We really should have done our research.. I'm all for a little faded elegance, and generally I adore period architecture and vintage decor. But our 'apartment' was something else entirely. The apartment blocks gave the impression of one of those run-down blocks of flats such as you'd see on The Bill. Yes, we'd left our beloved home in sunny Eastbourne to stay in a one-bed council flat. Happy holidays!
nice paint job..
great views of the neighbours
ok, so this is 'budget'.
The boys didn't notice our dismay and had great fun exploring our new 'home' (which took about a minute). We decided to dine out since the kitchen really wasn't up to much. After a bit of searching round the site, we located the 'Sands Restaurant' and ordered our meals. 'So is this Leigh Delamere or Membury services?' I asked Gareth.
the boys enjoying a cultural experience
After tucking the boys into bed later on, we settled down onto our sofa-bed, each clinging to the edges to stop rolling into the middle, each trying to devise ways to cushion ourselves against the mattress springs. Then a party started in the room below.. and continued til 1.30am. Aaaaargh!!!!!!
Saturday morning arrived.. and so did a deluge of rain.. absolute cats and dogs! We considered abandoning the weekend and going home.. but that would be to admit defeat, so we soldiered on. We'd heard good things about Dymchurch, a few miles away, so off we went to explore. The rain had stopped by this time, so armed with buckets, spades, wind-break and towels, we trekked through the town to the beach. And discovered the beach was made of concrete. The tide was right in, the waves lapping against the brand-new sea defences with not a grain of sand to be seen.
'Beach re-opened for you to enjoy the summer at Dymchurch', says the sign. Oh, thanks.
OK, so it wasn't all bad.. the beach at Camber Sands was indeed huge and sandy. When we visited on Friday evening, the sea was about 3 miles away, it was freezing and blowing a gale. On a good day, though, I'm sure it would have been lovely.
You call this summer?
Saturday night was better - no parties below us, and sleeping on a pillow eased the bruising from the springs. We explored a gorgeous little town called Hythe, and climbed up the huge stone staircases of Bodiam Castle (my thighs are still in agony from the descent carrying Harry). The boys had lots of fun - and that's the main thing, right?!
If you got this far, thanks for enduring this tale with me! :o)
We'll look back on it all and laugh one day..
