under another sun

A slow start to the day. Eventually we all climbed into the car and drove towards the sea. This hampered somewhat by the marathon that was going on by the seafront. Eventually, after all kinds of complications we arrived at the sea in Hove and sat on a wall and had icecreams and soaked up the sun. John arrived a little later, and splendid boy that he is, he brought us a tins of cold lager. I'm still feeling wan and out of it, but being by the sea was nice. Touched by how supportive the crowd that spread all along the seafront were to the marathon runners. Must have been exhausting for them in this unusual heat. Then eventually home again, having caught the sun, despite breaking out my straw hat for the first time of the year. Beth stayed with John, and we trundled home. I spoke to Mum and then we ate a nice supper. Weirdly Lorraine and I got sucked into watching the culmination of the Masters Golf final with Pat till all hours. I quite enjoyed it. Below some beachside scenes....

Let others set the pace Another gorgeous day. Lorraine leapt up to look at the marathon runners, thousands of whom were running in Brighton's second marathon, scamper past the end of her road which is close to their starting point in Preston Park. I instead slept like a large baby, but one dreaming of cups of tea. Drifted home after chatting to Beth and Sam. Later Lorraine and Beth shopping, while I met Paul and his son VJ by the seafront. This absolutely crammed as the finishing line was by the sea, and the freakishly hot day meant there were thousands on the beach too. Some runners looking like wet rags, others remarkably happy and springy. These people are like those of another species entirely. I heard one runner telling her family that many had succumbed to the heat during the 26 mile run. Paul sporting his black shirt with flames. Off to the Black Lion which has a beer garden, but where we sat was a bit more like a beer tunnel full of cigarette smoke and coldness. VJ happily ...