St Martin's Square, Chichester

With the weather looking not so good, we went down to Chichester. There were some showers but it was not too bad and much cooler. It was one of those days to reflect on the idiosyncracies of human life that you see and observe around you.

On the way down, I passed Goodwood Racecourse as it was the final day of "Glorious Goodwood". The scene was quite amazing with many hundreds of people. There were flash cars, flash birds, luxury coaches, stretched limos, parties by the road. It was all there! The men were in drab suits (I loathe suits - I have to be honest and proudly do not own one!) and panama hats, while the women were in more colourful dresses, tottering about on high heels with aerials on their heads (maybe mobile phone coverage isn't too good up there and this was to aid reception? - I can't now understand the point of fascinators!).

Anyway, down below in Chichester, mum needed to go into a certain very good fabric and craft shop to get some embroidery silks. No problem, except that due to a "blip" (!), the piped music was playing "Mary's Boychild" by Boney M.......... There were also kits to make cards and other items for Christmas which had clearly come rather too early - or was it to cool the staff and customers down with all the heat we have been having!!

St Martin's Square lies behind the shops in the NE Quadrant of the City. It contains many fine old houses and the arched doorway leads to St Mary's Almshouses which is of 13th Century date. The chapel whose turret is visible contains some of the finest and oldest Misericords (tip up seats) in the UK and it is open at certain times by appointment. I've not yet been inside, but would like to!

Returning to the car, a Registry Office wedding was about to finish, with some guests arriving for the emergence of the new couple, one of whom was a very mature lady who was tottering about on 5" spiked sandals that were clearly giving her extreme discomfort in walking.

Then on the way home on the A285, flashing away like disco lights was a large recovery truck that had just pulled out of the Goodwood road. Everybody slowed down to view the large vehicle. The truck was like those huge impressive American Kenworths. On the back it was towing a bright pink stretch limo......I'd seen it all in one day out!