Sunday, February 21, 2010
Bread hunt (continued)
Got a bit desperate for a bit of real bread yesterday, so it being a bright fine morning, we thought we would take a spin down to Brighton to see what we could do there. And, low and behold, swinging down the Ditchling Road we chanced across Raven's bakery. An establishment that seemed to consist of an older Mr Raven, his two sons (not present in shop, maybe in bakery) and various other shop people, mostly Saturday girls. Got there late morning but there was still a good supply of large white bloomers, plenty of cakes of various sorts and plenty of customers. Settled for a large white bloomer and four currant buns. Current buns very good, albeit rather different from those of Cheam. Softer with a stronger flavour and a stronger colour. Bread very good too, again rather different from that of Cheam. A different finish to the crust, more brown than orange, although very properly crinkled, and the bread had a slightly sour taste, maybe on the way to sour dough. Great to have some proper bread again after a fast of maybe seven weeks now.
On the way we thought to take in Ditchling Beacon which sported an all around panoramic sign on our elderly land ranger map. Climb up (in the car that is) the steepish hill to get there to find a very small National Trust car park more or less completely full, including, as is proper at such a place, an ice cream van. One which appeared to sell only ice cream; no teas or coffees or other aberrations of that sort. This being a late winter Saturday morning. What on earth would the place be like on a mid summer Sunday afternoon?
Not having looked at the map properly, found that we could not see Brighton from the beacon at all, despite the all around panoramic sign. We were on the top of the north facing scarp of the south downs, with spiffing views over the weald to the north. Just about make out a large gap in the downs to the east which we took to be the gap in which Newhaven had been planted. Odd bit of sea poking through. Presumably the same scarp as Butser Hill, some miles - 50? - to the west in Hampshire, which we used to know well during our sojourn in those parts. Google maps, not really the right vehicle for the purpose, but nevertheless suggest that this might indeed be the case, despite a wobbly bit north of Worthing.
Some hard core cyclists complete with hard core cycles and a specialised van explained that the beacon was indeed on the London-Brighton cycle run. They described the hill as a stiff one mile climb. Too old sezzaye. You would be surprised sezzthey. Plenty walk up but plenty of oldsters ride up with the best of us. Not convinced myself that I was ever fit enough to get up such a thing - and I certainly am not going to give it a go now. I shall stick to getting up Epson Downs - which are just about stiff enough for me.
Down in Brighton, had a spot of bother parking, despite the blue badge, and wound up in the small multi storey opposite Hove town hall, which came with a couple of nice wide, vacant disabled slots and a toilet. Everybody happy. Trundled along the Hove shopping streets which had plenty of interest, including plenty of eateries and a shop which sold old vinyl. Not very strong on Schubert, which I have decided is my weak suit, but I did manage a posthumous piano sonata in B flat, with an impromptu thrown in, recorded by one Clifford Curzon back in 1973. Back home I found that I knew the sonata really well - despite, as far as I could make out, not already having the record. Most odd.
Eventually made it to the prom. to find someone rather old to be skateboarding putting on a performance on a long line of small cones. Seeing him weaving down them was quite an impressive sight. Must have required a lot of strength in hip and thigh to make it down the whole line. Presumably the trick is to keep flipping the body in a sort of reverse sync. with the board so as to maintain forward momentum despite the zigs and zags. Something else I am not going to try.
Wonderful cloud display to the south.
Got slightly lost on the way back to the car-park which I had got located on the wrong side of the street. But FIL made it without complaint.
PS this post prompts Mr G. into putting up an advert for me about slimming. Does he think I am whacking down too many currant buns?
# posted by Jim @ 1:06 AM 
