FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts a “Friday Fave Five” in which we share five favorite things from the past week. Visit her blog to see other participants.

1. Just a week ago I was watching the annual airshow in Eastbourne. There were thousands of people sitting on the beach or promenade, having a picnic while they watched. It was a special event to me I had never seen one. I was not so interested in the planes, but more into the cheerful athmosphere, with children having fun, people all talking to each other and I had the opportunity to listen to the life story of various people and why they spent their holidays just here in Eastbourne.





2. I then went on the Pier. These piers were built to allow leisure boats to board and go on land. They go from the beach far into the sea.

As the airshow lasted 3 days we went the next day above Eastbourne to Beachy Head. It is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, rising to 162 m (530 ft) above sea level. The peak allows views of the south east coast from Dungeness to the east, to Selsey Bill in the west. Unfortunately its height has also made it a notorious suicide spot. The green grass ends suddenly and down it goes.

We had a nice picnic up there and a lot of fun as you can see. All together we were eight and everybody had carried a lot of food. We spent the whole afternoon at this lovely place

Beachy Head


At ten the Airshow ended with a firework.

Lewes

3. We also made an excursion to Lewes, which has a very ancient history. Archaeological evidence points to prehistoric dwellers and it is also thought that the Roman settlement of Mutuantonis was here, large quantities of artefacts having been discovered in the area. The Saxons built a castle here, having first constructed its motte as a defensive point over the river; they also gave the town its name. It is also famous for its Harvey Brewery.

Hastings

4. Another day we spent in Hastings. Hastings was, for centuries, an important fishing port; although much reduced, it has the largest beach-based fishing fleet in England. As with many other such places, the town became a watering place in the 1760s, and then, with the coming of the railway, a seaside resort. We walked through the city and had lunch there too. The city is invaded by seagulls ! they are sitting and walking around everywhere ! When we went to the beach, they even sat on our car ! I could make some funny videos and pictures.

5. On my way back to Brussels/Waterloo, I spent the day in London. I had been there just for 3 h last year, but this time I had decided to visit as much places as I could which I knew so well in the past, as my son had lived here for 7 years. I bought a daily travel card and off I went with tube and bus to Oxford Street and Picadilly Circus, to Leiscter square and Covent garden. First I was lost because I had forgotten a lot, but then in no time all souvenirs came back and I had no problems anymore. I felt so happy to walk around, the sun was shining and lots of tourists had the same idea as I.

Covent Garden

In Covent Garden nothing had changed, there were still a lot of stands and artists making music or a show.

Leicester Square is the centre of London's cinema land, and one of the signs marking the Square bears the legend "Theatreland." It is claimed that the Square contains the cinema with the largest screen and the cinema with the most seats (over 1600). The square is the prime location in London for major film premieres and even co-hosts the London Film Festival each year. Most of the Theatres are here and people were lining up to get tickets.


At 5 I was at the station again to take the Eurostar back home. I had noticed that London had changed. The traditional Pubs have seats outside now, due to the non smoking law. It has lost its charm of being a "Public House" which people could use as their second living room. Everywhere inside it smells cold cigarette smoke of hundreds of years of smoking. Even non smokers are not happy with this law. There is also a lot less traffic, because private cars have to pay quite a lot of money to be allowed driving in the center. So you mostly see buses, taxis, trucks and delivery vans.

There is also a lot of construction going on, everwhere buildings are pulled down or built up, holes are digged everywhere, underground lines are closed for work, I wonder if it is because of the forthcoming Olympic games.