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Whistler Sunset

It’s very hard to do the sunsets over Whistler Mountain any justice with our rather woeful camera skills.

We’ve tried our best with this view from our balcony, just as the sun disappears behind a distant mountain. It’s not perfect as it took a bit of fiddling with afterwards to bring some of the foreground details out, but it’ll do.

This area of Canada is on virtually the same latitude as the UK, so the days are the same length, though the light always fades a little earlier up here due to the mountains.

Devils Dyke

With spring well and truly arriving we decided to risk a trip out to the South Downs, a National Park that surrounds Brighton.

The highest point in the South Downs is called Devils Dyke. After a little research we found it to be only a quick 20 minute bus trip from the station just outside our apartment.

It was quite incredible how somewhere so close to home could be so different. The dyke itself is a very deep groove in the South Downs hills. The views are stunning and you can see for miles around.

To add to that, there is a nice little pub right at the top, perfect for a pint or two.

It’s been a while since Sue last came down to visit us on her tod. Our recent up-sticks to Brighton and the promise of lovely weather wooed her down to us for this weekend.

Unfortunately the weather decided to take a leave of absence at the same time, continuing it’s rain and howling gales record of the last couple of weeks.

On her first day we did the usual and ambled around the streets of North Laine and The Lanes, all very a nice. In the evening we decided to go to Jamies. Stopping for a drink on the way there.

On entering Jamies we were told it was an hours wait for a table so changed our minds and ate a Zizzi, just over the street. A very nice meal.

This morning, buoyed by a rather more positive forecast, we thought we’d chance a walk out on the pier. We were blown off our feet almost as soon as we arrived at the seafront, we battled the elements, but the views of the sea were very impressive.

Sue started squealing and running up and down the pier like a hyperactive child taking pictures of anything that moved (which in this weather really was everything). Kel and I obediently posed for a calm seaside photo.

We returned the favour and took and extremely flattering picture of Sue. You could tell she enjoyed the light breeze wafting through her hair.

Once inside the pier amusements arcade, we lost about 45 minutes playing the ‘2p’ game. Totally addictive!

Despite the weather, we all had a lovely, if damp, time.

Now we’re well and truly settled in sunny Brighton, we felt it was about time we actually ventured out and started to sample what’s in the surrounding area.

It was a surprisingly sunny morning, so we thought we’d give Rottingdean a go. It was recommended to us by my hairdresser, she reckoned it’s a very ‘Olde English’ pretty village.

She was right. The pictures below aren’t perfect as they were taken with my iPhone, but they’ve come out pretty well.

A short 15 minute bus ride out of Brighton (in a car probably more like 5 minutes as it’s very close indeed), we found a very pretty little village.

First stop - as ever - was lunch. We went for a traditional Sunday Roast and it was absolutely gorgeous. It was in the Queen Victoria pub .We’ll be going back.

Full up it was time to wander. A quick look on Wikipedia had told us it was where Rudyard Kipling lived, his house is still there with a park attached.

Then we came across the ‘Private Village Club’ whatever that means.

Then the local church.

Then we were gobsmacked to see the most beautiful old Tudor Mansion, now apartments.

And finally a far-way shot of the villages famous windmill. We didn’t manage to get up to it this time.

Father decided to start fiddling with his camera and downloaded some software to help him create panoramic images by stitching together pictures taken from our balcony. They’ve come out really well.

The first is a basic shot out towards the Isle of Dogs in the afternoon.

Then a sunset.

Then my favourite, London and Canary Wharf at night.

Like something out of a disaster movie, we were informed on the TV that a ‘Severe Weather Event’ was due overnight and today. Basically a snow storm in the South East then spreading to the rest of the UK. it started snowing about 7pm last night, and we woke to find it hadn’t really stopped….

In fact our view of the Wharf this morning looked a bit like a moody Christmas Card.

The balcony is covered in a snow drift.

A few weary commuters were doing their best, but the transport system collapsed as usual.

Everything looks quite pretty, from inside.

...but it’s odd seeing familiar sights covered in snow.

We couldn’t quite believe it today when we realised it’s exactly a year ago this evening that we first viewed our home.

What followed were a few days of suspense (over a weekend) as we waited for our offer to be accepted, and then a few very stressful months as we waited for completion.

It’s quite difficult to comprehend how things have changed since then, with both our working lives taking turns we never could have predicted.

But hey, that’s the way it goes.

Sick of seeing constant news articles on the ‘Credit Crunch’ and endless repeated interviews, we decided to amuse ourselves with a Jack the Ripper walk.

Rather than pay for it, we downloaded the route off the net and did it under our own steam. It was a decent enough walk, taking us out of our normal haunts. The actual places the bodies were found were not much to see, most have been built over with new homes.

The best bit was at the end, when we discovered Fournier Street, which is the oldest surviving 18th Century Street in London,  it really is quite pretty, and the houses are amazing.