I am going to make this post positive! On Sunday the clocks went back, so we got up ‘early’ and went for a walk in Alexandra Park. It was a beautiful, classic autumn morning, bright sun, flawless blue sky. Enough trees had their autumn colours on show to make a wonderful display, and there were fantastic reflections in the pools. We have got our park outings down to a fine art. Park in Morrisons for the permitted two hours. Walk through the tunnel, and then an hour walking in the park, thirty minutes coffee break in one of the park cafes, back to Morrisons, half an hour buying exotic eats in the store. What’s not to like?
I have to try and make the clocks going back a positive thing too, even though I really hate the dark nights. What’s good about dark winter evenings? Snuggling up in a warm room I guess – but these days it costs so damn much to keep the place warm enough… oh, positive, remember?
So, here are some more pretty photos. We are so lucky to have such a fine park, with so many beautiful trees, on our doorstep. We have loved it since we moved to Hastings. There are so many possible walking routes. Even now, we find new paths to explore.
This time, we stopped for coffee in the Pump House Cafe, at the top of the Park. Went there twice when it was newly opened and wasn’t that keen – the first time they were hypnotically slow, and the second time I nearly measured my length over one of those dreadful extending dog leads that are nothing but a thin cord which you can scarcely see, and had an unsatisactory heated row with the over-entitled dog-owner. But by now they have sharpened up the service substantially, and the cakes and edibles are now safely behind glass instead of out in the open as before, where folks could hawk and spit all over them. All much better. That caff is more young and cool, the other bottom caff, Eat, is more mummies and oldsters.
Met fellow local crime writer Chris Bridges on our way, with his pretty little poodle. Chris is also on the point of publishing his second novel, but unlike me he has a proper agent and a well-oiled publicity machine. I still have a lot to learn….
We saw a heron and a hunting cormorant in the bottom lake on the way back. Look at the heron’s yellow eye. These two photos courtesy of Philosopher.
Morrisons? These days we love it. Have written about it before! Once again though, their grub selection is amazing. Much better than any of the other supermarkets. Quite often get some of their hot roast chicken and a Caesar salad for lunch after our park walk. We are off to Glyndebourne this coming w/e with old friends, and will stock up on Morrisons salads etc for our pre-performance picnic.
Finally – a word for Hastings people. On social media, Alexandra Park is often mis-named Alexander Park. No, no, no. It is AlexandRA. Our park was opened in 1882, by the the then Prince Edward of Wales and Princess Alexandra. They became King and Queen on the death of Queen Victoria. I see the Prince of Wales was presented with a bouquet of seaweed on the opening day… Read about the park’s history here.
See? It wasn’t that hard to be positive, was it!
