Exploding underpants

In view of the obvious gay interest one would have thought that Prowler in St James's Street would have stocked them but the best I could find were these from Aussiebum. It looks as if there is a gap in the market. I reckon they would go down well in the Bulldog. Imagine the attention one would get as the mighty todger bursts out of the confinement of the pants which split asunder with a resounding boom.

Saltdean Carvery - worst meal out I have had for ages

Definitely not recommended
I was treated to a meal at the Saltdean Carvery the other evening. It is just next to the Saltdean Lido. I was looking forward to it and walked briskly all the way from Brighton, which took over an hour and a half.

The starter, prawn cocktail, was covered with a pink creamy liquid that just tasted of vinegar. The roast beef was dry, leathery and tasteless. The Yorkshire pudding was soggy. The vegetables were tastless and watery. The potatoes had dark patches on the skin. The dessert choices were all sugary, creamy stodgy things.

The lemon tea was OK and the service was cheerful. Even though it was a special weekday offer price, the food was so dismal that it was not worth wasting a good appetite on.

I filled in the "contact us" online form on the website of Michell's and Butler who own the chain to which it belongs and described my experience.

the sequel...
Telephone call from the manager who was annoyed that I had not complained at the time. I explained that when one goes out for a meal with someone, one does not like to make a fuss.

Brighton Monorail nonsense

I am sorry to see that the Council continues to show interest in the proposal for a sea front monorail. It seems as if some people have got carried away with the idea. It needs a prompt thumbs-down.

Unlike a conventional railway or tramway, a monorail will have to be carried on overhead posts which will be visually obtrusive. In the end, that will probably rule out the scheme on planning grounds. In the meantime a substantial amount of time and money will have been wasted on design and consultation. And even if it came to pass, it could not be extended into the town or otherwise integrated into the existing public transport system. It would do nothing that a conventional tramway, using well-established technology, would not do more reliably and at a fraction of the cost. Conventional tramways can run at ground level or in tunnels or on viaducts and if desired, grass can be laid in the space between the tracks to further reduce the visual impact.

One option worth considering would be to build a tramway to the narrower metre gauge. These are popular in continental cities with narrow, winding streets, such as Helsinki, which has just added some stylish and comfortable vehicles to its fleet (photographs). If the Volks Railway were converted to this gauge, it may even be possible to adapt the existing original cars to run on it alongside the new vehicles. As an added attraction, there would also be the possibility of running historic vehicles on loan from continental tramway museums.

Please can we get this this proposal back down to earth?

Sadly this will come to nothing

Walking Woods (Places from Spaces) - was a temporary transformation of Valley Gardens with 700 trees.

The sponsor, South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) has been running a design experiment in public spaces in three cities in the Region. Students from the University of Brighton's School of Architecture took part in SEEDA's competition to generate ideas to temporarily transform the Valley Gardens area in Brighton, as a way of engaging with local people about how the space might be used more and improved. The winning scheme, called Walking Woods, happened between 5th and 11th June. There was also an exhibition of ideas from the students about how the Valley Gardens area might be permanently improved.

Full marks. But nothing will happen for decades. There is no money nor is there the political will to deal with the traffic. There can be few countries in Europe where a public space with such potential is so little valued. It is little more than a traffic island, a triumph of traffic engineering.

Spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar

Brighton and Hove Council have been doing some much-needed improvements in North Street (top picture). Edburton Construction are the contractors and look as if they are employing their best craftsmen on the job. But the "setts" are just rough concrete blocks which will stain easily. Proper granite setts like those in the Swedish scheme at Saltholmen (below) are much more expensive, but not in relation to the total cost of the project. When labour is expensive, it makes no sense to skimp on materials. The Swedes know this, the Brits do not.

Outside Brighton Swimming Club this morning

Brighton's new seafront officer had a meeting with one of the Swimming Club's officers at the end of April. This is the result.

What a way to build a wall

What a way to build a wall!
Originally uploaded by seadipper

Brighton Council are refurbishing the sea front. This wall is built out of rough blocks faced with concrete tiles. How long will it be before they fall off? Surely an properly built brick wall would have been easier and lasted longer?