A sociable weekend.

Last weekend we visited various friends who live further along the south coast. On Saturday we had a good catch-up and a tasty tea with friends who live in Lyme Regis in a wonderful former sea captain's house. We had a short walk on the cob, the harbour wall featured in Jane Austen's novel, "Persuasion" and in the film, 'The French Lieutenant's Woman' which is based on John Fowles' book of the same name. We drove on to spend the night in Sidmouth, staying at the rather tired but very friendly and quirky Royal Glen Hotel. A plaque on our bedroom wall informed us that we were in the room where Victoria had slept as a vwey small child before becoming queen. (Sidmouth is swamped with plaques as this post will demonstrate!

We ate a very hearty breakfast on Sunday morning, so, in spite of doubtful weather we set off to walk beneath the cliffs towards C0nnaught Gardens. We dodged the waves but did catch a bit of sea spray. One or two people were soaked!

The blue plaques around the town have information that brings the past alive.

We met up with the book group back along the coast for lunch. Jane Austen's 'Mansefield Park' was up for discussion which seemed very apt after a visits to Lyme and Sidmouth!