Holiday: Bognor Regis–week 2

It’s always nice having 2 weeks away, so after our first week I am ready for another week of relaxing.   This time we’ll have some company with my Mum & Dad coming down for the week and Julie & Sean joining us just for a long weekend.

Saturday 11 May

Hoorah, it’s my Birthday.   Woke myself at 6.00am after having weird dream and shouting in my sleep. Happened earlier in week as well, seems to be when I drink Peroni!    Will stick to Carling in future. Luckily went back to sleep, waking again at a more reasonable time of 7.30am to open my pressies and cards.

It’s bright and sunny, but still windy. Went out for a walk round town. At a gentle stroll ended up being 1.5 hour walk, but was back in time for F1 qualifying and lunch

Relaxed until Julie called to say they had arrived. Arranged to meet for coffee at 4.00pm, went to pick up Mum and Dad at their hotel. They have a nice room with lovely sea view.  

Went out to the seafront cafe, but they were packing away, so ended up at the Waverley for coffee and met Julie, Sean and Jasper for a chat. Back to flat to relax from the wind and get ready for dinner.

Went to Madlows again. Julie and Sean were already there with champagne open.   We had a lovely meal and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.   Was relatively early night, but think that suited everyone !    It has been a very enjoyable birthday day for me.

Sunday 12 May

Woke to a lovely sunny day and doesn’t look too windy. Out around 9.30am and bumped into Julie, Sean and Jasper on sea front, before we stopped off for our coffee and biscuits. Had walk along front, which was lovely as was sunny and wind was on our backs. Walked back via Hotham Park and found tabletop sale to browse. They say one persons tat is another’s treasure... but we didn’t see any treasures.

Back to flat for lunch and Grand Prix. Short walk to stretch legs, then relaxed until time to go out for dinner at Mum and Dad’s hotel. Meal was okay but unspectacular but was nice meal with Mum and Dad, Julie and Sean.    Julie and Sean dropped us back to the apartment so we could show them where we’re staying, which was nice as it was a bit blustery out.

Monday 13 May

Woke 8.30am to cloudy but bright day although looking a bit windy still. Went out for walk along seafront and back through town. Before getting back to apartment for lunch as it started raining a bit.

Picked up Mum and Dad and went off to Tangmere Military Aviation Museum. Had a nice couple of hours looking round, Mum was reading all the displays and would have stayed all day if we’d let her!   Lynn sat in an ejector seat, then one of the museum volunteers came, strapped her in and insisted explaining how the seat worked before releasing.

We then went to Selsey and Mum went to shop. Drove back via West Sands Caravan Park where we use to holiday regularly when I was a child. Back to apartment, showed Mum and Dad around (didn’t take long) before they went off for their dinner and we contemplated where we would go for ours. In the end, decided on the Navigator, which was a great choice as we both had a great meal.

Tuesday 14 May

It’s a work day for me today.   Alarm woke me up and I certainly didn’t want to wake up!    Went our for our ‘Fish and chip dinner’ at lunchtime in the chip shop restaurant on the sea front. Was okay, but seemed expensive and not as nice as our local chippy back home. Had busy afternoon, but having to work doesn’t seem onerous as the weather is appalling outside!

Logged out at 4.30pm off to cinema again, see Star Trek at the cinema.   Was an okay film but nothing special really.   It’s lashing down when we came out, so brisk walk back to apartment for late tea.  

Relaxed in front of TV with chocolate fingers and lager

Wednesday 15 May

Woke before my alarm today, so not feeling so sleepy. The day looks bright but cold.  Had lunch in the apartment, then out for our walk.   Wasn’t too bad out, but just went round the block (at a brisk pace!)

After another hectic afternoon of work, the end of the working day arrives at last and can get back into holiday mood (for the last time )

Had a walk on the way to the William Hardwick, but was too early for us to eat there, so went to the Regis again.   Had reasonable meal in nice relaxed atmosphere as not so busy this time.

Walked back to the apartment and rested until time to meet Mum & Dad for a drink at their hotel.

Had nice drink and chat before coming back to relax with a nice cup of tea and biscuit whilst watching the Apprentice  (not exactly raving into the early hours, but good enough for me !)

Thursday 16 May

Nice lay in this morning and it’s Sunny !   Went out 9:30am and had tea in Dolphin Cafe, sitting out in the glorious sunshine and feeling too hot for a change!

Went back and picked up Mum & Dad around 10:30am and decided to go to Littlehampton.  Went to Sea Front and had nice walk and a Cup of Coffee (and cake)    Went back along the front and setup base camp in the beach.   Me & Lynn went off to “hunt” for food, bringing back sandwiches to eat on the beach.

After a long rest sitting in the sun on the beach, decided to go into the town centre.   Had mid afternoon coffee and cake.  

On the way back to Bognor, stopped at Climping Beach (simply because I liked the sound of it) to see what it was like.   Now we know… there’s not much there…. except a beach.  

Dropped Mum & Dad off at their hotel then we went back to the apartment for a well earned rest.

Went out for walk as such a lovely afternoon/evening, ending up at The Waverley for our dinner.   Food was OK but expensive for the quality and quantity  you get.   Lynn’s main meal was quite small,  and found she was still hungry and had to have a dessert… almost unheard of!     I was very disappointed with the size of my pudding and could probably have eaten three (had they not been £5 each…)

After dinner we had slow walk back to the apartment along the sea front, which was very nice as the sun was almost down and sea looked peaceful.   Was getting a bit chilly though !

Friday 17 May

Cloudy but bright today.   Had a nice rest before meeting up with Mum & Dad at 11am.   Walked along the promenade, had a cup of tea, then made it to the Lobster Pot where we had lunch.   We had lovely freshly made sandwiches, then I had tricky choice between a nice looking Victoria Sandwich or the Banoffee Pie… with the Banoffee Pie narrowly winning out in the end.   It was hugely delicious but I did feel a bit sick after scoffing the lot !

Resuming our walk (or for me, my waddle after eating lunch) along the Promenade, it was a little breezy now but still very pleasant and we had a lovely sit down in a park to give lunch more time to digest.   We then headed for Bognor town center where Lynn and I stopped off for our afternoon cakes but Mum & Dad headed back to their hotel as I think we wore them out !

Even we were feeling a bit weary after our walking and eating all day, so popped back to The Hatters Inn for our dinner.   We had a nice meal from their standard menu… me fancying the Sausage & Mash, and Lynn having Chicken strips.  Much nicer than last night and half the price…

Saturday 18 May

Nice bright and warm day with little wind… ideal weather for the beach… but we have to go home      Pick up Mum & Dad at 10am and got them back in 1 hour 15min as there was no real traffic on the route home (straight up the A3)   

All in all, it was a nice holiday, especially being able to celebrate my birthday with the family.     In fairness, I think it wasn’t quite as good as previous years but this was really down to the time of year (which was constrained by the date of my birth, so that is my parents fault )     We can now look forward to our July holiday, which will hopefully see us on the beach a bit more.

Holiday: Bognor Regis–week 1

 Saturday 4 May

Woke up normal time but excited to be on holiday. Looked out of window to see it raining! Oh well, after 4 days of sun previously, couldn’t expect it to last!!

Left after lunch and stopped at Petworth House for tea and cake.

Got to apartment a bit early but called the lady and she was very accommodating by letting us in early (around 3.15pm).

Did our food shopping, unpacked, washed up and had a cup of tea to get back into the holiday mode.

Went out for dinner. Stopped at the Royal Hotel to check the menu etc. Had 18^th Birthday party so not offering meals tonight, but had lost chef so wasn’t taking bookings either!  Decided not to bother…….

Walked up to The Regis as had free pudding voucher. Both had chicken buffet, so I over ate and nearly wasn’t able to have free dessert, but managed to eat Strawberry Sundae between us.

 

Both a bit worn out, so went back to flat for nice cup of tea and watched The Voice… almost a normal Saturday night

 

Sunday 5 May

Woke early (8.30am) and had breakfast in bed. Cloudy but bright so planned to have local walks today. Had coffee in apartment at 10.00am after the shock of getting out of bed.

Went for walk along front, bit chilly in the wind. We’ve wrapped up for winter! Checking out a few possible eating locations for later in the holiday, but ended up at the William Hardwicke for Sunday carvery. Had trouble getting a table, but got one eventually.

The meal was nice, but only averagely good. Walked back along the front as the sun had come out.

Stopped for a cup of tea at West Park which was very pleasant and didn’t want to move (as we were sitting out of the wind).

After rest, had tea, then walk round block before quick pint in QEII where there was a disco (we didn’t stay long ).

Monday 6 May

Had breakfast around 9am. Excited to see the sun so up and ready by 10am!

Had nice walk around town, ending up in a beach cafe for our coffee and biscuit for elevenses.

Got very hot out of the wind but once in it, we definitely needed our coats, especially when sea mist came in. Took another slow stroll heading back to apartment for lunch. Managed to break part of my tooth eating my sandwich but not hurting (luckily).

Went out for our afternoon walk. Got as far as the beach where we had a rest and a nice cup of tea. Walked a bit further up and sat on beach enjoying view for a while, walked a little way and had a cold drink at the Waverley Pub. This cooled us down, so had to go back to promenade and have a rest in the sun, before getting our ice cream (first of the holiday!) and having another rest.

All these rests were wearing us out, so walked up the promenade a bit further so we could sit on the beach .

After having a rest in the apartment, went to Madlows Restaurant. Despite being a Monday and eating early the food service and even the ambience were excellent, and was well priced (being a Monday).

Came back to the flat and watched some TV, all this holidaying is wearing us out… must be our age!

Tuesday 7 May

Woke 8.30am and sunny again. Decided to go to Hayling Island today and Chichester tomorrow, based on weather forecast. Up and ready by 10.00 am to go.

Got to Hayling Island around 11.00am, in time for coffee and biscuit sitting in the sun, looking at lovely view.   The Cafe was a bit rough looking, but they were doing very nice smelling all day breakfast… shame we’d already had our breakfast…

Walked along the coast and found nice spot to sit on the beach, with the wind was surprisingly chilly!

After half hour, decided to have lunch at the pub which was handily right where we were sitting, ‘Inn on The Beach’. Found a great table on terrace overlooking sea and beach, so had fantastic view. Food was great as well, so lovely lunch.

Had another walk, but was a bit disappointed with lack of anything interesting, the main attraction was isolated feeling and great views.   En-route back home, we stopped at Havant as we havant (sic) been there before .    Was pleasant enough, albeit seemed over developed with several retail parks along the main road.

Got back to apartment in time to go to the cinema. Saw Iron Man 3 which was a very action packed film and well worth the £2.50 each (plus nibbles)

Then had walk down high street to seafront and got some chips for supper, before heading back for a cup of tea.

 

Wednesday 8 May

Woke up and looked out of the window from bed. Thick fog and cloud! Took another look and realised window had condensation, so was just cloudy .

Once out of bed at 9.30am, its already brightening up. Went to Chichester for a shopping day, so started by having cup of coffee and cake of course…

I bought some stuff, had pub lunch in the Old Cross.   We both fancied Burger and Chips, which was lucky as the pub did a fine selection of Burger and chips    It was decent enough and not expensive either, which always makes it taste better somehow..

Had walk around, then came back 3ish for cup of tea in the apartment.

Working tomorrow, so relaxing ‘night in’.

Thursday 9 May

Work day, so up at 7.15am! At lunch we ate in as the wind was looking really strong. We then went out for a walk but the wind was really gusty and not pleasant to be walking in so was a very brief walk.

After work went up to local DVD shop as nothing on TV (and is a work night) then went to Hatters Inn (our local Weatherspoons) for dinner. It is curry night so we both ended up having a curry. Was very nice food and very good value so pleased with our choice.

Watched Rock of Ages DVD, it was kind of OK in the end, but would’ve probably switched it off a couple of times, had anything better been available on TV

Friday 10 May

Up and out of bed at 7.15am again. Busy morning at work, so was nice to take stroll in sunshine at lunchtime, although it is still pretty windy!

Glad to finish work today, got three days off now before have to work again

Off to do our food shopping before a modest dinner in tonight (after our not so modest coffee and cakes this afternoon )  

Got to build up the energy for tomorrows celebrations, so popped down to the QEII for a swift one before settling in for the night.

So the first week is over.  So far we’ve been enjoying ourselves, even though had to work a couple of days.   Got another week to look forward to, starting with my birthday tomorrow

Continued on my week 2 write up