Ah, dear Readers, we have recently returned from a whirlwind week across the pond. Our destination? Jolly old England! Our traveling party consisted of my granddaughter Adeline, daughter Liz, son-in-law Peter, and yours truly.

We have recently taken to packing smaller suitcases these days so that we don’t have to check them. A carry-on is usually included in the price of an airline ticket, so you save yourself the extra fees that airlines now charge for nearly everything. Also, just bringing a carry-on bag also makes for a quicker exit from the airport when you arrive, as you get to skip the endless wait at the baggage carousel. Free tip, from me to you.  And trust me, you can easily fit a week’s worth of clothes into a carry-on. 

We had a late-night flight and were able to doze a bit before we landed in rainy Heathrow the next morning. After getting our car, we set off for Brighton where Liz’s friend Hari and his delightful family were graciously hosting us.  Peter was our driver and he just asked that we keep reminding him to drive on the left side of the road.  Add to the left-side boggle those seemingly endless roundabouts and driving in the UK does present quite a challenge.

Nevertheless, by early afternoon, after stopping for a bite to eat at a Marks and Spencer and we had arrived at Hari’s stately Regency home called Mullion House on Sussex Square in Kemp Town, Brighton. 

Mullion House is a knockout of an address. Built between 1820 and 1846, this six-floor mansion features a central stone stairway with an original, ornate wrought iron balustrade, six bedrooms, six bathrooms, and a self-contained garden apartment. Magnificent barely begins to describe it. It has ocean views and access to a glorious private six-acre garden shared by those who live on Sussex Square. It is said that Lewis Carroll, who once lived in the Square, was inspired by the tunnel that runs from the gardens to the beach to create the rabbit hole that Alice falls in the classic Alice in Wonderland. Welsh actor Ivor Novello, who wrote the song “Keep the Home Fires Burning,” is rumored to have once played an ornate grand piano in Mullion House. This place has a dazzling history.

The brilliance of the house is only surpassed by the kind-heartedness of Hari’s family. They welcomed us warmly, and we were soon ensconced in comfortable rooms and given some restorative tea! While I caught forty winks, Hari and Mark took Liz, Peter, and Adeline for a walk through the garden and onto the beach.

Our day was not quite over, however, as Hari and Mark and son Roop took us to The Ivy in the Lanes for dinner. I had a showstopper of a cocktail with Whitley Neill’s Rhubarb and Ginger Gin and tonic, followed by The Ivy’s version of Shepherd’s Pie, which was a deconstructed delight. We had proper profiteroles for dessert and then headed home to dream of the adventures ahead, but not before taking a short field trip in our restaurant to see something quite shocking.

I’ll tell you more next week….