The road to Lewes & the groundhog roundabout
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This week, I decided to take a break from my hectic schedule. I really needed a break from everyday life, which I do love & enjoy, but also grinds me in to a heap of tired state.
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So I took this Saturday off. There were no pre-orders for big cakes, & the Easter chocolate fever is yet to come. – We planned to do a day trip to a county town called Lewes (East Sussex. It’s near Brighton), where friends of ours live who had left London last Autumn for a better life there (good thinking!).
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Leaving the house 10am, & thinking that our car journey would be around 2 hours, we left high spirited. It’s so unusual to have a day off on a Saturday, it felt good to make a proper day out of it. We had our car-nav device which would guide us there no problem.
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BUT… somehow, we managed to spend almost 3 hours on just getting to Streatham! Still, we drove despite being hit by bad traffic everywhere, I mean in a seriously bad way (which was a test of composure indurance). THEN…, our bad luck got nailed down, as we hit a road closure on our exit on a roundabout. We follow the diversion signs – which brings us back to the same roundabout! Jeez, it did not make sense. The diversion signs were just not good enough – pointing this way, that way. D kept his cool throughout & try another route, but again we were at the same roundabout… We program the car-nav to come up with alternate route. but try as it might, it would try to take us back to this god-damn roundabout a number of times…
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At this point, we were already driving 4 hours. The thought of another 1 hour drive to get to their house, spend a measly 2 hours with our friends & then face another long long time getting home (with an active toddler strapped in to his car seat), in time for his bedtime…, it would be just plain madness. We U-turned home…
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Sorry to hear you didn’t make it to Lewes, Tamami! I’ve only been there once but loved it. Some good second-hand bookshops as well as an amazing dot-matrix sign factory which made a sign for me. We were thinking of going there again soon one weekend, but glad you’ve warned us about this south London roadworks labyrinth!
Comment by Jacques - March 26, 2007 1:49 am
Hi Jacques! I only hear good things about Lewes! I’m thinking of maybe going there with an over-night stay rather than a day trip to make ot worthwhile. And also VIA train next time!!!!
Comment by Tamami - March 26, 2007 8:36 am
Hi tamami
what a bummer, when going to brighton we would always go via blackwall tunnel to avoid streatham etc, always very quick 2hrs max journey. Things are good here. went to an anual cheese rolling very good fun , with cider and lots of music and farmers with very long beards!!!!
hows your house hunting going?
we havestarted looking as landlord has given us notice annoyingly. No work for chris yet he may have to take some in london.
say hi to everyone
nikki
Comment by nikki - March 26, 2007 10:44 am
Hey Nikki! Judy & Jim was asking about you just last week. My house-hunting… lets just say that its a headache… Annual cheese rolling?! Wowza, I wish I was there, it sounds like proper fun. Hows your little one settling in to the nursery? Since Chris has time, and the weather is getting beautiful, I’m sure Bath must be a better place to spend that spare time with the family!
Comment by tamami - March 26, 2007 1:53 pm