Jasper unlike Amelia and Tabitha didn't need persuading to enter his carrier as we took him to "Cozy Pets Hotel" before driving down to West Sussex for a few days. There was congestion on the M25 but apart from that an easy drive down into the lovely rolling hills of the South Downs. We stopped at South Mimms to patronise "KFC", and took a Chinese meal for two to have when we arrived at the Stable Cottage at Brookfield Farm. Inside a nice supply of biscuits and nibbles, nice high beams so no danger of banging my head, plenty of space. The hot water ceased to be hot after a minute or two for me so I didn't manage to have a shower or a bath, the "Stable Cottage" is right on the road so you have people and traffic shooting past the windows. The code for the entrance gate is the same as for the key safe and I wondered if it was the same for the other cottages on site.

We made full use of our National Trust membership - we saw Bodiam Castle (a fine castle ruin with a decent sized moat where Virginia used to be taken by her father when young), and also Bateman's owned by Rudyard Kipling whose daughter ended up at Wimpole Hall. At Bodiam Castle we had to wear wristbands - I put mine on with difficulty, almost sticking the paper to me rather than to itself. When it came to try to remove it I couldn't tear it apart! Had to wrestle it over my wrist and off. We had pea and ham soup at Bateman's, a pretty place but not a lot else apart from the house. On the way back Ginny drove and a bird shat on me through the open window! Some aiming that.

Virginia and I had a long weekend in "Eastbourne". This resort on Britain's south coast seems to be a favourite resort for the elderly - Wallace Arnold coaches disgorged OAPs into hotels where they stayed sitting in chairs. Mixed weather - some fine sunshine but also rain - we got wet and had to take refuge in a fish and chip place to have an early supper after seeing the pier. The pier was a little rundown but had a shop making and selling glass ornaments, I got Virginia a small glass elephant (admiring the skill of the young girl wrapping the glassware).