What better way to discover an area than to be with people who live there and really love it.

Bill, is originally from Australia and Marie France is French though has lived in the UK for many years.

They packed us into Bill’s two door Mercedes soft top and off we went.

Rocky came with us today and ‘sang’ along to the opera playing on the radio!

We drove through the South Downs and luckily the sun was out. It looked so beautiful with all its shades of green. Marie France used to come over from France and ride a pony through the area. A wonderful carefree childhood.

We went to their golf club which has an hotel on site. It’s also where MF does her aqua class and Pilates. Bill plays golf weekly and tennis 3 times a week. They are both very fit. And are about 9 years older than me!!

By now it was time for lunch so we stopped at one of the many little country pubs, The Dragon for lunch. It’s what is known as a gastro pub. No, you don’t get gastro. You get beautiful food!

We sat in the sun in the garden and I enjoyed my first English Pimms.