Marvellousness
Today Brighton was marvellous. Not only glorious sunshine but a perfectly designed light sea breeze to take the edge off the heat.
We (me plus housemates x 2) dashed down to the pier at about 12 to meet some people and watch the Naked Bike Ride, but it turned out the bike ride wasn't scheduled to leave til 1.30 and nor were the people we were meant to meet! Ice cream, anyone!? I don't often sit on the beach but it was a lovely novelty to just lay out in the sun. I read a bit of Vanity Fair and we discussed the merits of the best locations to avoid climate change/global fascism, and whether or not dictatorships would be willing to work alongside one another.
Then we found a cafe, and Simon and I sampled an exciting sounding sandwich - hummus with kiwi, raisins, pineapple and tomato. It was delicious, the perfect sandwich for a hot summer's day. We headed back down the the pier just in time to catch the naked cyclists. It looked great fun and I'd quite like to have done it if I had a bike. People were in various states of undress but there was a great atmosphere, very carnival. I was particularly pleased by the two body-painted people on a tandem; and a couple of very brave and ambitious fellows on unicycles. Several on rollerblades too.
Afterwards I left the company to have a wander alone into town. I had on my agenda to purchase a new copy of Disraeli Gears by Cream, having upsettingly found my copy had gone AWOL; and to buy more ribbon for my shoes. I also found that putting on my sunglasses instead of my prescription glasses gives me a rather nice sense of anonymity - a childish idea that if I can't see anyone else, they can't see me either! Anyway, I went along the seafront, through the hordes rammed along the promenade, then up to the main road to find the appropriate shops. I bought lots of bits of ribbon from Fabricland, some random buttons from The Works, and, inexplicably, a pair of purple trainers from the BHF shop. I hate trainers, I never wear them, I have no idea why I decided to get them. Must be the sun.
Then I headed back towards the North Laine for a nice independent record shop to give my money to in exchange for the desired CD. As I did so, the naked cyclists passed me again coming down North Street. There was one of the rollerbladers (totally starkers except for a hat and a flag) pelting down the hill at quite a rate, waving his arms frantically and being cheered on by the onlookers - just before he reached the turning to Ship Street he lost it and skidded, bum first, into the tarmac. That's got to smart a bit! His backside was skinned when he stood up. Ouch. Oddly enough I had met this very chap a couple of days earlier, working behind the bar at the Cowley Club. Poor man's going to have trouble sitting down for the next few days!
On to the record shop, and I was suddenly filled with the impulse to buy something new and random - it's been a long time since I've listened to music in any kind of purposeful way, but I've been starting to do so a bit more in the last few weeks. Once I'd found good old Disraeli Gears I started to browse the recommended/new release display. And what did I find but that my beloved Eels have a new album out! So serendipitous. I also spent a bit of time indulging another old pleasure, browsing second-hand bookshops. I was strong and didn't buy anything with the weight of Vanity Fair already pressing on me in my rucksack, but the urge is strong to build up another big stack of classics. Don Quixote is next on the list. Perhaps my brain isn't as dead as I thought.
I'm exhausted now, I don't know why the sun should tire one so, but it does. Fortunately avoided pinkness though, which none of my housemates did. They are all sore this evening. It's possible that I might achieve a tan this year, having studiously maintained my paleness over the last two summers. It could be a new project for me! And so to bed, after the cornucopia of delights today has brought.
We (me plus housemates x 2) dashed down to the pier at about 12 to meet some people and watch the Naked Bike Ride, but it turned out the bike ride wasn't scheduled to leave til 1.30 and nor were the people we were meant to meet! Ice cream, anyone!? I don't often sit on the beach but it was a lovely novelty to just lay out in the sun. I read a bit of Vanity Fair and we discussed the merits of the best locations to avoid climate change/global fascism, and whether or not dictatorships would be willing to work alongside one another.
Then we found a cafe, and Simon and I sampled an exciting sounding sandwich - hummus with kiwi, raisins, pineapple and tomato. It was delicious, the perfect sandwich for a hot summer's day. We headed back down the the pier just in time to catch the naked cyclists. It looked great fun and I'd quite like to have done it if I had a bike. People were in various states of undress but there was a great atmosphere, very carnival. I was particularly pleased by the two body-painted people on a tandem; and a couple of very brave and ambitious fellows on unicycles. Several on rollerblades too.
Afterwards I left the company to have a wander alone into town. I had on my agenda to purchase a new copy of Disraeli Gears by Cream, having upsettingly found my copy had gone AWOL; and to buy more ribbon for my shoes. I also found that putting on my sunglasses instead of my prescription glasses gives me a rather nice sense of anonymity - a childish idea that if I can't see anyone else, they can't see me either! Anyway, I went along the seafront, through the hordes rammed along the promenade, then up to the main road to find the appropriate shops. I bought lots of bits of ribbon from Fabricland, some random buttons from The Works, and, inexplicably, a pair of purple trainers from the BHF shop. I hate trainers, I never wear them, I have no idea why I decided to get them. Must be the sun.
Then I headed back towards the North Laine for a nice independent record shop to give my money to in exchange for the desired CD. As I did so, the naked cyclists passed me again coming down North Street. There was one of the rollerbladers (totally starkers except for a hat and a flag) pelting down the hill at quite a rate, waving his arms frantically and being cheered on by the onlookers - just before he reached the turning to Ship Street he lost it and skidded, bum first, into the tarmac. That's got to smart a bit! His backside was skinned when he stood up. Ouch. Oddly enough I had met this very chap a couple of days earlier, working behind the bar at the Cowley Club. Poor man's going to have trouble sitting down for the next few days!
On to the record shop, and I was suddenly filled with the impulse to buy something new and random - it's been a long time since I've listened to music in any kind of purposeful way, but I've been starting to do so a bit more in the last few weeks. Once I'd found good old Disraeli Gears I started to browse the recommended/new release display. And what did I find but that my beloved Eels have a new album out! So serendipitous. I also spent a bit of time indulging another old pleasure, browsing second-hand bookshops. I was strong and didn't buy anything with the weight of Vanity Fair already pressing on me in my rucksack, but the urge is strong to build up another big stack of classics. Don Quixote is next on the list. Perhaps my brain isn't as dead as I thought.
I'm exhausted now, I don't know why the sun should tire one so, but it does. Fortunately avoided pinkness though, which none of my housemates did. They are all sore this evening. It's possible that I might achieve a tan this year, having studiously maintained my paleness over the last two summers. It could be a new project for me! And so to bed, after the cornucopia of delights today has brought.