Cabe Library 2
Google is an amazing tool for finding all sorts of esoteric links. This I think provides the best introduction to this afternoon's posting. I live just a minute's walk from the Seaside- both the actual watery stuff and the two roads in Eastbourne named using that word which, somewhat confusingly, do not form the seafront but run parallel to it.
Anyway (now you see where my blog title comes in- I do seem to like using this as a paragraph opener!) today is the "Seaside Road Fun Day". I'd spotted advertising for this in shop windows earlier in the week and thought I would drop by and find out what it is all about, but had actually forgotten until earlier this morning when the unusual strains of a Scottish pipe band passed my lugholes.
I was going out for my customary weekend breakfast anyway, but had forgotten to take my wallet so returned home to pick that up. As time was getting on and breakfast stops at 11.30, I also decided to go to T J Hughes rather than Littlewoods for my 8-item treat. No straitened financial circumstances or straightened waist (I wish!) is going to get me to surrender the pleasure of a Saturday sausage just yet.
Both breakfast and location proved a good choice. Fortunately, they still had plenty left of my favourite items (their eggs are brilliant and the fried bread just right) and my favourite table too. This is right by the window of the third floor "Dome" restaurant which is an excellent spot both for its sea view and 'people watching' My large cappuccino, though somewhat strong for my tastes really, lingered nicely while I saw all sorts and conditions of men and women pass by, dashing about their Saturday business, co-operating with the Co-Op or trotting through the Terminus (Road- the main street of the town intersecting at this spot). I particularly noticed three Downs Syndrome people walking across at the lights, reminding me how often I have seen God's image in such faces and that the Paralympics start today in Athens. At least there is another chance for a dose of Grecian sunshine, though to be honest I shall probably do no more than watch the highlights of the opening today.
Getting back to Eastbourne though and the Sunshine coast- living up to its name this afternoon after a gloomy start- from my vantage point, my eyes also took in lots of little features of the skyline you can so easily overlook from ground level. For instance, I'd never noticed the Domed top of the betting shop opposite TJ's, complete with very helpful weathervane and compass pointers- I can never work out which direction is which in this town!- The Dutch gabled ends of the various Edwardian residences above the shops in this area too I find fascinating. Far more typical of the East coast of England than the South-East really: I recall Hull was full of these. There's a very interesting mix of architectural styles here for those that wish to look, and a wide choice of building materials too, quite different from the flint which being so plentiful locally is often the rock of choice.
I finished my coffee just in time to get downstairs for the grand ceremonial ribbon cutting to start the ball rolling on the fun day. Apart from the pipe band standing by under the firm command of their sergeant-major, there were a couple of lovely lassies on stilts, one with fairy wings, and other costumed characters. The significance of their garb escapes me- can't quite work out what era they are from, but very colourful nonetheless.
There's also a barbecue at one of the pubs I've never been in before (dare I risk a cheeseburger and a pint later? So much for good intentions), a steel band (hey, I must hear them after my enjoyment of the Kingston Carnival last Sunday) and various other enticements to investigate the newly regenerated road. It's only just occurred to me that my former colleague Will has probably had a lot to do with this work- good on him. The traffic disruption caused initially during the partial pedestrianising and one-way working of the area proved controversial, but it looks like the traders are determined to make the best of it and I wish them well.
While some of the shops on this road are a bit out of my age bracket these days, like the Blast! clothing store, when funds permit who knows I may even look in the leather shop. I've often thought about having a leather jacket, though can't help thinking of the rather nasty PVC imitation I once wore during the seventies.
However, the shop I shall return to most often without a doubt is the always helpful Christian Resource Centre. Though I've always thought the name a bit dull, it's a brilliant shop where I sometimes have to control my impulse to buy yet more Christian books and magazines. However, the staff and particularly the manager Kevin are always friendly and helpful and a credit to the Christian book trade. Even their vended cappuccino is not bad!
Seaside Road's other brilliant curiosity is The Musgrave Collection the brainchild of one local man, incredibly now in his eighties though looking at least ten years younger than that. A fascinating place. I visited it for this first time a while ago. When, I can't quite remember. Oh, I think it was some time in April though it seems longer. It's dedicated to the life of St Paul, with many beautifully crafted pictures illustrating this together with portraits, models and assorted artefacts on all sorts of aspects of social history- just my sort of place. More info. at http://www.ask.co.uk/ix.asp?q=Musgrave+Collection&ac=none&xx=0&qid=C8EBC5C9E4A20F49941E6968BE63A32C&p=0&s=999&sp=ix&fn=t&b=0&fo=2&r=10&io=1&fp=1&fr=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Evisiteastbourne%2Ecom%2Findoor%5Fattractions%2Fmusgrave%2Ehtm&adurl=
I will certainly pay another visit to the attractions of this eclectic mix of shops and services later- it's so convenient. I see that there is even a Learn Direct centre in the internet cafe, which could prove useful for training at the moment. If nothing else, it will cheer me up on a day which started with me feeling in a very down mood, though I am pleased to say the worst of that has now passed. Do I like to be beside the Seaside? Well, my failure to get an interview for the BBC job means that I will probably be by it for a bit longer yet. On balance, despite the occasional calls on my time and energy elsewhere, it's a nice place to be.
Just in case you've wondered, by the way, this is not advertorial but my own unbiased impressions of the local shopping scene. Mind you, it's an interesting idea. Maybe I ought to investigate Adsense!
Google is an amazing tool for finding all sorts of esoteric links. This I think provides the best introduction to this afternoon's posting. I live just a minute's walk from the Seaside- both the actual watery stuff and the two roads in Eastbourne named using that word which, somewhat confusingly, do not form the seafront but run parallel to it.
Anyway (now you see where my blog title comes in- I do seem to like using this as a paragraph opener!) today is the "Seaside Road Fun Day". I'd spotted advertising for this in shop windows earlier in the week and thought I would drop by and find out what it is all about, but had actually forgotten until earlier this morning when the unusual strains of a Scottish pipe band passed my lugholes.
I was going out for my customary weekend breakfast anyway, but had forgotten to take my wallet so returned home to pick that up. As time was getting on and breakfast stops at 11.30, I also decided to go to T J Hughes rather than Littlewoods for my 8-item treat. No straitened financial circumstances or straightened waist (I wish!) is going to get me to surrender the pleasure of a Saturday sausage just yet.
Both breakfast and location proved a good choice. Fortunately, they still had plenty left of my favourite items (their eggs are brilliant and the fried bread just right) and my favourite table too. This is right by the window of the third floor "Dome" restaurant which is an excellent spot both for its sea view and 'people watching' My large cappuccino, though somewhat strong for my tastes really, lingered nicely while I saw all sorts and conditions of men and women pass by, dashing about their Saturday business, co-operating with the Co-Op or trotting through the Terminus (Road- the main street of the town intersecting at this spot). I particularly noticed three Downs Syndrome people walking across at the lights, reminding me how often I have seen God's image in such faces and that the Paralympics start today in Athens. At least there is another chance for a dose of Grecian sunshine, though to be honest I shall probably do no more than watch the highlights of the opening today.
Getting back to Eastbourne though and the Sunshine coast- living up to its name this afternoon after a gloomy start- from my vantage point, my eyes also took in lots of little features of the skyline you can so easily overlook from ground level. For instance, I'd never noticed the Domed top of the betting shop opposite TJ's, complete with very helpful weathervane and compass pointers- I can never work out which direction is which in this town!- The Dutch gabled ends of the various Edwardian residences above the shops in this area too I find fascinating. Far more typical of the East coast of England than the South-East really: I recall Hull was full of these. There's a very interesting mix of architectural styles here for those that wish to look, and a wide choice of building materials too, quite different from the flint which being so plentiful locally is often the rock of choice.
I finished my coffee just in time to get downstairs for the grand ceremonial ribbon cutting to start the ball rolling on the fun day. Apart from the pipe band standing by under the firm command of their sergeant-major, there were a couple of lovely lassies on stilts, one with fairy wings, and other costumed characters. The significance of their garb escapes me- can't quite work out what era they are from, but very colourful nonetheless.
There's also a barbecue at one of the pubs I've never been in before (dare I risk a cheeseburger and a pint later? So much for good intentions), a steel band (hey, I must hear them after my enjoyment of the Kingston Carnival last Sunday) and various other enticements to investigate the newly regenerated road. It's only just occurred to me that my former colleague Will has probably had a lot to do with this work- good on him. The traffic disruption caused initially during the partial pedestrianising and one-way working of the area proved controversial, but it looks like the traders are determined to make the best of it and I wish them well.
While some of the shops on this road are a bit out of my age bracket these days, like the Blast! clothing store, when funds permit who knows I may even look in the leather shop. I've often thought about having a leather jacket, though can't help thinking of the rather nasty PVC imitation I once wore during the seventies.
However, the shop I shall return to most often without a doubt is the always helpful Christian Resource Centre. Though I've always thought the name a bit dull, it's a brilliant shop where I sometimes have to control my impulse to buy yet more Christian books and magazines. However, the staff and particularly the manager Kevin are always friendly and helpful and a credit to the Christian book trade. Even their vended cappuccino is not bad!
Seaside Road's other brilliant curiosity is The Musgrave Collection the brainchild of one local man, incredibly now in his eighties though looking at least ten years younger than that. A fascinating place. I visited it for this first time a while ago. When, I can't quite remember. Oh, I think it was some time in April though it seems longer. It's dedicated to the life of St Paul, with many beautifully crafted pictures illustrating this together with portraits, models and assorted artefacts on all sorts of aspects of social history- just my sort of place. More info. at http://www.ask.co.uk/ix.asp?q=Musgrave+Collection&ac=none&xx=0&qid=C8EBC5C9E4A20F49941E6968BE63A32C&p=0&s=999&sp=ix&fn=t&b=0&fo=2&r=10&io=1&fp=1&fr=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Evisiteastbourne%2Ecom%2Findoor%5Fattractions%2Fmusgrave%2Ehtm&adurl=
I will certainly pay another visit to the attractions of this eclectic mix of shops and services later- it's so convenient. I see that there is even a Learn Direct centre in the internet cafe, which could prove useful for training at the moment. If nothing else, it will cheer me up on a day which started with me feeling in a very down mood, though I am pleased to say the worst of that has now passed. Do I like to be beside the Seaside? Well, my failure to get an interview for the BBC job means that I will probably be by it for a bit longer yet. On balance, despite the occasional calls on my time and energy elsewhere, it's a nice place to be.
Just in case you've wondered, by the way, this is not advertorial but my own unbiased impressions of the local shopping scene. Mind you, it's an interesting idea. Maybe I ought to investigate Adsense!
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