Having written very little recently, but I felt it would be rude not to share information about the coming week! Hastings Old Town Carnival officially starts Saturday morning and runs until Sunday week, the 9th of August (website). Have fun folks!

Sad News: Convent Ablaze!

Sadder news, the former convent in Magdalen Road, St Leonards, was set on fire yesterday (BBC), what is it about arsonists and Hastings? No injuries apparently, who owns it I wonder?

William the Conqueror Returns to Hastings!

So, Prince William, Prince of Wales, this time, conquering hearts and no violence this time, but meeting people around the Fishing Quarter and he even played Crazy Golf with friends!

Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green 2026

Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green isn't just about the impressive May Day bank holiday procession (above, near the start in Rock-a-Nore Road), no, we will experience much merrymaking, drinking, music and dancing from Friday the 1st of May and over the weekend. The event culminates with Monday's Procession on the 4th of May, starting at the Fishermen's Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road at 10.15, and proceeding through the old town, up All Saints Street, across The Bourne, down High Street, and up Croft Road to an afternoon of entertainment on the West Hill, and the Slaying of the Jack from 16.00. See the website for full details.

Also, expect to hear and see a few motorbikes too, wear green, and enjoy folks!

Mental Health Support

With thanks to Hastings Police sharing this on facebook, take care folks.

Clocks Spring Forward at 01.00 Overnight.

Remember to change your clocks before you go to bed tonight, don't worry about mobile phones and computers as they will change automatically, likely flash clocks will too! We will lose an hour between 01.00 and 02.00 in the early hours. Indeed, we will 'time travel' overnight as time moves forward an hour, and in Britain we will no longer be on Greenwich Mean Time!

Hastings Half Marathon 2026

Good luck to everyone competing in Hastings Half Marathon today!

Hastings Fat Tuesday Tour 2026

This evening is the Fat Tuesday Tour! Details of bands & venues at the website; have fun folks!

Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday

Hastings Fat Tuesday Music Festival: 13th to 17th of February 2026 is back next week, and it's time to celebrate again Britain's largest Mardi Gras in Hastings! The full details of events can be found at the website. As usual I'll share details and notes here about the history of Mardi Gras itself. The festival encompasses numerous venues across Hastings throughout the 5 days of the festival until culminating on the evening of Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day/Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras/whatever 🎶 Tuesday the 17th of February, for the Fat Tuesday Tour 2026, with partying and music galore from 24 established acts at 12 venues plus!

Mardi Gras, New Orleans, Spectacle! 

OK, we may not be as spectacular as Mardi Gras in New Orleans (website) which has been going since 1703, originally 60 miles south of New Orleans, at Point Du Mardi Gras, where  French explorers landed a few years earlier, on the day of Mardi Gras, the 2nd of March 1699. New Orleans was established in 1718, with Mardi Gras regularly celebrated there by the 1830s, and by 1875, large floats were being built in New Orleans to celebrate the festival, the year it became a legal public holiday.

Rio de Janeiro Carnaval, Glamour!

Or as glamourous as Carnaval in Rio which has been celebrated, initially with feasts, since the 17th century. Masquerade balls became popular in the 19th century, but in the early 20th century the culture of African music and dance, introduced by freed slaves and their children, was enveloped within Portuguese Rio de Janeiro, then was founded the dance style of Samba (Sambassadorsofgroove). Mardi Gras was now celebrated in Rio together with the development of Samba schools in the 1920s (there are about 200 schools in existence now) the Carnaval (Portuguese for Carnival) festival became centred on the parade of the Samba schools and the glamour that was introduced, and since 1933 Rio Carnaval has become the largest Mardi Gras festival in the World, with 2 million people participating every year.

We may not have as much spectacle and glamour as New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro, although there will be plenty of dressing up, be assured of that, and Mardi Gras and Carnaval have been going considerably longer than Fat Tuesday in Hastings, but we do have free live music galore and we party, this is Hastings!

Whichever events you attend, do enjoy our Mardi Gras and have fun!

Peace on Earth, Happy New Year!

Sad that 2025 saw the continuation of a major war in Europe, it's been nearly 4 years now with hundreds of thousands of needless deaths and destruction because of the evil dictator in Russia! Conflict in the Middle East continues, and conflict in the Americas, Asia and Africa too; notably since January the wannabe dictator Trump has threatened Canada and Greenland, and others, and now he's on the verge of starting a war with Venezuela, apparently for oil, maybe Colombia as well! There still remain millions of refugees fleeing wars and poverty too, sadly. We thought the world had changed following 1945, at least in Europe, but apparently not so...

However, I am an optimistic soul, consequently, I trust that things will improve in 2026, and I wish to share my hope for peace and true goodwill to the people of Hastings and everyone worldwide, fingers crossed folks... 

Happy New Year! 🎉

Season's Greetings!

I give thanks to all those who have helped over the year, those working in the emergency services, the police, fire fighters, ambulance staff and paramedics, the NHS, doctors, nurses, other health professionals and ancillary staff, and the brave crews and volunteers of the RNLI lifeboat service. Respect! 💓

And many thanks to Charles Schulz for the imagery. 👍

Finally, I wish to share my best wishes with you, and peace and goodwill to all, whatever one's beliefs, let's continue to work together folks. 👌

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Message from Wildlife Trust

I've received a seasonal message from the Wildlife Trusts CEO, Craig Bennett: "Hello, I would like to say a big personal thank you to all of you who have supported us over the past year. Whether you have signed a petition, sent a postcard, donated, or acted for nature on your own doorstep, you make a huge difference.  Thanks to your efforts, we have ensured bees are protected from harmful neonicotinoid pesticides, drawn attention to the catastrophic harms of bottom trawling on the seabed, and held the UK Government accountable to their election promises to restore nature. Yet we know that there are threats on the horizon and nature will still need YOU next year. The Wildlife Trusts do not do this alone. It takes a movement of people for nature to meet the challenges we keep facing head on. We look forward to standing up for wildlife together in 2026. Season’s greetings to you all and best wishes for the new year! Craig Bennett Chief Executive The Wildlife Trusts" - A link to Sussex Wildlife Trust.

Hastings Pier To Be Sold Again?!?

It appears the fake sheik is about cash in on his bargain buy, and put up for sale Hastings Pier (BBC), a landmark close to my heart, and which I have written about many times over the years, eg in this blog. Waiting to see the outcome, fingers crossed it's better than the last one!

Hastings Day 2025, indeed, in Hastings Week!

Indeed, today is Hastings Day, being the 959th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings (English Heritage) and, as usual, Hastings Week has been set up around this anniversary. For details of Hastings Week events still to come go to the website. For specific details about the Bonfire on Saturday, go to the HBBS website. Whatever, enjoy your week, and Happy Hastings Day!

FLU Vaccines Now Available!

Having received a missive from East Sussex County Council I thought I should share this, "for those who fit into the categories, flu vaccinations are now available (NHS website). A severe flu season is expected this winter, with cases likely to begin rising in October - earlier than usual. The best way to protect yourself and others is with a flu vaccination. Flu vaccinations are available for everyone in priority groups from 1 October: Frontline workers in health and social care; People aged 65 years and over; People aged 6 months to 65 years in clinical risk groups; People in long-stay residential care homes; Carers (getting carer’s allowance or main carers of an elderly or disabled person); Live with someone with a weakened immune system; Pregnant people; Children aged 2 and 3; School children; Book your vaccine via your GP, pharmacy, workplace, care home or school. Protect yourself and others." Stay safe folks! 🤗

Thanks a MILLION!

Many thanks for increasing the page views on this blog to OVER ONE MILLION! Amazing, especially as I rarely use this blog anymore, maybe I'll start publishing more stuff soon, I'm making no promises but, for supporting me, CHEERS FOLKS!!

Oktoberfest at the Prince Albert, CHEERS!

Indeed, Oktoberfest is happening in the Prince Albert, Cornwallis Street, Hastings TN34 1SS, it's on until the weekend (longer in Munchen!); more details at my alter-ego's blog, cheers!

It's Autumn!

Indeed, the Autumn Equinox was yesterday evening, looking forward to the colours of Autumn!

Battle of Britain Day - Lest We Forget...

On the 15th of September 1940 the German Luftwaffe launched a massive assault in the skies over the south east with the aim of obliterating the Royal Air Force. It was a day of heavy fighting, and the Luftwaffe suffered significant casualties. It was a decisive defeat for the Luftwaffe, and since then this date has been celebrated as ‘Battle of Britain Day’. At its zenith, the RAF had only 749 fighter aircraft available compared to 2,550 available to the Luftwaffe. It really was a battle to save Britain. Defending our skies came at a significant cost, with 544 RAF aircrew killed during the Battle of Britain. 312 RAF personnel were killed on the ground. (R.A.F.) Our forebears kept the Nazis out of Britain, lest we forget...

PRAM RACE Plus...

Despite Pram Race this evening, there are other events too for Hastings Old Town Carnival Week (website), remember that the seafront road and The Bourne will be cut off this evening, and trusting the evening is as relatively peaceful as last year (blog), fingers crossed folks!