A family mystery and four footed friends

So when we went to Plymouth we stopped off at my grandparents bungalow and brought back the smaller of the two tool chests. My Grandad worked in Plymouth docks and so here is his starter tool box. Except his middle name was James...



We went into Dorchester and watched the Paddington 2 film which is very funny and worth a watch. We then zoomed up to Poundbury for lunch in Cafe on the Green (a cafe that is helping people with learning disabilities) with friend Val. Val had been on a course to learn different ways of headwrapping so we had a go!


We mastered 2 of the three styles. Style three needed some practice at home without an audience!


A visit to friend Wendy meant a walk back through the village at sunset which brought us to the last of the fords for the holiday though this time we used the bridge...


And then supper with Janet and Freda...
And Duffie


Is this my best side?


He is beautiful!


This is the Princess Lily 


Oh and Duff


And Scrumpy


We had lovely chicken curry dinner and good company with much chatting and laughter before we braced the dark and cold to walk back.

The next day we headed towards
Wiltshire to see Pam& Dennis for lasagne lunch and then back to Kent passing a famous landmark on the way.

On the a303 heading east...


How do you say Wylye?


I expected something bigger....


And got back to Kent to this!


And this...


And this...


Those of you who remember we had got a whole bunch of citrus fruits from ruined monasteries in n Cyprus which is not at all illegal in any way and this was one of the things we made...

Some of the fruit ended up in vodka, and some will become decorations this Christmas and some seeds will be planted.


Where's Splodge?



And love from Fog
And me and he xxx

Churches

We drove to Fleet and parked at the "new" Church and headed out for a walk



Inside the church, the American flag is for the American soldiers who were stationed there In the war


The old church, gorgeous in the winter sun


It's only 2 pews deep!


The story of the church


The second ford of the holiday


The fleet - this is the lagoon along the Dorset coast that is separated from the sea by Chesil Beach which I know from geography lessons is a tombolo 


We came across a racetrack, this is smuggling territory and also horse racing apparently 


And on 2 pebbles in the lagoon were 2 bright green caterpillars which we moved onto the grass as they were surrounded by water on the pebbles they were on. Don't know how they'll manage the winter chill though


Be quiet! Horses!


A pill box in case the invaders fancied a Dorset holiday


And another pill box. These racing horses must be something very special


A stile in a non existent fence leading to an equally useful boat


The Moonfleet Hotel. Here be smugglers or at least some tat.


Another set of gate posts! This leads down to the hotel


And on the way out of the village. Watch out for the green armed locals

We went on to Abbotsbury



And found the remaining abbey ruins


There they are


And went into the church


Woody's idea of bell ringing


From the outside


A view from Hardy's monument (that's kiss me Hardy, not Thomas and not the other Thomas Hardye)


Enjoying the sun though the wind was bitter 


And the view towards Portland


Some stones














Doing what he's told, the engraving is on the top


Ending the night with a brandy tasting with the tulip glasses from Cognac, France. These are the things to drink brandy from these days don't you know?!


And to all a good night *hic
Xxx