Windmills of your mind

Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning
On an ever-spinning reel
As the images unwind
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind

Today we went in search of Nutley Windmill. A short drive off the A22 took us into the Ashdown Forest, a beautiful part of the Sussex countryside. We parked the car near a small copse aptly named "Friends Clump" and spent an hour or so walking deserted, dusty country paths with views of the open rural area. Despite the beauty, we hadn't yet discovered the Nutley jewel so dived back in the car for further investigations.

It was worth the wait, for the first glimpse of the open-trestle post mill was breathtaking. There she was, standing in a beautiful setting overlooking the Ashdown Forest. Enthusiastic volunteer Brian spoke knowledeably and passionately about the windmill's history and showed us inside the only working example of a post mill in the country.

Although we didn't see a mouse (well I guess it wasn't Amsterdam) Eric peered out of the window, and we were both surprised when the windmill itself turned as we were inside it. Makes complete sense now, but until then I had thought that they were fixed structures!

Other highlights today included a visit to Ashdown Llama Park, which had a delightful Pooh House (for Eric) and Eeyore's den (for Graham)