Save Worthing Skyline!

Property developer Roffey Homes intend to build a 21 storey high-rise apartment block close to the promenade on Worthing beach. Yesterday I joined the Save our Seafront protest to voice my opposition to these disproportionate plans for a sight previously bequeathed to the town's people for leisure use.

For two hours two dozen locals braved the cold weather to hand out fliers to passers by, collect signatures for the petition, hoist banners and raise awareness for this just cause. Every supportive beep from passing motorists, bus, lorry and van drivers was met with a cheer!

Roffey's proposed skyscraper is an ersatz, unimaginative design that would exceed the height of all buildings in Brighton Road and along the seafront. It would ruin the seafront skyline and herald the destruction of what is historically an elegant seaside resort. Over a thousand people have signed a petition indicating they don't want it to go ahead and I hope that Worthing Council will consider our views and veto Roffey's plans.

I urge all readers of my blog to sign our petition to Save Worthing Seafront. You don't have to be a local resident to sign – you are all potential visitors to Worthing!

For more information visit Save Our Seafront Worthing. Sign the petition here.

Sheep Thrills at Findon Sheep Fair

On Saturday we caught the bus from Worthing town centre taking a 20 minute ride out to Findon Village for its annual sheep fair. Findon Sheep Fair is famous in these parts but this is the first year I've visited. A fair has been held on Nepcote Green every year since 1261 and the Sheep Fair is said to have started on this site sometime before 1785. The traditional sheep auction no longer takes place but the event continues to have a Sheep Judging competition which includes a category for Young Handlers as well as a falconry display (which was excellent), heavy horses with rides in a trap, and a sheep parade. Sadly we missed the sheepdog demonstration but I'd love to return to see it next year.

The Harris family have had an association with Findon Sheep Fair since the 1940s and it was wonderful to see Harris's Old Tyme Amusements with their colourful, old-fashioned rides. All the patterns and lettering have been painted by the current fifth generation John Harris.

Hundreds of people turned out for the occasion but it seemed as though everyone except my small party had traveled there by car, with vehicles parked bumper to bumper on all the country roads surrounding Nepcote Green, a full car park and bleating rumours of gridlocked traffic preventing folk from getting to the fair. Car dependent herd mentality. The bus ride back to Worthing was hassle-free, just a 5 minute walk to the bus stop from the Green and we were home in time for tea.

Grand Futurist Concert of Noises

On Sunday I went to the Grand Futurist Concert of Noises at London's Science Museum, an event held by Resonance FM to mark the centenary of the first Futurist Concert staged in Britain on 15th June 1914 in accordance with Luigi Russolo's groundbreaking manifesto The Art of Noises (L'arte dei Rumori).

I wore a dress made of fabric with a print of vintage bus, tram and train tickets (a new creation to be blogged soon) reckoning this would be in concord with Futurist ideas of speed and progress, but later reading Dan Wilson's Art of Noises Centenary Souvenir Supplement in which Marinetti's ideals for futurist clothing are set out I regretted not wearing this dress instead.

Never mind, the concert was brilliant! On hand-built instruments (large scale noise making machines called intonarumori built to Russolo's original designs by Peter McKerrow with modifications by sound artist Daniel Wilson), vintage horns, theremin and playback devices broadcast through Aleksander Kolkowski's immense Exponential Horn, The Luigi Russolo Memorial Ensemble caused a tremendous commotion! It was exhilarating to hear and the audience roared in approval. Afterwards we were invited to try out the instruments and joined the long queue to have a go on Sarah Angliss's theremin.

Instruments included intonarumori, gramophone, 
theremin and the Exponential Horn

The Luigi Russolo Memorial Ensemble

 

The Grand Futurist Concert of Noises is directed by BASCA Sonic Arts Composer of the Year, Ed Baxter and performed by Marcos Gomez, Peter Lanceley, Peter McKerrow, Michael Umney, Dan Wilson plus Aleks Kolkowski (vintage sound effects), Adam Bushell (percussion) and Sarah Angliss (theremin). The ensemble will perform for a final time on Friday 20th June at Cafe Oto, Ashwin Street, London. If you're at all able to travel to London you'd be mad to miss the sonic event of the century!

The Exponential Horn is the UK's largest audio loudspeaker and will be installed at Science Museum until 27th July 2014.

Stormy Sunday in Worthing

Yesterday's high Spring Tide saw the sea lashing Marine Parade and pelting Worthing's promenade with shingle, driftwood and seaweed. This afternoon the weather seemed calm enough for us to attempt a seaside walk at low tide so we dressed for the occasion in warm woolly layers, raincapes and waterproof boots.

Even as the tide went out great waves crashed ashore and huge swathes of sea foam lapped in as far as the beach shelters on the prom. Worthing Pier reopened today (after being closed for the past few stormy days) but we felt safer heading across the road to Macaris for hot chocolate and waffles.

From The Trees

On a crisp, sunny autumn Saturday afternoon we cycled to Broadwater Green to take part in Transition Town Worthing's Sustainable Foraging Walk. Organised by Dr Barbara Pilley-Shaw, the walk was advertised in our school newsletter and invited us to rediscover useful downland and woodland plants in an amble up to the South Downs led by RSPB plant guide, folklore expert and clover muncher Brian Day. Other experts were on hand too, generously giving us a host of botanical and local historical information while we walked in the leafy Sussex countryside.

The Midsummer Oak – beware dancing skeletons at Midsummer's eve!

Some 37 like minded people assembled at the Green and more arrived later, joining us along the way. We were all ages (the youngest a 5-week-old baby snuggled up in a sling) and it was a family (and dog) friendly occasion. Worthing historian Chris Hare took us from the Green across busy A roads to a small patch of grass where the Midsummer Oak stands. The tree is said to be over 300 years old and local legend has it that on Midsummer's Eve skeletons rise from the ground and dance around it until dawn. Hare explained that the story was first recorded by folklorist Charlotte Latham in her book Some West Sussex Superstitions Lingering in 1868.

From there we crossed more main roads in busy Saturday afternoon traffic and walked to Hill Barn Recreation Ground – a lovely wide open green space. 

Hill Barn Recreation Ground

Brian Day led us around the edges exploring trees and hedgerows, with intelligence of which plants were edible or could be used for medicinal purposes illustrated with some eye-watering descriptions of ancient customs. We continued on past the golf course at Hill Barn and up into the Millennium Woods. Walking around the woods Dr Pilley-Shaw helped the children identify and take cuttings of trees (which we'll plant at school). The woods also provided plenty of opportunity for our children to play and they formed a merry group.

Foraging in the Millennium Woods

We walked for a couple of hours and it was a really enjoyable day. I have to admit that we did cheat a little and stuffed a few pieces of chocolate and flapjacks into our pockets to take with us, not quite sure whether foraged leaves and fruits would sustain us. However, I am inspired to boil some nettle leaves at home – one of these days...

Top row of cuttings: Spindle, Yew, Ash

Middle row: Field Maple, Hazel, Guelder Rose

Bottom row: Guelder Rose (again), Hawthorne, Hornbeam

Worthing Children's Parade 2013

Every term-time Thursday afternoon for the past five weeks (and the odd Sunday) has been spent making costumes, props or decorating an enormous woolly mammoth for Whytemead First School's entry to Worthing Children's Parade. The Children's Parade is the most heartwarming of all events in our town's annual social calendar and is a real showcase for the community spirit and creative talents of residents of Worthing.

Traditionally held on what seems to be the windiest Saturday morning every summer (I assume by accident rather than design) the theme for this year's parade was Sussex Through The Ages, with each participating school illustrating a different era. Our school chose the Stone Age - hence the mammoth mascot and sixty-five hand painted caveman costumes.

We were lucky enough to have a sunny (if blustery) morning and dressing up for the occasion put everyone in high spirits. Canny parents carried sweets or flapjacks to encourage those with the shortest legs to walk the entire length of the seafront, up in to town and back - quite a distance for the youngest - and the cheers, applause and delighted comments of crowds of Saturday shoppers in the town centre gave us all a boost. It's my daughter's last year at Whytemead before moving up to middle school, so a lovely way to mark the end of a wonderful chapter in our lives – though of course we hope to take part again with her new school next year.

Nothing finer than Brighton Charleston

Twelve days ago I stubbed the middle toe on my left foot while rushing to get my daughter's bath ready before bedtime. It was a pathetic injury but hurt so much that I couldn't put any pressure on it at all, had to cycle my child to school instead of walking for the next few days, and could only hobble around the house. I applied Arnica religiously and watched as the bruised swollen toe became a bruised swollen foot before fading a little and hurting less. By the eleventh day I was confident I could put both feet through the paces of a Charleston dance class...

The morning of Graeme and Amanda's Solo Charleston Workshop I gently squeezed my feet into the only shoes I have without a grippy sole (a flat smooth sole is recommended for Charleston) and excitedly set off for Brighton.  Meeting Wukulele Harriet on the train as arranged, we arrived in Brighton early enough to fuel ourselves with excellent coffee at Small Batch Seven Dials, then headed for the dance venue upstairs at Good Companions pub. It was a packed and mixed class – male and female dancers, first timers (like me) and regulars.

The dance was broken down into manageable stages and we marvelled at how effortlessly Graeme demonstrated each sequence to us. We also admired his fabulous swing pants and co-respondent shoes! The enthusiasm in the room was infectious and an hour and a half flew by. The great thing about the Charleston is it's a dance you can improvise to, and make your own – when in doubt I remembered to smile and made with the jazz hands. Watch the short films below to see the results of our morning workshop.

I left the class elated and buzzing with joy and didn't notice my throbbing foot until I got to Western Road (en route to buy bobbins). I limped on regardless and just couldn't stop grinning for the rest of the day. Luckily lots of people smiled back!
 

 

Visit Lindy Hoppers if you'd like to Charleston dance in Brighton too.

Frothy delights of Bournemouth

Boscombe Pier

Bournemouth is beautiful in November. We had its vast sandy beaches to ourselves - though it was much too cold for even a paddle in the sea. Giant bubbles of foam washed onto the shore, looking like glistening clouds that had fallen out of sky. They turned into sludge in our hands, the magic evaporating.
     We walked east past dozens of brightly painted beach huts and chanced upon the streamlined elegance of a handsomely renovated Boscombe Pier. No noisy amusement arcades or derelict buildings here, just a magnificent runway out into the sea and calm clear panoramic views. The ice cream kiosk was closed so we bought hot chocolate and headed back to the town centre in search of Bournemouth's hot air balloon.

View from Boscombe Pier

Clouds of foam washed ashore on Bournemouth beach

A Festival of Fungi

My daughter's participation in a Weather Watching course on Saturday took me to RSPB Pulborough Brooks and the Festival of Fungi trail. Searching for mushrooms felt like looking for fairies hidden in the undergrowth. The activity was completely absorbing and I spent an hour finding fungi with names as enchanting and sometimes terrifying as their appearance; Amethyst Deceiver, Green Elf Cap, Collared Earthstar, Yellow Brain, Jelly Ear, Tawny Grisette, The Sickener, Poison Pie, Lilac Bonnet and Hairy Curtain Crust.

It was a clear, fine autumn day for a walk around the hedge-lined paths of the nature reserve - a twitcher's paradise. As well as wild and waterfowl I saw herds of deer, cattle and six still dragonflies.

Pulborough Brooks lies in the Arun valley and unfortunately is not easy to reach by public transport. We travelled there by foot, bus and taxi - an expensive trip but the only way for non-drivers from Worthing to arrive in time for the start of the course. However it was worth the awkward and circuitous journey to spend time in such an outstandingly beautiful place.

We Picked-Our-Own at Roundstone Farm

The start of September marks our annual trip to Roundstone Farm. This year my lovely friend Mock Duck and her charming family joined us on our rural adventure.
   England's early summer floods and continuing rain have meant that the only successful fruit/vegetable crop in my garden has been my daughter's tomatoes - grown from seeds found in her box of Innocent smoothies - so it was a real delight to see the abundant harvest at Roundstone. It's an ideal place to visit with children, but you don't have to be 7 years old to get a kick out of riding to the top of the farm in the tractor's passenger trailer, or from digging and pulling carrots out of the ground. The biggest cheer from me came when we found the orchard of Victoria plums - hundreds of trees heavy with large red, gold and dusty pink egg-shaped fruit. I picked as many as I could carry.

     We returned home with long stems of rhubarb, punnets full of berries, huge beetroot, bags of onions, fat ears of sweetcorn, carrots, cauliflower, red cabbage and beans, and our lungs full of sweet country air.
    We travelled there by train - the nearest station being Goring-by-sea, then it's a 20 minute walk (alas along a busy main road) towards the farm. Leaving Roundstone with a heavy load of delicious produce we caught the (expensive) 700 bus from just outside the farm back to Goring-by-sea station.

Dreams of ukuleles and houseboats in Shoreham-by-sea

On Sunday morning I went to the Ukulele Breakfast at Shoreham's Beach Dreams festival. This year's uke event was led by Wukulele's Harriet Booth, Uke At The Duke's Lawrie Stevens and Teena Fox. In the middle of a marquee - edged with craft stalls and a cafe serving proper coffee, cooked breakfasts and homemade cakes - the trio introduced complete beginners to basic uke strumming techniques, armed them with some starter chords and then led us all in a rousing jam session.

The route back to Shoreham station took me along the riverbank and to the Good Ship Verda, open for the tenth year running as an exhibition venue on Adur Art Trail. Verda is the creation, home and studio of artist Hamish McKenzie. This vast vessel includes an ex-passenger ferry and a 1970s Duple Dominant coach among its incredible architectural features. Inside, the shiny wooden floor slopes dramatically and light streams in through a glass dome in the ceiling. The coach windows are hung with yards of covetable vintage Liberty Bauhaus fabric. It's a work of art in itself.