No we weren’t after One Eyed Willy’s pirate ship or looking for Chester Copperpot’s treasure map, we just encountered one of the star’s of the film (sort of). More of that later.
This travelling life is a constant stream of packing up and moving on and you wouldn’t believe the number of places we have stayed and particularly the number of beds that we’ve slept in. So many. May be worth a blog post all of it’s own perhaps (or maybe not). This time we were leaving a lovely week’s sit in Barns Green (Biblical Barns Green) and heading down onto the south coast to the village of Southbourne.
Which Southbourne?
Not the one in Dorset but the one in West Sussex just to the west of Chichester. A beautiful part of the country and one of a group of villages such as Slipper, Lumley and Hermitage sitting to the north of the huge Chichester Harbour (right at the top of the map in the middle).
Meeting Clo and the cats in Southbourne
Arriving at the tiny station we met Elle, our host, who welcomed us with open arms and gave us a lift back to her lovely house a mile or so away. We couldn’t really tell what the house or garden were like as it was pitch black at this time but the inside was fairly special as we unloaded our bags and met the pets.
Two little cats called Rosie and Hellie did their best to keep out of our way but the main act, Clo the cocker spaniel, easily made up for that. She was an excitable, lovable little lady who made it look like our arrival was the best thing ever! It may well have been of course.
Gloomy hike to Emsworth
We always try and explore as much of the local area as we can so decided to head off into nearby Emsworth for a bit of a day out. unfortunately the weather wasn’t too friendly as we strolled the couple of miles but it dried up for a wander around the town and across the harbour.
Even though it was dark and foreboding the views were actually pretty amazing as we walked through the gloom across the edge of that end of Chichester harbour.
Housesitting in Southbourne
Our week in Southbourne was nowhere near long enough and the dreadful rainy weather meant that we were stuck inside virtually all the time. Daily dog walks with Clo did get us out and about but it was very frustrating not to be able to explore some of the countryside and the footpaths all around us. Just too wet and muddy.
Clo was a delight to look after however and such good fun to have around. A real character who just followed Jo around like a shadow and lived for cuddles and attention. A real little lady. The house itself was fabulous and so comfortable to relax in, perhaps one of the nicest we have ever housesat in. Frustratingly the fabulous garden was so wet that we really didn’t get a chance to enjoy it. When we left after a fabulous week I just had to demand a return trip in the summer so that we could see what the outside was like (and perhaps enjoy the pool?).
We always get on well with our housesitting hosts and often leave feeling that we’ve made new friends but that feeling was even stronger here. We really clicked with Marcus and Elle and as we left Elle generously mentioned that if we ever needed a bed we should just pop in. Now I couldn’t pass that up could I? So a return trip as friends is already planned. How great is that?
Overnight in Chichester
Unfortunately the time to leave soon came around and although we had arranged to get the train Marcus kindly gave us a lift into Chichester where we had booked a bed’n breakfast for the night. This where we had our Goonies encounter!
As we approached the nice little house on the outskirts of the city we were met by an enthusiastic very friendly chap who welcomed us inside. He showed us our room and the bathroom and got us maps and told us about the history of Chichester and asked what we would be doing and ……… very helpful. Heading off to explore the town we both couldn’t help but declare that he looked very much like ‘Sloth‘ from the 80s film The Goonies. Not quite as bad obviously but similar enough to make us both see it.
We missed him on our return but at breakfast the next morning he virtually stood on Jo’s shoulder as she had her coffee and toast chatting constantly. From the economy to marriage guidance to living in Finland! An interesting guy, probably, but so full-on that it was a little uncomfortable. He even followed us down the path and onto the street the following morning as we left talking the whole time.
‘Hey You Guys’
Chichester
We only had a day to explore this historic little city but left thinking it was actually somewhere that we could live one day. Not sure we could afford the property prices though. So a wander up the canal into town then a good explore of the city walls, the cathedral, and the wonderful shops. I’m not a fan of shopping normally but the vast number of independent shops, cafes, bars etc made it uniquely interesting.
After hours of exploring we needed a sit down and some grub so decided on the Fat Fig on South Street where after a coffee Jo made the huge mistake of letting me go up to the counter and order. She had asked for a small full English but somehow I neglected to hear the word ‘small‘. This is what she ended up with as I had my simple bacon sandwich.
That’s why I don’t order and why I probably won’t be allowed anywhere near a counter for a long time!
12/10 – 19/10/2019
JWalking 
Chichester looks like a lovely place! I haven’t seen the goonies, but we did stop in a town in Oregon where some of the film was shot. I love that gigantic plate of food! Haha. Sean and I need to try the house sitting thing. Clo sure was a cutie.
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Chichester is a beautiful little town and you should give house-sitting a go. It’s a great way to see places and meet lots of lovely people.
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Wow, that breakfast is enormous. Did you help Jo finish it off? Chichester is a very pretty place and the surrounding area is very scenic.
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It’s a great little city and we’re back in a few weeks so hopefully the dismal weather improves. I did honourably help Jo with the breakfast as it was just a bit too much although she made a serious effort herself.
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Wander far and often!
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That’s a great way to be isn’t it?
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The weather in Chichester looks a big improvement. That plateful has to be just about the biggest breakfast I’ve ever seen. I hope you helped out eating it!
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She didn’t do the whole breakfast herself but made a fine attempt at it. I obviously helped where necessary, rude not to.
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What a lovely place for a housesit Jonno. I haven’t been to Chichester but would like to sometime as I’d had good reports from one of my sons who has sailed into the harbour and a close friend who has stayed close by. Shame about the weather but it has been pretty widespread.
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Chichester is well worth a visit but probably best in the spring or summer as this weather has been dreadful hasn’t it?
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The good old British weather has put a major dampener on most things! Having a dog though, is a good excuse to get out and enjoy the scenery, whatever the weather throws at you.
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Dogwalking does get you out whatever the weather but it’s been incredibly wet and miserable for weeks hasn’t it? Bit depressing but hopefully that’ll improve soon.
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I hope so! It’s like Armageddon out there.
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Even worse this morning. Freezing cold and wall to wall frost.
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Sloth from the Goonies! Now there’s a blast from the past!
Chichester looks like a pretty town, will definitely look to check it out next time we’re in that part of the UK.
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It’s well worth a visit, lovely little place for a long weekend. And the Goonies! Classic 80s film isn’t it?
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Always like to read your posts as you wander around the country.
Looking forward to the next one
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Thanks Alison, we don’t seem to stay anywhere for very long these days do we?
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You did it so you could get to share that breakfast and still look virtuous, didn’t you? Admit it! 🙂 🙂 It’s a good-looking city, for sure. Anywhere surrounded by that much water is alright by me.
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Okay Okay. I may subconsciously have ordered the huge breakie just to get a share of it. I confess. Chichesters a lovely little place, we loved it.
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2 of our walking friends have a flat in Bognor Regis and another couple live nearby on the south coast. All agreed what a lovely place Chichester is, over a post-walking lunch 🙂 🙂
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Being quite near Brighton, I often use to take a day out to Chichester on the bus. It’s very pretty, especially in the summer. It’s a shame the weather wasn’t better for you. That breakfast was a size and a half!!! Jo did well to eat what she could. Loved all the pictures and how cute is Clo the spaniel🤩
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Clo was a darling, very affectionate and so easy to look after. Unlike the breakfast which was a lot tougher to handle (I helped a little). Chichester is a lovely place isn’t it, we really fell for the place.
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Chichester looks lovely, must add that to my list as well! Although I don’t think I could manage that breakfast, very impressive.
At least the rain seems to have stopped for a while, fingers crossed. 🤞
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Well we did share the breakfast to be honest. Chichester is well worth a weekend visit, so much to see. A lovely city.
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What a lovely place for a housesit. And what a wonderful way to make new friends.
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It was an absolutely incredible house too. Lovely when we leave these housesits feeling as if we have made friends rather than just housesitting hosts. In fact we are going back to stay as friends in December so I guess that proves the point.
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What’s everyone going on about? That breakfast is distinctly average and about the minimum I would expect for a full English. No place for hash browns for me. Way too American! Spectacular looking house. You do pick some awesome places to stay.
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It was an amazing house which we’ll be back to in a few weeks but not sure Jo will go for another breakfast like that. Far too big. I love a hash brown though.
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Aww, Clo is another cutie! You always seem to end up pet-sitting the most adorable animals. I’ve been to Chichester once before. I went in the cathedral and to the Novium, which I enjoyed (probably because they had hats to try on).
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Chichester is a lovely cool little city that’s perfect for a long weekend. We do seem to get some lovely little dogs don’t we? Never seem to have a real problem.
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Sloth!!! Surely no one looks like Sloth!! Haha! I’ve never stopped in Chichester – all I remember about it is it has a *lot* of roundabouts…
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Ha well he wasn’t the spitting image of Sloth but we both thought there was a family resemblance maybe. Chichester is a great little place, well worth checking out someday.
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Gosh that breakfast would keep you going for a month of Sundays.
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I think it would have kept Jo going if I hadn’t stepped in with a valiant offer of assistance.
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