Stout and Shortbread, a siren's song

Well! After watching Irma roll through Florida on MSNBC, the gentle rocking of the Caribbean Princess lulled me to sleep. We love our inside cabin and the gentle lull of an ocean in motion (the English Channel).  Which brings me to Chanel Noir, today's scent. (I thought I might choose Aromatics Elixir!) But first breakfast in the dining room: A chocolate croissant with almond paste ( mmmm!) and decaf coffee followed by a fruit plate with a scoop of lemon zested ricotta and a soft boiled egg. It sounded 'lean'. It was fun to tap tap tap the brown shell but the inside was as slurpy as an raw oyster. I swallowed the eggy white above the opening and sat gazing at the murky yellow which remained. Ordering a slice of toast I spilled it out and acted bravely,concentrating on the act of eating as a European would. We are skipping St. Petersport Guernsey  today as it is a tender port and the seas are too animated. . .  Did I tell you I was feeling naughty today? I...

Waking up in Southampton to rain sprinkles. Slept pretty well, 2 melatonin; one at 8 pm and another at 2:00 am. Showered and dressed, we went for a walk and returned to breakfast. The full English breakfast is great! Add a grapefruit juice and decaf tea. I need to blog about fried toast! The taxi was prescheduled following an hour long walk to The Commons. Lots of runners, cute dogs and a boomerang guy. Joe needs one,) The taxi is quick to carry us to the port. We slide through the process, have our photo i.d.s taken and file on board.  'Sail Away' well drinks means Sauvigon Blanc and johnny Walker Black and a chicken salad prepare us for the unpacking process,  And muster drill. A bit stormy outside so we settle for a coffee and it's time to dress for dinner. We meet a couple from Winston Oregon named Kathy and John James. He's a farmer and she a retired RN who now is a wedding planner. They know the Hobis. We were lucky to get a great table for ...

Toast The toast caddy situated atop the selections of jams , marmalade, honey and marmite is clever isn't it? The toast comes in white or brown, white or whole berry.  At Hunter Moon the server tried to take my plate while I was busy savoring analytically the baked toast. Today it occurs to me this this is the fabled fried bread! While yesterdays was heavily oiled it seemed baked, todays was clearly deep fat fried. And one was enough;)

Sidmouth- Exeter- Southhampton We slept very well, waking to sunshine sparkling off the mighty elm tree. We showered and dressed for brekkie. First course muesli an apricot half and grapefruit, then the Full English breakfast (poached egg) . Always decaf ;-/ We store our luggage and wander though town. Dogs on leash, well heeled pensioners, bicyclists, and families tugging small children along. We needed a magnet and a postcard but strolled a few charity shops. A spool for LWR and a few cotton tea towels for Christmas gifts. We decided we'd had enough 'exercise' and returned to Hunter Moon. The taxis were scarce so we shared a pint in the lounge and enjoyed a sandwich from Boots. The taxi appeared at half past one and took us to Exeter station where waited four minutes and we boarded a train. Views of brick villages and hills with hedgerow and Holstein. We transfer in Salisbury and wait about nine minutes. Then travel another half hour to the Port of Southham...

I woke up at 4:30, too excited to sleep. The birds were creating quite a fuss when the rains stopped. The elm outside the window appeared silvery under a grey sky.  I took a proper bath (sans washcloth)  and we spiraled down three flights of narrow carpeted stairs to the marbled entrance, Breakfast is served from 8:15 to half past 9. I chose the croissant yogurt and  fruits. Dan the full English breakfast. Brilliant! We walked into Sidmouth to meet Jahnavee and do a bit of shopping. Luggage tags, pantyliners and a makeup brush.  Sarah caught up with us and we walked the shoreline boardwalk, tracing the red eroding cliff line to the Bell Tower and Connaught Gardens where we stopped for a beverage and admired pastries. Lunch was late at The Pentlands/Annex which is Anne and Aidan's summer home. It was a feast, three loaves, sausage rolls, salad, halumi,  grapes and a variety of desserts.  The we visited in the solarium while Dan napped....

It was so good to be reunited with family at the very British Anchor Inn last night. Grandparents Joy and Joe, Aidan and Anne Bryant, Robert and Sarah MacNaughton, and the German family who hosted Jahnavee as an exchange student Micheal, Mathilde and Clara.  We were jetlagged and had been up about 24 hours when we greeted one another. Dan ordered well, the Fish Pie: I chose Welsh Rarebit on the lighter menu with coleslaw and a pint. The peas looked so good! Aidan drove us home.

Heathrow Terminal to Sidmouth A long day for two weary travelers. We simply went with the flow of travelers. After the easy flight we found our way through customs and eventually to the Heathrow  bus terminal. Many people milled and waited patiently watching the reader board announcing bus arrivals and gates! The language cheerful,bright! Dan planned so well! We have tickets on the bus to Exeter, about four hours away. We sat across the aisle from one another since the coach was full.  The roadways and overpasses looked new and were efficient. The fields and low rolling hills were divided by squat hedges. Cows, sheep horses chickens and pigs could seen as we passed. Some old crumbling out buildings too. Its all so natural. It was on the bus I realized A bladder infection had taken root and quickly popped an antibiotic. Sulfa. In Exeter we pulled our large wielding  suitcases to a taxi stand across flat cobbled curb less roads to catch a taxi. This gent drove us t...