100 Acre Wood
A few months ago, Stephanie, my fellow Fulbrighter and I heard that you could visit the 100 Acre Wood, the home of Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh. That was really all we needed to know, and plans were made! We decided to wait until the Spring, and I'm glad we did, as the sun was out in full swing today highlighting the thousands of yellow daffodils along our journey.
We started at Pooh Corner in Hartfield, a tiny village south of London. This is the village where A.A. Milne lived and inspired by many of the things around him, he created the beloved Winnie the Pooh. We sat outside in the warmth of the sunshine at Piglet's cafe and enjoyed berry tea and scones with jam and clotted cream before setting off through the Hundred Acre Wood to play Pooh Sticks!
There is an old bridge in the forest running over a stream that inspired the wonderful past time of Pooh Sticks. Stephanie and I carefully selected several sticks along our journey to the bridge. The game is one of great skill and technique. You stand on the bridge, leaning over the stream and drop your sticks simultaneously. As they float downstream, you rush to the other side of the bridge to see who's stick came out first, and that person is the winner. Apparently Stephanie played varsity Pooh Sticks, or perhaps my athletic skills just carried over to the game for she beat me three times in a row! But that's alright, I still had a blast! I also loved watching as others partook in the game, most of whom were many years older than ourselves.
We are now in a town on the southern coast, Eastbourne. We are right on the water overlooking the pier crowded with shops, restaurants and an arcade.
When exploring this small town, it seemed the theatre was a popular thing to do, so we booked some tickets for something called The Showstoppers. When I read that it was an improv musical comedy, I had no idea what I was getting into, but I must admit it's been a while since I laughed that hard! At the start, the audience helped to set the scene: the sewers in the Isle of Wight and then we gave ideas of musicals that would inspire this one, everything from Les Miserable to The Lion King to Wicked (that was my idea). The audience even named the play: Dirty Dancing. Get it?:) We were thoroughly impressed with how quick witted the actors were, and how they could create rhyming verses in an instant, or change the words to these classic musical songs at the drop of a hat (I loved "we defy your depravity"). How the actors kept straight faces for most of the play, I'll never know! How impressive!
What a glorious day here in the south of England!
We started at Pooh Corner in Hartfield, a tiny village south of London. This is the village where A.A. Milne lived and inspired by many of the things around him, he created the beloved Winnie the Pooh. We sat outside in the warmth of the sunshine at Piglet's cafe and enjoyed berry tea and scones with jam and clotted cream before setting off through the Hundred Acre Wood to play Pooh Sticks!
There is an old bridge in the forest running over a stream that inspired the wonderful past time of Pooh Sticks. Stephanie and I carefully selected several sticks along our journey to the bridge. The game is one of great skill and technique. You stand on the bridge, leaning over the stream and drop your sticks simultaneously. As they float downstream, you rush to the other side of the bridge to see who's stick came out first, and that person is the winner. Apparently Stephanie played varsity Pooh Sticks, or perhaps my athletic skills just carried over to the game for she beat me three times in a row! But that's alright, I still had a blast! I also loved watching as others partook in the game, most of whom were many years older than ourselves.
We are now in a town on the southern coast, Eastbourne. We are right on the water overlooking the pier crowded with shops, restaurants and an arcade.
When exploring this small town, it seemed the theatre was a popular thing to do, so we booked some tickets for something called The Showstoppers. When I read that it was an improv musical comedy, I had no idea what I was getting into, but I must admit it's been a while since I laughed that hard! At the start, the audience helped to set the scene: the sewers in the Isle of Wight and then we gave ideas of musicals that would inspire this one, everything from Les Miserable to The Lion King to Wicked (that was my idea). The audience even named the play: Dirty Dancing. Get it?:) We were thoroughly impressed with how quick witted the actors were, and how they could create rhyming verses in an instant, or change the words to these classic musical songs at the drop of a hat (I loved "we defy your depravity"). How the actors kept straight faces for most of the play, I'll never know! How impressive!
What a glorious day here in the south of England!
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