Rye is one of my favourite places to visit on a day trip. Originally an important Cinque Port but left marooned on the Marsh when the sea suddenly disappeared sometime in the 13th century, never to return again. It’s picture postcard perfect; beloved of a BBC filming crew, winding cobbled streets, a good mix of Georgian, Victorian and Medieval architecture and panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

We went for a final catch up with my in-laws before I fly out to Australia on Sunday. I was keen to soak up the Englishness and get some gifts for my family.

There are a few shops I like to frequent – it’s always good for kitchenalia and cookery ephemera. The vintage and antique shops are well curated with a good understanding of what’s currently in demand – but priced accordingly for the tourists who flock down to Rye on the E F Benson trail. No bargains today!

Here are some pictures from the day.

Admiring the flash of India Yellow in their sitting room.

I have got my eye on this house!

This is where I like to get my stationary from.

Inside Rye Pottery studio.

This shop has a bit of a A.G. Hendy’s Homestore in Hastings feel about it. It had a huge selection of antique french confit pots. Van Gogh painted his sunflowers in these pots.

Sunflowers, 1888, National Gallery

These are the two we took away.

A detail of the Italian stationary we bought.

The next post will be from Perth, Western Australia. Nick is staying at home and getting on with the renovation so I will be excited to see what will have changed. He has been told go easy on the Netflix.