Vegetables in a jar

Seen in the window of a Brighton vegetarian restaurant!

Trees near Devil's Dyke

The country roads around Devil's Dyke have wonderful views although there's not much space to stop your car. Everyone drives quite fast as well, so I risked life and limb for this shot! I've always admired this line of trees and thought I'd get a photo.

Click here for the other Devil's Dyke shot.

Sky Watch Friday - British Museum Courtyard Cafe

During the week, I visited friends in London. We met in the British Museum Courtyard Cafe and this is the remarkable roof.

The courtyard employs state of the art engineering to create the largest enclosed courtyard in Europe.

Dominating the scene is the circular rotunda/Reading Room, with stairs leading up to the upper levels.

If you're in London, be sure to visit. The museum itself is free - it's an amazing place.

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Carousel - Brighton Seafront

This Carousel is a very popular attraction on Brighton Seafront - whatever the weather! This was a particularly grey day but the children don't mind :)

ABC Wednesday - S for Seed

Mark and I are experimenting this summer with planting some crops. This patch had a little disruption a few weeks ago on account of the honeysuckle collapsing and me planting a plum tree in its place. It means that some of the seeds got mixed up and my tidy rows are now all higgledy piggledy.

This I believe is a courgette plant still with the seed attached and I'll need to give it a bit more space very soon. We've also planted radishes, tomatoes, carrots, runner beans, red peppers, strawberries and blackberries as well as our new plum tree.

Our plot is not big but hopefully we've used the space wisely. Below you can see the cane barrier that protects the seeds from our dogs. The picture also gives you some idea of the size of our outdoor space. This is why Georgie and Jessie get such good walks every day - there's just enough room for a pee and awhatsit, a lay out in the sunshine and a gentle wrestle as the photo shows! But playing ball and being exercised? No, not enough space for that!
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Seagull on the car

Living by the sea is lovely but you do have to get used to the seagulls. They tear open the rubbish bins, #@*t on your car and make a lot of noisy early in the summer mornings. But hearing them during the day still makes us feel like we're on holiday.

I saw this seagull the other day pecking at this windscreen. I'm not sure why. Maybe there was a sandwich on the dashboard??

Grey Brighton - in Monochrome

This was taken last Sunday when these tables should have been packed with happy drinkers. Instead, as you can see, it was grey and chilly and people were having a different kind of beach experience. A rather desolate one!

Check out other Monochrome Maniacs here.

Unwelcome Graffiti

I enjoy graffiti when it's thought through and improves the environment. Maybe when an area has been provided for local artists to express themselves. But this was a freshly painted white wall in a car park and the person/people who did it obviously wanted to make a big and dirty impression. I applaud this man for trying to remove it. A very community minded citizen. But a horrible job.

Next Door Neighbours

It caught my eye! And my name's on one of the papers (though spelt wrong!)

Sky Watch Friday - Brighton Sea Front

I'd forgotten about these photos until my friend who was visiting me at the time, dropped by again at the weekend.

It was a cold late afternoon in February and we decided to have a cuppa on Brighton seafront. It was a lovely combination: chocolate cake, hot tea, fantastic sunset and the sea!



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Morris Dancers

These Morris Dancers were waiting to perform in the Brighton Festival.

We didn't see their dance but their costumes suggested something altogether more contemporary and maybe rather dark.

They were quite a striking bunch as you can see.

Sea Spray for Watery Wednesday

Sunday in Brighton was wet and windy. I walked round in the afternoon with a plastic bag covering my camera, bringing it out when the drizzle stopped.

These people were enjoying the drama of the sea spray.

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Car Accessories

Spotted on Brighton Seafront on Sunday as the annual Mini Ralley (for lovers of the diminutive British car) pulled into town. Around 2,500 drivers made the 55 mile pilgrimage from Crystal Palace Park, London to Madeira Drive on Brighton’s seafront. I loved these accessories!

The Basketball Players in Monochrome

On Brighton Seafront there's a well-used basketball pitch. It's serious stuff and passers-by like to get involved and enjoy the free spectacle. I remember when Georgie, our Golden Retriever, was a pup, she was off lead, saw the ball and chased it from player to player. Rather an embarrassing 'dog moment'!


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Scenic Sunday - A27, Brighton

This is our view as we drive home along the A27 towards Brighton. The sea's behind us and we're looking towards the South Downs in Sussex.

By the way, several people have asked about the yellow field. This is oilseed rape, a plant with yellow flowers. It is grown as a crop and the seeds are crushed to make cooking oil.

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The Caterpillar

Here's a little caterpillar going about his business.

I was just about to take another close up when our Golden Retriever came along to see what I was up to. She didn't even see the caterpillar, just wanted to say hello to me cause I was down on the ground . . .



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Sky Watch Friday - Brighton Race Course

The Brighton Race Course stadium is seen silhouetted to the left in this photo. It was 7ish in the evening a month or so ago and as you can see, it was a changeable weather situation!

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The Ice Cream Van

When I was a child (60s/70s), the Ice Cream Van used to be a very familiar sound in our area. The tune they played as they drove around the streets was always well known, usually an old English folk song, and all the children would rush out of their houses and queue up to be served.

They're not so common now - but probably more so in different parts of the country.

I always have a '99' - ie. whipped ice cream with a chocolate flake :) In fact what the people in the photo are having. Yum!

ABC Wednesday - Q for Quirky

The Duke of York's is Brighton's best cinema although it's not necessarily the most comfortable. One of its claims to fame are the quirky legs sticking out of the roof! I took these pics while I was stuck in a traffic jam. Electric windows on a car are great for taking quick photos on the move!

The Picture House has been around since 1910 and is soon to have its 100th birthday. Go Girl!

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ABC Wednesday particiants.

Anyone for tea?

An English garden fete is incomplete without tea and cakes. So here we are - from my afternoon in Withdean Park on Sunday.

Saxshop in Withdean Park, Brighton

Yesterday "Saxshop" were playing in Withdean Park, Brighton. Since I sometimes play with them I went along to support and ended up taking some photos.

A great afternoon was had by all and Simon d'Souza and the crew played a fab set. There was also a Fun Dog Show which I've covered on my Out And About With Your Dog Blog.

Here's Fabian on his Soprano - the rest of the photos are here.

Scenic Sunday - our local dog walk

This is a place in East Brighton where we walk regularly. It's on the edge of the South Downs with the English Channel in the distance.

It was a beautiful August day when everything was right with the world :)

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Singer with attitude

Meet the lead singer and banjo player of the Iron Boot Scrapers! Entertaining the crowd at the weekend, this guy caught me taking his photo and started doing that lead singer thing where you sense people are looking at you rather than at him. How embarrassing!

Meet the Iron Boot Scrapers

Buskers that definitely catch one's eye! These instruments are pretty unconventional never mind the outfits. Must have taken quite a while to get togged up - especially for the drummer! The Iron Boot Scrapers had a good crowd and were definitely working the audience. The lead singer has a special photo coming up tomorrow.

Elvis Lover

These two funky Brightonians were window shopping and generally enjoying the street vibe.

The woman had an Elvis badge on her jacket which I'm afraid I couldn't get. They stepped into the shop just after I took the photo.

But when I looked at the bag, I noticed another bit of Elvis memorabilia.

I bet these two danced the night away in the fifties - and it looks like they've still got the spark.

Magic in the streets

There's often a lot going on in the way of busking and entertainment on the streets of Brighton, but at festival time there's even more to be enjoyed.

This trick involved making something disappear - I know no more than that I'm afraid!

Meet Martha, the ferret

I did a double take when I saw this family taking their pet ferrets on a walkabout. I thought at first it was a rat but then I asked (always a good idea!) and they put me right. Her brother is called Biscuit who was a little camera shy.

It was Martha's lucky day because these girls were tucking into delicious cakes and probably had lots of sticky stuff on their fingers.

A ferret is a small carnivorous mammal, belonging to the weasel family, or mustelidae and is related to the otter, badger, mink and weasel.

Sky Mirror - Brighton Festival

 
The Sky Mirror by Anish Kapoor - part of the Brighton Festival. Cool idea, eh?

- it's made from highly polished steel

- you must stand at least 4 metres away

- the intensity of solar concentration can damage eyes or even burn


Here it is in context - installed in the Pavillion Gardens, Brighton.

Artists Open Houses in Brighton Festival

Over the first four weekends of May, one thousand artists and makers show their work in more than 200 homes around Brighton and Hove.

The Artists Open Houses festival sees houses, gardens and studios across the city of Brighton and Hove and surrounding area turned into impromptu galleries - some with cafes attached. Many houses are grouped in trails to make it easy to walk from one to another.

This is part of the Brighton Festival, a month of parades, gigs, serious theatre, street theatre - basically loads of amazingly creative goings on. I shall be posting some images over the next few days.

By the way this is the 43rd Brighton Festival. It all kicked off in 1966 and it seems to be stronger and funkier than ever :)

Graffiti in Brighton - Unconditional Love

This particular space continues to be used by grafitti artists. It seems to be changed at least once a month. Two or three guys turn up, give the old picture a good scraping, and then start on the new design. And it's quite amazing how detailed the images are.

Here's 'Unconditional Love', in context.

Shadows on Devil's Dyke, Brighton

This photo was taken near Devil's Dyke, just outside Brighton. It's an amazing area with fantastic views across the South Downs. Devil's Dyke itself is a V-shaped valley formed by river erosion after the Ice Age melt down.

Wiki explains one of the reasons it might have been called 'Devil's Dyke':

Local folklore explains the valley as the work of the devil. The legend holds that the devil was digging a trench to allow the sea to flood the many churches in the Weald of Sussex. The digging disturbed an old woman who lit a candle, causing a rooster to crow, making the devil believe the morning was fast approaching. The devil then fled, leaving his trench uncompleted.

Here's Georgie, our Golden Retriever, enjoying the incredible space on Devil's Dyke.


The top photo is part of the Shadows Theme Day. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants