Lovedean - Sunday and Monday (Arundel Castle)

Sunday 29 July 2018

On Saturday we had bought tickets for Arundel Castle and the jousting competition.  On Sunday morning we woke up to face a rainy day!

Not to be deterred, one never knows what the day will bring anyway, we got into the car and drove to Arundel.  When we got there and got out of the car we got hit by driving rain and wind.  Lots of it.  Umbrellas weren't really going to be of much help! 

Luckily we were able to spend most of the day in and around the castle, so the rain wasn't going to spoil much.  The castle is still partially inhabited by the 16th Duke of Norfolk, who performs certain duties to the royal family, and guests are housed in some of the rooms we were allowed to visit.

We had lunch at the castle restaurant and enjoyed our carrot and coriander soup followed by a (huge) fruit scone with jam and clotted cream.  After lunch it was about time to visit the outside festivities, but it wasn't really much fun in the stormy wet weather.  We visited the chapel and the fighting footmen, walked past the stands and watched the jousting for a bit, but as it was standing room only and in the rain to top it off, we soon left. 

As the rain stopped just when we left the castle grounds we decided to wander a bit around Arundel to see some of the old town as well. We were not disappointed.

the Keep

Storage and Dungeon in the Keep

The quarters that are still in use for visitors

a bathroom!

another bathroom

the old and unaltered library

Lunch

Arundel

a strange decoration on the wall of the castle

Walking back to the car

Monday 30 July 2018

On Monday the neighbour, Dave, came around to tell us again what to do with the bins and when they had to go out.  I suspect he was lonely (he'd lost his wife in February) and was just hoping to come in for a chat.  He accepted my invitation to a cup of coffee so quickly, that my suspicion was probably founded. ;-)  He was a nice guy who told us a bit about his life and his time during World War II, which was quite interesting.  He didn't stay long though, but it was perhaps just enough for him to be out of the house for a while.

In the afternoon we went groceries shopping at Morrison's (a larger supermarket than Tesco's near home) and that was about all we did.