My recent visit to the Royal Pavilion gardens reminded me of my previous visit many years ago. On that occasion I had intended to visit the Pavilion but there was a long queue so I opted for a quiet lunch in the gardens. I chose the perfect bench but what followed was anything but quiet and relaxing. On my recent visit I sought out the bench only to find it is no more.

What follows is the tale from my previous visit in 2010:

On the half day that I had free between the two conferences I decided to visit the Royal Pavilion. To save time I asked for directions at the hotel reception and found my way there quite easily although it was further than I thought. The pavilion looked rather packed so I decided just to enjoy the garden which was free. It was lunch time so before looking round the garden I nipped to the nearest baker and bought a blueberry muffin, which looked a lot more appetising than the rather gooey looking sandwiches. I then made my way back to the garden and sat on a bench to eat it The bag the muffin had been in made a bid for freedom and whilst I was trying to rescue it a small piece of blueberry muffin dropped on the floor next to my feet.

A few minutes later I was assailed by a rather large seagull who was weighing up the options of doing a duck and dive at the crumb. I had visions of my feet being skewered by his beak and he refused to be shooed away! Then I saw a squirrel running towards me, but luckily he had something else on his mind and he carried on past me without stopping. Eventually I moved to the other end of the bench so I could finish eating in peace. And yes the seagull did then dive for the crumb.

Just as I was finishing eating a youth with a beer can plonked himself next to me on the bench. Thankfully he was dragged away by his friends who told him ‘don’t annoy the lady’. There was a bit of back chat but he followed them anyway. Just when I thought I was going to get some peace and quiet at long last, I was approached by a Jehovah’s Witness…

Gardens in Brighton are not at all what I am used to!

It was more relaxing along the seafront (despite the traffic) when I took my sunset photos later in the day.

It was our Silver Wedding Anniversary so we opened our cards and prezzies then went downstairs for breakfast. Before heading out for the day we took photos of us posing on the balcony with the sea in the background. We had intended to get a professional photographer to take some photos of the occasion but none of photographers we approached replied to our messages.

I opened up my tripod to find that it was no longer fit for purpose. When I extended the legs, the clips broke off one by one. It was a good job I had my sturdy GorillaPod with me. It easily clung to one of the hotel chairs at just the right angle to get some nice photographs.

After the photo opportunity we walked to the Royal Pavilion where we were able to get discounted tickets due to our English Heritage membership. On the outside, the Pavilion is Indian in style whereas the inside has a Chinese influence. The inside is even more ostentatious and extravagant than the outside.

When we had finished our tour of the Pavilion it was time for lunch which we had in the Pavilion Gardens Café. I chose an egg and tomato sandwich which I prefer over the more usual egg mayonnaise. After I had finished a seagull attempted a duck and dive from behind me with his eye on a crust that remained on the plate. He was unsuccessful in his attempt.

Next, we visited the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery. It is currently housing an exhibition ‘Out of the Ordinary’ displaying the work of the photojournalist Roger Bamber who was from Brighton. The exhibition was well worth the entry fee alone, his photography is outstanding.

We returned to the hotel where Mr C ordered a bottle of Prosecco to enjoy in our room whilst we relaxed before dinner. We had eventually come up with a Plan B dining option; the nearby Coal Shed.

The food and service were excellent, although I felt a little overdressed for the surroundings. During our meal we had been trying to place the accent of the waiter who served us. I had him as being from Australia or perhaps New Zealand but it turned out that he is from South Africa.

Rather than seek out another potentially dodgy pub we returned to the hotel and enjoyed a post-dinner wine in the relative calm of the hotel bar.

Spicy:
1. Having the flavor, aroma, or quality of spice.
2. Piquant; zesty: a spicy tomato sauce.
3. Producing or abounding in spices.
4. High-spirited; lively.
5. Slightly scandalous; risqué: a spicy Hollywood romance.

Definition 4: High-spirited; lively.

Whilst trying to enjoy a little bit of calm in amongst the hustle and bustle of the week this seagull was a little too lively for me!

It was lunch time so before looking round the garden I nipped to the nearest baker and bought a blueberry muffin, which looked a lot more appetising than the rather gooey looking sandwiches. I then made my way back to the garden and sat on a bench to eat it The bag the muffin had been in made a bid for freedom and whilst I was trying to rescue it a small piece of blueberry muffin dropped on the floor next to my feet.

A few minutes later I was assailed by a rather large seagull who was weighing up the options of doing a duck and dive at the crumb. I had visions of my feet being skewered by his beak and he refused to be shooed away!

For more of this weeks PhotoHunt pictures check out Whistlestop PhotoHunt.

The garden surrounding the Royal Pavilion has been restored to its original Regency splendour closely following John Nash’s plans of the 1820’s.  As the architect of the Royal Pavilion, he conceived the building and grounds as a unity, an effect which has inevitably been compromised by the passage of time.  The restoration has returned the garden as far as possible to its appearance in the 1820s with serpentine paths weaving through the lawns and shrub-beds in imitation of forest scenery.  Naturalness is further emphasised by unedged lawns sweeping under the shrubs; unlike modern lawns the grass is kept longer in keeping with Regency gardening customs.*

*Taken from a plaque within the garden.

A few minutes later I was assailed by a rather large seagull who was weighing up the options of doing a duck and dive at the crumb.   I had visions of my feet being skewered by his beak and he refused to be shooed away! Then I saw a squirrel running towards me, but luckily he had something else on his mind and he carried on past me without stopping. Eventually I moved to the other end of the bench so I could finish eating in peace.  And yes the seagull did then dive for the crumb.

Just as I was finishing eating a youth with a beer can plonked himself next to me on the bench.  Thankfully he was dragged away by his friends who told him ‘don’t annoy the lady’.  There was a bit of back chat but he followed them anyway.  Just when I thought I was going to get some peace and quiet at long last, I was approached by a Jehovah’s Witness…

Gardens in Brighton are not at all what I am used to!

It was more relaxing along the seafront (despite the traffic) when I took my sunset photos later in the day.