Brighton Rock(s)

"If you can dream - and not make dreams your master,"
Rudyard Kipling

A breezy half-day in Brighton today after the wind howled around our hotel room during the night. Fortunately it stayed dry for me to have a mooch along the beach in search of a photo to capture something of the essence of our visit. K1 decided to stay in the warm after being nearly blown off her feet during our walk along the prom yesterday afternoon, watching me from the comfort of the hotel room overlooking the pier.

The main reason for our visit of course was to visit The Royal Pavilion, and what a spectacular interior, not the overdone kitsch I'd feared. A real feast for the eyes which rich colours and sculptures and carvings and dragons everywhere (so I'd feel at home). We tagged on to the occasional guided tour for some added background commentary. We were fortunate as the restoration work to the Music Room, damaged after an arson attack in 1975 and again in 1987 after the storm, has been completed and all the rooms were looking their best.

The Lanes and backstreets around were also worth a wander, although I didn't hang around there for too long as the forecast was for heavy showers moving in - which they did! We'd planned to head off early afternoon to travel during the rain, heading for "warmer climes" in north east Kent.

Next stop Chiddingstone, a Tudor village owned (mostly) by the National Trust  since 1939 and one of the oldest villages in Kent. Well worth a visit and stop for coffee and cake (well, dessert anyway) at the Castle Inn.

We'd booked in for the night at Hever Castle B&B nearby, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn and the family seat. We arrived in good time for check-in and a tour of the castle. The place is steeped in history of course so it was a real treat for us both; K1 is a real history fan and has read Philippa Gregory's novels and watched Lucy Worsley's "Six Wives" avidly, so lots of interest. Walking the corridors back to our room was like stepping back in time, but with all the modern luxuries.