many happy returns

Happy Birthday Granny and Big Love to you and Gramps.

room with a view

We moved yesterday, into a new flat in Bayswater. We hadn't seen it and are delighted to be on the seventh floor with a great view.


This is Paddington Station, which is directly across from us. Grand, no?


And here's looking (way) down.


Compare that with the view we left yesterday:


The roof has been pulled off, scaffolding surrounds the building, and there's a massive crane in the quad.

The new flat is smaller, to be sure, but we are excited to be in a new area and one that feels so urban. I'll post more soon.

brighton

On Saturday we took a day trip to Brighton.


The town has a surprising amount of "vibe" -- lots of used book shops, vintage clothing stores, cute cafes, pedestrian streets... and the beach!

These burnt-out remnants of a Victorian pier are a haunting off-shore landmark.


The pebbled beach doesn't provide the best napping surface, but it's nice to leave a beach without sand between your toes.

This is the Royal Pavilion. It is absolutely over the top.


As well as being the gay capital of the UK, Brighton has an astonishing number of ring shops... Nicholas found himself a nice piece of jewellery.