Wild!

What a fabulous day.

The wind whipped up the water and we watched the waves hurl against the stone groynes on Brighton beach, drenching anyone brave or daft enough to go too near.  The lifeguards patrolled the pebble shore, blowing their whistles, and the noise of the sea and the wind and the screams from the rides on the pier were deafening.

Tom, Sal and I spent the morning in the old fashioned penny arcades, where we swapped our 20p's for big, old, brown penny coins (I kept one as a souvenir, dated 1965. The children couldn't believe the Queen ever looked that young), and we played proper old games of pinball and chance, watched saucy postcard flickerbook films and even had our fortunes read (see extra pic). 

Grace, meanwhile, tore up the Lanes and spent her pennies on Brighton's finest fashion. 

After lunch at Bill's we dropped into the BBC Wildlife Photography exhibition at the Brighton Museum then back to the Pier, for hot donuts (tick!), rollercoasters (tick!) and triple back somersaults on the trampolines (tick, tick tick!).

Walking back to the car, exhausted, exhilarated and soaking wet from the Wild River ride, a seagull swooped down and stole a whole hot churros out of Tom's hand. His body, heavy and hot, landed briefly on my head.

It was the most extraordinary day.

I LOVE Brighton.