Hastings Seafront Walk & Homage to Byzantium...

I was out quite early this morning, shopping at Morrisons just after 07.00, and then walking via back streets to St Leonards Church at the end of Undercliff, then crossing to the seafront. I walked eastwards and took this photograph looking back to the west (my earliest photographs today are all facing away from the sun 😎), with Eastbourne and Beachy Head way over there in the distance. Indeed, the tide would be turning back towards shore about 10 minutes after I took the photograph.

The first photograph with a direct reference to the vampire film Byzantium (YouTube trailer), half of which was filmed in Hastings and half was filmed in Cork, is of the lower promenade part of the Azur Marina Pavilion (website), which was built in the 1930s; Hastings & St Leonards has quite a few art deco buildings from this time! This part of the building is featured in the film as the lounge of a home for older people, and the character played by Saoirse Ronan plays the piano here, and more, but I shan't ruin it in case you haven't seen the film yet, and decide to... 😉 I first wrote about the Azur over 7 years ago, when I reviewed the breakfast served, and eaten by me, here (blog).

I carried on eastwards, deciding to look back and take this photograph, with the Azur Marina Pavilion dwarfed by, and apparently listing towards it, Marine Court, which I have written about before (blog). Marine Court is another fine 1930s building and modelled on the Cunard Liner the Queen Mary, the blog is well worth the read.

Carrying on to the east and I walked through Bottle Alley, shortly before the end of which I looked back westwards again and took this photograph. I have written about Sidney Little's Bottle Alley before when the new lighting was installed 5 years ago, when I also mentioned it featuring in the film Byzantium (blog).

Carrying on further to the east and I soon reached one of the main stars of the film Byzantium (trailer), as in, the building used in the film as Byzantium. This was originally called the Palace Hotel, and was built in 1885-86, it is now the Grade II listed Palace Court, and is across the road from the beach.

Again looking back westwards, although nothing to do with the film, indeed, it wasn't even here when Byzantium was being filmed in Hastings, but I photographed this really quite marvellous sculpture on the beach. This was created as part of the 950th Battle of Hastings anniversary celebrations and depicts a Norman Longboat (blog).

First of all I have to admit the photograph above is one I took quite a few years ago, so you may well have seen it before, but in the film Byzantium the beaches of Hastings are filmed quite a bit, so a decision? I thought about photographing the groyne on the beach where the other main character, played by Gemma Arterton, well, I shan't say what she was doing there, but she was playing a vampire... 😉 Anyway, the beach above, and some of the fishing boats there, was featured in the film too, and this photograph also includes the East Hill in the background. Very early in the film, when the 2 main characters Clara and Eleanor Webb (Arterton and Ronan) are about to enter Hastings, they cross the East Hill and the camera looks down into Hastings Old Town, I have shared quite a few photographs of similar images before, particularly when walking back across Hastings Country Park during recent 'lockdowns.'

Anyway, the destination of my walk was Rock-a-Nore, and when the footpath ended, and Rock-a-Nore Road enters into car parks, unless walking down to the beach and rocks, this is as far as one can walk, and this one (me) didn't fancy walking any further eastwards today, particularly as the tide was coming in now. So the view of the cliffs looking eastwards from Rock-a-Nore, and up on top there Hastings Country Park.

I hope you have all enjoyed your August Bank Holiday, stay safe folks!

Missing Snow in Hastings? A Few Photographs...

Cricketer at Priory Meadow

Whilst much of the country has had snow today it's rained here, but dry mostly, indeed we haven't had proper snowfall for a while, so here's some images not taken today. Maybe not to everyone's liking, snow, but I love it, enjoy the images if you do too! 

Adventure Golf & West Hill

Fishing Beach & East Hill

Beach Huts and Pier

Be safe folks, and wrap up well! 😉

Fishing Fleet, Foxes & Frost! There's an Alliteration for you...

Reading the Guardian online recently (website), I wasn't too surprised that it reported that members of the Hastings Fishing Fleet are unhappy with the Government's 'deal' with the European Union. I have written many times about the local fishing fleet since I wrote about the Greenpeace visit to Hastings nearly 6 years ago (blog), which included a meeting where Paul Joy voiced similar thoughts to those he discusses in the Guardian article. A "passionate Brexiter" and knowledgeable about the industry, he had admitted that the UK government department responsible (DEFRA and their website) was guilty of badly translating the Common Fisheries Policy quota details, disrespecting the smaller fishing boat fleets whilst favouring the larger fishing boat fleets.

But I was surprised to read that Paul's fishing boat is not going out fishing now, especially looking back to seeing the lights of 3 or 4 fishing boats out at sea this morning, when I began my daily exercise before 07.00. I have since spoken to one of the fishermen I know who told me that he had gone out this morning at about 06.00 to lay nets which they will return to tomorrow morning. He told me that there aren't many fish around at the moment, but he suggested it's likely that Paul's boat will be out again in the Spring, though there is no hint of that in the Guardian article. Anyway, you will be pleased to know that members of the local fishing fleet are still fishing in local waters. Developments will be very interesting, I believe...

Field above Fairlight Glen

Anyway, foxes! Recently, I heard a couple of foxes 'screaming' in someone's garden just around the corner from where I live in the town centre, and this morning, whilst still quite dark, I spotted what I at first thought was a dog chasing after a fox across the East Hill... But no, it was a second bigger fox, presumably a dog fox, and yes, January is the mating season for foxes, so if you've been hearing foxes screaming at one another, you know the reason why, it's January and foxes are procreating!

Why the photograph above? Well, it was too dark to photograph the foxes, and they were running too quickly for me to get out my mobile phone anyway. And Fairlight was the destination for me to turn around at for my daily exercise today, nice sky too. 😉

And frost? I have to admit I've not owned a car for many years now, mainly using public transport, or walking, to get about, although not so much public transport for the last 10 months! And frost isn't really something I take notice of, although I do remember the inconvenience of having to clear windscreens. But the first lockdown last year changed the way I look at nature, and this morning, whilst walking back along Barley Lane, I couldn't help noticing the wonderful leaf-like patterns not just on windscreens, but on car bonnets too, like in the photograph above that I took this morning. I just looked up why this happens (most references are about patterns on glass, for example this reference), which explains that it is caused by tiny imperfections in, or on, the glass.

Isn't nature wonderful, and Jack Frost an excellent artist?!? 👍

Have a good weekend, and stay safe folks! 

What can We do from today then?

Well, we can get out a bit more, taking into consideration the new Coronavirus Rules (for England) announced by the Government (website). As you can tell from the above image, I was out bright and early this morning, as were many of the local fishing industry, and I have it on good authority that about 18 fishing boats are still licensed to launch from the beach here, though I doubt they're all doing so at the moment...

OK, back to what has changed then? 

• So, you may exercise outdoors as many times a day as you wish, providing you keep to the 2 metre social distancing guidelines already in place;
• You may arrange to meet a friend or family member, that is ONE friend or family member, who lives outside your household, as long as you meet outdoors and follow the usual social distancing 2 metre guidelines;
• Indeed, you may spend as much time as you like outdoors, even if only sitting down and soaking up the sun (but be careful of burning, Factor 50 for me!), providing you follow the now usual social distancing rules;
• You may now go to a Garden Centre (remembering to keep to social distancing of at least 2 metres of course);
• You may use outdoor sports and social facilities, eg play golf, providing it is with members of your own household, or with just the ONE other person, who you must keep at least 2 metres apart from.  

I am a wee bit concerned that, with more people about, some walking long distances, there will be a toilet shortage, as in, public toilets are closed, as are pubs etc...

So where did I walk to then, maintaining social distancing at all times during my walk, of course? The top photograph shows where I started from and came back to, Hastings (well that was the western tip of the Country Park, but I actually started and finished in the town centre where I live), AND I left the Borough of Hastings for the first time in 2 months! As I said, walking from the most westerly edge of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve to the most easterly edge, I left Hastings for a few minutes, just so I could say I did, and came back into Hastings via the gate in the photograph immediately above (thankfully no border guards to question my intent), then heading back home, and with lovely weather, a bit chilly but bright sunshine early doors.

Remember, other rules (website) continue as before...

That's me, a daredevil, but whatever, do be careful folks!

Observations from Yesterday in Hastings

Rock-a-Nore Road

I'll not be posting photographs all the time from my permitted and Government/NHS advised (website) daily exercise programme (carried out alone), because, quite frankly, there is only a limited number of photographic opportunities, otherwise they'll all start looking the same. But I have a few observations from my early morning walk yesterday (note the long shadows in the images), and a happier observation from earlier today.

First, I noticed that the lower promenade near St Leonards had been closed off, presumably not for maintenance, as non-essential work is not being carried out, in theory at least, but more likely to stop 'social drinkers' from forming groups of more than 2. However, it looks like, from the bent and moved fencing, that didn't have the desired result. Indeed, on the very day that local police officers were in the town centre reminding "people to stay indoors and away from the town centre" (blog), there were half a dozen 'social drinkers' in a close huddle in Queens Road around 09.15; I gave them a wide birth. Similarly, this morning, on return from my exercise, and in the town centre between the coffee shops, there were 4 people gathered together. Concerned.

Also, Hastings Pier was closed, appears responsible, but their facebook page states it is open from 10.30 to 17.00 (I passed it much earlier), likely an administrative oversight. Whereas a post apologises for it being closed due to the Coronavirus crisis (facebook). I presume it is closed, although I cannot check on that because I cannot stay out forever due to Government restrictions, and I get out as early as possible to avoid others (even I can be responsible, really!). But I had another thought, if the buildings on the Pier stayed closed, wouldn't it be an ideal place to enjoy exercise, providing people stayed over 2 metres apart, in fact, it is so large a space people could stay over 5 metres apart. If anyone has seen the Pier open please let me know in a comment, many thanks!

Finally, something positive, whilst out this morning, and being very responsible indeed, I first heard, then, whilst concentrating on where the sound was coming from, I saw, this lovely wee bird... Well, not the one in the image above, I don't have the appropriate photographic equipment to take such a good photograph from distance. But I did hear and see a Great Spotted Woodpecker (RSPB website). Result!

Please carry on being responsible dear folk, and look after yourselves!

A weekend wander East and West...

I ensured I got out early, before it became too warm, but we do have a few steep hills in Hastings, notably these 2, and it wasn't chilly at all! As I live in the centre of town I began by walking up the West Hill, first of all to take this photograph from outside Hastings Castle (images within are included in my older blog).

Taken of the 'old town' looking down from the West Hill, most will already be well aware that the 'old town' is actually the Norman New Hastings. This became the new centre following the great storms of the 13th century, which altered the local coastline, depositing a vast bank of shingle which helped to create the America Ground at the west of the new town centre, and filled in the old harbour over which the castle stood, got that? Maybe it's better explained in an older blog about the America Ground.

I then headed down to the 'old town' and passed one of our two Norman churches on the corner of the High Street and opposite Swan Terrace, St Clement Church (blog).

I then crossed The Bourne, now a road, but once a river running through the centre of the old town, and part of local drains I do believe. I walked up to and along Tackleway to above All Saints Church, the other Norman church, where I took this photograph (more about this church, and photographs inside and out, on this older blog).

I then walked up the East Hill, from where I took this photograph looking down into the 'old town' and across to the West Hill. Oh yes, by the way, there are iron age forts at the top of both hills too!

Before I had an early drink at the Dolphin Inn, and then visited the Sussex Street Food Festival on the Stade Open Space (blog), and then had a drink at the Jolly Fisherman (I was thirsty!), I wandered down the steps that start by the top of the East Hill Lift, and down to Tackleway, and then turned left down to Rock-a-Nore Road.

Royalty comes to town.

Yesterday, the Duke of Gloucester came to town, and here, the Police and special types of security staff were on show (YES!), I kept trying to get photographs, but kept missing him! Rock-a-Nore Road was incredibly clean though, with the big hoover on wheels going up and down about 4 times, and Sara, the street cleaner doing similar about 5 times!

Anyway, he not only visited the Jerwood Gallery, but went up the East Hill in the lift and unveiled a plaque at The Source Park as an official opening. Thanks to Hastings Borough Council for this photograph; though I wish he'd stayed still long enough for me! 

Bye bye Duke, from the West Hill!

Stacey Marie - RX134

This week, the Stacey Marie in Rock-a-Nore Road received her annual freshen up; whilst painting her, children were heard, more than once, asking parents "Why is that man painting the boat?" The answer should have been, to help preserve her from the elements and gulls, but that reply was not heard! The retired fishing boat has its own facebook page, should you wish to see more photographs, including from when she was a working boat, and to read a short description of her history, please go to that page.   

Looking at her with the East Hill in the background.

Looking back with the Dolphin Inn in the background...