Thwarted, and delicious Old Ale

Up and breakfasted and off to see Mum. Just before Haywards Heath the driver announced there was a bad problem at St Pancras and to stay on his train and go to Victoria instead. Only a minute later we pulled into Haywards Heath and were all told to get off the train, as someone had died on the track towards Gatwick. 

Both situations were going to be at least two hours to sort out, so I called Mum and told her I'd come to see her later in the week. I felt sorry for the dozens of dispirited people outside trying to get cabs to go to Gatwick Airport. I simply caught a bus to Brighton from around the corner. This journey soon became a misery as I was desperate for a wee and every stop in the middle of nowhere was a torture. Eventually hared off at Preston Park to the park toilets.  Then I walked across the park up to London Road station, where I discovered there wasn't a train for 50 minutes. Realised then that I had also lost my ticket -- the third thing I have lost in the last week or so. As there was plenty of time, I retraced my steps but ended up having to buy another ticket, and not being able to claim for a thwarted journey. Gah. Got off at Bishopstone and had a walk along the sea to Seaford, and arrived home at two-ish. Pretty warm again today. Lorraine home after spending the morning with Pat and Maureen, finding Maureen's lost hearing aid in a laundry basket, and showering her dad among other things.

I spoke to Mum again at tea time, and arranged to return later in the week. Then I cooked spaghetti and a sauce as Lorraine tidied up a bit, and then I met  Steve and his good pal Dutch Mike. Mike returns to The Netherlands tomorrow.  Steve and I had some of the new Harvey's Old in The Cinque Ports. This year's Old is a thing of beauty, complex rich and slightly sweet. It won the Supreme Champion award at the International Beer Challenge 2025, and Gold at CAMRA's 2025 London & South East Area Champion Beer of Britain. Home before nine, to find Lorraine who made a lovely bag while I was gone.  

I put this picture, Beth took of me holding conkers over my eyes in The Ram yesterday onto facebook today. Black and white for extra creepiness.