Thursday, January 12, 2012
Rustington
The journey to Ford provided lovely views of the countryside under a brilliant red sky. My eyes were composing and taking many beautiful photographs - but we were whizzing along and the camera remained in its case.
After that it is hard to say anything very positive about the morning.
There was no sunshine and the north wind was biting and cutting as it swept across the disused airfield.
I heard somebody say that it has been warmer at 5 o'clock.
There were many stalls set up - and on this day they were piled with things I would not want on my shelves at the shop.
I spent just £3.70 - on books to sell.
We needed some hot tea and a bite to eat.
So, off to The George in Littlehampton.
The customer base is different on Thursday mornings - lots of young mothers and housewives.
I presume our "friend" with the laptop is probably there every morning- using the free WiFi and enjoying a couple of beers away from whoever it is he needs to escape from.
We were not feeling positive about a walk on the drafty banks of the river and set off for home, via Rustington.
It is quite hard to be positive about Rustington.
Once it had been a small village close to the sea, clustered around the church.
Now it is an ever expanding south coast settlement for folks to retire to...there has been much dowdy, modern building in the 60s and 70s.
It has a bigger shopping centre than Littlehampton these days - and a fair abundance of charity shops.
So we stopped and browsed and I took a few pictures, trying to make the place look good under dull skies.
One shop we went in was called Junk and Disorderly - the name should have implied to us that it was the business of a true Del Boy. He wanted to talk and he wanted me to buy. He mostly had furniture. I escaped with a heavy wooden basket/trug, which he said was a paddy field item and imported from the far east. With some wax polishing it will look good and somebody in Dorking might want it for flowers.
Flowers is something Rustington is good at. They win gold awards every year in the Britain in Bloom competition.
Even in January they make sure the displays are filled and interesting.
The Manor House may entice you to belive that it is old.
I am sure it is 20th century.
See the snowdrops flowering to the right of the gate.
The church is old.
It dates back to the 12th century.
The old village school is next to the church.
It is now used as a village community centre. The caretaker lives in the cottage bearing the plaque.
Not very exciting is it? But all the shops you could want for daily needs are there....and many others.
I do like a thriving green grocer's shop.
The Milennium clock - and more winter flowering pansies.
Officially the village is called Rustington on Sea.....so here is the sea.
As you can see this was not taken this morning.
Two world air speed records were set on the date 7 September over Rustington sea front.
Record 1 - set on 7 September 1946, by Group Captain Teddy Donaldson, flying a Gloster Meteor Star. Donaldson also became the first man to break the 1,000 km/h barrier.[4]
Record 2 - set on 7 September 1953, by Squadron Leader Neville Duke, flying Hawker Hunter WB188, at a speed of 1170.9 km/h.
To celebrate, on 7 September 1996, Neville Duke returned to Rustington to unveil a plaque, marking the event. He was joined by a Gloster Meteor and a Hawker Hunter, which flew over Rustington sea front.
And so I learn something - this information comes from Wikipedia.
Now we must find the Neville Duke plaque.
I know of 2 other plaques marking the homes that had belonged to Hubert Parry and J M Barrie.
This evening we will be timekeeping - indoors, though it still might feel chilly.
It is a sprints evening in "the tube".
After that it is hard to say anything very positive about the morning.
There was no sunshine and the north wind was biting and cutting as it swept across the disused airfield.
I heard somebody say that it has been warmer at 5 o'clock.
There were many stalls set up - and on this day they were piled with things I would not want on my shelves at the shop.
I spent just £3.70 - on books to sell.
We needed some hot tea and a bite to eat.
So, off to The George in Littlehampton.
The customer base is different on Thursday mornings - lots of young mothers and housewives.
I presume our "friend" with the laptop is probably there every morning- using the free WiFi and enjoying a couple of beers away from whoever it is he needs to escape from.
We were not feeling positive about a walk on the drafty banks of the river and set off for home, via Rustington.
It is quite hard to be positive about Rustington.
Once it had been a small village close to the sea, clustered around the church.
Now it is an ever expanding south coast settlement for folks to retire to...there has been much dowdy, modern building in the 60s and 70s.
It has a bigger shopping centre than Littlehampton these days - and a fair abundance of charity shops.
So we stopped and browsed and I took a few pictures, trying to make the place look good under dull skies.
One shop we went in was called Junk and Disorderly - the name should have implied to us that it was the business of a true Del Boy. He wanted to talk and he wanted me to buy. He mostly had furniture. I escaped with a heavy wooden basket/trug, which he said was a paddy field item and imported from the far east. With some wax polishing it will look good and somebody in Dorking might want it for flowers.
Flowers is something Rustington is good at. They win gold awards every year in the Britain in Bloom competition.
Even in January they make sure the displays are filled and interesting.
I am sure it is 20th century.
See the snowdrops flowering to the right of the gate.
The church is old.
It dates back to the 12th century.
The old village school is next to the church.
It is now used as a village community centre. The caretaker lives in the cottage bearing the plaque.
Not very exciting is it? But all the shops you could want for daily needs are there....and many others.
I do like a thriving green grocer's shop.
The Milennium clock - and more winter flowering pansies.
Officially the village is called Rustington on Sea.....so here is the sea.
As you can see this was not taken this morning.
Two world air speed records were set on the date 7 September over Rustington sea front.
Record 1 - set on 7 September 1946, by Group Captain Teddy Donaldson, flying a Gloster Meteor Star. Donaldson also became the first man to break the 1,000 km/h barrier.[4]
Record 2 - set on 7 September 1953, by Squadron Leader Neville Duke, flying Hawker Hunter WB188, at a speed of 1170.9 km/h.
To celebrate, on 7 September 1996, Neville Duke returned to Rustington to unveil a plaque, marking the event. He was joined by a Gloster Meteor and a Hawker Hunter, which flew over Rustington sea front.
And so I learn something - this information comes from Wikipedia.
Now we must find the Neville Duke plaque.
I know of 2 other plaques marking the homes that had belonged to Hubert Parry and J M Barrie.
This evening we will be timekeeping - indoors, though it still might feel chilly.
It is a sprints evening in "the tube".
Labels: Sussex
