The Sunshine Coast (a la UK)

There's no remote controlled curtains and the bed turndown service is a bit crap... but I suspect my soujourn in East Dean, UK, will be the best I will be looked after on my whole trip. 

I was met with a hug at the train station and then into the waiting Land Rover. I think it was dark, but we've spent a few trips in this Land Rover over the last few days whizzing past rolling English hills and clumps of naked winter trees.  I feel like I'm in an episode of Emmerdale... 

The days have been nice and relaxing with a trip into Eastbourne, another through the very quaint shops of the north lanes in Brighton (very nice Thai meal and mulled cider at pub called The Office), late lunch (roast complete with yorkshire pudd) at Stanmer House - a lovely restaurant in a old estate house in a national park, drinks in Lewes with a bunch of English professors, a visit to the local pub (the Tiger Inn), and drinks at the street party put on by one of my hosts' neighbours.  Jeffrey welcomed us into the drinks room and we all got our wines before being ushered out and into the food room - complete with pineapple and cheese porcupine.  I should have bought my bell bottoms.  Many of the guests were retired, they were very friendly and it was a nice evening all round.

In between the eating and drinking, we've seen the grounds of two universities (Sussex, the only English university in a national park - very picturesque - and Brighton with its brutish, polytechnic architecture), and we have been progressively putting up Christmas decorations since we arrived - culminating in the tree on Christmas eve.  The tree is laden with decorations, including a lovely red bell made for me by one of my nieces.  It was encircled by presents but those were all happily opened yesterday.

I slept in on Christmas morning while my hosts went to church.  Then it was a leisurely day of opening presents, snacking, a bit of a walk through the village, quite a few drinks of bubbles (Breaky Bottom, the local English cuvee  - yes, you heard right, English wine.  This is apparently the region for it.  There's a sign to the English Wine Centre and all...I had a nice little giggle at that.  Mock as I may, it was very drinkable). 

Christmas dinner needs a full description (I know how much my sister likes it when I write about food).  Smoked salmon on crackers to start, then a wine glass refill with Grave (very nice), and onto the main course of turkey (very very moist) with two stuffings, cranberry sauce, bread sauce (a new discovery for me) and gravy.  Side dishes of roast potatoes, red cabbage, brussel sprouts with bacon and walnuts, broccoli, streaky bacon (they had coated the turkey at one point), and chipolatas.  Dessert was Christmas pudding with brandy butter and cream fraiche.  Don't ask what brandy butter is, you'll get a smart ass answer.  There was an exciting moment of brandy flambe which I was supposed to get a picture of, but it's a blurry um blur.