We live in a county of England that is known as Sussex. I was born in Essex, to the east of London, and Wessex, the historical seat of Anglo-Saxon power, used to lie to the west.  Sussex is divided into east and west counties, and our little part of the world lies to the north of what is known as the South Downs. On the other side of the Downs are the seaside towns of Brighton, Worthing, and Littlehampton. In the other direction you would come to Eastbourne, near the chalk cliffs known as the Seven Sisters.

Our office staff had agreed to go for a walk in the Downs along a ridge above a valley that skirts the Devil’s Dyke. Devil’s Dyke got its name from a legend that says the devil was furious at the conversion of the people of the Downs to Christianity and carved a dyke through the South Downs, so the sea could flow in and drown their villages. Though fanciful, the legend pass homage to the conversion of this area to Christ very early in its history.

The day was blustery and cold; most unseasonable after such a pleasant and warm Spring. But we bundled up as best we could and made our way along a well marked trail. The views from the ridge over the Sussex countryside were well worth the hike and wrapped up in coats and conversations we hardly noticed the cold.

At the end of the hike, some of us stopped in at the local pub that sits at the top of the hill at the head of trails that wander off in every direction. The pub was cheery and warm and a nice pot of tea was all we needed to warm us back up again. We have a friendly team of both Americans and Canadians to work alongside and their company, whether walking or talking, is always welcome.

May 2022