I am on annual leave these last two weeks of January 2021. Like a lot of other people during this pandemic, I should have been elsewhere in the world. So we had to re-think. Plan B was a road trip to take in a few of these:
Then a third lockdown has meant staying in our home town. So plan C came into force and we took a walk and did these:
Eastbourne Borough, Eastbourne Town and Eastbourne United.
“Winter is a season of recovery and preparation.”
– Paul Theroux
On my run tonight.
Every colour of the rainbow visible.
‘Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow it over the hill
And the stream.
Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow the fellow
Who follows a dream.’
Look to the Rainbow. Finian’s Rainbow (Musical fantasy , 1968)
Somewhere over there might be a better 2021 for us all.
How cool is this restaurant in Eastbourne?
Bistrot Pierre by the Western Lawns and on the seafront in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
Socially distanced eating at its best.
…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.
(Refrain) SUSSEX BY THE SEA William Ward-Higgs 1907.
Sussex born and bred I adore my county.
“Music is the moonlight in the gloomy night of life”
John Paul Friedrich Richter.
There has been nothing roaring about 2020, but music has been a lot of people’s moonlight in these dark times.
And on that note here is a little bit more from the Funky Blue gig at the Grove Theatre, Eastbourne last month (October 2020).
‘…if you love what you’re doing, you can’t stop. It’s obsessive.’
Labrinth.
Sunday 25th October saw Funky Blue back on their first gig since Lockdown in March. Held at the Grove Theatre in Eastbourne, East Sussex in front of an invited audience this intimate gig showed that nothing had been lost in Lockdown.
Many of us have missed live music in 2020 and this felt like a small step in a positive direction. The venue felt safe to be in with all Covid measures in place. Thank you Grove Theatre Eastbourne.
Have a look at the night here…
The Long Man of Wilmington situated on the South Downs in Sussex.
Formerly thought to originate in the Iron Age or even the neolithic period, a 2003 archaeological investigation has shown that the figure may have been cut in the Early Modern era – the 16th or 17th century AD. The Long Man is one of two extant human hill figures in East Sussex; the other is the Litlington White Horse, also in East Sussex.
Another autumn walk for us on a bright Sunday on the Sunshine Coast.
A large and conspicuous waterbird, the cormorant has an almost primitive appearance with its long neck making it appear reptilian. It is often seen standing with its wings held out to dry. Regarded by some as black, sinister and greedy, cormorants are supreme fishers which can bring them into conflict with anglers and they have been persecuted in the past. The UK holds internationally important wintering numbers.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/cormorant/
The Common Cormorant or shag
Lays eggs inside a paper bag.
The reason you will see no doubt
It is to keep the lightning out.
But what these unobservant birds
Have never noticed is that herds
Of wandering bears may come with buns
And steal the bags to hold the crumbs.
First live music event post Covid. Good to be out in a field on a sunny Sunday afternoon listening to some talented local bands, all in our safe social distance squares
A bit of a boogie, a cold cider, wood fired pizza and churros with Nutella. We had a fab time!
The famous Carpet Gardens are the centrepiece of Eastbourne’s Promenade with vibrant displays of bedding plants and special planting features. It was around 1904 that they first appeared on the Grand Parade near the pier. It is not known who first thought of adorning the sea front with some such a gorgeous display of horticulture but Eastbourne Borough Council do a fantastic job in creating year round displays to reflect the seasons.
Above is an early postcard of the gardens. Make a future date to come and see them how they are now in our beautiful town.
All Things Nice by Sheila Bugler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Spent another week in Sheila Bugler’s criminal world. Set in London, with a tense ending at Beachy Head in East Sussex. Sheila tells a good story- fast paced and gripping.
“Smile at strangers and you just might change a life.” – … anon.
