Month: November 2024

I-sore or giant loo roll holder?

Both names used by locals to refer to the i360 tower, right next to the elegant Victorian bandstand on Brighton seafront. A 531 ft moving observational tower, opened in 2016. I’m used to it now, but it took a while. Mostly because it crashingly bisects the view of the sea that we used to have from almost every window in this house.

Very controversial financially as well. It cost £46 million – £36 million funded through Brighton and Hove City Council. Visitor numbers were significantly over estimated – result? The debt to the council (ie. to Brighton and Hove residents) now stands at £50 million and the loan is unlikely to be repaid before 2424.

Probably not a choice most of us would have made!

November light and lines

Almost deserted on the seafront this afternoon, despite the amazing light. The Victorian bandstand is one of my favourite structures. It was put up in 1884 – but I don’t think it has ever looked as good as it does today. The original seems pretty dull and dark in the old photographs, though the lacy ironwork has always been spectacular. I can also remember it very run down and peeling, as well as later in its Corporation Acid Aqua period – thank you, Brighton Council…All is forgiven now though – it was beautifully restored about 10 years ago and is back in service – various musical performances over the summer, and of course lots of wedding photos all year round! I love those tile patterns and the shadows – just wish I’d had time to hang around for the sunset.

Surviving cushions

Before the spinning wheels sucked me in, and quite some years before Etsy attacked my time, I indulged in these. Most of the designs are still available as printed kits – from Kaffe Fassett and Candace Bahout at Ehrman tapestries, for example.

But the ones I really love are these:

They are not printed on the canvas – they are counted stitch designs and are much more interesting to work. They came as kits by designers like Jane Rainbow – popular a couple of decades ago but now almost impossible to find.

Sadly, there were once more….including my very best one…

Certain Unnamed Members of my family were sprawling around on them late at night, left them all over the floor in front of the open fire, THEN left the fireguard off and went to bed…smoke everywhere, seriously charred wooden floorboards, ruined tapestry…We were actually very lucky that night.

All a long time ago.

Friends reunited

Just found all our Christmas mugs! They’ve been missing for three years, about 20 of them, in several bags. I’ve hunted everywhere….don’t even ask! But I’m ridiculously excited to produce them again.

Etsy is now on fire with Christmas offerings.

We certainly decorate the house (it does lend itself to Christmas faffing – it has the staircase, fireplaces and high ceilings) but otherwise we don’t go overboard. It’s true there is an escaped salt cellar known as HoHo that has kept us company all year (missed the boat back into the roof, as it were) but I’m not keen on making seasonal items like Christmas jumpers – just too short a life, even if you drag them out for years! I’ll probably add some smaller items though.