Hills, wind, sun, ice-cream, sheep racing, pub, dog dancing, smashing china...

is life in Firle, East Sussex on Bank Holiday Monday!

We were woken with a telephone call this morning from Nanny Maureen inviting us down for breakfast at the Metropole Hotel, so the Parkers were like superheros getting in their clothes ready for our pre-walk feast.

Daisy and Samuel loved the delights on offer, eggs, bacon, sausages and chocolate muffins all on the same plate, they were in food heaven. After our feast we nipped home to prepare our picnic for our walking adventure with Aunty Jo and Uncle Murphy.

Daddy had picked a South Downs Walk starting in the beautiful village of Firle. We met in the car park and Murphy and I had taken the advantage of good weather and worn our flipflops (not the best shoes we later learnt for encountering very steep hills with lots of rabbit pooh). We headed off through the village where lots of homemade delights were on offer (Jam, garden grown veg, etc) with honest boxes. As we made our way up the first steep incline we came across some plum bushes and decided to help ourselves as our snack. Lots of cars passed us on the way up and now we know why as it was a very steep incline to the top of the hill and the start of the South Downs Way. We were all relived to make it to the top, had a breather and then started our walk along the top with beautiful views of the channel on one side and the downs and Sussex villages on the other side. It was now gone 12.30pm so it was time for lunch, we saw what looked like an old pill box (but wasnt) and decided this would be a good place for lunch (as if any dogs walked past they wouldnt scare the little people or eat our lunch) but as soon as we had unpacked our picnic someone had turned the wind up and I am not joking, even my cup of tea blew over, so we all took shelter to one side.

After lunch it was time for the great decent, see pics below and all I can say it was very very steep but we got down and back to the village of Firle. After a refreshing drink in the village pub we went to the Firle Country Fair where Sam and Daisy tried their hand at china smashing! and Aunty Jo won the first sheep race.