Category: Sussex

Four Lives- BBC.

Written by Neil McKay and based on extensive research and multiple sources, Starring Sheridan Smith and Stephen Merchant.

Told from the point of view of the families and friends of the four young men – Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor – who were murdered by Stephen Port. Four Lives focuses on the fight to uncover the truth about what had happened to their lost sons, brothers and loved ones in the face of a now widely condemned police investigation.

Compulsive viewing. Horrifying on every level!

The Lucky Eight by Sheila Bugler.

The Lucky Eight

The Lucky Eight by Sheila Bugler

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The latest from my favourite Sussex crime writer- Sheila Bugler. The Lucky Eight- or not so lucky eight, depending on which way you look at it. Eight people survived a plane crash- the fault of a drink/ fly pilot. A crash which has long lasting consequences- as do the events leading up to that fatal flight. Had an initial problem sorting out the characters- who was with who and did what, but once I passed that I loved this thrilling crime thriller.



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Are We Having Fun Yet? by Lucy Mangan.

Are We Having Fun Yet?

Are We Having Fun Yet? by Lucy Mangan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I started this and was going to ditch it after the first chapter. I like books that relate to my life now, not something I left behind years ago- this was more suitable for my son with his young family. However the writing is sharp and witty. It made me laugh out loud and took me back to times past and feelings that, at the time, I tried to repress on more than one level. Now I know it was all just fine! I loved this book.



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Boxing Day Walk.

8 reasons the Boxing Day walk is the best walk of the year according to CountryLiving magazine… number 6 is my favourite:

6. You get to wear all your new winter woolies

The Boxing Day walk is just the occasion to showcase all the new gear you were given for Christmas – a new cashmere scarf, pair of angora gloves, wooly coat or Christmas jumper all make for excellent walking attire.

https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/countryside/a1131/boxing-day-walk-best/

Our Boxing Day walk was at Friston Forest in East Sussex: https://www.forestryengland.uk/friston-forest

Climb Only Mountain (Cheeky Walks in Brighton & Sussex).

Saturday night was spent searching through The Cheeky Book again, which meant that Sunday morning saw us climbing Sussex’s very own mountain, Mount Caburn- old Iron Age territory – near Lewes in East Sussex.

Starting at Lewes Golf Club we crossed fields and valleys before the ascent up Caburn, where according to local legend a Giant by the name of Gil is said to have walked the slopes, hurling his hammer from the summit. Happily fellow walkers we met on the climb were a lot more sociable!

This was followed by the descent into Glynde village for a packed lunch and flask of tea stop. We then began the climb up and back towards Lewes.

Looking down on the River Ouse, Lewes.
Chapel Hill, Lewes

The skylarks flew above in clear blue skies, the air was crisp and cold and all was good with the world on the seven mile round trip.

Groovin in the Ghost Village. (Cheeky Walks in Brighton & Sussex).

Another walk today from the Cheeky Walks in Brighton and Sussex book- this time across rolling downland around Woodingdean, ‘crossing the abandoned ghost village of Balsdean, evacuated and destroyed by Canadian artillery training practice during World War Two’.

Abandoned farm buildings, sheep and the Amex Stadium (home of Brighton and Hove Albion FC) made up the landscape. It was a grey November day, but a good trek across the chalk land all the same. According to the book you needed to walk it to the sound track of Brighton musical duo Grasscut’s album 1 inch/ 1/2 mile- apparently a ‘musical romp through the Sussex landscape’. Incidentally Grasscut also designed the route.

Spencer.

Directed by Pablo Larraín. With Kristen Stewart, Timothy Spall, Jack Nielen, Freddie Spry. 

The Christmas holidays with the Royal Family at their Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England. The Christmas when Diana Spencer, struggling with mental health problems, decides to end her decade-long marriage to Prince Charles.

“A fable based on a true story”. The opening statement perfectly sums up this film- as does the closing reply by the princess, when the Kentucky Fried Chicken worker asks her name: “Spencer”.

Not about the Royal Family, nor is it an account of Diana’s life. It’s a film about traditions and the Sandringham staff.

Robbie Savage: Making Macclesfield. BBC Sport.

I’m a relative late comer to the beautiful game, although my dad was a life long Southampton supporter. I love a feel good football story and Robbie Savage and local businessman Rob Smethurst created a great one when Rob brought Macclesfield FC and with Robbie put the club back on the football league map.

Macclesfield FC currently sit top of the North West Counties Football League Premier Division.

Brighton Hove Albion v Newcastle. Saturday 6 November 2021.

‘Oh Sussex, Sussex by the Sea!
Good old Sussex by the Sea!
You may tell them all we stand or fall,
For Sussex by the Sea.’

Match programme.

The Brighton/ Newcastle game at home at the Amex Stadium, was my first Premier League football game and I was filled with both a sense of county pride and being a part of something, as fans sang a rousing rendition of Sussex by the Sea, Brighton’s Anthem, prior to kick off.

Whenever it’s played, Sussex by the Sea binds Seagulls fans everywhere into more than a century of pride in Albion and Sussex history.

We didn’t win against Newcastle, it was a draw, but whatever the score, nothing will take away the excitement at being at a Premier League match, with all the accompanying atmosphere and excitement of the moment.

A Brighton Blast!

A late summer Sunday at Brighton Beach making the most of the weather before it breaks and autumn sets in.

Loads of fun at The Upside Down House.

Brighton

A browse through an art installation on the beach…

These deck chairs were just waiting for us!

And finally the, in a rugged way, beautiful West pier.

Photograph by Emily Dudley.

I never stop feeling blessed living on the South Coast.