The New Normal: A lovely bit of sunshine

Sunny Surrey was basking in sunshine so last week I headed off on another train ride to Brighton.  My first stop was Snoopers antique/bric-a-brac emporium and I took a lot of pics this time....

I'm a browser, not a buyer - the pleasure is in exploring so I only buy something after much hesitation, having seen it once, been off to think about it and if it's still there when I return (which it usually isn't!).

As always the graffiti art around town was spectacular....

it changes often...

Lots of shops in The Lanes display there wares outside in the sunshine, which is great for distancing.

My father had a buddha like this but fatter, it was of a white, very heavy, opaque stone, had much peeling red paint and gold leaf - I always thought it was the most beautiful thing in our house, then it disappeared over the years (my parents sometimes sold things) - would like to have one.

There was a cold east wind but it was still nice on the beach, once I found a windbreak area.

Someones feet in my picture - they had just been swimming...  Does the sight of a net and bucket make you want to go and find a rock pool to explore? there are no rock pools on this beach so I bet the kids are disappointed ... handy to take home for frog spawn hunts in ditches though..... or for catching butterflies in the garden whilst making mud pies with the bucket... multi use investment buys...

It was about 14 or 15 degrees fahrenheit that day and some brave folk were swimming, the water would have felt warm by comparison once they were in I expect.  I used to swim here as a child, there can be some dangerous currents further out.

Got a good view of Brighton Pavilion - where I had a lovely day out with blogger ElizabethD some years ago :)

Here's a typical weekend:  I was up early on Saturday and made an offer on a pretty kaftan I saw on EBay, which was accepted immediately (before 7am!).  After my rowing session, we had breakfast of mushrooms, tomatoes, rye bread and egg I was set up for work in the conservatory whilst hubby showed 4 sets of viewers round our house.  We finished off the day with cider and I found a lovely series on Sky Atlantic: Mildred Pierce, about a woman in the 1920s who becomes a single mother during The Depression and helps herself out of poverty with her cake making skills.

Sunday was spent with a similar breakfast and a lunchtime swim with a whole lane to myself for an hour followed by a trip to the garden centre for a plants and animal safe, garlic cat repellant to deter Mollie cat from peeing on the lawn (we have reseeded the patches). ... it doesn't work..... We watched the penultimate episode of Line of Duty, the plot twists and turns and we can't wait for the next episode.  

On Monday my EBay win  arrived and was even better than I had hoped - no expense had been spared on the sequins .... it was instantly washed and hung out on my apple tree.  Despite having two orange beach tunics already, I couldn't resist another - brand new, smothered in sequins and in a lovely print (looks like it may be a hand printed batik as has some natural faults in the pattern). Never worn, a lot of dye came out in the wash but the fabric is now super soft and floaty as a result.

Think these earrings will look good with it...

Hoop earrings, gift from my blogging buddy, Vix

I havent got round to painting anything to go in my nature journal for this month and still have diy jobs around the house to catch up on (loose door handles, refreshing the bath sealant - boring jobs).  I am working the rest of the week so will catch up on blogs over the weekend :)  Thanks for passing by.... back soon.  If you have a minute your comments are always appreciated:

What would have caught your eye at Snoopers Emporium and gone home with you? the Russian doll, skeleton, Turkish slippers, silk duster coat?........