Hastings, here I come!

A fishing boat on The Stade. Watercolour by my good mate, Alan Rafter-Phillips. Thanks Al!

Ahoy me shipmates! Yep that's right, I've decided to trade life in the Big Smoke for a tranquil one by the sea, to Hastings! (Although looking at my ever expanding diary of upcoming events in the town; Hammer Horror movie festivals, Bonfire processions, Storytelling Festivals, I have a feeling that tranquil won't really be the case!) Seaside living posts to follow...Yay!!

Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival 2012

This weekend the 15th/16th September was the Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival. The festival is now in its seventh year, however it was our first time to visit and I have to say we got rather over excited about all the delicious fresh locally caught seafood, locally made wines and locally brewed ales and ciders on offer and wanted to try everything! 

We managed a rather decadent 4 delectable lunches; fish soup with bread, hot smoked salmon with bread and salad, Pollock goujons with samphire and home made chilli jam and Caribbean barbecue jerk fish with jollof rice each washed down with tasty local tipples from Battle Cider, F.I.L.O, Dark Star and Sedlescombe Wine. Simon then got hungry again later on and finished up with one of Tush & Pat's Famous Fishermen's Rolls.

Phwoar. Looking forward to doing it all over again next year!

Jack-in-the-Green, photos

Jack-in-the-Green Festival, Hastings

I'm so excited for this May Bank Holiday the Jack-in-the-green festival takes place in Hastings! It'll be the first one I've been to!

This time of year has long been an important part of the annual calendar because it marks the beginning of summer and as such has always been a day for celebration.

In the 16th and 17th centuries in England people would make garlands of flowers and leaves for the May Day celebration and they became increasingly elaborate. By the 18th century, decorations had become a matter for competition, milkmaids in London carried garlands on their heads with silver objects on them, but the crown had to go to the chimney sweeps... Their garland was so big it covered the entire man!! It became known as Jack in the Green.

The Grand Procession takes place in Hastings Old Town on Monday 7th May.

Bodiam Castle, East Suusex

Last weekend we visited Bodiam Castle in East Sussex. Bodiam Castle was built in 1735 as a defence against the French during the Hundred Year War and also served as comfortable home. The exterior is pretty much intact and the castle sits in a beautiful moat. The interior features fireplaces, spiral staircases, a well, walls and window frames, even medeival toilets(!) enough of which survive to really get a feel of what it would have looked like...