DAY TRIP 28/2/2026
This weekend we took a little day trip to Chichester, as part of an effort to try to get out of the Brighton bubble more often.
I’d read something recently about how you should do things like change your walking route if you go the same way every day, as it’s good for your brain to see different things and makes sure to keep you engaged. As you almost don’t recognise the monotony until it’s too late and you end up buying a motorcycle or a karaoke machine or have an affair, to try and add something else - anything - to your life.
Chichester for those unaware, and as far as I am concerned - is the place between Portsmouth and Brighton (where I grew up and where I now live) where posh people live. They also have the renowned Chichester festival theatre, which is where the posh people go to watch theatre. The only not white face I saw was an older black guy singing jazz standards by the clock tower in the centre of the town. So I hope this gives you a vibe.
They also have a really quite alive high street with all the shops that make any other town high street look bleak. How they manage to make a card factory look joyful and bustling, I simply don’t know - I suppose thats what money can buy you.
We had a lovely day walking around and being stared at by men who look like they’d strangle a waiter for giving them the wrong fork, and I found some absolute bangers in a charity shop dedicated just to books. Huge sheet music section, though mostly opera (obviously) but they also had these pub songs and music hall book as well. And the sea shanty book came from a really lovely and well stocked book shop near the train station that had a particularly slutty and gorgeous dog in it, who apparently LOVES people who wear all black - so if you wish to go tickle a spaniel, be sure to wear your darkest outfit.
Other charity shops much less success, as I don’t really think the local demographic is in line with my interests. The most telling thing for me was that in a case on the counter they had a Joanna Lumley and Lulu biography next to each other front and centre - I feel not displayed for the joy factor, but with pure sincerity and no regard for how deeply camp those women are.
We also saw a child smiling and laughing while chucking coins at a woman sat on the floor asking for change, like she was a busker. The woman was smiling too, so not entirely bleak - but did have a sinister air about it - the mother looking on proudly as her child throws coins at a person in need. Though I suppose thats an improvement over what I thought they’d do in Chichester, which is kill them or send them to Bognor Regis.
This may sound like a criticism, but I had a really really wonderful day. It was nice to see something else for a few hours and to do something purely for the joy of doing it. We’re going to be doing more of these within an hour of Brighton day trips hopefully and who knows what we may see. Next stop - Hastings?
SOME THINGS I’VE ENJOYED RECENTLY - 1/3/2026
I did a few of these sort of lists over reels a while back, which was nice but I think I’d like to try adding them onto the end of some casual writing posts, rather than throwing to the algorithm of social media.
FILMS -
JURASSIC PARK MARATHON!
We watched every Jurassic Park mainline film from beginning to end and It was glorious and here is my ranking
Jurassic Park
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Jurassic World
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Jurassic World Dominion
Jurassic Park 3
Jurassic World Rebirth
I was convinced I’d seen Dominion, but turns out I hadn’t and I’d actually confused it with Fallen Kingdom.
Really enjoyed all of them, except rebirth really - which felt like blockbuster slop. Still watched it though.
The Digimon Movie
With the Pokemon anniversary meaning those pocket monsters are absolutely everywhere, it has got me thinking about its slightly less popular digital monster counterpart.
I thought I had clear memories of this film, but turns out I must have undergone some sort of psychosis because I remembered NOTHING except a few jokes in it, which were somehow burnt into my subconscious. It feels like 3 episodes smashed together, but the animation of colouring and vibe just really really got me in the feels and mada me all nostalgic and warm inside.
Edward Scissorhands
Obviously I’ve seen this film more times than I could count - but I haven’t rewatched it in so so long. Did I remember it beat for beat? I sure did. Did I well up at the end? Of course I did. Was gorgeous to revisit this. I found it recently on blu ray in a CEX for a couple of pounds, so picked it up with this revisit intention and I’m so pleased I did.
MUSIC -
Katzenjammer - Kiss Before You Go + Le Pop
I mentioned in my last post on here how I was getting some cd’s for those no phone (so no music streaming) days. And I’ve had the two albums above by Katzenjammer on repeat via music service, so have ordered the cd’s of both for a few pounds online. Both of those albums I can’t seem to just pop on one song without then listening to the album its on from beginning to end. I get about half way through a listen and have a moment of ‘oh my god I’m in love with this’ every. Single. Time. So I’ve been loving that and its arriving on CD so that I can enjoy when I decide that my phone can go into the bin.
BOOKS -
Naked Civil Servant - Quentin Crisp
A classic, obviously. Though I have had it started but unfinished in an ever mounting pile of books which I’m now getting through - and I FINALLY FINISHED IT. A real joy. I love personal essays and I love biographies and this is the best part of both. I also really recommend the film and the follow up An Englishmen in New York, where he is expertly played by the incredible John Hurt
Wow, No Thank You - Samantha Irby
Deeply In love with Samanthas writing. I’d devoured ‘We Are Never Meeting In Real Life’ and ‘Quietly Hostile’ and somehow hadn’t done this one yet, but it’s been sitting there for a while and now I’m chipping away at it. Again, perfect for my love of personal essays - she makes me howl with laughter. No books have made me descend into hysterics quite like hers and David Sedaris. Highly recommend. It’s also a great one for before bed if you just want to get a chapter or two in, as they’re self contained so you can just take it bit by bit and have it be a little treat before bed.
That’s all for this one I think. But my friends say that all I do is consume things, so I will never run out of things to tell you I’ve loved or loving.