Up at a reasonable hour again as breakfast at 0830 - unfortunately English breakfast was slightly different this morning and included baked beans which I cant stand and dont like anything else touching it. Poor Martin had it all scraped on his plate surrupticiously - fortunately he likes them but did warn him it would be no excuse for farting during the day. He knows of my incredible distaste of this (and burping) but like Tim thinks it is incredibly funny to occassionally deliberately upset me by indulging in this past time. As i have said to him that anyone who is able to not do it for 3 months in my presence is able to not do it forever in my presence. I have said it could be a dealbreaker and he laughs....I will win ...eventually.
After breakfast we said fond farewells to the B&B - such a lovely place and well done to MR for making such a good choice.
Off to Carisbrook Castle which was a lovely place - great views all around in the centre of the Isle. Best known as the place where Charles 1 was imprisoned and has been continuously lived in for 800 years. It resisted a seige by the French and saw off the Spanish Armada. It also has donkeys - gorgeous creatures. The donkeys were the man power for turning the wheel for pulling up the water from the very deep well. We waited for a demonstration which althpough was only 15mins was fascinating - the donkey was only used for about 5 minutes but wanted to keep going. A lovely walk around the top of the walls with great views inside and out. Well worth visiting and we got in free cos of our National Heritage card.
The weather wasnt fantastic today and there was a bit of drizzle in the morning but much more rain in the afternoon. We drove onto Shanklin and had a walk along the waterfront before being caught in a massive downpour and although at that stage only 200m from the car it wasnt worth it. MR definitely wasnt the gentleman by running to the car and coming back to pick me up - not that I blame him as it was torrential. We eventually had to risk it and even I ran although we got very wet.
Onto Bembridge to visit a windmill that was used to mill flour - another downpour but once we were inside it was interesting - no one else there and so it made the ladder climbing that was required to get to each of the levels less arduous as wasnt being watched.
Then around to Seaview and Ryde - still raining so limited stops. Had a early dinner at a nice pub near Fishbourne - all you can eat roast meal for £7 - it was pretty good and my birthday dinner. Then back to line up for the ferry - uneventful trip and talked to Tim whilst on there which was lovely.
Then the car drive back to Horsham and an early night after a fantastic weekend. MR has definitely earned some bonus brownie points with this weekend that will last a wee while. He asks what I will do for his birthday - I remind him that there is Christmas and Valentines Day before his birthday so it will depend - he screws up his nose and says nothing. I do have ideas though but wont mention them in case I ever give him access to this blog. i think he may be a keeper :)