Castles and gunfire, Sandcastles and sun!

We approached  500 year-old Lulworth Castle through mist and the sound of intermittent pounding from British Army military tanks and artillery fire in neighbouring fields. I reflected on how many fireworks all that explosive would make, then wondered if the castle was actually under seige.  There were enough internal ruins to give credence to this thought, though the walls were very thick. I found a suit of armour, just my size, for protection-just in case.

There were French cannons inside and Charles X of France had once hidden there.

The castle has been in the ownership of one family since about 1650, which makes the owner about 350 years old--he looked remarkably good for his age and would have some amazing stories to tell.

The associated Catholic Chapel is of similar age and I am always stunned by how few priests or vicars have ben in charge. In this case, only 50 priests, in continuous succession,  separate us from the 1300's. Amazing.

After pub soup we drove back to Swanage to discover the mist had lifted there and brilliant sunshine followed--allowing us to make sandcastles in warmth and light at 7.00pm ((See beachside clock)--notice that the shadows are not still not very long.

I have a loyal shadow--Jamie--our great-niece--not yet 4 years old, who insists we play pirates and cats. I am always the cat, of course.

Nearby, a monument recalls the fact that a great sea battle took place at Swanage, well over 1000 years ago.

Today concludes with pics of the front and back of our Swanage bungalow (which sleeps 9 and is VERY well appointed) plus a bonus pic, of an ad seen on a ferry we took through Studland, yesterday,to Ringwood, to see an old schoolmate (now with OBE) and his wife. Studland seems an appropriate name, for such an ad...look on................