OK, that’s not really true, but after a number of years now, living in Lymington still seems a little unreal. What with the economic downturn an’ all, the cost of going away suggests that the most practical solution for a break is a ‘staycation’. I have to be honest, I’m not a great fan of the word, mangling English is best left for humorous intent, but it’s becoming pretty common in usage now and it’s a bit Ronseal (exactly what it says on the tin).
Truth be told that certain disabilities can also constrict travel opportunities, and full-blown Fibromyalgia is certainly in that category. However living in Lymington you are never too far away from someplace worth visiting and a short ferry ride to the Island is well within the compass of possibility, so last week we went. From Lymington to Yarmouth there are two possibilities, the big ferry (Wightlink) and the small ferry (Puffin Cruises). Although Wightlink is cheaper for foot passengers, Puffin is foot passengers only and departs from the Town Quay, so we opted for the more romantic carrier.
We had been told by people with property on the Island that we would be entering a timewarp and be transported back several decades once on the Island. And so it proved. You couldn’t really put your finger on it, but there was something about Yarmouth that was very reminiscent of seaside towns if not of my youth, then certainly my early adulthood.
We had decided that since we were only there for an afternoon, we had to see the Needles from the other side having seen it many times from what the Islanders call the North Island, the South Island being the Isle of Wight. We