22 Foxhole East

mark55man

https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/things-to-do/get-outdoors/stargazing/ - a bit nearer to home

crazy_cat_lady

Pleased you finally got your money! 

f0xh0les

Hopefully this time, working in January will mean being paid in January! - although £620 for 5 days work seems a positively obscene amount of money (I have been out of the market for a loooooong time) but necessary if all the builders have put up their prices.  The house needs fixing, and fixing this year if possible.

VintageHistorian

I believe there is somewhere in Northumberland that is excellent for star gazing, might even have some kind of legal protection against buildings being erected in the area to prevent light pollution spoiling it? (Could be talking out my posterior).

peb

Round here

https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/explore/destinations/towns-villages/otterburn

greenbee

I saw this on FB yesterday... https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/communications/internation-dark-sky-reserve-festival/

mark55man

greenbee said:

I saw this on FB yesterday... https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/communications/internation-dark-sky-reserve-festival/

The advantage of this one is that there is seaside nearby - from the vibrant city that is brighton, to the retirement homes (very flat very long beaches) through Worthing and down to west wittering.  Arundel itself has a nice castle to look at, some free walks, and a lot of second hand bookshops.  Plus its south which may mean a bit warmer than Northumberland (which is also gorgeous and mostly empty, and has access in June to puffins at the Farne islands and other places)

f0xh0les

Oh @mark55man , you had me at second hand bookshops

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think that only having 4 or 5 days away last year in Whitby, and DS1 moving out, and DH coming out of his 'brain-fog' in the last 3 or 4 weeks, has made me really want to get some firm  going away plans into the diary asap.

I cannot see regional lockdowns coming back into England unless we get another  visciousvariant, and I want to go away, even if only for 2 days, at every possible school holiday that I can get a bargain for. 

Also need to go see step-gran, and there is an Air BandB just 2 roads away from her that is a 4 bed house and v cheap as it is totally not a tourist destination with !!!!!! all around it to interest anyone  - so I could go, help out, but not stay in her house, and take the kids back to the beaches and Causeways and they would have wifi and a bed  each to sleep on, and they would be allowed to walk around without a mad old bat screaming at them.  She is so jealous of any time I spend with them, it is horrid  Plus DH could come and work, and we could nip down and see his parents, or they could come up for the day - it is all of 90 minutes drive, or we could meet somewhere half way.   It is all very difficult trying to tip-toe around  other people's sensibilities, sensitivities and need for space.  Well it is when you are used to just being a steamroller  just to get things done.  I should be sponsored by JCB. 

Now I have a few ideas of where to go, so thank you for that. Will keep an eye out for bargains in the area.  Off to do some research.

Baileys_Babe

I like the idea of camping somewhere with dark skies and I am loving all the suggestions of areas.

The Air B&B seems like a perfect solution for visiting step-gran, the fact you should also be able to combine it with having fun with your family and seeing the in-laws. When step-gran complains that you aren't solely focused on her as she invariably will mention that if this can work for all parties you are hoping to visit more frequently.

MrsCatz

Hello, long time lurker here. Sussex is my neck of the woods and it’s a great place to visit. There is so much to do but the second hand bookshops in Arundel and Petworth are dangerous, I rarely come out without something to read.