Saturday 14th August 2021

 I went to Swanage today instead of Basingstoke, glad I went to be honest because I want to make use of the summer before it's gone.   Got the 9.05 bus by ex Debenhams should I say, the windows of the once-proud store are now boarded up.  Another business say they are taking it over, but I hear they are very expensive and already own another store in Romsey,

The run to Bournemouth is quite nice and rural, passing through various villages like Downton, Fordingbridge and Ringwood.  Ringwood is the halfway point, dad used to go with his grandad to the auctions during the 19.50's the auctions were quite famous.

X3 no longer drops its passengers in Holdenhurst Road but stops at stand 3 by the upper part of the gardens.  Got the bus where the X3 used to stop opposite Dingle's shop, I was expecting the open-top bus but it was a covered one.  I couldn't sit upstairs as it was full up the bus was bloody heaving, I was lucky to get a seat to be honest.  

Went through the part of Bournemouth where most of the hotels are, I have stayed at one or two which were ok, I usually choose a hotel through www.hotelscombined.com but it can be a bit hit and miss.

Sandbanks are nicknamed the Millionaire's Row, some of the houses are the kind we can only dream of, one has its tennis courts and a swimming pool.  Henry Redknapp the once manager of the England football team has a house in Sandbanks, some of the properties are well over £50,0000.

We had to wait a while at the ferry terminus because it was still over at Studland, Studland is notorious for being a nudist beach, but the scenery (of the beach) is stunning as is Sandbanks beach, no wonder the developers are trying to turn it into a UK version of Monte Casino.

It takes ten minutes to get everyone on board the ferry, I know when they are ready because the bus would start swaying like a boat.  I could hear the chains rattling under the hull as we moved off slowly, the sea was sparkling like a thousand diamonds.  You know, I'm quite lucky to have such beautiful scenery on my doorstep but I still miss Devon and it'll always be in my heart.

I notice at the Swanage steam railway that there is a couple of posters showing Torquay and Exmouth, both are nice places but have changed beyond recognition.  Torquay is full of druggie's now and isn't probably the sort of world now that Agatha Christie knew sadly.

The staff at Swanage railway are lovely, I got my ticket just as the train was about to leave and they kindly waited for me; £16 was well worth spending.  Many people are camping in a field, it's like a little settlement.  I used to do this journey with Lifestyles, but I don't need them anymore.

I have a favourite tea room in Corth which is run by the National Trust, it overlooks Corth Castle which I think is owned by English Heritage.  The castle was shot at during the English Civil war on the orders of Cromwell, English Heritage own a lot of ruins.

I'm hoping this visit to Swanage and Corinth will be a yearly thing I do in August, the cream teas are £5.50.  they are very nice but probably very fattening.  I wandered around the model village afterwards, this is something I probably wouldn't have had time for with Lifestyles.  the gardens are lovely, especially the fairy garden which is a brilliant idea for the children.

Hot in the train coming back with the sun shining in through the window, been a long time since I've sat in a train carriage like that.  I used to go to Teignmouth on the slam-door trains, springy blue seats which used to twang underneath my ass!

I walked along the seafront and rang Brian as he said sent me a text this morning about going to a camera shop in Southampton today.  I think he must have thought I was someone else, asked me if I wanted him to pick me up from Swanage but I pilot declined.  I sometimes think Brian is losing it, sometimes; he is a good friend.

I got the bus back about 4.15, there weren't many people waiting behind me or so I thought; then a load turned up.  I managed to sit upstairs but not in the open section, much too windy when the bus clocks up 80mph; also branches whizz by threatening to knock your block off.

I'm still impressed with Sandbanks, no camera can capture how scenic it is.  Today worked quite well as I did manage to get the 6.15 bus back to Salisbury, there was some weird guy on board who kept saying hello to anyone that got off or on the bus.  He got told off at Ringwood for asking strangers where they lived, there's a lot of smack-heads living in Salisbury; probably loads in Bournemouth as well.

May visit Weymouth on Wednesday, already been sent two zoom meetings for that day which is annoying.  Always something happens to try and stop me when I try to plan something.