Tunbridge Wells and Pooh Country

• One day trip to Hampton Court had been so wonderful, so I decided to go out the following day as well. I had wanted to see the original site of Winnie the Pooh since I learned about it in my travel book. That's why I headed to Hartfield without question. The book showed the two ways to get to the destination; the first one is to take a train from London Victoria to East Grinstead, and the second is from London Charing Cross to Tunbridge Wells. For me, it seemed to be easier to leave from Charing Cross, so first I arrived at Tunbridge Wells around 3:30pm. I knew that it was a bit late to start looking around the town. When I first saw the name of the city, I thought that I had ever heard of it somewhere, but I couldn't remember why I knew the name at that time.
• What troubled me first there was that I didn't know how to take the local bus Metroline to Hartfield. So I walked around a lot the bus stops in front of the station. I learned from the guide book that I had to take the bus 291 to Hartfield, but didn't know where I could get on and how to pay the fare. Therefore, to begin with, I followed the signs showing the tourist information in order to get any information how the local transportation system works. However, all I got at the centre was the local map and a walking tour map titled 'Heritage Walking Trail'. I didn't figure out the way of riding on buses. Finally, I gave up learning about the public transportation, and went back to the station. But this time, I found the bus stop for 291 right in front of the station, and knew that the next bus would come at 5:12 pm. It was still 4:30 when I was there. So I decided to wait for it, reading the map for the walking tour, which made me excited very much; the map shows that a few miles away from the stop, there is a house where Thackeray has stayed! Knowing about it, I got clear on the name of the town. Yes, there is a scene set in this place in his The Virginians, which I read two years ago. Consequently, I ran to the house because there was little time until the bus would come. I had to look for it for a while, but I could find it in the end. The house is now called "Thackeray's", and I felt something special to see it. The map has a short comments about it; "William Makepeace Thackeray, author of Vanity Fair amongst others, lodged and wrote in this little tile-hunting house, then known as Rock Villa and now a restaurant. Staying at the house for an extended period, his works include an essay about Tunbridge Wells, and part of his novel The Virginians is set in the town. Thackeray also spent part of his childhood in the town, staying at a cottage on the Common".
• I really got excited, but I didn't have enough time to appreciate it. I had to go back to the bus stop hastily. Eventually, I made it to the bus and could go to the village. I felt really nervous when I get on the bus, because I was not sure exactly how to get the ticket. So first I watched carefully what other passengers were doing, and understood that I had only to tell the driver where I'd like to go, and 'single' or 'return'. Then, I told the driver, 'Can I have a return to Hartfield?' and got the ticket to the destination. The price was 5.40 pounds, and I thought to myself that it was very expensive because in London, a single fare is just 90 pence. Hartfield is located in East Sussex, I forgot telling you this important information. However, the bus ride was worth the price, I thought soon after. I don't think I have ever seen such a rural area in my life. The magnificent scenery was beyond description. I was impressed very much, indeed.
• I didn't know where I should get off so I asked the driver, 'Is this Hartfield?'. Finally, seeing that I was a stranger, a gentleman told me where I needed to get off. Leaving the bus, the man asked me if I was going to the Pooh corner, and I answered, Yes. Then, he was very kind to tell me where it was. I had known that I couldn't enter the corner because it closes at 5 pm. It was 5:30 pm when I arrived there. Therefore, I walked to the Pooh Bridge. Although I had some difficulties to find the foot path to the bridge, I could manage to get there in the end. It took about 30-40 minutes. The neighbourhood around the bridge was in good order, and I dropped a stick from the bridge to a stream. Of course, I also took many pictures there.
• Resting there for a while, I went back to the bus stop, but I got another problem there; the last bus to Tunbdirge Wells had already gone, so I had to take a bus to East Grinstead station; I really regretted that I had bought a return ticket. From Hartfield, the last bus to East Grinstead on Saturday leaves at 7:33pm. I should have come earlier, I thought.