Lunch at the Castle (Part II)

**Hamish** · 22nd September 06, 04:49 PM

Here are three more photos taken last Monday when I lunched at Amberley Castle, near my home in West Sussex.

The first is of a somewhat replete yours truly awaiting after-lunch coffee and petits-fours which were served in the castle's Library - obviously I didn't bother to 'sweep my pleats'!:

This was the main doorway to the original Great Hall, destroyed in the Civil War in 1643:

Finally, a view of the gardens at the castle. The hills in the distance are The South Downs which run parallel to England's south coast for 100 miles from Winchester in the west to Eastbourne (Beachy Head) in the east. My home village of Storrington nestles at the foot of these hills:

**beloitpiper** · 22nd September 06, 05:00 PM

Gorgeous! That outfit is great.

...I guess the landscape is nice too...

**mudd** · 22nd September 06, 05:16 PM

Are you growing a beard, Hamish?

**Hamish** · 22nd September 06, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by mudd

Are you growing a beard, Hamish?

Actually, it hardly shows in that photo, Mudd! But, yes and no! It is Doctor's orders that I do this because I've had a nasty spot of eczema on my chin for many years and this has recently spread all around my lower face. The Dr. believes it has been made worse by shaving and has advised that I grow a beard to give the skin a rest - and it seems to be working!

In two weeks time, however, I will have to shave it off for my trip to California as my Passport photo shows me as clean-shaven. If I turn up at Los Angeles airport with a beard the immigration authorities will think Isama bin Laden (Sp?) has arrived!

I dislike myself with anything more than my moustache so whether I try again, on my return from the USA, remains to be seen.