The chimney is also being surveyed to see what state our flue is in so we can look to having a proper fire again. We need a new mantle, hearth and fireback too as the originals are long gone. The mantle is original – we think – but covered in many years of paint, it’s also wood and I’m hankering after something more robust. We also have restrictions around here about solid fuel so we’re looking at gas stoves that look like Scandinavian wood burning affairs with glass doors. They are so convincing you wouldn’t know that they were gas unless you poked around inside them. I have high hopes of being toasty this winter.

When I was on hold for the chimney sweep on Saturday I had to laugh – their hold music was ‘Chim Chim Cher-ee’ sung by Dick Van Dyke – lovely.

These lovely posters arrived today. They are produced by graduates of Falmouth University to pass on advice to first year students. They are from a project called “Advice to Sink in Slowly.” Beautifully printed and a wonderful concept. Go here to see the whole range and buy prints.

We had approximately half of the time away under serene blaring hot blue skies, half under some of the worst storms Northern Italy has seen for years. Maltempo indeed. So, erm mixed.

We drove up and down many ace passes and managed to do the two big hikes we couldn’t do last year because of the snow (yes, we had snow last year in the Dolomites in July. Guess what, we had it this year too.) I now have Catinaccio and the Tre Cime hikes done. We even did some bouldering. I ate canederli (dumplings), deer, rabbit, speck, lard, bream, bass and sole. M even ate some meat, get in.

But the mother of all passes, the pass that ‘Top Gear’ made even more famous, the biggie: Stelvio. It was bloody shut. Yes, shut for a whole week to “protect workmen”. We drove to the other side of the region, up to a vertical weeny no horse village in the rain (to a hotel that didn’t have Italian TV despite being in Italy, only German and Austrian) only to find out it was shut. Was a teensy bit pissed off? Yes.

Oh well, there is always another year… We decamped from no horse village and scarpered back to the Lakes and booked in at one of my favourite hotels in Torri and indulged. Cocktails and lounging by the water while lotharios in speedboats tried to pull women half their age. It was good.

I took about 300 pictures and have looked at none of them. Busy y’see.

My laptop died. That was a nice surprise when I got back from Italy. My macbook isn’t even a year old and it was kaput. I got it back today (thank you warranty) and it was the hard drive. So they popped a new one in. Unfortunately I lost all my data. Fortunately clever clogs M backed it up before we went away so I’ve only lost the newest stuff. Bah. Thanks heavens really as I have two lots of wedding photographs to process (again). It could be worse. Apologies for not replying to emails, fakebook etc etc. I know I have heaps to do.

I have also been buying lighting and entertaining workmen. After looking at a hundred seemingly identical modern acrylic chandeliers I’d given up hope of finding something nice. So we bit the bullet and bought antiques ones at ouchy prices but by god they are lovely. They are being rewired at the moment so we should have them next week.

We are totally sticking to the mantra “if we don’t love it it doesn’t cross the threshold” with this flat. We have to absolutely love it to buy it. We’d rather save up or sacrifice on other things than buy something twice. We also are trying to buy all ‘old’. Reuse, reduce, repair and recycle at its finest. The Independent only had an article on it last Thursday. Next on the list is a Georgian-a-like ladies battered writing desk for the macs.

I discovered today a brand new shop near me on Blatchington Road in Hove (near ‘Ethels Kitchen’) that I have totally fallen for. It’s a little shop that sells beautifully girlie secondhand china, unusual stationery and handprinted bags and homewears called ‘Bird & Rose’. It’s run by a lovely lady called Sophie. I came a cropper in there today… some of my haul below:

I can now make a very posh afternoon tea in a Jane Austen stylee if anyone pops down from London.

We’ve had plumbers, electricians and carpenters ’round nearly every day to quote for the grand project. The local plumbers are ace and we’ve already been entertained by Jeremy the project manager and Richard the chap who installed the washing machine and dishwasher (thus bringing us into the 21st century.) If the guy who comes tomorrow to install the boiler is called James I shall laugh my head off. They managed to fit us in at short notice for the boiler refit due to a cancellation. I am very happy as it means from Friday I can have a shower without it being hot-tepid-cold-hot-tepid-cold all the sodding time.

We’re also looking at wallpaper and old school chunky style radiators to replace the hideous 70s ones we have currently. For the vaguely interested here is the wallpaper we’ve chosen:

I never thought I’d have wallpaper in any house I lived in. Just goes to show how you change.

On Lovely Street™ en route to the pub we spotted a bruiser of a cat meowing. We stopped and stroked the handsome chap. A guy strolling along Lovely Street™ stopped to talk and told us all about the twenty or so cats that live on Lovely Street™; this one was a bit of a bully. We asked if he lived on Lovely Street™ and he confirmed that he did. We replied that we were moving in next week. Walking away he shouted back “Welcome to the neighbourhood!” I have a very good feeling about this place…

Lovely Street™

Finally got a table at The Foragers last night. It was well worth the wait. I had thickly sliced duck breast in a raspberry wine jus with sweet potato mash and braised spinach and red cabbage. Mmmmm hmmmmm. Definitely recommended. As it’s only two or three streets from us it may well become our regular.

This morning I stuck my head in a florist I’ve been looking at for the last couple of weeks. It’s an absolutely beautiful shop called Planted on St James’s Street in Kemp Town run buy two lovely gay guys. I enquired about coastal hardy plants for our (as yet not created) window-boxes. They were very knowledgeable and said they’d keep some Cape Daisies by for me when they next came in and even pot up my containers. What great chaps!

M and I have also been trying out different coffee bars on the way to work each morning. I can’t really function until my first coffee of the day so this is important business. So far I rate:

* Coffee @ 33 on Trafalgar Street (near Brighton Station). Little independent shop serving real strong Italian coffee made by real Italian boys. Lovely sandwiches too.
* Spinelli Coffee on College Road in Kemp Town. Again real Italian coffee in a relaxing coffee bar with free wifi.
* Brighton Coffee Co. on Kensington Gardens in the middle of North Laine. Busy bar right in the centre of things. Good coffee, large cups and friendly people. I really like the badly spelled words on their menu (‘freshy’ and ‘pumpkim’). Bless them.

Today I bought a card for M’s mum’s birthday. It is 100% compostable and comes in a biodegradable bag (how Brighton!) I was tempted by the other one in the guys shop which read “I am sorry for writing twat on your garage door” but I thought it might be taken the wrong way.

I had roast loin of pork in a very creamy tarragon sauce with baby new potatoes and salad. M had aubergine parmigiana with salad and fresh french bread. The menu was excellent and I shall certainly be going back there. Having a cream tarragon sauce reminded me of being at college in Cambridge. The French restaurant I worked below (sadly long gone as they skipped town when the tax man caught up with them) did a very similar dish of slow roasted chicken in cream and tarragon. The secret the chef told me was to use veal stock to get a really tasty sauce. Hmmm good memories.

(I also played table ‘hide and seek’ with a lovely blond moppet next to us (called Charlie) throughout our meal. I almost wanted to take him home.)

On Saturday last we finally had a meal at Ethels Kitchen (blogs passim). We had a late veggie breakfast that was one of the best I’ve ever had. Why does tea out of a real bone china cup and saucer just taste better?

I’ve also discovered courtesy of M’s work colleagues an excellent pub near Brighton station – who knew such a thing existed? Two streets away in North Gardens is The Caxton Arms. I haven’t eaten here yet but I’ve been told the food is excellent. Anywhere with Zoffany flock wallpaper that feels like a very nice sitting room is all right by me.

I have been doing more than eating and drinking since I moved to Brighton, honest guv. No, really.

2. Book Porn
I had such good intentions this morning walking past the secondhand book shop in North Laine. I really truly did. The covers of the vintage penguins beckoned me in with their orange faces and san serif font. Having ones books locked up in storage can send a person crazy – enough of this Grazia pap, I want a proper read. Sadly the penguins were mostly dull: essays on Suez, a guide to crown green bowls etc. Fatefully I stepped into Waterstones. I blame JK Rowling. Having that postcard story in the window just hooked me in. They have five floors at the Brighton Waterstones. Five! How was I meant to resist?

First up in the book porn category are all books published by Ryland Peters and Small. Pure interior pornography. I felt lucky to only escape with buying ‘French Home’ and ‘Contemporary Country’ – utter wall to wall filth.

‘Quiet, please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian‘ appeals to both my fondness for a good font and the fact I’d love to be a librarian. Nice. Looks funny too.

‘Pride and Prejudice‘, my favourite Austin. Perfect for a read on our Regency seafront. I love the covers of this Vintage Classic series. Modern and bold. Can I be a book cover designer too please?

A new translation of Hans Cristian Andersens ‘Fairy Tales‘. How can you resist that graphic cover illustration? What I always loved about HCAs work was how dark it was. Now I need some children to read to. Sod the kids I’ll enjoy it myself.

3. Seagulls
Yes, seagulls are cool. I know Pete will disagree with me but I like them. Waking to the sound of a seagulls cry carried up my street on the wind beats yet another siren blaring along Lower Road. It’s the sound of the seaside. Plus they look cheeky and they’ll have your rubbish if you put it out on the wrong day. Remember that number 18 when you put out your black sack on a Thursday.

4. Upper St James Street / St Georges Road
How much love can I have for this stretch of Kemp Town? Thissssssssssssssmuuuuuuuuuuucccccch. Today I’ve seen antlers and a frankly scary metal airchair in Alex MacArthur. My perfect 1950s bathing suit has been found in Frocks Away Vintage (oh I am so going to get one of those) and I perused fine fruit in Presto High Class Italian greengrocers. I also coverted the perfect French beach blanket in Pardon my French!

5. Money Transfers
It is very nice when ones other half texts you to say that a five figure sum has been deposited into your bank account. The profit we made on our flat! Sadly it needs to be disbursed. I am saying disbursed a lot these days. It will be nice though to be totally debt free. No mortgage, no loan or credit card debt. Well, we’ll be getting a new mortgage in another two weeks time but for now we are as free as birds.

6. Top Gear
It’s back. Yes, Jeremy will be offensive to gays, Richard will sport a collection of dubious bead necklaces and James will be in desparate need of a hair cut. But I love it. I love every fuel guzzling, eccentric, daft bit of it. Pah on you naysayers.

Not

1. Football
Euro 2008 to be precise. We are not going to mention Italy. No we are not. I am heartbroken and it is all Donadoni‘s fault. Has the snooker season started yet?

2. Rose Returns
I am pleased that this series of Doctor Who is nearly over. We’ll never have to see Miss Strange Shape Mouth again. Gah, I hate her. Bring on the Grand Moff Steven.

3. Not having a dishwasher
Yes, I am spoilt. Now I have papery dry hands too.
(NB: Sussex water is even harder than London. Full of chalk it is. We are now religiously filtering everything. The benefit of same is that I only need to wash my hair every 3-4 days as it is much drier than before. The water is also having a drying effect on my face. Chin spots begone!)

4. Slow Solicitors
Yes, we are still waiting to move into our new flat. The exchange has been delayed due to the other lot not having the papers ready. Double gah. They have also put off the day of our completion to Friday 4 July. Considering our rental flat is up on the 4th it is very very tight. This makes me nervous. We are also going away on the 10th and this leaves us very little time to organise removers etc. Time is a paradox at the moment; everything is either going too fast or too slowly, at the same time.

Yes there are more hots than nots. Don’t quibble, I’m happy. I am sure something will come along to bite me in the arse sooner rather than later, you pessimists.

BBC4 – my favourite channel – is starting to repeat that BBC classic “I Claudius” staring every British actor from just about forever. What a treat for the next 12 weeks.

To get us in the mood BBC4 are warming up with a programme about toga-wearing in the movies and on TV.

To finish we have the start of a 13 week run of “Up Pompeii!” Titter ye not. So cheesy it should be good.

Last night was episode 3 of 5 and we were wetting ourselves. After watching I will never be able to look at Anthony Worrell-Thompson beating a egg ever again.

Sample dialogue:

“That’s about as much use as a raft made of aspirin.” [on '(Celebrity) Love Island']

“Anthony Worrell Thompson; a no-neck sex barrel.” [on 'Saturday Cooks!]

Oh the joy of criticism.

Hopefully this film will fall into the so bad it is good category. Any film that has the immortal line “There are motherfucking snakes on the motherfucking plane!” promises much.

However, when we do go, we go all out.

Last weekend we saw ‘Pirates of the Caribbean II: Dead Man’s Chest’ on Friday night and ‘Thank you for Smoking’ on Saturday afternoon.

Aside from the fact that I’ll never watch a film in Hammersmith Cineworld again (hot as hell as there is no air conditioning, no water in the ladies loos as no water pressure and all the seat cushions coming away from their frames: management said to my complaint “we are a listed building” as if that covered anything) ‘Pirates’ was a good – if over long – romp. The surprise character at the end walking down those stairs did make me go “ooh how’s that possible?” But I won’t spoil it for you (read the link for that.) My overall take away moments from the movie: Johnny Depp runs like Frankie Howerd and has all the best lines.

‘Thank you for Smoking’ is a great satire and definitely worth a viewing. Had the auidience laughing out loud all the way through at our screening (Cineworld West India Quay: much much nicer and soon to be our local cinema.) I really warmed to the M.O.D. Squad lobbyists (Merchants of Death) and Mrs Tom Cruise* was surprisingly excellent. Best line of the movie for me was from Rob Lowe whilst wearing a kimono – who doesn’t seem to get older, has he sold his soul or something? Upon being asked “When do you sleep?” Lowe replies “On Sundays.”

This weekend Bubb and I have tickets booked for the opening weekend of ‘Superman Returns’ at the IMAX. Apparently there are four scenes in 3D. I’m so keeping my paper 3D specs! (Doctor Who reference for you.)

Finally I’ve just booked tickets (through the evil Ticketmaster) for a showing in ‘Film Four’s Summer Screen Season’ at Somerset House. Massive screen, hot balmy night in August and the ambience of a listed building. Let’s hope ‘Nacho Libre’ proves as funny as the trailer.

*Future. Erm, maybe.

Promises to be a good one with programmes on art, dress, war and of course some cracking period drama. Clinch those bodices ladies!

I also see my favourite art historian, Andrew Graham-Dixon (“or your naughty older art lecturer who you really shouldn’t fancy” as one friend describes him) has a programme during the season on 22 June about the ‘Battle for British Art’.

Also just started (BBC 2 last night) is another series by Francecso da Mosto, called ‘Francesco’s Italy: Top to Toe’. Last night was the ‘Romantic North’. Sadly all too short but he did go to some of my favourite towns, like Mantova. Ahh Italy, I miss you so.

In other news tonight sees the opening match of Italy’s world cup campaign vs. Ghana. Sadly, Italy’s world cup song “Cuore Azzurro” is written and performed by a band named ‘Pooh’. I kid you not. On the bright side the boys do look fantastic in Dolce & Gabbana’s Underwear 2006 campaign.

In bocca al lupo.