Cheers!

One of the things we'd promised ourselves on returning to Brighton, was a trip to our 'local'. It seems like something one would take for granted, but last year we didn't go once!

The first thing I noticed was that there was a new girl at the bar. She looked very young (doesn't everyone?), and she dressed in the style known as 'Goth-ish'. There was also some unknown rock music playing; a little too loud.

We've been frequenting our 'local' for many years, and have always liked it; but things change. There used to be a pile of board games for customers to play, and a frame on the wall containing photos of all the visiting dogs. Both have now gone. 

There was a menu on the table offering dishes that didn't sound as if they'd ever encountered a Chef. And about 6 metres from where we were sitting were two wall-mounted TV's showing endless footage of footballers scoring goals.

The heavily tattooed man, who I presumed was the new landlord, was sitting on our side of the bar chatting to his mates.

It's still a good pub, the Goth was very nice, and the Guinness was perfect. But somehow I preferred it as it was.

 

Baba Vanga

There have always been so-called 'mystics' who've claimed to see into the future; and just occasionally they get things right; they HAVE TO once in a while.

Baba Vanga, was seen by many to be the modern Nostradamus, and she was taken very seriously by those who believe in such things; and she still is. She certainly looked the part. 

Most predictions are usually very vague, as with daily horoscopes, and can be interpreted to mean almost anything (As the Delphic Oracle once noted, 'A great army will win today's battle, etc').  

Vanga has apparently announced that during 2026, WW3 will begin, that humanity will suffer a terrifying change, and that AI will cause havoc.

Personally I am a total sceptic. Vanga, who was from Bulgaria, died back in 1996 and even though people do claim that she has always been accurate, I have yet to see any firm evidence.

It is a strange thought, that if she is right about WW3, it will have been the fault of just one man; Putin. Just one Russian megalomaniac could possibly cause so much trouble for over 8 Billion people; why has he not been eliminated?

With just four months left of this year, it'll be interesting to see how accurate Baba Vanga really was. My fingers are crossed that she was wrong.

 

Return to Blighty

We've now been back in Albion for a while; that Green and Pleasant Land, where we Brits never shall be Slaves.

Those polluting Dark Satanic Mills are now few and far between, our Coal Miners have unwittingly given us much cleaner air, and our High Streets have plenty of wonderful Vape Shops, Bookmakers, and Turkish Barbers.

OK, our government wants to be rid of farmers, and replace them with cheap housing estates, illegal immigrants, and/or Wind and/or Solar Farms. But we shall struggle on; it's in our nature!

Contrary to predictions, my big Sainsbury's store had not been stripped of bog rolls or baked beans, nor did I see trollies filled to overflowing with bottled water. In fact everything was as I left it just three months ago. Even the regular check-out ladies welcomed me back.

This may shock you, but I was extremely happy to be reunited with my favourite sliced, wholemeal, seeded bread. French baguettes are all well and good, but I do get a bit fed-up with them. A fried egg on a slice of TOASTED ENGLISH WHOLEMEAL BREAD is heaven on a plate.

I've said it before that my love affair with France is slightly fading. Not with our actual home, which I adore, but with France in general. I rather blame the EU.

Many years ago, a secretive decision was made in Brussels that much of Spain and S W France would be designated as 'Tourist Areas'; which they were. Now that the locals have all reaped the financial benefits of that tourism, and are driving big foreign cars, etc, they're beginning to rise-up against the very visitors who made them wealthy. The Spaniards are frightening-away tourists, and the lack of those imported Euros will no doubt soon begin to tell; it'll take a lot of work to tempt those tourists back. The countries gaining are Egypt, Turkey, Croatia, etc.

So, it's good to be back in our little bijou Brighton home. The Tomatoes growing out front are hopeless; they are tough-skinned and have little flavour. There are no Apples on the tree, but elsewhere my newly planted Herb Garden has done quite well. All of our 'annual bedding plants' died.

It's good to smell the sea air again.

 

Travelling drunks

I don't know what happens to some people when they travel, but many seem to search-out the nearest bar and drink themselves into stupidity.

I often used to see people on early morning ferry sailings, sitting at the bar downing pints by the dozen. I've also seen them at airports, throwing them back before their flights leave. All this leads to only one thing; drunkenness.

This idiot above is a classic example. He is 67 year old Arthur Lundeen from Arizona, who started fighting and being abusive mid-flight. Luckily a few 'hefties' were on hand to tape him up and restrain him. The flight was detoured, and the fool thrown off.

When we recently returned from France, we each had a half-bottle of red wine with our (very good) meals, but we certainly wouldn't have had more.

People such as Lundeen drink to get themselves drunk. They really should be on a 'life-time-ban' list, and kept off planes and ferries for ever. Barmen/women are also partly to blame; they should see the signs and stop serving these people.

 

Drawing

I am more inclined to amuse myself with inconsequential doodling these days, rather than with big-canvas painting. A quick sketch gives me more instant pleasure than slaving over a major painting.

An ink pen, a brush, and a tiny pot of water, is all I need, and I can keep myself amused for hours. This below is a recent example.

I always used to keep some drawing things, and some colours, in the car. If I saw something that needed drawing/painting I had all that was needed at hand. This quick sketch of Stonehenge, from back in 1983 is a classic example. It was pouring with rain, so I had to work from inside the car.

There's usually something to grab my attention, although here in central Brighton it's not always obvious.

 

The trip home

Our journey up from the South was boring but uneventful. With Kimbo's Sat-Nav it makes everything so much easier. We mostly travelled on France's wonderful motorways, so not much to look at. At one stage we did take a detour through some quite pretty villages, but I don't know quite why it was recommended. 

Driving long distances is always tedious. We stopped a couple of times to let Billy stretch his legs, and for us to have a sandwich and drink. It was a hot day.

Travelling from Dieppe to Newhaven is even worse. It's a 4 hour crossing, and other than eating, there's not a lot to do.

For our past few crossings we've decided to have a cabin (above). They are very basic with four beds, a bathroom, and, in our most recent case, a sea view. After a long car-journey, we were all very tired so a few hours sleeping was very welcome. Billy stayed 'below-decks' in the car.

I've said many times before, but suddenly driving on English roads again is quite a shock. The traffic is appalling, and the potholes even worse. Someone/somewhere needs to do something about it pronto, otherwise the roads will soon be un-useable.

 

Despite everything

This little pink and yellow Antirrhinum (Snapdragon) has battled against all odds, and is growing from the tiniest of cracks in the asphalt; and still it managed to look beautiful. When I went to photograph it, one of my 'more colourful' neighbours was giving it some water.

N.B. Since returning to England, and plugging my laptop into the UK system, I seem to be having problems with my 'comments'. I've tried everything, and Kimbo will come to have a look on Sunday. I'm sure he'll be able to find the solution. Until then.......