As usual steady rain in the early hours of the morning, the little electric heater and coffee does wonders for the body first thing in the morning. Cold and wet outside hopefully the day turns out like the past few days where the sun peeks through the clouds around 10am and it warms up.

My thoughts were right after breakfast with Margaret and Fred it did warm up enough for us to enjoy a walk down Woodruff Avenue (the houses are either Tudor, Georgian, Edwardian or a few newer styles) and at the end was a lovely big Hove Park. Being Sunday everyone is out enjoying the sunny weather, kids in the playground areas, a kids soccer match, many ladies jogging in black outfits (must be a club) others sitting on the park benches or grass watching the world go by.

Margaret and Fred treated us to a Sunday lunch at Hangleton Manor the oldest domestic secular building surviving in Brighton or Hove built with flint (the traditional vernacular building material of the Downland areas). Built around 1540-1550 historically the main role of the Manor has been of a farmhouse and operational center of a large working farm on which a mixed corn/sheep economy was practiced.

After a large serving of lunch Margaret and Fred took us for a drive to Brighton where we started our exploring of the town from the Brighton Pier. Later in the day after we have tired ourselves out they will pick us up.

Well the town is really buzzing you feel like a sardine in a can, apparently the Brighton/Hove Soccer Team have won their division first time in over 20 odd years and moving into the big league (more money) and all the fans our out celebrating plus there will be a ticker tape parade along the seafront at 5pm. So now we know why the town is so crowded.



The Brighton Pier is the best we have walked on so much to see and do, cafes, shops, Amusement Park with so many different rides and entertainment one could stay here all day and not get bored but we had to move on. In the distance is the new tourist attraction where you guide up to 450ft on the world's tallest moving observation tower to enjoy break taking 360̊ views across Brighton and beyond. Don’t think I would be game for that.

Poor Richard Brighton has probably tripled in size since he left some fifty odd years ago he only really remembers where he went swimming and surfing near the Brighton Pier. It has changed so much except for the people in their droves on the beach, at least here you don’t get sand in your bathers or clothes.



Ventured back in the older section of Brighton to the Royal Pavilion an extraordinary and extravagant pleasure palace built for King George IV in stages between 1787 and 1823, the Royal Pavilion is remarkable for its exotic oriental appearance both inside and out surrounded by beautiful gardens. Very vibrant with buskers on nearly every corner, food vans cafes buzzing the town is really alive. Thought The Lanes a section of old Brighton of tiny lanes and alleys of very old shops would be quieter to enjoy a coffee but everyone is celebrating the Brighton/Hove Premier win.

Time is marching on and getting closer to the 5pm parade walked up to the huge Brighton Railway Station the only place where Margaret and Fred can pick us up as the seafront has been cordon off.

Nice to be back in a quiet atmosphere for drinks and a good night’s rest.