Sorry and all that but yesterday I surrendered to the sophisticated delights and excitements of, er, well, Sidmouth, actually! Well, 'going abroad' adds a frisson of excitement to any 'away day' and, 'as any fule do no', Sidmouth do be in Devon (sorry about my accents!), so it was passports at the ready and an interpreter to hand as we crossed the frontier under the unblinking stares of sundry sheep!
It was a perfect day, warm, sunny with puffs of cotton-wool clouds and best of all, my pal did all the driving! As usual, we made for The Belmont Hotel on the esplanade which makes Trump Towers look like a Las Vegas bordello - waddya mean, it always does?! We settled into comfortable chairs round a table near the open door with a view over the beach and sea. Alas, there was a distinct shortage of young 'gals' dressed (sort of) in string bikinis but perhaps that was a good thing because at my age I can't take too much in the way of, er, stimulation.
Several gallons of strong, black coffee arrived in an instant to revive us from our journey. The ladies talked on (and on) about whatever ladies talk on and on about whilst my pal and I began to set the world to rights, well, to be fair, I did most of that whilst he just listened and I knew he was concentrating hard because several times his eyes closed! We decided to avoid the dining room and instead we had a light lunch where we were. I had a plate of smoked salmon with some 'yuuuuuge' fat chips and salad, all washed down with a glass or three of Pinot Grigio. It's years since I last drank Pinot Grigio and I had forgotten how delicious and refreshing it can be.
After that, I sensed my pal was determined to give his opinion on the state of the world so I quickly suggested a brisk walk along the esplanade, well, not exactly brisk, you understand, more like the slow march we used to practice in the army prior to a funeral! Viewing the visitors to downtown Sidmouth, I was a little concerned that on average they seemed a little younger than usual but as my shrewd pal suggested, that might be because we are getting older!
Anyway, soon, too soon, it was time to go home and leave the rolling hills of Devon (well, they seemed to be rolling a bit but that might have been the Pinot Grigio) and return to the smoke-stacked chimneys and factories and endless slums of industrial 'Zummerzet' - well, perhaps I exaggerate a tad but the bloody farmer to the south of my village was burning something! Anyway, soon it was time for bed and, yes, I slept like a log.
Just about as perfect a day as anyone could wish for - but a pity about the missing girlies on the beach . . .
A lovely drop is Pinot Grigio, Some excellent drops emanate from Aussie wineries. You were drinking Aussie wine weren't you?
Googled Sidmouth. Looks like a lovely spot for lunch even if it is in rural/seaside Devon and not industrial [choke] Zummerzet
Posted by: AussieD | Tuesday, 11 September 2018 at 11:03
'...slept like a log. Woke up in the grate!'
T Cooper
Posted by: decnine | Tuesday, 11 September 2018 at 12:06
Now he was a true wit!
Posted by: David Duff | Tuesday, 11 September 2018 at 12:59
Aye, aye, Skipper, as per your orders I purchased a bottle of Aussie Pinot Grigio today, called 'Yellow Leg', I think - yeeeees, quite!
Posted by: David Duff | Tuesday, 11 September 2018 at 17:21
"Yellow Tail"? At least in our house.
Posted by: Whitewall | Tuesday, 11 September 2018 at 20:27
Well, yellow something, you can never tell with those Aussies!
Posted by: David Duff | Tuesday, 11 September 2018 at 20:59