A long walk and a drink in a pub

Friday and a long-postponed walk with Anton. Who called around for me at 9:30. We did about 14 or 15 miles eventually, walking up past the Hillfort, into Stanmer Woods, down to the Amex Stadium in Falmer, then up over the Downs towards the sea at Rottingdean, which I just looked up and means the valley of Rota's people. From there a brief pause, a snack and then along the seafront back to Brighton. It was a walk full of variety, from the iron age hill fort, crossing the bridge into Woodland at Stanmer Park, passing Brighton's new football stadium, designed to be in sympathy with the downs, and across farmed downland, and alongside the sea into the buzz of Brighton's seafront. Anton eyeing with approval the little powered scooters ridden by some rather well groomed men driving up and down Marine Parade. 

Up the last haul up a hill to The Crescent Pub where we went into a pub together for the first time since February 12th. All sensibly run. Had to add your name and phone number to a list as you entered, picking a pen from the jar of new pens, and replacing them in a jar of used pens. Then to the bar, where there was one serving point, with a plastic shield in front of it with a gap big enough to slide some beers and payment by waving your card at the machine. Into the garden, where the tables were sensibly spaced. Anton said he couldn't believe I hadn't bought him a beer since February. 

It was great to have done a big walk like this, and it felt as if we had actually achieved something. Just a couple of beers each in the Crescent but these went straight to my head, as it was a very hot day and we had been walking for hours. Anton had been on one of his no-food diets for the last week or so, held up very well, especially as he had walked to my house in the first place, and also had gone out shopping in the morning. 

We sat in Anton's garden, eating crisps and drinking more beer.  By the time Lorraine and Anne had joined us, and Klaudia and Oskar I was already a bit drunk due to not drinking enough water. A pleasant evening, however, eating wings and burgers. Very nice to see my Godbairns. Oskar now taller than Anton, and I suspect he shall be peering down at the area of concern. He was eating a giant triple bacon burger with lots of cheese, which he engulfed in minutes. Klaudia sporting long nail extensions one hand pink the other blue. Lorraine and I, with my top hat askew, zoomed off, face masked in a taxi to home. I made my way to the sofa and fell asleep. 

Took very few photos for some reason today. I think just doing the walk was enough. Here is Anton between Falmer and Woodingdean, proof that although we were just outside the city, there is plenty of open space to be had. Anton and I taking photos of each other to record for posterity our first socially distanced pints in a pub for over five months.