Seb Palmer

I tried to find images of some naval apparel, as described in Command of The Sea (‘brown camlet boat cloak, lined with green baize’). I didn’t find exactly what I hoped to, but I did find this:

It was grey and wet today. We had planned to toddle around Alexandra Park. But, in the Biblical downpour? Nope…

So, instead we visited Hastings Museum & Gallery…

I rather like the badgers, in the stained glass wi Dow, which is halfway up the older larger staircase, leading to the museums first floor.

They have a very mixed and varied collection. Including an exhibit about a local Hastings guy who rose to international fame pretending to be an Indian; Grey Owl, or, rather more prosaically, Archibald Belaney.

Tucked away at the rear of the complex, are an intriguing set of spaces. They certainly possess the ‘wow factor’. This area is called The Durban Hall, apparently. It’s pretty astonishing.

The Durbar Hall rooms, with their exquisite dark carved wood panelling, are truly breathtaking. The upper floor is loaded with interesting artefacts. The lower floor resembles a kind of mini-theatre.

Eventually, after sitting mesmerised in the lower room for some time, we exited this incredible space, and saw the remainder of the Museum and Gallery.

Their new temporary art exhibit was closed (still in the process of being hung). But some of their permanent collection was on display.

And, finally, back home…

What a great day. Filled with simple pleasures.

After a delish’ breakfast on the balcony, we set off, around 11 am, for Rye. My dad’s birthplace.

Rye, as it is now, is clearly a ‘boutique’ little town. Lots of expensive shops. More art galleries in one street than many cities have in total!

Rye Art is a terrific place. Great art, fabulous building – all higgledy-piggledy, and Tardis like (way bigger inside than it looks from outside) – and great music playing.

Another interesting gallery was an old butcher’s shop, showing stuff by an artist named O’Duffy:

It was odd and unexpected to see Dangermouse, Animal, and The Cookie Monster in Rye. We hoped we might see Tom Baker. But, alas, no sightings.

We had a table booked for 1 pm at The Mermaid Inn. Got there about 12.30, and had a drink in a lounge type room (Dr Syn’s Chamber!). For lunch we both had roast lamb. Which was delicious. And we shared a rare glass of Merlot (rare because I’m back to more or less tee-total).

After a fab but rather painfully costly lunch, we mooched around the town a bit more. Walking past Lamb House (shut, rather annoyingly!), and having a look ‘round St Mary’s.

ST MARY’S CHURCH

Exhausted, we ambled back to the car. Passing a few points of possible family history type interest: the now closed Gasson Antiques shop, and the Grammar School. We also took in the touristy gate. And then, back to the car and ‘home’ to Markwick Terrace.

Today we visited Bodiam Castle. Fortunately it’s NT. After we parked up we went in the wrong way! But that afforded some nice views!

It’s an amazing place. And we had a great time.

As we rounded the northern face, we came to where the modern day access is – originally it was accessed via an L-shaped arrangement – over the moat. Very picturesque!

Back in the day, the folks who lived here had all their many toilets empty into the moat. Eugh! So fish were kept on a separate pond. That’s no longer the case, thankfully! And now there are fish aplenty in the water around the castle.

After the guardroom it was onwards and upwards… to the northern tower. Wow! So high. I got the ol’ vertigo!

The view atop the tower was breathtaking. And looking down, and around, was amazing.

So, back down, to Teresa. She didn’t want to go to the top!

After the vertiginous ascent and descent, it was back around at ground level. We even took an informative half-hour tour

Having been up the main or North tower, I wanted to also go up the Postern or rear tower. Teresa was having none of either, alas!

And finally, taking leave of Bodium…

The Barbican, that once stood on the bend or ‘knee’ of the olde approach, is reduced to this mere pillar.

Got up about 9 am. Had breakfast on the sun drenched balcony. Lovely!

Our hosts very kindly provide a snippet of the Bayeaux Tapestry, rendering a trip to France unnecessary.

They also have some local history stuff, including the aulde ‘classic’ (?) 1066 & All That…

We arrived about 4 pm, after a straightforward journey, of about three and a half hours.

It’s a very beautiful property, in a splendid hilltop location. Opposite it’s own ‘private’ gardens (now a public park).

Teresa’s knocked out by the place. Which is fab. It is indeed terrific. And boy do we need this holiday! It’s the first longer break – still only five nights – we’ve had since 2019. At least three post-Covid breaks we booked had to be cancelled, due to lack of funds.

We visited a very cool arty bookshop – Black Gull Books – nearby. Teresa stocked up on provisions, in a Sainsburys Local (that trip gave us a proper view of the seafront). Back ‘home’, Teresa cooked a fab pasta dinner, with a lovely salad. We watched some silly TV (Richard Osman’s Trousers of Ferrets), turned in, read a bit, and fell asleep. Lovely!

… actually means halfway through. The final third is supplementary material!

Still really enjoying this book. I’ll be taking it on our holiday, down to the South Coast, tomorrow.

A great Hitchcock potboiler. Ray Milland is terrific as the unctuously smooth villain Tony Wenders. And Grace Kelly is radiantly beautiful as his wife, Margot, aka the gal in danger.

It’s not one of Hitch’s absolute best. Nor, by a long stretch, one of his weaker as films. Beautifully crafted, and well acted, within the standards of its milieu. It’s just good Saturday or Sunday afternoon/evening fun.

The title is somewhat ironic. Whilst it captures the premise. The plot or premise concocted by Tony has more holes in it than fishnet stockings. Unravelling like a garter whose elastic has gone.

Unlike many Hitchcock (or other crime/murder) movies, the McGuffinal motive murder doesn’t actually happen. In that respect it’s a clever little twist, akin in some ways to how Columbo’s crimes are solved, from the viewer’s perspective, in reverse.

The fascination humans have with the nexus between sex and violence, themes fundamental in Hitchcock’s oeuvre, is cleverly played upon by the publicity materials.

Posters for the film show the attempted murder looking like sex. The man mounts the lady, and she, head back and arm outstretched, might be in the throes of orgasm… le petits morts.

The old big black Bakelite phone – which takes the place of the scissors – is obviously important. And there are some funny special effects in connection with this.

The ‘Columbo connection’ goes deeper… moustachioed detective inspector Herbert pauses at the door, and says ‘there was just one more thing…’

And the ending is sooo Columbo. They won’t get their man unless he indicts himself. Hoist by his own petard.

The quality of Hitchcock’s work is, for the most part, uniformly high. So, whilst he’s made even better films, this remains excellent.

Teresa ordered some fake roses, that also have LED lights in them, to display over the mirror. They arrived today. We’re very happy with them.