‍After an 8am breakfast, we set off for Brighton at 09:30, arriving around an hour later. The weather was the same indifferent conditions we had for the last few months: mostly overcast with a threat of showers and an occasional sunbeam or two. No showers fell 😁.

‍We strolled along the pier, the seafront and into town. Everything looked tired and run-down. The railings along the promenade were peppered with rust, as were those on the pier. The arches along the seafront, decorated with Edwardian ironwork… much the same. Along the prom, not a bench in sight. If you want to sit down, there’s the pebble beach or cafés. Maybe, in season, they’ll let you hire a deck-chair? 

‍The pavilion, however, was still presented in all its original glory.

‍There was an electric railway (claiming to be the oldest in the world) on which we took a trip. It gave a good view of everything along the seafront and was good fun, but apart from that, even the pier (£1 admission) was a disappointment. Kiss-me-quick stalls and an overpriced fun-fair (not that we’d have wanted to use it, anyway!).

‍The Brighton “lanes” were interesting. There were more jewellery shops than one could imagine - maybe upward of a 50+, many selling items with 4 or 5 digit price tags. Mind-boggling!

‍Sunshine made an appearance just as we were due to leave at 14:30, so the driver chose to use the coast road back to Eastbourne passing through pretty towns and villages and offering spectacular view across the downs and the cliffs.

‍Along the way, he diverted to Beachey Head, hoping for a photo-stop, but the Brighton & Hove Council kill-joys had blocked off all places for coaches to stop, so a drive past was all we managed.

‍It might appear otherwise, but we had an enjoyable day out. Sea air, a change of scene and a break from routine was what we wanted and was what we had.

‍Back at the hotel by around 16:15.