ARUNDEL CASTLE AND THE BEACH

another family monument built by the fitzalans and d'aubigny ancestors, earls of norfolk and arundel through the daughters, favourites of the norman kings they were given strategic fiefs to defend against possible continental invaders. the building comprises 11th cent. motte and bailli rebuilt in rock and 13th-16th cent. additions, the front of the castle was rebuilt in victorian times

nearby is the hamlet of littlehampton, part of the now sprawling beachside resorts that are brighton/hove, but the water was warm and the sun blazed a bit so we went in and wet ourselves

BATH .... NO, SHOWERS.

NO. IT WAS DEFINITELY RAINING AND QUEUES OF SILENT ENGLISH TOURISTS, STANDING, HEADS DOWN IN TO THE ICY WIND AND THE SLEETING RAIN. WE BOUGHT PASTRIES AND DROVE PAST THE 'ROYAL CRESCENT' WHERE THE RICH AND FATUOUS GEORGIAN NOVEAU RICHE SPENT THEIR SUMMER RETREATS 'TAKING THE WATERS'.

APART FROM SOME HINT OF THE ROMAN PAST THE CITY IS A SHOPPING CENTRE IN GEORGIAN ARCHITECTURAL ORDINARINESS. STRAIGHT LINES, NO GABLES, NO VERANDAHS. THEY WERE VERY GOOD AT GARDENS.

10 Years to Save Civilization

10 Years to Save Civilization


I HATE TO SAY I TOLD YOU SO,
BUT PROSPECTIVE PROPERTY DEVELOPERS IF YOU WERE HALF SMART YOU'D BUY DIRT TWO KILOMETRES FROM THE BEACH AND IT WILL BE WATERFRONT IN 160 YEARS!

bristol full of pirates

travelled to west england for some time on the waterfront at bristol, very picturesque, boat cruise and steam train travel, included Brunels swing bridge and the largest metal sailing [later steam] ship of its day, built 1840's, did lots of trips [1 million miles] carrying immigrants to Australia, and during the rain went to the bristol museum and art gallery in the posh suburb of clifton, holding an eccentric collection of chinese porcelain, dinosaurs, paleo-, meso- and neolithic artefacts and stuffed wildlife and moth eaten animals none of which we could photograph