w'ur holiday ~ part 2 Eastbourne

So we arrived safely in Eastbourne where we leaped with glee into the paddling pool awaiting us to cool off.

It was so lovely to be with my best friend Vicci and her family and catch up on all the news.

The following day we all loaded into 2 cars and drove to Groombridge, a completely magical place a 45 min drive from their house.

 There were beautiful gardens, with ponds and giant chess games

 my dear friend Vicci and her youngest wee man (recognise the sling?)

 we took a trip on the pirate boat down the canal

 looking out for sharks and crocodiles and pirates

 we didn't find any actual pirates but we found a magnificent pirate hideout where we had lunch and played

 there were huge bones (made of wood) dotted around the place, probably left by giants or dinosaurs

 these 2 robbers stole all of this precious gold from a museum

huge swings

enchanted sculptures

transforming, magical doorways

covered wagons (and a very tired Joa)

teepee

 At the end of the afternoon we watched a really wonderful falconry display, the highlight of this for Rebe was being feet away from a bald eagle and for me it was watching an unlikely participant 'Mr Pie' a funny wild magpie who always joins in the show!

We had a picnic dinner before driving back home again, where we got the kids into bed before Vicci and I headed out to a pilates class together. It was so nice to do something a little different and not child orientated!

 The following day we were all really tired so we stayed at home to rest.

 Vicci and I made bread and numerous snacks and we had a visit from Vicci's mum which was so lovely.

Much revived we decided to head off to Eastbourne Pier on the Thursday.

 We took the bus and got to sit up top at the front of the double decker. The kids were enthralled, much to the amusement of more senior, regular bus riders. There is only 1 bus a day to our wee village so riding on a bus and seeing so much traffic was a real novelty for my kids.

The pier itself was good fun, Rebe was so fascinated by being able to look through the boards and see the sea under our feet.

 We braved the noise and flashing lights of the amusement arcade to give the kids the experience of that. We lasted about 15 minutes in there before it became too over whelming and we removed ourselves to the calm of the tea room where we treated ourselves to a 'Victorian Tea Party'

 We had tea and little sandwiches served on pretty doilies and scones with jam and cream and then of course 3 kinds of cake.

there wasn't much left when we had finished :-)
That evening the kids decided they wanted to sleep outside in the playhouse. They performed a brilliant concert for us singing and dancing. For this privileged they asked for a donation of £2 that was 'to go to the little plastic money box they have in shops for animals'. They wrote long lists of what they needed and armed with blankets and torches and a midnight feast they headed off to the play house where they lasted until 8.30pm when they all came (or were brought) back in doors to bed again.
The next day we set off after breakfast to catch the train back through London to Bristol. It was a great wee visit to Vicci and her family.
To be continued...