In like a lion...
This post covers late Feb. and all of March. I'm actually wanting to retire this blog, given that I rarely write in it. But I haven't figured out how to save it. I don't want it, and its many many photos, to disappear. I look forward to reading it when I'm old and gray (older and grayer 😄)
After two visits from my very kind friend John, who works in IT, I successfully moved money to the UK from an IRA. And I have been very successful at spending it. In late February, I went to an evening golf coaching event in Ballymoney – an hour away – so I spent the night at a charming B&B and then went shopping at two stores nearby that friends recommended.
My haul included Barbour boots (retail at 260, on sale for 80). Then on to an outdoors store where I bought a down jacket (ethically sourced down) and a pair of hiking boots. Onwards for a visit with Mary then home.
Also at the end of February I was at a swing dance weekend. Rubbish weather continued in Feb and March, necessitating a dog blanket while watching TV.
But there were pockets of good weather and, during March, we went from nine to 13 holes open on the golf course. I'm getting out twice a week as of the second half of March. Here I am with Patricia with poor Pauline working away in the background.
The big event in March was a 10-14 March trip to the Isle of Wight. A flight from Belfast to Southampton, two trains to Lymington Pier, a lovely ferry trip to Yarmouth and a taxi to the HF Holidays house, where we had a welcome tea in a room with a view:
The first full day there we had good weather and hiked along Tennyson Down to the Needles. The Old Battery that affords the best view of the Needles was closed so I got this shot from the other side of the point.
This is Alum Bay on the way back up from the battery to the top of Tennyson Down...
...on top of which is a monument to Tennyson. I'm afraid I don't have the full monument, this photo was taken by a fellow hiker for me to send to Aelish, creator of my protector doll.
Day two was high winds and rain – not great hiking weather, so I went to Queen Victoria's pile at East Cowes (Osborne House). I was ticked that it cost 25 pounds to get in – then had difficulty seeing the art collection due to very weak lighting/shuttered windows.
I walked down to the shore, visited the Swiss cottage, and I walked around the walled garden (impressive espalier work). I think one of the most striking things was the Indian gallery in Osborne House. Queen Victoria hired an Austrian portrait artist to travel around India painting likenesses of any interesting man he saw (very few women). Many of the men – of various minorities within India – were stunning. She had a bit of a thing for exotic looking men, methinks.
In the main, I'm appalled by excess wealth, excess anything, and there was lots of excess.
I took two buses each way to get to East Cowes. I passed lots of houses with intricate thatched roofs. This church was near the HF House where I stayed.
Day 3 I toured the home of Julia Margaret Cameron, a Victorian photographer who lived near where I stayed. Her work gives you an idea of the artistic energy on the island (Tennyson and various actors who visited Cameron – and Charles Darwin). Then I played golf! Check out the strap line for the course I played.
The thing I loved about the island is there were public footpaths all over the island – it's an easy place to be a hiker. And one of the paths went right through the golf course! The big white house in the distance is Freshwater Bay House, where I stayed.
The day I played was windy and not sunny. I went back the next morning to take these photos. Here are some lads on the course.
Final note for March was getting to hear Cappella Caeciliana sing Mozart's Requiem at Clonard Monastery. They were accompanied by the Ulster Youth Orchestra, which did an incredible job on a long and complicated piece.
Late Feb and March