Kipling's House

I've had a day of cleaning, washing and ironing today - not necessarily by choice but because I had to stay in for someone to come and repair the washing machine. Also Rodney the window cleaner was coming round to give me a quote for cleaning our windows.

Fortunately the repair man arrived at 8.30am so once it was fixed I was able to wash all the bedding and get in hung out to dry. Rodney wasn't due until 12pm, so I nipped into Rottingdean and took my curtains to a lady who's going to shorten them for me, then came home and started on the ironing.

Later this afternoon I took Louis out on our usual walk, over the hill into Rottingdean and back via the beach. In the centre of the village is Kipling's Gardens which is a beautiful walled garden with a croquet lawn, and adjoins this wonderful old house called The Elms, which is where Rudyard Kipling once lived.

It was built in 1745 and Kipling rented it in 1897 for three guineas a week. Whilst living here, he wrote 'Kim', 'Stalky & Co', and many of his 'Just So' stories, but sadly his eldest daughter died in 1899. Due to his daughter's death, and the fact that he had become a focal point for tourists, he was no longer happy living here, so left Rottingdean in 1902.

Normally the gates are shut and I've only ever seen the top of the house before, so I wanted to blip it while I had the opportunity. The angle isn't great, but it sides onto a road where cars were parked, and I had to stand in the road to take this shot. I was also concious of the owners seeing me stood in front of their driveway, so it was a quick point and shoot!