Weekend Away on Isle of Wight
We managed to get on the 6pm ferry easily and this time, we knew what those funny hand signals meant when we led the procession of cars onto the ferry. We did have the same man organising the loading as last time and yes, he did remember me so that was rather embarassing!!
When we got to the Island, we drove over to Shanklin but the map was uite useless with directions onto how to get to the Hotel!! We did it by a fluke of hubby's brain. He always knows where he is going - he seems to have an inbuilt homing system!! The room was small but lovely and clean and very comfortable bed. Thanks Julie for recommending this place - it was above our expectations and we had a good time.
we just dumped our stuff and went off to the Old Village and back to The crab where we'd eaten when i was there over school holidays. I was really looking forward to having the same risotto I had last time but they had changed the menu!! Why!!! the waitresses said that customers weren't that happy with the new one and we saw several people walk out after looking at the menu. It was too 'new foodie' if you see what i mean. Eventually, found something I could eat and the puddings were fab.
Saturday - was quite cold and grey but didn;t rain so that was better than we'd hoped for. I'd had a lovely vegetarian breakfast that I could eat and filled me up till the afternoon. We went to the Ventnor Botanical Gardens. It was stunning with very unusual plants in but poorly labelled. However, entrance is free and mainly manned by volunteers so it was so amazing that so much could be achieved by them. The hot house was lovely with huge waterlily pads. We had a up of tea there and used the oddest lift with the exception being the one in Prague, I've ever used. The
lift had to be operated by continually pushing down on this knob so not very disabled friendly and we let go when we first got in so stopped about 2 feet after we'd started and then read the notice so pushed the knob again!!! We spent ages in the plant sale area and thought we'd go back tomorrow to buy plants.
We then went onto Brighstone National trust shop and museum. Not very impressive and were glad we were already members. Found out that the gardens in mottistone were shut on fridays and satudays so went to the Old and New Batteries on the other side of the Needles/Alum Bay.
We started driving up the one car width road then noticed a sign that said no cars. we carried on regardless as we thought they should really provide disabled parking and the staff drove up there. We did meet 2 buses coming the other way but luckily it was at the only point there was a passing way!! We found disabled parking spaces at te top and looked round the Old Battery which had been used in the 19th century against France and the New Battery where they tested rockerts and satellites in the 1970s. Very impressive the New one as I suppose it has only just been opened up due to the Official Secrets Act. We had a good cup of tea there (you can always rely on the National Trust for a good cup of tea!!) up in the Old Coastguard Building where there was a good view and they even provided excellent binoculars to see over the sea and bird watch or whatever.
We then went for a drive round before going to an italian restaurant in Shanklin again. They seemed to have an obsession inmoving tables about so they could fit mmore people in. It was quite a squash and they seemed in a hurry to get people in and out. We weren't playing that game so spent ages there and when we left at 930pm, there was hardlyanybody there.
Sunday - I wanted to see the Shanklin Chine which was lovely. All sorts of plants and huge gorge and by walking slowly with my stick I could manage the steep climb. I forgt to say this was another steroid fuelled weekend after chemo whichis why I could do so much. Back to land zero next week!! Then back to the Ventnor Botanical gardens to buy the plants we wanted and off to Mottistone gardens. The sun was shining and we spent quite a bit of time there just sitting having tea. There were all these little ornaments that were dressed up in clothing and were named such as 'Gordon Pansy' which had a chef's outfit on and 'Walter Plant' with a watering can. I suppose it was to keep the children amused.
Then we tried to find the place where hubby had seen the red squirrels before. The road was so bumpy it hurt my back terribly and we didn't see any squirrels so it was back to the ferry again. The journey back was interseting - definately some sunday sailors who didn;t know where they were supposed to be in relation to the ferry and the buoys!!!
I went out to church in the evening and hubby collected the children.
I went to a very moving healing service which was extremely emotional and has made me feel a lot better. My friends are involved in that church and it was a lovely place to be.