Across the tracks
A damp day in Brighton’s North Laine.
Snow at last!
Grabbed a few minutes for a quick sketch of the snow this morning. More ‘chiffon scarf’ than a ‘blanket’ covering, but a good try for Brighton. All gone by the end of the day though.
Calm before the storm
Beautiful blue skies in Brighton and Hove this morning. Hoping for snow tonight!
Outsiders
I am standing in church, singing along to a Taylor Swift song which I’ve never heard before. It’s OK though, because the karaoke style lyrics are on the big screen and a choir is leading us through it.
This was my first time at the Sunday Assembly Brighton, a monthly secular church on the border of Brighton and Hove.
The church is packed. This month the theme is ‘outsiders’.
One of the speakers, David, told a moving story about his experience as a volunteer host for the charity Sussex Nightstop. Afterwards we sang Teenage dirtbag.
The atmosphere was great and by the time we were singing starman I was really quite into it. Only in Brighton & Hove!
Entitled of Brighton
My day started with commuters at the Flying Coffee Bean, Brighton station.
Followed by a pilgrimage to Waterstones specifically to sniff books, drink coffee and sketch out of that window.
Can you believe someone had already nicked the table. What’s more, he was ‘reading’* of all thing. Outrageous!
*I very much approve of reading, just not in my seat.
All over breakfast
A damp day at the Trading Post Coffee Roasters, Brighton, UK. Damn fine cup of coffee.
Pretending it’s not winter
Whilst the temperatures in the UK teeter above freezing, I’m warming myself up by remembering lying in a hammock, sipping juice from a huge freshly plucked coconut by the tiny island of Hon Mot, a year ago today.
The island is connected to Phu Quoc by the wobbly ‘monkey bridge’, just visible in the far right of the sketch.
Pasty legs and wonky feet are all you need to make life sweet
In between slaughtering chickens, the charismatic café owner gave these two fishermen (presumably her sons) a right ear-bending every time they stopped work to watch me sketch!
No pressure!
Hanging out in Hoi An
Even in the endless deluge of monsoon season, the ancient town, and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An is awash with colour.
When I visited this time last year, we spent the days wading through puddles, wandering through the lantern filled shops and of course, getting measured at the tailors.
View from Hoi An Roastery, Japanese Bridge
It’s common for Hoi An to suffer flooding, but that week, the waters of the Thu Bon river stayed safely between the river banks, just teetering on the verge of overflowing.
The only way to drip dry, was to consume huge amounts of strong, smoky, sugar-rich Vietnamese coffee in the various Hoi An Roastery’s scattered around the town.
Tarragona, city of human towers
The lovely city of Tarragona was one of the places the human towers originated. No human towers today, but I was lucky enough to get free entry to the 1st century roman tower, as the city celebrates Tarraco’s 17 years as a World Heritage Site.
Stunning views and just time for a quick sketch of the cathedral before descending through the throngs of roman re-enactors!
Castellers in Catalonia
Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia teaching children to build human castles at the Jardins de Frederica Montsen, Barcelona.
cmoorelife 