The main news, only real news is the earthquake and resulting disaster unfolding in Japan. News of the quake broke as I was driving to work on Friday, and inbetween work i watched the videos coming in on the BBC website, stunned as the tsunami rolled in and over the land, flattening houses and picking up trucks like toys, smashing boats against bridges. As I write this, four nuclear power plants are suffering various problems with their cooling systems which may or may have not resulted in meltdowns. This is scary stuff indeed, doubly so after an earthquake of 8.9 and a tsunami up to 10m high.
In our world, life has gone on; we have gone to work, come home, cooked, cleaned and done it all over again the next day. And as each week before it, this week has marched on towards the weekend. Each day is filled with small victories and the such, and in general we feel we are on the crest of a wave; a small wave maybe, but a wave nonetheless.
And come Friday afternoon, it was all systems go for a weekend away! Yes, a weekend where we did not spend at home, we got in the car and hit the road, Jack and did not come home until Sunday.
The reason for this was a concert, a gig to use the rock and roll parlance, which we use all the time, of course. One of our favourite bands of the 1980s has reformed, and we were going to see Blancmange on their first tour for 26 years.
We left work at three, and headed home to throw a few things in an overnight bag, round up the cats and take them to the cattery on the way to Brighton; easy, right? You would think so, but it seems cats can pick up on the unusual, and so Molly did a disappearing act, and we had to wait until she decided to come in for dinner. we let her eat, and as she licked her lips we pounced, in the basket she went and then she and her half brother and sisters we loaded in the car and we set off.
And then we went back home to forget my cameras. Always a good idea to take your cameras when going away to take photographs.......
We headed up the M20 into the dusk and the Friday night traffic. It really wasn't so bad, and soon we had passed Gatwick and we heading up over the south Downs and then down into Brighton. Our directions fro the AA were a little off, but we found our way onto the coast road and then along into Hove, and there was the hotel. We parked up, checked in and went looking for a place to eat.
Just round the corner we found a place called The Ginger Pig, we went in, they had a table and some interesting choices. I had Jerusalem Artichoke soup followed by grilled African cheese with fancy mash potatoes and stuffed nan breads, and it was all very wonderful indeed. The restaurant was friendly and informal, and there was a loud buzz of conversation from the customers as well as the waiting staff as they explained the menu to the confused, like me.
So, we went back to the hotel, showered and hit the sack; being away from the city centre and the bars and clubs, it was all very quiet and we slept well.
We were up with the larks, and seagulls the next morning, and out walking by a quarter to seven, in time to see the sun peep over the tall hotels and Regency houses along the promenade. I snapped away as we walked, and all very wonderful it was, and soon our thoughts turned to breakfast. After photographing a fine bandstand, we headed towards the city centre in the hope of getting coffee and a bite to eat, and so we ended up in a coffee chain place and ordered Americanos and paninis.
And then we headed to The Lanes, a network of criss-crossing streets full of great shops and cafes. I took the chance inbetween photo-ops to grab a hair cut, and the barber said we should go to St Bartholomew's church just down the road. I met back with Jools and after more coffee we headed to what turned out to be the tallest parish church in England and probably Europe.
The church towered over the houses nearby, and after walking through the door we were confronted with a wonderful view of a multi-coloured brick built church, towering high above us, all filled with arts-and crafts period artwork; altars, stations of the cross and so on. we were made to feel welcome as we took in it's splendour.
Next, we headed back towards the city centre, and Brighton's gem; The Royal Pavilion. Built at the end of the 18th century for William IV, it is an incredible building, but in an Indian style, with towers and onion-shaped domes. it is filled with wonderful art and decoration, on which no expense was spared. Although it was wonderful, truly wonderful, I could not help but think of the huge expense this cost, at a time when the ordinary person was living in a hovel. And people wonder why I'm a republican!
And to compound matters, all photography was banned inside, so I can only let you guess at the magnificence of the music room and the King's chambers. It was glorious without doubt.
We walked round the pavilion and back to the promenade, the sun was still shining, but from a misty sky. We stopped and had a huge ice cream and watched people pass by as we licked our way through the creamy goodness. amongst the families enjoying the warm day on the beach, were young people with cans of special brew getting wasted under the pier, barely unable to stand when nature called and a trip to the bathroom was needed.
After walking along the pier, we turned and headed back towards to hotel so we could shower and have a rest. The walk took about an hour, which was fine, but the sun was now hidden and the day had turned cooler. It was with some relief when we arrived back and were able to take off our shoes, boil the kettle and lay down with a nice cuppa and chill for a while.
Come dark, we got in the car and drove back into Brighton to find the venue and collect our tickets. And then find somewhere to eat. Away from the promenade was a busy street with a fine choice and in the end it was Thai that won out and we ordered a set menu and a beer, whilst outside the heaven opened and people scampered about trying to stay dry.
And then it was showtime: we walked back down to the prom to the venue for the gig.
And it was great, just like being in the 1980s, with songs we knew and loved mixed with a few new tracks. Heck, we even danced, kinda, and waved our hands in the air, and clapped and cheered.
And it was over and time to head back to the hotel for a nightcap and then to bed.
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