Where was I? Oh yes, I’d just been to Brighton. Patrick the cover designer said that if I could finish the second novel in my little series of three asap, it would improve sales. I am currently on Chapter 16… trouble is, I know where it is going to go, and how it will end, but I have to find at least 20,000 more words in the middle. Philosopher says I need to develop a sub-plot, so am busy doing that. Sigh, the pains of creativity. In addition, we have been to a Hastings Philharmonic concert, had neighbours round for drinks, Philosopher’s niece Harriet came over from Hythe, have been to Mallydams as usual, went over to Eastbourne Hospital for the dermatologist to freeze off a couple of potentially dodgy skin patches on my face, had a session with a new dentist, led a WI bluebell walk, been to novel-writing group and also to WI book club. Enough? I should say so…
Where to start? Here’s a photo of a seal at Mallydams. He still looks so cute, but appearances are very deceptive. This is an almost fully-grown grey seal, due for release. I was the only volunteer on duty on Tuesday morning, and was asked to clean this guy’s pool, which he shares with a smaller, but still feisty, chum. They’d just had a traumatic time being weighed and having injections, and were very, very grumpy indeed. I don’t normally deal with the grey seals, but Keith, the usual seal wrangler, was away. As soon as I went to open the door of the enclosure both seals shot at me, all guns blazing… I squirted them with the hose and they just enjoyed it, tried to fend them off with a broom and Mr Big grabbed it. In the end I wimped out and just hosed their quarters down from a distance…
Mallydams have some very cute babies just now – look at these little badger cubs… they just play and play all day and are a joy to watch. They’ll be leaving soon, to go to another RSPCA centre that collects larger ‘families’ of badgers for release together. These two would not survive on their own.
Session with a new dentist? Yes. I mentioned this in a previous post but will quickly say it again. For years, we have been going to the same dentist, in Battle Road, and very much liked it, as far as you can like such things. The practice was recently taken over by a large national group. Our own dentist left, and we were allocated to a bloke who only works one day a week. Add to that the fact that they never answer their phone and I didn’t like my hygenist either, and that was enough. Dentists are now like vets, more and more belong to these big chains. So, we are signing up with a practice that is still independent, in Harrow Lane. We go privately, but are on something called Denplan. We were very impressed with Louis, the new dentist – he was exceptionally, scarily thorough… X rays, lights, camera… no action, fortunately.
Bluebell Walk? The blue spectacle was nearly over but here’s a not very good selfie of a few of us… you can see I have a red mark on my nose from the dermatologist session. It is a bit blistery now…
LOO LATEST – Hastings Sea-front.
We’ll start down at Rock-a-Nore. You might remember in the first post about loos I mentioned that a block down there had been turned into a shop, and new Council loos had been built to replace it? Well, had a look at those new ones. Level access, three gender-neutral little rooms, and two large accessible/disability loos with baby change facilities, unlocked. Quite well-equipped. Sounds promising, but they were a bit unkempt and smelly. Rating 3/4.
Hastings Aquarium. Now, I didn’t know these loos existed. They are right by the entrance. You inevitably make eye-contact with whoever is on the welcome desk, but she seemed fine when I breezed in. I don’t truthfully know how publicly available these toilets actually are, which reduces their rating. Level access, but only available when the place is open. Single gender, one accessible loo. All very clean, very well-equipped. Rating 6.
The Stade. These Council loos must be their pride and joy. Level access, single gender. The accessible/disability loos and parent/baby rooms were locked, but the Ladies has many, many cubicles, hot water, hand dryers that work, and they are clean. Having an attendant makes all the difference. These loos have won awards. Rating 6/7.
Pelham Place. More Council loos. They are in quite a large purpose-built block between the Crazy Golf and the car-park. They used to be horrendous, but have been refurbished quite recently, and obviously now have the benefit of an attendant, which improves things radically. Accessible/disability loos locked – you have to ring for the attendant! Single gender, but quite well-equipped and passably clean. Rating 5.
That’s it for Hastings sea-front. Next time I’ll start at the Pier and go up as far as Grosvenor Gardens in St Leonards.
