pumpkinstrokemarrow

We had heard good reports about the chipper in the middle of Brighton Pier so today, to mark the year end, we thought we ought to give it a go. So we did and found ourselves on the pier, at around 1230, all ready to go.

For these purposes the pier can be considered as a pier with three bulges, with a pavilion in each bulge and with the pavilions being crosses between railway stations and conservatories. Plenty of Victorian iron work. The middle bulge contained the smallest pavilion, which was called the 'Palm Court' and which contained the chipper in question, a chipper licensed for both on and off sales.

FIL had to have the gluten free roast chicken, but BH and I had the haddock, and very good it was too. Furthermore, the chips had probably never seen the insides of either an oven or a microwave. Good service and plenty of cuddly small children to keep us amused while we were waiting. After our meal, we celebrated by putting our heads in a just married cutout and having our picture taken on my telephone by a passing tourist. Fair to say that I need a bit more practise as I did not realise in time that one was supposed one's head right in the hole.

Passed up on the hard core rides at the end of the pier, far too hard core for me and which appeared to have been made in Italy. Presumably they are keen on such things there.

But FIL and BH did have a go on the recently arrived wheel of excellence (illustrated), a wheel which looked about half as high as the London Eye, had been made in Germany and had done stints in several other places before turning up in Brighton for a five year run. Handsome looking thing, although the capsules were of the hang and swing variety, rather than the elaborately geared, fixed capsules in London. The only real down was that the designer had not given enough thought about how to put the thing on the ground, something I complain about from time to time in respect of outdoor sculpture, with the result that the bottom was a bit scrappy, especially close to. London Eye much better in that regard.

Two vehicles of interest in the course of the day. The first was a van parked at the BP petrol station at Maldon Rushett which described itself as a mobile police office dedicated to working in partnership to reduce disorderly and anti-social behaviour. I have not got the words quite right, but they were terribly on message. The mobile police officers were nowhere to be seen, presumably on a coffee break. The second was a camper van of similar size, shape and colour as the mobile police office, but parked in Brighton, the point of interest being that the campers were careful enough to carry sturdy yellow plastic wedges which looked to be made out of the same sort of stuff as the cones on roads and which, when suitably placed under those wheels on low places in the road, would yield a level camper van. Perhaps the campers were Germans.

Back home to a brussels sprouts medley for supper. That is to say, chop a couple of onions and simmer until soft in a little butter. Add some chopped triple smoked & baked gammon. While that is warming through, peel and halve about 40 sprouts. Add sprouts with a little water to the mix and simmer for a further seven minutes. Serve with home baked wholemeal without further butter.