Hello, welcome, and well done!
We’ve made it to the end of January and what a January it was! I know lots of you did “Dry January” and well done to you. I did not. After all, someone has to support the Sussex drink industry and I certainly did my best to do my bit.
I live right on the edge of the West Sussex Literary Trail, and it’s been lovely to see so many local folk making the best of lockdown restrictions by exploring the footpaths that are close to home. If you live in the Horsham area, there are two main trails you might like to explore: the Literary Trail that goes all the way from Horsham to Chichester and the epic High Weald Landscape Trail that goes from Horsham all the way to Rye, taking in hop gardens, villages and historic gardens along the way. If you do make it to Rye, there’s so much to explore from the old town, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, and of course Camber Castle for those who love a bit of local history. Just don’t forget to work out how you’re going to get home again!
With Government advice to stay home, many of us have taken to the kitchen, so I thought you might like to try your hand at two versions of a traditional Sussex recipe – Sussex Pond Pudding, or as we called it as kids, Lemon Bomb! Sticky, sweet and warming, it’s perfect for a cold night by the fire! And for the foodies and historians, what about a little bit of local food history? Local historian Peter Benner takes a light-hearted look at some of the chefs, recipes, and meals of Sussex past in the second in our Flavours of Sussex series.
The new year always brings a sense of optimism for me, as we’re well past the shortest day and you can almost smell the lighter evenings and changing seasons. But if all the news of lockdown has left you feeling lethargic, do check out our recent wellbeing post about how to cope with and treat chronic fatigue. After all, it would be great to look forward to the easing of lockdown with a renewed sense of wellbeing.
Or perhaps, you’d prefer to just pull up a chair in front of the fire and dream a little of the large houses and greats estates of yesteryear. For example, did you know that the site that is now home to Farlington School used to be a large private house known as Strood Park. There are lots of clues about its history and the splendour it used to enjoy in the surrounding area.
That’s it from me for now and my little dose of Sussex in winter. I’ll be out running and walking the local trails and footpaths in the next few weeks and I’ll keep you posted with details of the best so do keep in touch. Keep warm and have a great weekend,
Lucy
Sussex Exclusive
Here are the details of this month’s delights:
Sticky delight and winter warmth with: Sussex Pond Pudding
Get out and explore our very own: West Sussex Literary Trail
Take better care of yourself and feel less exhausted: Are You Constantly Exhausted?
A trip down memory lane to: Camber Castle
Got an appetite for the past? Flavours of Sussex. Part 2
A quick visit to a Sussex home of yesteryear: Strood Park
