I'm in Love!

We're here in Brighton, although of course, all did not go smooothly - surprise, surprise!

The first alarm - at the Very Unsociable hour of 4.15 (AM!) - did not go off, but the second one at 4.30 (AM!) did. This did not leave enough time for leisurely double checking that we had everything, and that everything was in order for our house-swapper, Trisha. Indeed, it was Somewhat of a Rush to be ready for the taxi at 5am.

And so we left behind the Oyster cards, loaded up with enough money for our day in London. Also, the new Sat Nav that Uncle A gave us for Christmas. This was to be the great trial usage of it, in all these wee country lanes that we're not familiar with, but alas, it sits in Edinburgh, and we're in Brighton. :-(

So it'll have to be my map reading skills, then...

When you get up at 4.30 am, and get into a taxi in the dark and cold, you feel as if you and the taxi driver are the only people in the country who are up, apart from folk returning home from night shift and possibly a few folk UP TO NO GOOD. Then you arrive at the airport and there are hundreds, nay, thousands already there! (I exaggerate only slightly). There was a longer than normal queue, and everyone was complaining.

We smugly waltzed past them all with our cabin bags and had time for a leisurely croissant and passable coffee while they all got stressed in a queue for 40 minutes. The girl serving us (Polish or Latvian) was having a bacon bap for her breakfast, but then later on I noticed her tucking in to a big feed again. Perk of the job, I suppose.

Arrived in Brighton in bright sunshine. It feels SO nice to be by the beach. We met Henry, and his Mum, Trisha, and we all went on Henry's normal beach walk. It's a blipper's paradise! The people, the dogs, the wee colourful huts (£12,000, anyone?) the skaters, the stony beach. My camera was red hot.

Henry HAD to be in the first holiday blip, but I so loved the wee huts, and the lovely clouds, that I've chosen this with everything in it, inlcuding his mum. There will be plenty of time for close ups of the lovely Henry. :-)

I must say, he's a charming fellow. He just does dainty little poos, so that's not going to be the problem I thought it might be. Not I, who has faced a couple of Leo's corkers! He came when he was called, and didn't get into any fights. He pops up on the sofa and half sits on you, and he makes sure he gives his attention to both of us. He sat politely and watched, but didn't dribble, while we tucked into yummy pastries from the yummy baker's shop nearby. He has lovely manners. I'M IN LOVE!

I'm also in love with Trisha's computer. Although it's not a Mac, it's fantastic - with a touch screen!! AND Trisha's got Photoshop Elements, so I can adjust the levels a bit - in bright sunshine with a compact camera, it's never right.

In love too, with Trisha's lovely house, a minute from the beach, big windows letting sun in, fantastic art work (Trisha did many of them!) and a Great Big TV! I may never leave.

We're off celebrity spotting. Katie Price lives here. If I see her today, Henry and the Huts will have to go!!