pumpkinstrokemarrow

So on Friday off to Jack & Jill, a pair of windmills up on the downs above Brighton. For some reason I thought that one or both of them might be working. We get there to find that the mills do not work and are certainly not open on a weekday. By way of compensation, a spiffing view over the Weald to the north, otherwise known as the forest of Anderida. Buzzard drifting in the wind, somewhere below us, maybe miles away. Certain amount of buzzard like mewing to be heard but we could not spot the source.

Unfortunately, at this point FIL takes a tumble, and winds up on the ground, slightly the worse for wear. Which could have been a bit of a disaster, but all worked out OK in the end. First off, two young people in charge of a special needs bus rush over and take charge of the situation, this including a pow-pow with someone at the ambulance end of 999. Second off, about 10-15 minutes later, ambulance turns up with two very competent ladies on board. They take over, whisking FIL into their vehicle for a once over. From which, after a while, he emerges shaken but not stirred. We are advised that proceeding to Brighton is fine, which we proceed to do, faith in human nature and national health restored.

Get to Brighton on what has turned out to be a fine sunny day, along with thousands of others. We patrol the entire seafront, from Portslade to the nudist beach, before finally finding a parking slot on the Marine Parade, just to the east of the pier which is still working. On the way, noting the various licensed premises in Portslade for later checking against the memory of the TB'ite who was brought up there. In order of passing: the Victoria, the Whistlestop, the Blue Anchor and the Blue Lagoon. I believe that this last was satisfactorily disreputable in the days of mods and rockers. Don't know about now.

Lunch at the Bristol Bar mentioned in an earlier post and then into Kemptown, not previously visited. So we have Hove High Street with all its stuff to the west of the pier and Kemptown High Street with its to the east; roughly as Hampstead is to Camden Lock. A very grand Catholic church to St. John, the exterior in the form of a Greek temple. Rather inappropriate one might think. In good condition for a building of its age. A even grander Anglican church to St. Mary, one of those high Victorian brick jobs. Inter alia, the interesting roof illustrated. A bit testing for the trusty Nokia. Various people were getting the church ready for a jumble sale the following day but it was hard to see how one was going to get enough prayers to fill the place up on a Sunday.

Followed by the purchase of some very decent salami from Naples and a white loaf from somewhere near Brighton. Served very well for dinner later.

Then into the local flea market where I was pleased to find a 16 piece dentist's kit, at a very small fraction of what it must of cost new. Heavy duty stainless steel, maybe fifty year old. Added to what I had already (Dad having been a dentist), all I need is a few probes - the long thin jobs they used to poke around in your teeth for holes, cracks and crevices - and I will be able to set up shop. I even have a bit of novocaine left in the ampoule in the hypodermic. But whoever sold it was very proper and sealed it in.

From whence down to the beach to enjoy the sea, the sun and the crowds. Splendid day for such a place.

PS 1: Google says that novocaine is a relative of cocaine (as the name would indeed suggest), is made from same raw material and bought from the same suppliers. That is to say Columbian drug barons. It seems that coca will only grow in that part of the world; nothing like as versatile as the poppy. I wonder.

PS 2: on the shaken not stirred front, tried to watch our Oxfam version of 'Casino Royale' last night. Slickly made but content free, so only managed about two thirds. Rather like an advertisement but stretched out to 30 times the proper length. Maybe with more drink on board I would have managed the whole lot. To think that this is what most young people will remember Dame Judi for. The DVD will be returned to Oxfam tomorrow, along with the now redundant, 2 volume, new to us, second copy of Anna Karenina (see July 30th). Kindle forever!