Oh I do like to be beside the seaside...

Spontaneously deciding to have a couple of days away this week I headed to an area I'd never been to before, Camber Sands in East Sussex, combined with Rye and Hastings.  Dubbed 1066 country the area is certainly very historical, but I was there to enjoy beach walks and explore hidden charms.  Lured by superlative travel magazine editorial and an appealing website I booked to stay at The Gallivant hotel, with it's 'New England' style.  High expectations are usually hard to live up to and this was the case, when I checked in to my 'coastal double' small but functional room which could have done with a fresh lick of paint and the light bulb replacing above the only chair. If you're after a relaxing break I'd suggest booking a 'coastal deluxe' or the beach hut room to give you more space.  I'm probably being overly critical, but forget any romantic notion of a sea view - the front of the hotel overlooks the car park and back a housing estate. 

Thankfully the sky cleared to provide enough glimpse of the sun to lift your spirits.  I crossed the road and walked up over the dunes to reach the famous five-mile beach.  The field of wind turbines behind the hotel should have been a warning sign of this being a blowy area and the sand whipping along the beach left my legs tingling.  Undeterred and discarding my sandals, the soft sand felt surprisingly warm.  Only a few hardy souls were braving the beach, but I walked along the sea's edge, my feet invigorated by the refreshing water.  There's nothing like the uplifting boost of being in the elements and I returned to The Galliavant suitably ready for dinner.  I wanted to try the sparkling Gusbourne Estate blanc de blancs, Appledore, Kent, described on the wine list as the English equivalent of Comtes de Champagne from Tattinger, but clearly everyone else chose that too as it was out of stock.  Instead I had a glass of the Chapel Down Brut from Tenterden, also in Kent which was lovely.  My choice from the blackboard of whole dover sole with brown shrimp butter, pink fir potatoes, and shredded cabbage was perfectly cooked, simple and delicious, accompanied by a glass of chilled unoaked French Chardonnay.  Just a shame that dessert was a non-event (a shallow glass of rubbery rhubarb jelly with a teaspoon of raspberry ripple ice cream).

In addition to Camber Sands the Gallivant is well placed to visit Rye, only three miles away, where the restaurant at The George is certainly worth going to in conjunction with browsing the quaint shops and ancient architecture.  You can stay at the George too...Next time I'll tell you about my experience of Hastings.

Summer 2012

The beginning of July, high Summer and the promise of all that brings, but still not warm enough to shun my oh-so-English cardigan, even if the one I'm wearing today is a zingy lime green and fun to wear.  Last weekend the weather was even more dire.  Having ventured to East Wittering for a bracing walk by the sea I was virtually blown along like human flotsam and jetsam, by the type of penetrating wind that makes your ears throb.  My zodiac sign being Cancer I am drawn to water as the place I need to go to connect with source.  Whenever I need time to think it's my solace.  Such vastness and the infinity of the horizon puts things in perspective.  The churning sea spat out wetsuit clad adrenalin seekers on their surf boards; with faces in pinched expressions, all in pursuit of a few moments of bliss riding the whipped up waves before plunging into the foam.  I watched mesmerised by their choice to embrace the elements and seek exhilaration.  Whatever the weather I always enjoy being at the coast.  To be by the sea and soak up the ozone's restorative effects never fails to refresh and invigorate me.

I am at heart a Summer person and ongoing grey skies and rain have a negative effect on me.  Even though Professor Brian Cox in his stunning BBC Two series "Wonders of the Solar System" describes the huge benefit of rain cleansing the earth, I still crave warmth, blue skies and sunshine.  Interestingly in her book 'Spiritual Wisdom', author Claire Montanaro talks about the significance of the year 2012 when astronomically the sun will align with the Milky Way galactic centre at the solstice on 21 December. Such a galactic alignment only happens once every 26,000 years.   The Mayan calendar predicts both the alignment and a resulting change of human consciousness due to the completion of one era and the start of another.  Claire's view is that the solstices in June and December and the time leading up to them will be significant..."The realignment of our planet will result in some earth changes, such as volcanic activity and flooding in places...Humanity is entering the 'pause' period now between the two cycles, evidence of these changes is clear already through extreme and disruptive weather patterns in different parts of the world."  So we're in transition.  Perhaps I needed reminding the experience of living on earth is amazing and who am I to be craving better weather.  Happy month come rain or shine.