60 for 60 - September 2026
Adventures: East Sussex, Huntingdonshire, Slovakia & Austria
September — A Month in a Minute
September always feels like a happy, glorious month to me, and this one was no exception. It carried me from East Sussex to the Cotswolds, to Huntingdon, and finally to Bratislava and Vienna — a wonderful mix of adventures.
Cobbled streets and seaside winds. Medieval castles, old inns, smart cafés and microbreweries. A top‑notch hotel, a Hobbit House and a tipi tent. Vineyards, wine cellars and wine tasting in the dark. Steam trains, cross‑border trains, planes and buses.
From Diddly Squat Farm and The Farmers Dog to celebrate our 37th wedding anniversary, to a complete chill‑out at The Big Retreat. Add UFO towers, cocktails, starlit skies, new‑moon vibes, magnificent sunsets and a spectacular harvest moon.
There were rock paintings, solo camping, wild swims, dressing up, dancing and endless laughter. Bushcraft skills, saunas, spas — and a few drunken antics thrown in for good measure.
September was full of contrasts, unexpected adventures, new experiences and unforgettable moments.
One month. Four destinations. A whole lot of adventure.
Adventure # 1 — A Hobbit House, Medieval Castles & a Steam‑Train Journey
Monday 7 September
One of my 60 for 60 goals was to sleep somewhere quirky — and what better way to tick that off than a whimsical Hobbit House tucked inside Oastbrook Vineyard in East Sussex.
Our arrival was… unconventional. No welcome, no note, no instructions. After some head‑scratching, we found a number to call and were told to simply let ourselves in and make ourselves at home. Being the only guests onsite made it feel secluded, peaceful and rather magical. The Hobbit House was beautifully decorated — stepping inside felt like entering a tiny corner of Middle‑earth.
We made a full day of it before settling in. First, a drive to Rye, a gorgeous medieval town. We wandered the castle, visited the church and strolled the cobbled streets. Naturally, we stopped at the iconic Mermaid Inn for a drink — a G&T for me, a Coke for Wayne. Then on to Camber Sands. After being initially sandblasted, we embraced the elements and walked the endless beach collecting shells, before taking shelter in a seaside café for ice‑cream and coffee.
Back at the Hobbit House, bubbles were opened, the hot tub was warmed, music played and dinner became a lively, tipsy M&S feast. We slept like babies in our little Middle‑earth hideaway — the darkness outside made it feel even more magical.
Tuesday 8 September
There are some days that feel though there been lifted from another time - days of puffing steam trains, rattling carriages, grand old castles and little adventures that seem to unfold at a wonderfully leisurely pace and today was one of those days.
It was also a very, very wet day. Rain, rain and more rain, but that didn’t stop us, as we set off with an umbrella across the fields, along the river to the beautiful, moated Bodiam Castle. We spent a few hours exploring the ruins dating back to the 14th century when the castle was abounded with knights and ladies. The views from the turrets were impressive even with rain lashing down, low clouds and mist rolling across the valley, making everything wonderfully atmospheric and almost mysterious.
From there just a five-minute walk to East Sussex Railway where we boarded the 14:15 round trip to Tenderden and back. It was so lovely and dry! When the drinks trolley came round, we had Prosecco and beer 😊. Once at Tenderden, a quick mooch around the station and into the café to buy a picnic for the return journey. While I did want a cream tea, they had decided due to the rain, no one would be brave enough to venture out to want one. No problem, the alternative Prosecco with Bakewell Tart good enough for me! Back on the train, w sat being gently lulled along by the rhythm of the railway, surrounded by plenty of steam - nice and warm and dry. Then as if by magic, the sun broke through the clouds and by the time we arrived back at Bodiam, we were greeted with blue skies, fluffy white clouds and the biggest treat of all…..
I got to go on the footplate! I was so excited I became a little star struck. What an incredible opportunity and such an unexpected highlight to complete the experience.
By now the sun is blazing in a cloudless sky. A hike back along the river, over the fields full of staring sheep, over the stiles and back home to the Hobbit House. And a little more magic - an adder in the grass. I spotted him. He stopped dead, enough time for me to see his wonderful dark brown zig zag markings, and as I reached for my phone, he slithered away into the deep grass. Smiling at the joy of nature, over the bridge, another bottle of prosecco, a hot tub, music and yummy charcuterie for dinner.
From hobbit houses to rain-soaked ruins, misty valley views, prosecco, Bakewell tarts, steam trains and finally standing on the footplate beneath beautiful blue skies, it really was a perfectly joyous adventure, full of little treats, unexpected delights and a touch of old-fashioned magic.
Adventure # 2 – A detour to Diddly Squat Farm
Blue‑sky Wednesday morning, our 37th wedding anniversary, and on the drive home from East Sussex we decided on a little detour to Diddly Squat Farm.
Who knew the queues would be enormous on a Wednesday morning? I’m still baffled by people waiting hours to go into a shop just to spend money. We parked, used the loo, saw the queue… and decided life was far too short. So off we went to The Farmers Dog instead.
The drive itself was gorgeous — and slightly terrifying. Tiny, winding, single‑track lanes that felt like their own adventure. Thankfully the Merc behaved beautifully, giving a few loud roars along the way. We found a good parking spot, queued for only a few minutes, and were soon enjoying a Diddly Squat G&T and crisps in the garden.
Despite being convinced we wouldn’t get food, I wandered over to The Farmers Puppy and returned triumphantly with two burgers and chips. Absolutely delicious. We had a good mooch around the Grand Tour Tent and picked up a few bits — jam, fudge crisps and a souvenir for the bar. So yes, we did spend money in the farm shop after all; we just didn’t need to queue for hours to do it.
Adventure # 3 — The Big Retreat, Huntingdon
I’d planned a simple retreat day. What I got was a full solo camping weekend — and it was fabulous.
From pitching my tent alone to line dancing (with two very left feet), a super‑fun silent‑disco walking party, Broadway Boogie, and dancing Friday night away to an Abba tribute band. Then a full rave in the woods with Youngr — absolutely brilliant.
Saturday began with a wild swim, sauna, floral crown‑making, laughter yoga (hilarious), and listening to Ruby Wax speak. The evening kicked off with a menopause party, then a disco, then a Queen tribute act. Another night of nonstop dancing, singing, glitter and sparkles. Drinks flowed into the early hours as I sat in a field with a newfound friend, laughing ourselves silly and getting up to mischief — including two tipsy women attempting to climb a tractor and a hay bale.
There were Pilates sessions, breathing workshops, quiet forest moments, and hearing Chloebeth sing opera in the woods — absolutely beautiful. Plenty of time just sitting gently, watching the world.
Add mud, torrential rain, wellies giving a Glasto vibe, and a bushcraft class involving wood, axes and bowie knives. I made a slightly wonky wooden spoon that definitely needs more work. After packing up my tent, I treated myself to a cheese toastie and a Woodland Spa full‑body massage — bliss.
I wanted a retreat for my 60 for 60. What I got was so much more: exercise, relaxation, creativity, dancing, laughter and friendship in the warmest, most welcoming environment. I absolutely loved it.
Adventure # 4 — Bratislava & Vienna
My latest travel adventure ticked off two more items from my 60 for 60 list — six new countries this year, with Slovakia and Austria joining the tally. A wonderful tale of two cities: Bratislava and Vienna.
Bratislava delivered everything I love — history, medieval streets, castles, nature, culture, good wine and relaxed, friendly vibes. We stayed at the Wilson Palace Loft Hotel, a fabulous spot with a gorgeous terrace and a spotless, stylish room. Fabrika served equally fabulous food and drinks, and the location meant we could walk everywhere.
Bratislava has so much to offer. We explored the Old Town, climbed up to the Castle, visited the Cathedral and wandered the Main Square. We admired statues and monuments, strolled winding streets and found plenty of delightful spots for cocktails, wine and beer along the way. And of course, we found Cumil the Watcher.
Sunday evening was truly special — watching the sunset over the Danube from the top of the UFO Tower, then turning to the other side to watch the Harvest Moon play peekaboo. Absolutely magical.
On Monday we took the train to Vienna. We enjoyed Belvedere Palace and a delicious charcuterie lunch at the market, but I was disappointed by Vienna’s “old town”. Not really old at all — more like Oxford Street disguised as history, full of designer shops. And anyone who knows me knows I hate shopping. So we soon headed back to Bratislava.
Naturally, no adventure would be complete without something going awry — and this trip had two comedic mishaps.
First: wine tasting in the dark. What could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot, as it turns out. As an almost‑deaf person, why I thought sitting in a pitch‑black cellar was a good idea is beyond me. I couldn’t hear a thing (nothing new), couldn’t see a thing (that was new), and to make matters worse, the wine tasted absolutely flipping horrible. So there I sat for almost an hour — no hearing, no sight, no enjoyment — just me, my thoughts, and a growing sense of regret. I kept getting the giggles and kept chucking the horrible wine on the floor. Definitely an experience.
Second: our DIY Devin Castle and Wine Tasting Tour. Feeling proud of ourselves for boarding the number 29 bus, we felt far less clever when we completely missed our stop. Instead of getting off at the next one, we somehow stayed on for nine more stops, heading further and further away from where we were meant to be. On the plus side, we saw more of the gorgeous countryside before hopping off in some random Slovak village, crossing the road and waiting for the number 29 back.
Devin Castle was magnificent — a big climb to the top, but worth every step. I was taken aback by its turbulent history and the impact of the Iron Curtain, including the 400 people who died there.
Back in the city, we walked along the Danube promenade and found a great bar with its own sandy beach. We sat drinking lovely G&Ts — three, in fact — before strolling up the hill to the Blue Church, which is indeed very blue. Then came another lovely surprise: a gorgeous little wine cellar tucked away on a back street, serving the most delicious Slovak wine. Despite its hidden location, it turns out to be a prime wine‑tasting venue used by tour operators.
Everything about this holiday was wonderful — including the weather. Blue skies and warm sunshine every day. Even the airport made us smile with an old biplane suspended from the ceiling, straight out of Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines.
Two new countries. Two very different cities. History, castles, palaces, UFO towers, great wine, yummy food, warm and welcoming people, lots of laughter and unexpected adventures along the way. Just perfect.
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