Well, it's not that bad. However, one always feels a bit regretful at the expiration of one's holidays. A week of (relative) peace and quiet exhausted, and a return to the daily battle (aka commute) and requirement to do more than decorate the sofa while absorbing book after book.

While succumbing to the temptation to do bugger all for part of the week we also managed three days on the Isle of Wight. We trekked down via train to Southampton and, after finally finding the ferry terminal and waiting for the staff to decide what to do with us, spent an extortionate amount of time floating in the Solent awaiting landfall. This was due to our taking bikes - Red Funnel are apparently unable to accommodate cyclists on the fast[er] passenger ferries and hence we were consigned to the glacial vehicle ferry. Worse, while cars, trucks and motorcycles swept past us we were forced to walk our bikes on and off - most peculiar. On the upside, I've now found a ferry with even less to entertain than the Interislander.

We then cycled up through Cowes to a B&B near Osborne House. After a quick tea (ah, clotted cream) we explored the remainder of Cowes, handily split in half by what is quaintly termed 'the floating bridge' (that is, a chain ferry). We enjoyed a mediocre pub meal and then turned in early, ready to arise at first light to go out cycling.

The major highlight of the B&B became apparently in the morning - breakfast. It was superb, with fruit, croissants and tea aplenty, along with one of the best English breakfasts I have yet encountered. Being thus filled we leapt upon our bikes (which we had previously swapped to off-road tyres, only to find all the tracks are on what can at least technically be called roads) and headed out along the coast. Unfortunately Polly's resolve collapsed a couple of miles after Gurnard, and so we retreated, and took the bus instead.

We soon discovered that the buses make London look cheap. £9 each bought us a days travel (£5.90 for London), however this did cover the open-top tourist buses as well. So we headed up to the Old Battery and the Needles, took as many photos as possible, and then retreated to Yarmouth, only to discover there is little there beyond the pirate-like name. So we hopped on the next bus and headed back to Cowes. On the way, in a bountiful display of kindness, the driver even stopped so Polly could search a nondescript bench in the middle of nowhere, thus retrieving the keys she had dropped during our cycling excursion. And so, to round off the evening we retired to a Thai restaurant in Cowes for a superb meal.

The next morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we hopped back on the (late) ferry, and found ourselves back in Southampton just as the rain started. It conveniently abated after about 10 minutes, giving us the chance to explore the mediaeval walls and remains of the castle before joining a train back to Waterloo and civilisation.

So, a nice break, a change from the bustle of London, but I can't say I'll be joining the apparent queues of people house-hunting of the island. Nice clotted cream though.