Saturday, September 10, 2011

Holiday: Bognor Regis

We decided to go to Bognor on hols for a couple of reasons… partly to have a nice holiday on a South Coast seaside resort, but also to take a look at feasibility of buying and living in a holiday home.    We both like Bognor and is close to our current home (and is relatively cheap as well Smile ) so seems a good place to look into.   

Saturday 27th August 2011

Left home at 1pm, stopped at Petworth House for cup of tea and cake. Got to flat around 3.30pm, had a walk – windy but sunny! Flat was nice, good location, tidy and good facilities. It had a large flat screen tv, tv in the bedroom, king size bed, fridge freezer, washing machine and tumble drier etc.   Only down side to flat was the shower was pathetic, but small irritation rather than big problem.

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Went to Morrisons to get some food which was within walking distance just around the corner. Went and had dinner at The Regis brewers fayne. We waited for half an hour and the food wasn’t great, it wasn’t cheap either, but it did fill us up.  Walked to the cinema, there was a queue coming out the door so just got screen times for another day. Went back to the flat and watched tv, we both had a drink. We could hear the pub which is approx. 50yds away but not too bad.

Sunday 28th August

Had a late breakfast. Walked to Aldwick to look at the outside of some flats. Had a nice cup of tea at the beach cafe. We walked back along the seafront, very black clouds glad to go back to the flat for lunch. Watched Grand Prix, then it came over all sunny so went for another walk. It was very windy along the promenade, hat blew off and not able to get it (see below!)

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Walked to Felpham yacht club and had an ice cream, then walked back and discovered that we’d been out 2.5 hours! After a rest we went to Weatherspoons for dinner, waited half an hour for food to turn up ‘roast’, it wasn’t too great but okay. Had another drink and walk along promenade before going to pier to watch parade then fireworks cup of tea and biscuit in flat at 10.15pm!

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Woken at 3am police arresting someone in park outside!

Monday 29th August

Sunny morning, had a lie-in until 10am! Out at 10.30am after breakfast. Took ‘short walk’ ended up walking for 1 and a half hours to beach. Had 20 minute rest then another hour walk back to cafe for lunch at 1pm, slow meander along front , as it was quite sunny had long rests. Ice cream at 3pm and long sit on promenade, we kept seeing the train go up and down.

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After a rest in the flat, wet to see the ‘Inbetweeners’ which was hilarious (hadn’t even had a drink!). It was an old fashioned cinema, only £2.50 each adult! Had a chip supper on seafront then back to flat.

Tuesday 30th August

Drove to Arundel around 10.30am. Started in Castle Gardens, had a nice cup of tea then went around Keep.

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Walked along the river and had our packed lunch.

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Walked back and had another cup of tea. Had walk around shops it got to 4pm so we decided to have a cup of tea and cake! Left around 4.30pm. Back at flat feeling worn out!! It was cloudy and warm, not too windy all day. After watching tv managed to mustar ourselves to go out and eat. Went to Aldwick Italian ‘Mama Mia’ which was very nice. Walked back along front, then went to the local pub ‘QEII’ for a quick drink, before going back to the flat for well earned sleep.

Wednesday 31st August

Up and breakfast by 9am! Expected to be warm and cloudy again so off to Littlehampton for the day. Arrived just before 10am, bit windy/chilly but bright cloud. Walked up promenade, then into town for tea and cake.

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Had another walk then had lunch along the river. Had rest on beach then walk into town again for coffee and cake. Final walk along promenade then back to Bognor around 5pm. Small walk along promenade and rest, Morrisons again on the way to flat. Had a rest then went to the ‘Royal Hotel’ for dinner. The receptionist/waiter was a bit harassed, he took us into an empty restaurant/no music! But nice meal and big portion. Then went to the QEII for a drink and back at flat by 9pm! (Work tomorrow!!)

Thursday 1st September

Awake at 5.30am but dozed until 7.50am, up for work!

Lovely sunny day, went down to promenade for lunch, then busy at work again!

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4.30pm Finish work and out for walk and dinner. Ate at Cafe Prom (pizza) was okay but a bit pricey for what you got. Back early as a ‘work night’ to relax.

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Friday 2nd September

Woke around 5am again, dozed until 7.15am. Workmen turned up around 9.30am, clattered around for couple of hours, then disappeared! Lovely sunny morning, went to Gardens outside flat for lunch then sat on beach for half an hour.

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After work rang to arrange couple of property viewings for tomorrow (Lynn getting excited!!), then off to Morrisons to stock-up. Went to George & Dragon near Arundel (in Michelin Guide), out in the middle of nowhere nearly ran over a hare getting there but food was superb! Too full for pudding though!! Had a little walk in twilight and sea mist coming in was great. Had a cup of tea and chocolate biscuit back at the flat to finish us off.

Saturday 3rd September

I woke up at 3am feeling sick and sweaty! After half an hour sitting in the toilet felt okay and went back to bed. Lynn slept right through until the morning. Still feeling bloated at breakfast but otherwise okay. Went out to see cottage at 10am (which was okay) then went round town (shops open for a change). Had cup of tea on beach then onto see ‘our flat’ at 12.30pm (which was very nice)   Had lunch then another cuppa in the beach cafe. Walked to Hotham Park but the sun was out so had a nice rest on the beach for a while. The park is quite big, walked down to shops again before ending up along the promenade for another rest on the beach!! Got back to the flat around 5pm, thinking about where to go for dinner. In the end decided to have dinner in (beans on toast) and relax.

Sunday 4th September

Off to Chichester today. Up and out by 10.15am! Got to Chichester by 10.45 but started to rain so had half hour coffee break

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Rain got worse so popped into shop to take shelter and ended up spending £60.00! Then had walk round city wall and went to ‘The Bell Inn’ for a nice Sunday lunch.

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After lunch it got sunny as we walked around the city. Needed a rest by 3.30pm so had tea and cake in ‘The Buttery’. After another half an hour we were worn out so got to the flat around 5pm. We had a light tea, a walk along the promenade (bit windy) then back to the flat to relax before work tomorrow.

Monday 5th September

Back to work today. Busy morning at work then went out to lunch on promenade, very windy but sunny. Ate lunch then the black clouds rolled in and rain/hail by the time we walked back!

4.30pm Finish work and went out about 5pm for dinner. Went to ‘The Waverley’ pub, quite decent pub grub although seemed a bit expensive.

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Walked back in the wind and stopped at QE2 for beer. Lynn had a beer but wasn’t that keen (still drank it though). Back to the flat for a nice cup of tea and watched Coronation Street to relax.

Tuesday 6th September

Woke up at 6.50am so I got out of bed at 7.10am as work day but breakfast in bed for Lynn!   Busy morning again and soon lunchtime. Had lunch in today as weather is wet and wild out there. Afternoon also flew by and at 4.28pm Lynn is anxious to get out and buy some milk, apples and ham so we’re off to Morrisons at 4.33pm. Went to ‘Sen’ for dinner, was very nice food and atmosphere.

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As is ‘work night’ went back and watched TV. Played Black Belt Poker League game and although started okay, faded quickly so maybe should’ve sat out like last week!

Wednesday 7th September

Lynn woke up at 3.15pm and 4.30pm so I wasn’t keen to get out of bed for work this morning. Lovely sunny morning, so hope it’s a nicer day today. Had a windy walk along prom. But nice to eat lunch in sheltered spot on seafront with the sun out.

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Down tools at 4.30pm and now officially on holiday until Monday . Took long route to ‘Navigator Hotel’ for dinner. Had very nice meal, then windy walk back at least it’s not cold or wet!!

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Thursday 8th September

Had leisurely breakfast in bed at 8.30am! Out the flat at 10.10am for our Day trip to Worthing. Got there in half hour and had coffee and cake in M&S cafe which was full of OAP’s! Walked around shops, not so may OAPs, but still clear why Worthing has reputation for old folk. Lunch in Pizza Hut.

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Walked around shops again with sun trying to get out. Made way to promenade, very windy still but managed to eat ice cream on pier.

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After long walk had cup of tea and cake in Waitrose as were too worn out to walk further to find coffee shop! After rest we made it back to our car at 5.15pm! and got back to flat at 6pm. Went out for snack and ended up in chippy. Popped into “Cassino“ (Bookies and Amusement Arcade) and won £15.00 on first spin of video roulette so left quickly After small walk Lynn was worn out so back for cup of tea and tv!

Friday 9th September

Had a bit of a disturbed night so bit dozy when Lynn started to wriggle around 7.30am. Managed to hold off until about 8.30am for breakfast. Cloudy but warm when we got out about 10am for our day around Bognor. Got as far as cafe and had coffee break for half hour.

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Then had hour walk around town, then sun came out so walked to ‘Lobster Pot’ for lunch. Had lovely food, will definitely go back next trip for evening meal.

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Walked back through town as wind had got up. Ended up at flat for 3pm coffee and choccy to replenish our energy levels. Had another walk the long way to cafe on beach and both needed ice cream by the time we got there. Quick pop in the flat on way to Cinema at 5.50pm for ‘Colombiana’. Good action film along lines of “Nikita” (as written by same bloke).  Had chips walking along town and promenade, then back to flat.

Saturday 10th September

Woke up around 7.45am. Cloudy/warm, breakfast, pack then time to say goodbye to Bognor, but am sure we’ll be back.

Overall it was a great holiday and even on my work days, still seemed more relaxing and interesting.   It’s nice to be able to take a walk at lunchtime and straight after work along the prom.

So as a holiday it worked well.  As a tester for working from home in a holiday flat, it also showed that kind of life style could work for us, so could be something we invest in in the future!

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