DAY 2 - SATURDAY 5TH AUGUST.

MORE TRAIN TRAVEL - AND RAIN

First port of call this morning was a cafe in Burgess Hill to have breakfast.  As I am not following the " Slimming World Plan"  during my long weekend away I chose buttermilk pancakes with bacon, maple syrup and berrries.  You can see this marvellous creation in Extras.  It was so good.

Then we drove to The Bluebell Railway - Sheffield Park Station. Its about 10 miles away.  We caught a train straight after paying for our tickets and made the journey to East Grinstead where we got off and had a wander into town.  Looked in a few shops and enjoyed seeing all the lovely old buildings.  See an example in my Extras.

As we were heading back to the station the heavens opened and it was too wet to carry on so we sheltered for a while.  However the rain didn't look like it was going to stop anytime soon so we just had to brave it ----- and got soaked through. 

Caught the steam train back along the line but got off part way along at Horsted Keynes - a lovely station with lots of great features.  The underpass was interesting - its one of the shots in my collage.  After exploring Horsted Keynes we took the next train back to Sheffield Park.  Still raining so we went into the tea room ( in a converted railway carriage ).  By the time we were ready to go back to the car the rain was torrential so we got soaked again. 

Mike " Googled " and found a nice pub we could head for to have lunch - The Peacock in Piltdown, East Sussex - a 16th century coaching inn.  I chose ciabatta filled with Crayfish in a Marie Rose sauce with chunky chips- delicious.

By the time we left the rain had stopped so we had a pleasant drive home.  We just chilled out until it was time to change and head out for our evening meal.

Tonight we went to an Italian restaurant in Burgess Hill.  Becky and Mike had been before and recommended it.  It was a good choice as the food was delicious.  I chose pasta with prawns in a creamy sauce - with banoffee pie for pud.  There were three people there celebrating birthdays so there were three separate renditions of " Happy Birthday " with cake and candles and lots of cheering and clapping.

And at 9pm ----- a Dean Martin track was played " That's Amore".

" When a moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie
That's amore

When the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine
That's amore

Bells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling
And you'll sing "Vita bella"
Hearts will play tippy-tippy-tay, tippy-tippy-tay
Like a gay tarantella."


The staff handed out various pots and pans and wooden spoons to some of the diners and they bang along to the tune.  Apparently this happens every night at 9pm.  Think you have to be there to appreciate the fun of it.

Then it was back home - and bed.


Steps today - 15,526