Brighton UK

Soul Song Choir at the Brighton Fringe

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The day started early with a pop up performance for our choir. Today at the Brighton Bandstand.

Yesterday we attracted a great crowd of people who joined in clapping along, singing and even dancing. We were at the Brighton Pier.

Our friends who live in Brighton came along to support. It was great to see Lou and her friends. We have made so many lovely friends through our swimming holiday and several live here. The owner Simon’s wife Lou arrived with her kids and a few friends.

They wore their sparkly clothes. Jac, our director, was envious of the sparkly jacket one of the girls had on. Especially as Jac’s bag had gone missing from her flight over and all her props for our Fringe show were in her bag !

I quickly asked Lou if Jac could borrow the jacket. Next minute….

The girls shared their sparkle with Jac

My friend Yves came along today with partner Liz and his little boy. Two year old Laurie liked the singing so much he joined me on stage. He was humming along with great enthusiasm.

Laurie joined in….

Next stop was a shopping centre. The acoustics were great and again lots of people joined in.

Particularly popular was our moveable version of Love Is in the Air.

Singing about Love riding the escalator

Third stop was in the gardens at the Royal Pavilion.

Friend Yves we met at a swim trek.

A big day. The Saturday crowds were surging! There were hens parties all over town, kids licking ice creams, buskers playing on every street corner. People were getting used up seeing us…… the Aussie singers.

Steve went off to Lewes to check out the castle …. And the brewery. It’s only 25 minutes away. I went back with Ros to her apartment ( we left our air BnB this morning )as we needed to rest before tonight’s BIG concert.

Excitement mounted. The sound check went well. We had a frozen margarita to calm the nerves and then ….., the doors opened, the crowd arrived. Six of my friends arrived keen to join the fun.

And away we went. Our Bangers and Mashup concert was a huge hit. The crowd danced and clapped, joined in the singing 🎶 and enjoyed the bar!

200 people joining in You’re the Voice

Finishing around 10.30 we drove back to our friends Bill and Marie France about 35 minutes away.

A big night followed by a big sleep in!

After a slow start the next day e enjoyed our friend’s garden.

They are having an open garden and garden party soon so it’s looking great. A lot of love has gone into this garden.

We’ll enjoy our few days here before heading v off towards Bath for the next Fringe concert. 🎶

Farley House with Friends

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Have you seen the movie Lee ? Starring Kate Winslet as American Lee Miller the former model, then America photojournalist during WW2.

It’s a fascinating story I first heard from her son Antony Penrose when he came to Australia with ArtsNational ( former ADFAS). Last year the film was released.

Lee married Roland Penrose and they lived in Farley House in East Sussex. They led amazing lives. Friends with the artistic community of the day, Picasso was a frequent visitor to their house along with Man Ray.

Before we headed to Chiddingly our friend Bill Murie met us at Swim Trek headquarters. For those who follow along you’ll know Steve and I have done about 8 swim treks over the years. Check back in the blog and you’ll read about them.

Bill we met in Galapagos with Alex also from this area. Alex gave up law and like Lee Miller became a photojournalist working in Mexico City. in some very dangerous places. She’s an amazing young woman. In the blog when I first met her I described her as a whip smart lawyer!

The Sea Lanes pool in the beach in Brighton.

We met up with Simon Murie, Bills son at SeaLanes an amazing complex in the beach. It has a heated pool and several ‘cabins’ for office headquarters, a yoga studio, restaurant, bar, massage areas and little nooks and crannies to sit out of the wind. It’s a credit to Simon and another partner to work with the Council to develop this leisure hub.

Alongside Bill and Simon Murie at SwimTrek Headquarters.
A little book nook
One of the office cabins

After a tour with Simon we headed off to Farley House to meet Alex and Bills friend Adrian.

As you can see the skies were grey and it was very chilly!

The house tour was great. But no Photos allowed. So go onto the website https://www.farleyshouseandgallery.co.uk/people/lee-miller/

The house was an eclectic mix of art works and travel memorabilia. A Picasso tile roughly grouted in above the stove !

Many art works by artist friends and lee’s husband Roland Penrose a surrealist painter.

There is also a gallery of Lees photos along with photos by Man Ray of their decadent summers spent in the South of France before the war.

The garden is filled with sculptures.

Two hours immersion into the life of Lee Miller and Roland Penrose sent us hungry to The Gun. Yet another old country pub.

Adrian, Bill Steve and Alex.

A great first day in the UK. Let’s hope the weather improves! We are singing on Brighton Pier tomorrow!

Brighton UK turns on the Sun….

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We’ve been hearing about the miserable weather in Brighton but today the sun is out. What a lovely welcome.

The flight from Singapore was in 2 sections 7 hours to Abu Dhabi a stop for an hour and a half. Stretch the legs then a bigger flight – 7 hours. Bonus. I slept.

Arriving into London with blue skies was a treat. It’s always exciting looking out the window down onto the Thames.

We caught the train into London and then the National rail train to Brighton. Stopping for coffee we were surprised at the costs! ( an outrageous $19. For 2 coffees! ) at Heathrow , got cash, started the eSIM and we were in Brighton by 11.

It’s so old world ‘English seaside’ vibe. Lots of people. The smell of fish and chips. Lots of dogs and a ton of people down by the pebbly waterfront eating fish and chips and licking ice cream.

We had a bite to eat in a great cafe then walked. And walked. I’d read about an area called North Laine. It’s an area of traffic free streets with outdoor stalls, lots of quirky shops, cafes, vape shops, cannabis outlets, boho and homewares. All together. Great fun.

We saw the area with lots of tents including the Spiegeltent for Fringe Festival shows.

There’s not as many posters around advertising Fringe events. despite this our show on Saturday night is a sell out.

Crossing Edward St. the main thoroughfare we walked the Lanes. Full of restaurants, cafes and pubs.

Down to Marine Pde passing the Wagner Theatre where our ‘Bangers and Mash ups ‘ show is on Saturday night. It’s sold out! Amazing. I have 5 friends from this area coming along.

A quick visit to Sainsbury the supermarket for a few supplies to carry the five short blocks back to the air BnB.

Into our flat. Ground floor , facing the ocean, it’s one of the many painted terrace houses that line this road.

It’s one big room decorated with antiques, two big squishy lounges A grand piano and an iron poster bed.

It’s perfect. I love it and could stay a week. And it was less expensive than a hotel.

Our gorgeous friend Yves called in around 6.30 – yes we managed a little snooze to conquer the long travel day.

He suggested dinner at a great little place in the Lanes with a glass of wine first.

Perfect for a sneaky nap.

We spent so much time catching up that I forgot a photo! We met Yves back in 2013 in a swim trek in Sardinia. We’ve since caught up over many swims. Particularly the long swims Steve has done with our friends Chris, Ben and Dan

If you scroll back in my posts you’ll see our swims together. A memorable one for all the wrong reasons in Hong Kong harbour …

Yves also organised our swim trek to Vanuatu where he was born, with a group of our Brisbane friends. So, we did have lots to talk about.

We ate curry and drank red wine and at 11pm that night fell into the 4 poster iron bed.