Forest Row is a village about an hours train out of London, past Gatwick Airport in East Sussex. Claire live out there with her parents and brother while she tries to save a bit of cash and decide what her future is (it will be big - that girl is going places but anyway). Laura met me and Claire after work and we headed on the train out to her place. After a quick ride down we met her parents at a pub outside the train station so we could grab the car keys off them. They were off to Brighton for the weekend so we had the house to ourselves for a bit of a girls weekend which was good - although a bit of a shame we didn't really get to chat. Claire drove us home where we got the grand tour and quickly settled in by the fireplace with a glass of wine. We had some good chats about our future career plans over a yummy dinner of vegetarian shepards pie (sooo good!) before heading down to the local pub.
To get down to the local pub we had to wander by torchlight (because there aren't very many street lights) down a few backroads and alleys which was a bit of a mission after a few glasses of wine. Once we got there we found grabbed a drink and found a possie with two big armchairs that were sitting in what was an old fire. It was a really cosy little pub and would be a fantastic local. Unfortunately I didn't meet a Jude Law look alike as expected after watching 'The Holiday' but it was fun all the same. We stayed until last call before heading back out into the cold and then back to Claires for more drinks by the fire.
The next morning after an amazing sleep and a long lie in in a comfy bed and with block out curtains we were treated to a full cooked breakfast. It was such a good lazy morning and I totally appreciated having a day off work. The plan for the day was to check out the Ashdown Forest and have a bit of a ramble around to see the scenery and basically give us an excuse to wear wellingtons (or Gumboots for those at home). We bundled ourselves into lots of layers and warm clothes and popped on our green wellies before driving over to the forest. On the way Claire just casually mentioned that this forest was actually the inspiration for the 'Hundred Acre Wood' made famous by A Milne and his Winne the Pooh characters. As a big fan of Winnie the Pooh from childhood I was pretty chuffed to be going there. Yes I know that I am a dork.
We had a wander around for about an hour and it was so good to get some fresh country air. I love the big city and have never really been one for lots of outdoorsy activities but I've got to say having a ramble around the moors is a good way to spend an afternoon. I think in Oz its always so hot that when you go on a big walk you almost always end up sweaty and gross but over here because its so chilly you can walk around for ages and not even break a sweat. Your still exercising and getting fresh air but you don't end up feeling gross for the rest of the day. We wandered along and took a few photos of the scenery and had fun walking through the mud and water in our wellies - It was like being a kid again! Me and Laura were also excited about the discovery of mole hills (we actually squealed when Claire told us what they were) and Christmas holly just growing wildly. The best part was there was heaps of cute dogs running around and playing in the mud too so I got my fix of dogs for a little while (although if I had my sausage dog with me I would have lost him in the brush ferns).
After a little while in the cold and a good walk we headed back to the car and drove down to a tea room that was on the edge of the forest. The tea room was sooooooooo cute and cosy and just perfect for having a snack and getting out of the weather. We had a 'Sussex Tea' which was a scone with jam and clotted cream and a pot of tea. I don't think you could as for a better way to experience something 'English'.
Unfortunately we couldn't spend the whole weekend down there as I had to work on the Sunday and Laura had a friends leaving do. It was a shame we couldn't have spent a bit more time in a cosy family home (which feels sooooooooooooo good) and spent a bit more time just the girls talking each others ears off. The best thing is Claire has said we are welcome any time so hopefully I can go back out there in the Summer and spend a bit more time in the sunnier and (slightly) warmer weather.
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