Under Siege from Team Starrett

Our departure from the Westin Paris was quite early but we managed to fit on one more breakfast and demolished a few last pastries. Airports in Europe are an odd experience as the distinction between international and domestic is blurred. There is minimal form filling out, they never seem to want our passports, but the security checks are intensive. After a short flight we were collected at the airport by our driver for the trip south to Amberley. He was not a talkative fellow, which was just as well - Jason and Josh had a little snooze on the hour long trip. The road was a winding narrow path through the countryside, lined with hedges, passing through small villages. In some places it was too narrow for two cars so one had to pull over on the verge and wait for the other to pass. Amberley Castle is lovely. Complete with battlements, a portcullis and arrow slits it fits Flynn's request for accommodation in a castle. Much of the castle is a ruin, but there are rooms in the walls, the manor house and the bishop's residence next door. We are in the walls - the double set of windows you can just see in the photo below are in our rooms. It is very luxurious, with helpful, friendly staff and beautiful rooms. The boys were impressed with the fancy four poster bed and even more impressed with the free homemade cookies. In short order we played croquet, tennis and mini golf. I'm not sure the normal demographic for this place is so energetic. They couldn't resist galloping up the drive Monty Python style making clip clop noises. We walked to the village and had a "cream tea" at the tea shop. I had tea and cheese scones with cream cheese and homemade chutney. The village is tiny with one general store, the tea rooms and an inn. We caught a cab to the pub with in the next village, the George and Dragon, for dinner. It is a thirteenth century pub, very picturesque, and quite obviously 'the local' rather than a tourist destination. Our meals included some traditional English fare, Flynn ordering bangers and mash and me a treacle tart for dessert. This has been one of my favourite days.