Royal Pavilion again

I prefer this view.

Royal Pavilion

This is the back of the Royal Pavilion but it is the view which most people would recognise as it is this that people see as they walk past on the street or pass on a bus or in a car. I suppose it could almost be described as the 'classic' view - or even as a cliche! My camera lens would not retract far enough to picture the complete building; perhaps what I should have done was take two or three pictures and merge them into a panorama.

Herring gull

These wretched birds will sit on the garage roof and try to intimidate me by staring so I have to rush down the garden barking at them - and then I get told off for barking too long.

Ox-eye daisies

These are out in force now, waving around on their long stalks. There was a patch of them in Withdean Park in a bit of long grass where daffodils had bloomed, followed by bluebells. They aren't there any longer as a Council workman came along and cut the grass. I think that's a pity as I like lying in the long grass on a hot day like today.

All Saints' Church

This is Patcham's parish church and dates back several hundred years. Unfortunately, it was "renovated" or "restored" in the late 19th century and the flint walls were covered in cement. The little bit of flint wall on the right is actually a newer extension to the church.

Graffito

No, I am not an admirer of graffiti, but this example has caused me to smile on many occasions. I have been meaning to take a picture of it for years and finally got round to it yesterday - and not too soon either. The paint is beginning to wear off and I'm not sure just how long the water drop will remain suspended.

Is that food?

Fern, I am pleased to report, decided that on balance the insect on this elderflower would NOT make a tasty titbit. Is it a bee or some other type of insect? I don't know.

Race course to hospital

Back on the Roman camp and looking south-east we see the race course grandstand on the horizon towards the left. Just to the right and immediately below (with the chimney) is the old Brighton workhouse, now the General Hospital. Further to the right the newish tower block of the Royal Sussex County Hospital shows over the houses partly hiding it. The green, treed strip running slightly downwards from left to right is Woodvale cemetery. Most of the houses are late Victorian or Edwardian terraces built when Brighton was expanding fast.

A pastoral scene?

A shallow downland valley with the (almost) bare ridge of the Downs forming the horizon. But wait a minute! There's the new football stadium intruding.

Another gate

This gate hasn't been used for a long time either.

The gate

I wonder when this gate was last used?

From the Boss: If you look closely, you will see the remains of a bird's nest in the handle.

A dog's delight

You might prefer Chanel, but after fox poo that's one of my favourite scents!

From the Boss: Fortunately, I knew it was there and had put Fern on the lead in good time.

Towards Stanmer

As we head down the track from High Park Wood towards Stanmer village, we get a distant glimpse of the church spire and the upper storey of Stanmer House amid the trees.

The seat

There is another of those carved seats at the top of the path from Stanmer village where High Park Wood and Mill Wood meet. What can't be seen from the picture is that the seat is right under high voltage power lines and almost at the foot of one of the ugliest pylons ever.

The Ash Grove

One part of High Park Woods has been thinned to allow light to get in. Most of the trees that have been left are ash.

High Park panorama

The Boss is on jury service this week, but yesterday he got off early and we went for a long walk through High Park Woods. This is a panoramic view across the Downs from the edge of the wood.

Where are they now?

These initials are carved 10 or 12 feet up on a tree. I wonder when? Who by? And where are they now?

And to the north

The South Downs don't look their best on a day like this.

A grey day

Looking south over Brighton and the English Channel from the Roman Camp.

And then there's this

What, I wonder, could be the reason for these rather strange shapes in the fields?

What's afoot?

Something is going on in that clearing, but apart from a sign saying "Water" everything seems to be under wraps.

St Mary's Farm

A rich farmer? Or has somebody bought the cottages and done them up?

A lonely poppy

One lonely poppy in a field of oats. This time last year there was a field not so far away which full of these flowers - not that there are any in that field this year.

(Pictured last year.)

May's out

The hawthorn (may) is also in full bloom.

Cow parsley

The cow parsley, with its heavy, pungent scent, is now in full bloom along the sides of the path.

Overtaken

We don't see many people when we use this path, but this chap overtook us last time we were up there.

The fence

It'll take more than that to keep a springer spaniel out of the field!

Never mind the picture...

The picture's crap, but turn up the sound and listen to that blackbird. Isn't he a glorious singer?

Behind Falmer

There's a footpath behind Falmer going up towards the ridge of the Downs which the Boss particularly likes. This view is from where he parks the car and is looking back across the valley Falmer sits in and through which the main Brighton-Lewes road runs, showing the bare ridge of the Downs on the other side of the valley.

Hangleton

Some way to the west of Stanmer lies what was at one time the village of Hangleton, now a large suburb of Hove with mixed council and private housing. The village was wiped out by the Black Death and now only St Helen's church and Hangleton Manor remain from those times. The church, which is built of flint, dates back to the 11th century and celebrated its 900th anniversary some years ago.

Knapped flints

Many of the older buildings on the Downs are constructed of knapped flints like these which are part of Stanmer church.

By the way - I'm famous! Maybe the most famous dog in Brighton!! I'm featured on another web site.

Falmer

This attractive row of flint-built cottages is in South Street, Falmer.