Jen's Blog

Today was our last day on the Island :0( the break has gone far too fast but we can now look forward to another visit in the near future.

We checked out of the cottage and headed for Godshill where we visited a lovely Church on the top of a hill. The steps to reach it were very steep..

but it was worth every step to reach it.

We have visited this Church many times and never tire of its beauty. It is well maintained and has lovely stained glass windows.

A very rare painting of Jesus crucified on a Lily

Upon leaving the Church, we noticed a couple of men doing some thatching on a nearby house.

With the amount of thatches on the Island, I bet there is no shortage of work.

We then visited the chocolate shop before heading to the Garlic farm where we had booked a table for lunch.

We had got there early so decided to have cuppa and a cake..

We enjoyed a mini selection of cakes with a cuppa..

It was much milder today so enjoyed a walk round, looking at the displays in the out buildings which were very interesting.

After enjoying our cake and meal at the Garlic farm we headed over to Quarr Abbey which is situated near the ferry port.

It is quite something inside and tho we weren’t allowed above the top step but I am glad we went in.

We were early for our 3pm sailing so they allowed us on the earlier crossing which was good. Another smooth crossing and got home about 3.20pm

A fantastic 4 days – Thank you Lloyd. xxx

Gosh, another very cold start to the day, was up at 07.15am..what is wrong with me? it is holiday I am meant to lay in!

Anyway, we trundled off to Yarmouth today to visit the Castle there.

It is well maintained and we got in free as we belong to the English Heritage :0)

The stairs were steep

but there were lovely views waiting for us at the top.

There was more inside with rooms and information areas..

The walls were soo thick..

We had a very nice lunch in Gossips Cafe at the entrance to the pier..

We then paid our 30p to walk along the pier..

I wonder how many people don’t pay tho..

The writing on the  floor is where people or companies have paid to advertise  so funding the new boards..what a great idea.

We went right to the end so we could photograph a huge Buoy which marked the spot where a shipwreck lies beneath.

There was a car ferry about to leave, didn’t seem particuarly full..

We were pretty cold by now so decuded to head over to Ryde for a walk round.

There we bumped into a good friend of mine and had a chat.

We walked up a steep hill of shops and came across a Thorntons Cafe…in for a hot choc with cream on top and a cake to warm us up :0)

We passed this shop with gallons of  Jelly beans displayed,

and a Dr Who shop..

We then went back to the car and back to the cottage.

Woke up to the sun streaming through the curtains, then looked and saw thick ice over my car! Brrr..

We decided to have a stroll into the little village.

Lloyd spotted this beautiful  robin just asking to be photographed..

We  went inside this charming Church and I loved the reflection of the stained glass window  on the wall.

The gorgeous ceiling was a privilage to see..

and this leaning pillar made us chuckle..

Back at the cottage I took some pics of the front of the cottage which looks like a face.

In the afternoon we went to Borthwood Copse and spotted a baby red squirrel.

First time I have seen one and was beginning to think I never would.

As we walked, I spotted this tree which had a face on it and looked like it was smiling…What a happy tree :0)

We also came across a tree that had been struck by lightening and was split in two.. poor tree but remember reading about it on the news..

It is certainly a very cold day but we have kept warm with walking and having a nice cooked veggie lunch in ‘TUMBLERS’ a little cafe next to Shanklin station.

Our long awaited holiday finally arrived, just as well as feel totally burnt out and desperate for a break.

We caught the 10am car ferry from Portsmouth and had a front seat so  could see our car..

It was  quite  smooth crossing which took 45 minutes. We spotted another car ferry approaching and noticed the water really splashing up against the door!

We sailed on the St. Cecilia

After crossing we headed straight for the ‘Owl and Monkey Haven’ which only opened last year.

It was very cold there and we were the only ones visiting so we warmed up with a cuppa and a cake then got our cameras warmed up.

These two parents were trying to keep their little baby warm by snuggling up to it.. how sweet :0)

All the railing supports where monkeys which was really nice..

The snowy Owl looked beautiful.

as did the other owl who was huge!

This little monkey was tucking into strawberries lol

Unsure about this bird but he was happy to pose so I clicked away lol

After the Monkey Haven, we went over to Freshwater and visited Dimbola Lodge.

There is a life size statue of Jimmy Hendrix outside.

It was a facinating place with free entry during February (bonus) with lots of old photos and artifacts.

A strange concept (oh and Lloyd popped in too.lol)

Obviously Jimmy made a huge impact on the place as there was loads about him.

Once we had looked round we had a lovely meal in the restaurant there. Lloyd had vegetable curry and I had celery soup. Nice and warming.

We walked down the road and followed the signs to the’ Redoubt’, we trudged up this lovely lane following the signs..

and then arrived at this sign!

We scratched our heads how one minute they were directing us to it and then when we arrived, telling us we could not enter..lol Oh well it amused us so nothing lost.

We headed back down to the water front.. but spotted this other sign too..

The sun was lovely

It was so cold we decided we would go back to the car ..

park up on the hill so we could see the sun and view un-interrupted.. it was fantastic.

After about an hour we headed to our cottage which is in Brighstone.. A beautiful 2 bed thatched cottage..

The owner was there when we arrived and appologised as there was NO HEATING!!! OMG I thought we are going to freeze… However she was about to go and purchase 2 hefty fan heaters for us..

The cottage is bursting with character so this more than makes up for the chill..lol

It is all beamed and so quaint.. I love it..

It even has a fish pond in the garden so Lloyd is happy lol

Off to beat Lloyd at scrabble now :0)

After a rather chilly start to the day, the late summer sun was really nice so Lloyd and I decided to take Fi down to the beach for a couple of hours.

Fi started off leaping down this steep drop to the shingle below!

We made our way to the play ground and it was really busy…

After about 45 minutes we went and got an ice cream from the Bluebird and made our way back to the car. The sun was very bright on the sea so I asked Fi to stand in front of the sunny part to see if I could get a silhouette of her…

As usual the temperature is now dropping again but it was a lovely couple of hours.

Andy was down to Linesman the Guildford Flames V Sheffield Steeldogs game at Guildford last night.

It was a cracking match and he was kept very busy.

The final score was Guildford Flames 3, Sheffield Steeldogs 0

Fi got an early birthday present today, Toothpaste the baby rabbit.  It is 8 weeks old and she can pick it up and handle it all by herlsef which is what we originally wanted.  Nibbles will become the family rabbit now as it is only Lloyd and I that can handle him at the moment.

We brought the spare cage into the conservatory so we can keep an eye on the baby as the vet recommended we introduce them to each other very gradually over a few weeks.

Toothpaste enjoyed being kissed and cuddled  and is sooo calm..

He is loving his snug hutch, a cosy bedroom and food and drink with plenty of hay.

On Sunday 25th September Ollie & I got up at 3am and loaded all his things into my car. Richard had just got in from work so helped us and we got on the road by 03.30. The roads were deserted and it was great. We stopped for breakfast and then arrived at

by 08.30am. Ollie had to confirm his attendance and get his room key.

Here is the lay out of his room..

Then we brought Ollie’s belongings in and made the room look nice :0)

Once we were finished Ollie showed me where the dinner hall was where he gets 3 good meals a day..

and the incredibly well stocked book shop in the grounds.

Ollie was keen to show me round Chester town as I had never been here before.

It was lovely with cobbled streets and oldie worldy buildings.

I loved the concrete baby Elephant..

The roof here was incredibly low and one had the feeling of going to bump your head..lol

The streets were lovely and old fashioned..

Round the town there is a wall which you can walk round. In the town there is a large clock which is spectacular.

The beautiful old shops..

View from the wall

We spotted this odd chappy in one of the Mc D’s

And this pretty light too.. Our Mc D’s are nothing like these ones. I was impressed :0)

Posh hotel with a doorman too !There was a big roundabout as we left the town area which had huge fountains.

There is a lovely old church in the UNI grounds

Here is a map of the Uni grounds and Ollie pointing out where his block is..

Before long it was time to wish Ollie well and say goodbye to start my 5+ hr journey home.

It is lovely to see Nibbles getting tamer every day. He has 1-2 hrs exercise in the conservatory every day.  Fi and I sit in there with him so he can come and sniff us and he allows us to stroke him knowing we won’t attempt to catch him (on this occassion..lol)

Tonight was a real breakthrough and he sat right by Fi and enjoyed a lovely stroke for over 20 minutes!

Like me, Ffion loves the hands on and has been very patient waiting for Nibbles’s confidence to grow so he comes to her.

They had a lovely little chat :0)

Nibbles enjoying one of his toys.So a great evening playing with Nibbles and one very happy little girl :0)

Ffion and I decided to make some plain &  fruit scones today to have a cream tea for lunch :0)

Fi is getting really good at cooking, weighing everything out correctly and even manages the oven safely.

Here is her finished product.

Made a change from the usual cakes she makes but they were totally lush, well done Ffion xxx