I think it was Steve who mentioned a sign he either saw or imagined whilst we were away recently. I noted the content at the time, and have now tried to create it for your pleasure:
We need more of these!
Although I saw two together the older one moved away quickly, leaving this young one to explore.
Standing on Number 2 shed roof looking curiously at a squirrel below
Jackie took this one from the top floor yesterday.
Looking South-East and waiting for the sun to sneak over the hill
One evening last week – perhaps the 23rd December – Jackie phoned me from Waitrose to say there is a great sunset. I looked out of the Velux window and took this picture. That’s St Peters Church on the horizon.
Sunset over Brighton
Yesterday, the 20th December, was bright and sunny so we set out for Rottingdean by bus along the coast. By 10.20am we were looking for the footpath onto the hills and out of the village.
Passing Balsdean Pumping station we counted 13 vehicles – must have been some big repair works going on.
Looking down on a busy water pumping station
Soon dropped down into the network of branching dry valleys around the natue reserve that is Castle Hill. Not a good day to look for either orchids or butterflies, but fine if all you want is some fresh air, exercise and quiet.
Radiating clouds at Castle Hill
Later it began to cloud over – great parallel ridges of cloud, but they gave the appearance of radiating from a point. Also saw some huge ‘fairy rings’ on a hillside.
A Fairy Ring, or the result of sheep walking in circles?
After 5 hours and eight miles we returned to Rottingdean for warm scones, sharp lemon curd and thick whipped cream beside the fire at the Trellis Cafe.
Grand downland, available for all to wander across.
A great and long evening hosted by Robin Ince.
He told us that before the radio show ’The infinite monkey cage’ was recorded complaints started to reach the BBC. One read ‘Well done – once again Radio Four celebrates vivisection’. His proposed reply included the phrase, ‘Just so you know, an infinite monkey cage is quite roomy.’ - but this was considered too fascetious for the BBC to permit.
Dr Ben Goldacre related the terrible story of hiding medical test results which fail to support drug company plans. He told it at length and with passion. Afterwards Robin Ince said if we wanted to hear it again just go for a drink with Ben, or travel on a train with him – you’ll get it all again.
Brain Cox, during a talk on God or not, said his wife sends a special Christmas card to people they know who are Creationists – its Jesus waving and smiling as he rides past on a dinosaur.
The high point for me was Tim Minchin singing a song about the real nature of long-term relationships. Not popchart trash, but a recognition that relationships build over time, and that, ‘If I wasn’t with you I’d probably be with somebody else’.
On that theme, Ben Goldacre had analysed the frequency of words in US Billboard No1 hits since it started. The top 5, in order, from top down are: Baby Blue Love Girl Song.
Six of us off to see what’s left of the Bonzo Dog Band perform with Brighton pianist, Dave Glasson, and a guitarist whose name I never got. Their website announces ‘never knowingly over-rehearsed’, and I can confirm that – but still a joy. Perhaps because we all knew the songs. To be a bit fairer, the main cause of on-stage chaos (apart from that which was clearly intentional, that is most of it) was Roger – no longer Ruskin -Spear’s inability to be simultaneously at the
The blur at the right is Roger dashing about. The robots all worked fine
microphone and elsewhere doing special effects.
Roger displaying his claws whilst Sam Spoons dresses up (first of many outfits)
They have written songs since the period of fame – and Rodney Slater did an excellent getting older song – ‘has anyone seen my memory, I know I had it with me . . . ‘
Rodney sings his song of failing memory
I can’t remember wht the three clarinets were doing here. Something about finding the right tune, but . . . .
What were they doing?
High point for me – always enjoyed Music for the Leg, long before I had ever heard of a theramin.
Roger plays the leg theramin
And then the rhythm pole as part of Sam Spoons coming on stage as the Australian Cultural Attache. Who can forget ‘Sam Spoons on rhythm pole’ from Intro and Outro. I may not be able to make a theramin, but a rhythm pole should be possible – I’ve started collecting crown corks, and there’s a nice bit of hazel in the garden.
Sam Spoons with Rhythm Pole
Dave Glasson did his punk punktuation, and we tried to keep up with the chorus.
Dave Glasson sings Punktuation - a pair of glasses for every occasion
And near the end Roger performed on the Trouser Press, filling the place with smoke and setting off the fire alarm – but we ignored it.
Do the Trouser Press Baby
The show finished, as last time, with music for the head, which was surprising because it was so tight and together. Unlike this one off the net.
Finally – two days later, having lunch at the Plough in Henfield (a half hour bus ride into the countryside) and telling friends of the concert, a tall guy with long hair and white beard sitting nearby told us he played in another band with Sam Spoons. He is Jim Chambers and he does. He also worked with a hero of Jackie’s, because he was a curator at the Natural History Museum with Richard Fortey – the Trilobite man.
Four of us stayed in a converted stable in the grounds of a pleasing Dutch Gabled Georgian house called Gildencroft once occupied by one of the Twinings tea family (Richard, between 1799 and 1835). The last few occupants have been doctors, and one of them wrote a history of the village – Horsham St Faith.
From his book I learnt that St Faith was once the centre of a huge annual cattle market, where hundreds of iron-shod cattle driven 30 days down from Scotland by porage-eating cowboys, were sold to local farmers who fattened them up on grass and turnips before selling them 0n to London. During our stay the farming activity seemed less to do with cattle and much more concerned with pigs, and spreading their muck generously over the fields just upwind of our home. Boy could that stink penetrate. It got into the Black Swan where we spent some of our first night (Winter’s Golden Ale and Greene King IPA) and stopped us opening the bedroom window overnight.
Filling the muckspreader near our temporary home
Each day we took a bus into Norwich and found a different pub for lunch, as well as exploring old haunts (for me, Steve and Pam had all lived here at some time). The Wig and Pen, close to the river, the Cathedral and the Courts, had good food and Golden Ale by Jackal Brewery and Jiggle Juice by the newest brewery in the city – Northgate. We did some shopping in the big market
Jackie, Pam and Steve buying veg at Norwich market
and visited the Castle Museum in the last hour, when it is only a pound to get in. There I saw a statue of St Christopher helping a headless man over the river. The river was also carved in stone, complete with fish, but still looked like a guy walking with his trousers round his ankles.
St Christopher helping a headless guy over the river, Norwich Castle Keep
On another day we found a painting of John the Apostle on the side of the pulpit in the village church. He is said to have survived drinking a poisoned chalice (real not metaphorical) by praying and thus casting out the poison – in the form of a devil, or a nice little dragon.
John the Apostle with his poisoned chalice - St Faith's Church
Sticking with the religious theme Pam found a plaque set in the Cathedral floor celebrating its founding by Herbert de Losinga, builder and first Bishop. He looks fine, but who is the clawed character, scuttling away with bags, in the top left?
Bishop Herbert de Losinga 1096 to 1119.
Saw a peregrine falcon beside the spire – wonder if its related to the one seen not long ago at Chichester cathedral?
Norwich cathedral spire and a peregrine falcon - honest it is.
We lunched at the Ribs of Beef, beside the river, and I drank a beer from the Dark Horse Brewery, and tried Eldridge’s Black Dog mild.
On our last day in Norwich we joined the workers on strike over ghastly changes to their pensions. Found a Unison board to hold aloft, and joined in the calling and chanting until the rally finished. As we made our way to lunch we heard someone singing ‘Be reasonable – demand the impossible now’, a fine song by singer-songwriter and Brighton primary school teacher Robb Johnson.
Strike Rally and Speeches outside Norwich City Hall
We made it to the Kings Head where I had three halves – Fruit Bat from Green Jacks of Lowestoft, Nelsons Revenge from Woodfords and Winters KHB (Kings Head Bitter).
Earlier we had called at City Hall, where Pam and Steve were married just 40 years ago this very week.
One of a pair of lions guarding City Hall, Guildhall visible in background
Its a ruby wedding so Jackie and I brought them ruby port, and they brought a bottle of champagne – a good evening was had.
On Friday we set off for Cambridge, to look at the Vermeer’s Women exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum. We were lucky enough to park right outside – if its lucky to pay £6 for two hours parking. Vermeer was crowded and I’m not a big fan of 17th century domestic scenes. Elsewhere I found ‘The Judgement of Paris’, only about 12 inches wide and 10 inches high, but worked on by Hendich van Balen in Antwerp, Venice and Rome as well as by Jan Brueghel the Elder in Antwerp, Naples, Rome and Milan. How did that work? And who is the big guy in the bottom left, perhaps sleeping off a session beside a spilling wine jar?
The judgement of Paris
On 22nd November Jackie and I met Steve and took a bus east to the river Cuckmere for a walk through the forest and up the river to Alfriston.
The Cuckmere meanders after a brisk walk uphill from the bus stop
We explored an area of beech and pine wood for fungi, and found plenty.
Bracket fungus on fallen birch trunk
At first we saw none, but as we got our communal eyes atuned:
I think the delicate colour makes up for the lack of focus
Some features are so big they are hard to show in one picture:
Part of a fairy ring of fungal fruits - about 20 feet in diameter
Others only became apparent when looking at bigger neighbours:
Not the big mushroom on the left, but the but the flat upright black and white forms nearby
Some just stood out on their own;
Pure white against the golden beech leaves - delightful
We walked on to the village of Litlington for a beer at the Plough and Harrow, but had two halves because they had a great choice – Harveys Old Ale because its winter, and Dark Star Hophead because it doesn’t feel like winter.
Seen outside the pub after only 2 halves, so it must be real
Walked down to the river and watched big fish patrolling the water. Perhaps Grey Mullet? Certainly over a foot long.
Hard to get a good picture through the water
Proof of the warm weathr, if more were needed:
Wild roses in flower beside the Cuckmere - 22nd November 2011
Had the chance to look in at the first property bought by the National Trust, called the Clergy house it is a 14th century timber framed house with an intriguing chalk and sour milk floor seen in the pic below. The milk provide a protein (casein) binder to hold the floor together which gives it a longer life and reduces dust.
Jackie in the 'restored to original appearance' old hall
Another half in an Alfriston pub whilst we waited for the community bus that started out homeward journey – such short days now.
View from rented house just after dawn
Doorbell operated by renewable energy system
Swine Church, refurbished 2011
Tallest standing stone in Britain
Two brothers ponder the menu
Part of a windfarm north of Driffield, dull day but just a glint of sunshine on the rotors
Three from Barnsley
Jon, Lee and Dad in the Station Hotel, discussing food.
Sailing boat windvane over a garage in the Avenues, Hull
Saltend - perhaps the fumes from here gave me my sore throat
South West corner staircase in House of Fraser
