Three go down to Dorset

 We awoke to the news that Football is coming home. To Parkgate, where Rotherham are playing a friendly. I let Misty out of the patio doors once more, into the rain. What a shame for our last day. We had breakfast, nicer sausage than yesterday, and decided on a visit to Sidmouth. It’s the next town along from Beer and Branscombe. We easily found a parking space near the front in the drizzle, despite it being a Saturday, and set off to stroll along the promenade. It’s a lovely, chavfree, town, with lots of dogs. Most of the beach doesn’t allow them though, except right at the end. Misty of course wouldn’t enter the sea due to waves. After the attempted swim we walked back and got a coffee in the Connaught gardens, overlooking the sea. They are lovely After a drive through the countryside we landed back at the Dower House mid afternoon for a relax before the drive home tomorrow. The sun came out and it was glorious, so we had a swim! And it was glorious too! Misty wasn’t too impresse...

 We awoke to the news that us lucky double vaccers can now holiday abroad, but it will require a degree to fathom out which tests you need and when. I had slept really well in the giant bed in the Dower House. Ian had not. I threw on a jumper and let Misty out of the patio doors. Very convenient. Our patio doors flung open Our seating area We went round to breakfast at our allocated time of 9.15. There was another dog in there, Ted, but we knew where to sit as there was a bowl of sausage waiting with Misty’s name on. Awww! The consensus (can there be a consensus of two?) is that the first breakfast at Kingston was the best. This one is second. The SSB comes in third. Very pleasant surroundings though.  Due to Misty’s sore feet we had decided not to do a long walk, but to explore some of the nearby coastal villages. It was a great decision. First off we visited Seaton where, after a short walk along the promenade,  we discovered the Seaton tramway. We remembered this from ...

 We woke to find that most of England had a hangover. After a final breakfast at the seaside boarding house we headed inland. Our several long walks had tired us all out, especially Misty, so we were having a lazy day. First stop Hardys monument. Not Mayor of Casterbridge Hardy, but ‘Kiss me Hardy’ Hardy. It’s on top of a hill (which we drove up) and gives fine views. Next we drove into Dorchester and had a look around. I purchased a bandana, thus consigning Footsupport headband to the past. We sat outside a cafe and had a sandwich while watching the world go by. Exiting Dorchester we found the Cerne Abbas giant viewing platform and puzzled over that for a while. It’s impossible to photo so here’s some trees. Driving back toward the coast we found our next hotel, The Dower House, just outside Lyme Regis. The owner, Rosemarie, is very ebullient. She showed us to our suite, which is indeed huge, and has French windows leading onto the garden. Perfect. No stairs. There is also a swimm...

 We awoke to the news that the possibility of children resitting the whole year was greeted with elation at Maltby Comp. Alas, yesterday’s brief return to normality for Misty was just a blip. Ian took her out for her morning ablutions and had to carry her back up the stairs! Psychotic Misty is back. We breakfasted looking out to sea, where Ian spotted an imaginary sailing boat, before heading out for a stroll along the beach. We ended up walking into West Bay, aka Broadchurch. Misty had the time of her life chasing stones, digging, fetching a yellow thing we found, running after frisbee bowl. At one point frisbee bowl drifted out to sea, but returned to us further down the beach. In West Bay we wandered around before having a crab sandwich (expensive) in a beachfront cafe. Ian then treated me to a 99 (2 for £1.80, special offer!) which was huge, so Misty shared it. We walked back along the beach again, cue more insane running and fetching from Misty, before coming across a river wh...