Remember Snow?!?

Cricketer at Priory Meadow

I own up, the sun and summer and me just don't get along, Factor 50 costs a bit too, but the heat is what really does me in! And we haven't had proper snow for ages... 😓

Fishing Beach

I'll cope...

Pirate Minigolf

Somehow! 😉

Beach Huts, Pier behind

Miniature Railway

Fishermen's Museum

The Stacey Marie RX134

Enjoy the sunshine folks! 😎

Hastings Weekend & Week in pictures...

... and a few words 😉 

Last weekend kicked off with SaSaSaS headlining PierJam Part 1 (facebook page) on Hastings Pier (to whose facebook page I am grateful for allowing me to use the photograph above, many thanks!). As you can see there was a fantastic and enthusiastic large audience, proving that live events on the Pier can be well supported. A Pier many want to retain in community ownership, as I wrote about in my recent blog, and Friends of Hastings Pier are seeking pledges to support their business plan to keep Hastings Pier in community ownership at Crowdfunding; your support would be very gratefully received!

As I also posted last Sunday, both Hastings lifeboats were out on an exercise between 09.00 and 11.00 approximately, as you can see from the empty Lifeboat Station. The chap coming towards me in the photograph thought I was trying to get run over by the returning tractor and trailer (behind my right shoulder), suggesting that cleaning blood off the beach isn't much fun! I assured him I was well aware of the possible peril and no need to panic as I had no desire to get run over, H&S, eh?!?

To help my recovery from the potential shock I wandered up to The Net Shop in Rock-a-Nore Road (website) and purchased a couple of Fishermen's Rolls which each had a plaice fillet and a substantial whiting fillet as filling. I added lemon juice and pepper to mine, and I shan't tell you that Mark has brown sauce in addition every time! 😉 Mine was certainly delicious, and he seemed happy too!

We then had a very miserable wet and cold Monday, but what a difference a day makes! On Tuesday I returned to Rock-a-Nore Road and took this photograph of the love of my life RX 134 the Stacey Marie (facebook page).

I then wandered down to the Fishermen's Beach as 2 fishing boats were landing...

Heading back towards the town centre, looking up at the West Hill and one of Hastings very own 'Jewels in the Crown' St Mary in the Castle (see blog).

And plenty to look forward to, so watch this space!

Walking along the Seafront, Where's the Snow?

What a difference a day or two makes, another walk along the seafront yesterday, but the snow has mostly disappeared since Friday; see my blog from earlier in the week if you haven't already got bored with photographs of snow! Me, standing on Hastings Pier and looking eastwards, obviously... 😉

Flags on the Pier: Top Left, William the Conqueror (familiarly known at the time as William the Bastard); Bottom Left, Harold Godwinson (runner up at Battle of Hastings); Bottom Right, the Sussex Flag (Martlets); Top Right, the Welsh Flag which was raised on 1st March (St David's Day) to replace the flag of Harald Hardrada, who was runner up, and died, at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Many thanks to Peter Wheeler and Steve Wilkins for explaining the significance of the flags, cheers!

Beach Huts & Pier

I've missed this for ages, and only found it yesterday, this 'montage' when I walked around to the sea side, and back of, the newer refreshment kiosk on the Upper Promenade between the Pier and Warrior Square, gulls, venues and local musicians, notably Liane Carroll can be seen through the 'window' of the Jenny Lind!

Palace Court

Looking up at the West Hill and the first stone castle built by the Normans in Britain, Hastings Castle (previous blog), with the wonderful, nearly 200 years old, St Mary in the Castle (previous blog, and the lease has since been passed to the Trust) and Pelham Crescent below.

Looking across at the Fishermen's Beach, with the East Hill and Hastings Country Park Local Nature Reserve in the background (website).

Walking through to Rock-a-Nore Road and I couldn't miss taking another photograph of this, very often photographed, retired fishing boat, RX134 Stacie Marie (see blog); seriously, I've seen her photographed and filmed too many times to mention!

So, what do you do next, well, I was thirsty, so popped I into the Cinque Ports Arms in All Saints Street (facebook page), civil discourse, ale and a great value sandwich!

Walking along in the snow... mostly images!

OK, I wandered lonely as a... nah, I went out this morning, and there was a wee bit of snow... which appeared to put this lad off his game at Priory Meadow 😉

Down Robertson Street and onto the America Ground...

When I reached the end of Robertson Street, onto the seafront and Pier...

...back on myself and past the cray golf courses...

...and onto the fishermen's beach...

...which really is a working beach!

Around and past the Miniature Railway...

... Past the Fishermen's Museum...

... and to their first exhibit in Rock-a-Nore Road, the Stacey Marie!

MANY more images of her and details of her history on her facebook page.

The end!

Hastings Winkle Club award goes to...

Yesterday evening the Hastings Winkle Club (website), supporter of local causes and charities, not forgetting famous members past and present, awarded The Dolphin pub at Rock-a-Nore with... 

Marl Little, the landlord of the Dolphin, was pleased to receive the award of "Best Collection of a Pub in 2014", ie the money collected in the collection box at the Dolphin was more than that collected in any other pub in the area! So, congratulations to all those who donated, as well as to the Dolphin, Mark and his family and staff... proves what a great bunch of folk work and drink down opposite the Fishermen's Beach! 

The Trophy was awarded, together with a certificate signed and dated 'Richard Read, Chairman, 5th January 2015', but the Winkle Club is yet to announce the total of monies collected at the Dolphin, or monies collected overall. 

Whatever, congratulations to a great cause!