sure that in the summer Hastings is far busier than it was on this January day, but I would rather peace and calm over sunny and warm.....today anyway. Tired, cold, and wet we headed for McDonald's drive through and then home.

Bodiam Castle- Probably the Coolest!

Bodiam Castle is probably the coolest Medieval Castle I have ever seen, and is well known to be one of the most evocative in Britain. Just look at the thing.....it's FABULOUS! There are so many things that I loved about Bodiam, but the fact that it was built in 1385 and is the only remaining Castle in the UK to have it's original Portcullis pretty much topped it off. I am still gushing over the thing as I look at at the pictures. *sigh* If you come to Kent go to Bodiam.

This is what you see surrounding the Castle. Yep, beautiful green countryside. We were shocked to see that everybody and their dog wasn't trying to make a buck off of the place. We would have thought that it would be so bogged up with t-shirt stands and gift shops that it wouldn't seem organic, but it wasn't and it looks much like it would have in 1385.

Trekking up to the Castle.

By nature I am one who loves to create. I like to paint, craft, choreograph, arrange, anything that involves creating. I must say, of all the things that I have created miss Adessa Dawn is by far the most fabulous. I put my best work into this creation. I know I have mom goggles on, but look at her.....she is like a miniature version of "Statue of David" like perfection ;)

Back view.

View from the bridge.

Aren't these two the cutest couple you have ever seen? The whole time I was thinking about how great some of these pictures would be for my neighbor Christmas Card gifts.

Yo with my 2 piggies.

The 3 coats of arms above the Castle entrance. One belonged to Sir Edward Dalyngrigge's family, His wife's Family, and then his I believe Knighted name.

Sweet glorious green squishy moss that grows on everything here making photo fodder.

Wait for it.......the.....original.....1385.....Portcullis. Wipe the drool off of your chin. Isn't she perdy? You really can tell a difference between this Portcullis and the others you will see in Castles, this one is the real deal.

One of many fireplaces in the Castle.

1of 28 toilets in the Castle, all of which drained into the mote. Now, try storming through that to attack the Castle!

The courtyard ruins.

On the very top turret of the Castle looking out over the hillside and valley.

View of the bridge. It was designed so that archers could basically fire freely upon anyone who tried to attack the Castle.

Wooden cathedral window.

This window was the chapel window. The chapel would have been in this part of the Castle. I loved the view of the tree behind the window.

The Castle's Murder Holes. This is where they would throw rocks, boiling water, or tar on invaders. They never actually used oil because it was too costly and valuable.

Trekking back to the car after a fun time wandering around and exploring.

Talbot clan.

Bodiam has a rich history of Sir Edward being granted permission from King Edward to use his Knightly fortune and turn his present home into a Castle. This was to show off his wealth, power, and to defend the surrounding countryside which isn't too far from the coast. Bodiam was a very elaborate castle with gorgeous grounds during it's time. For more information about Bodiam, it's origins, and it's line of succession visit Wikipedia and enter in Bodiam Castle. After we left the Castle we headed out to the seaside town of Hastings for more Talbot family fun and adventure.

Chartwell

Perhaps the most perfectly situated home I have ever seen. Chartwell is absolutely beautiful. We weren't able to tour through the home because it is closed until February, but we had admittance to the gardens which were exquisite. Chartwell was the home of the great Winston Churchill. John and I both agree that Churchill was one of the greatest minds in all of History. We bought our National Trust passes that allows us free admittance to over 300 homes, gardens, and castles in the UK and Scotland. You can bet your bottom dollar that we will be seeing just as much of it as is humanly possible. When we are able to tour through Chartwell I will share more information about the home itself, but for now I have some pictures of the Gardens and the piggies playing. Adessa and William loved running around the grounds, while I could picture myself with a book and a lounger.....or a canvas and some paints. It's a coin toss. You decide which you would rather, the book or the canvas :)

Steps at Chartwell

The path leading to the house.

I loved this wall because as you peer through the doorway you can see the hills of woods and country. Most of these hills have sheep grazing. In fact as we were driving Adessa looked out the car window and said "Look mom, Pigs!" John and I laughed our heads off at the thought of pigs grazing on a hill side. Love that girl.

My beautiful Adessa pig.

Waterfall at Chartwell.

I love old benches. This one captivated me because of the glorious moss growing on it.

The drive to Chartwell was a near death experience. First of all you have little tiny cars, little tiny roads, and speed limits of 40 mph where it would be 15 mph in the States. Holy Moses! I almost fainted, puked, and fainted again riding with John. Driving in the UK is exactly like "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" at Disneyland. Exactly. We probably live only 8 miles max from Hever Castle and Chartwell, but driving those little winding roads made me feel like it was hours. Good job to John for managing to keep us alive. Next time I am driving so he can see what being a passenger on the left side of the car is like. Guaranteed, he will pee his pants, puke or faint, or all of the above. If you get to these parts I would recommend a stop at Chartwell.

New Years Day at Hever Castle

It started out as a country drive and ended up as a family outing at Hever Castle. On our drive we found some amazing old churches all of which have very old graveyards attached. This area is camera fodder and we ate it up! I cannot even begin to describe how beautiful it is here, even in the heart of winter.

Hever Castle is the castle where Anne Boleyn grew up until going abroad to France. Anne Boleyn was married to King Henry VIII and was his second wife, but first to be beheaded (at the Tower of London.....with a sword instead of an axe). We did the audio tour because we are a bit of History nuts and wanted all the dish :) When Anne was beheaded on grounds of treason and adultery and incest the family was ruined. Side note: Anne's brother was also beheaded as he was her accused incestuous lover and her sister Mary was Mistress to the king before Anne married him. Also, Anne and the king knew each other for 7 years prior to marrying but she was never a mistress to him prior to marriage. Many believe that this is what made the King pursue her. Curiosity. Henry was obsessed with producing a male heir which is what led him to jump around from wife to wife. As it turns out the great Queen Elizabeth I was Henry VIII's greatest ruling progeny.

Henry VIII would just drop into to Hever and huge arrangements would have to be made to accommodate him and the sometimes 100 guests he would bring with him. Anne's mother would "freak out" at times like these, but found it to be worth it to have a daughter married to the king. The king also had his own door lock that he would take with him and have installed and removed wherever he stayed. Anne was not a princess, but she came from the most influential family in England at the time. Anne was not said to be beautiful, but she had an attractive way about her that led her to become the centerpiece of the party and a captivating character.

Graveyard outside of Hever.

You can buy seasons passes to Hever Castle and enjoy the many seasonal festivities that take place at the castle. In July they have jousting tournaments. I am thinking that we will need to get passes. Hever is really near our house and is one of a few castles in Kent.