Summertime ...

... and what a fabulous day it is!

Mum and I pottered down to the town centre this morning, as we needed a few groceries, and I wanted to pick up a new suitcase from Argos, having finally decided to take something a bit bigger than the 16" one I usually travel with.

On reaching Argos and entering the catalogue number into the stock checker, I realised that the case I wanted was only available from Argos Extra stores, and resigned myself to going into Brighton by bus on Friday, and carting the case home on the bus.

A quick stop at Waitrose, where I bought a scratchcard and lost, and got my shopping, then we came home, to discover that my new glasses had arrived and had, luckily, fitted through the letterbox. The envelope had a sticker on it, declaring "Dispatched on a Friday - Free Sweets!", and when I opened it up, not only did I discover my glasses, but a gummy eyeball! Rather tasty too, it was!

My glasses are pretty nice, if I say so myself. I ordered the pink case, and the frames themselves are a blush pink. The left lens is very thick, but that only really shows from the side, so most people won't realise, and this is just my basic pair anyway. After New York, I'm planning to order a pair with thin lenses, and also a pair of prescription sunglasses too.

After I got home and tried my glasses on, Clare picked me up to go for lunch. She insisted on paying, as a thank you for the concerts we've been too, which I usually pay for, and we went to the Newmarket inn for lunch, which was very nice. We both had the ham ploughmans, which came with warm, crusty bread, and all the usual things, and which was a very nice way to spend a summer lunchtime. On the way to lunch we stopped at the Argos Extra store in Hollingbury, where I picked up my suitcase. I've chosen the 24" Constellation expanding case, which matches my 16" one, and which will be less than half full on the way out, so which should have plenty of room in it for anything I may bring back!

We drove back to Lewes with the windows down, the sun shining and the wind in our hair, and Bon Jovi's "Lost Highway" playing at close to full volume ... fabulous!

This evening it's the annual "Proms In The Paddock", which is like a local version of the more famous "Proms In The Park". There is a huge field in Lewes, with gently sloping banks, and plenty of space for a stage and a couple of thousand people, so a group of us from work go each year. We usually get a Chinese takeaway, or pizza, fish and chips etc, then enjoy the summer evening with friends, music, and a great atmosphere. Tonight will be the first time I've had the chance to try fireworks photos with the new camera, so hopefully I'll have something to share tomorrow! Here's the blurb from a local Lewes magazine.

"The evening will be split into three performances. Firstly LGB Brass and then the visiting Friary Guildford band will perform individually, showcasing a variety of tunes from military anthems through to West End show tunes. The bands then join together for the final performance, which will include a selection of proms night favourites including Jerusalem, Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory, before once again finishing with the 1812 whilst the fireworks go off."