Destination South Coast

BBQ night @ Martyn and Julie’s

We’ve had a few abortive attempts to get together with these wonderful people, so nothing was going to get in the way of this weekend’s get-together. Not even a near-20-degree drop in the daytime temperature from last weekend, and a full day of rain leading up to the planned BBQ!

We started off at around 7pm and eventually staggered our way to bed eight hours later at 3am, having put the world to rights several times over, as well as having the all-important catch-up on each other’s lives since we last met. Both Alfie and Leo were around the next day, so it was brilliant to see them now they’re adults. Both are doing well and looking amazing.

Gord ‘elp our livers, and their neighbours, who would have been thankful for the drop in temperature allowing them to close their windows and shut out the chit-chat. At least Martyn didn’t start a lawnmower at 2am like he’s done in the past (another story).

The quiet couple

I used to meet up with these guys every week for around a decade before moving to Somerset. Martyn was one of the rugby coaches for the team that Natty played for, and we instantly hit it off, along with his quiet and reserved wife Julie🤣, who’d always be there with the rugby mums and dads.

Being a Welsh and Scottish combo, you can just imagine the ribbing that takes place during Six Nations tournaments and Rugby World Cups. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve spent in bars, restaurants, parties and other events with these guys. We’ve been on a couple of ski trips together too. So it was great to get back in touch ‘proper’. Recent years have been barren in comparison… time to put that right!

We share a love of travel, both own bell tents, and Martyn and I share the same hairdresser!

Some more picture from the past..

Martyn will HATE the fact that I have dug up the picture of him in an England rugby shirt, he didn’t have a choice really, but instantly regretted it when the camera came out, knowing that I would remind him of this image, and do so at least once every year! Oh, and that was me, in the S.A face pain, rocking up at their house halfway through the Wales v South Africa game. I think it was 2015, during the World Cup, when Wales were getting hammered, as usual.

The Journey down

We had a lovely drive down to the South Coast on Friday, popping over to Hayling Island to take advantage of a gorgeous weather window hitting the south during the afternoon.

We popped into the Ship Inn, a lovely little pub by the bridge, before heading to our Southampton home. I last visited this pub more than 20 years ago when I ended up having to get a fish bone disgorged from my throat in hospital after a meal here with my daughters.

The Platform Tavern

We like this place, but it’s been a few years since we’ve been here and, coincidentally, the same band (or remnants of it) were playing tonight. Harry Skinner & Co have members from The Producers, who we saw perform the last time we were here. That was before the devastating fire, which happened only weeks later.

The clientele were “age appropriate”. Never have I seen so many sixty-somethings behaving like they are 18. Ho hum. I feel at home here lol.