AGOL Takes UK: Brighton Clear

It was a potpourri of activity today. Fortified with a light breakfast, we set about to look at paint and mill about (still magically sunny) Brighton.

Red Roaster's won Anton and Anna's recommendation for a cup of lava-thick hot chocolate. Yummy cringed when I paired it with a brownie while he had coffee and UK version of flapjacks. In the US, flapjack is slang for pancakes. These were more like a cookie bar or granola bar with the oatmeal on top.

Hot chocolate next to brownie, flapjack and coffee.


There was an emergency glass of water near the hot chocolate in case something went awry...like sugar shock.


Now to work off the chocolate...

On a clear day, you can really see beautiful Brighton!


This is the burnt skeletal remains of what was once called the West Pier. No one has dismantled it and I find that utterly charming. You can even see the remains of the bridge near the the beach, too.


Yummy was jonesing for fish and chips so we stopped by the seaside at lunch. His order had mushy peas. Uh-huh.


Part of our adventures was trying to find a Filipino deli that Anton had seen. I don't know that Filipinos actually have delis, but what do I know? Our first trip up a hill onto Montepelier Road yielded nothing so we went back down the hill near Waitrose. Yummy called Anton again and received better directions. Up the hill we go again where I saw the flag I would recognize anywhere painted on the Filipino Market store sign. I felt great considering how many Chinese stores were around Brighton. My peeps were represented.

Yummy asked me if I would speak Tagalog and I said no. We walked inside the tiny store and was greeted by a friendly (yet highly inquisitive) Filipina named Sheryl. And, yes, I spoke Tagalog -- well, more like Ta-garbage (Tagalog-English). Bought some stinky goodies and headed back down the hill for vegetables that looked like they were grown in Chernobyl from The Taj. This place was another wonder. We spent some quality time here before rounding out the shopping list at Waitrose...

Back home again and it was time to have everything mise en place by the stove. I decided to make lumpia (Filipino eggroll) with homemade sweet and sour sauce, chicken adobo with potatoes (chicken and potatoes in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic and bay leaf) and pinakbet (veggies in stinky stuff and ginger). All these required a lot of slicing and dicing which Yummy happily watched me do.

I've taught many how to roll lumpia in Filipino cooking classes I have given in the past. I can roll about 50 in one hour. The filling was cooked, drained and cooled enough to assemble. Teaching Yummy how to roll these gave me great pleasure. It felt like a rite of passage. He did very well and I was proud of him. There were too many for tonight's meal so we bundled them in fours so he could have an emergency supply in his freezer.

I asked Yummy to make rice his way which cracks me up, however, it does yield perfectly cooked grains. Won't go into it. I am just spoiled by my rice cooker. It's all good.

When everything was cooked and plated, I held my breath while he tasted everything. I have gone through this many a time with friends. The first bite, I mean. It is either a hit or miss. Yummy had second helpings. He might become more of a "flip" than me at this rate!

AGOL Takes UK: Brighton Clear

AGOL Takes UK: Arundel Castle

The train took us to the mystic town of Arundel where the famed Arundel Castle has stood and been added onto for centuries. Very English indeed! Before our castle explorations, we stopped for a few mini adventures.

We were able to stand on a bridge over the River Arun when we arrived. I just loved the setting. You can see the castle on a hill as you entered the town of Arundel.



We walked near an entrance to Arundel castle but realized it was not the main entrance for our explorations. Since we were up the hill, we decided to walk around and see what else was nearby. Our first stop was The Cathedral Church of Our Lady & St. Philip Howard built in the late 1800s which is not very old considering this is England.

The cathedral's beauty was reflected both inside and outside. My eyes feasted on as much architecture I could see. Churches no matter what denomination have always held a special place in my heart. The only other church this big I've ever seen was Holy Name Cathedral when I lived in Chicago.

I lit three candles while Yummy explored inside and I sat down in one of the front pews and prayed silently until he joined me. We also stopped at the much smaller Parish Church of St. Nicholas. Yummy pointed to the floor where old grave stones were used to pave the floor. How creepily resourceful of them!




One thing you can count on in England is the scattering of funny road signs in the least likely places like the one below. The next picture is of a nice road, but please let me point out the Chinese restaurant at the right corner. Is it me or can you always find Chinese food even in the most remote places in the world? It's almost up there with Starbucks and McDonald's. Personally, I would choose the Chinese restaurant, but not this day.



We ended up at a very quaint tea room called Belinda's 16th Century Tea Rooms where I had my first official Fish and Chips and Yummy ate Steak and Kidney Pie. I wasn't brave enough to try his even though the presentation was beautiful with an array of colorful vegetables surrounding the pie. The skin was still on my fish which is unusual in the States, but it was just more flavor for me!

Bolstered by our lunch, we set our internal compasses for the castle. We somewhat followed the map given and just let ourselves loose. We were everywhere that was not cordoned off: spiraling up and down mini stone staircases, exploring the Keep and Dungeon, marveling at the furniture and the decor in the rooms, asking guides questions who were happy to answer and say to you "Pleasure" after giving them thanks. I was in Castle Heaven.

I've noticed a significant amount of walls (not just in the Castle or Arundel) these flint stones embedded in the walls which fascinated me to no end.


The next set is but a few examples of this magnificent castle. The lion flanking the entrance by the bridge/moat reminded Yummy of the Narnia movie. I just loved the grass that reminded me for some reason of Disney films with their sprinkling of daisies everywhere. Yummy was taking nature shots for a project of his.






The last big room we explored was the library. The entrance enticed you to come inside and swoon with ecstasy at its contents. It was my favorite room among all the dozens we passed through.

This incredible library was two stories of rich burgundy red fabric curtains, glossy dark wood staircases and spindles, and rows and rows of antique spines encased behind glass with crisscross metal lines on them. If the leather and fabric seating could talk, it would invite you to come stay a while. It is what a proper library should look like.

There were more of the castle grounds to explore but the day was already giving into the evening. I was getting fatigued and maybe feeling jet lag finally. We got home from our castle-full day and ate a light pasta meal that Yummy quickly put together which prepared us for warm apple pie with warm English custard for dessert. I am sure they never ate so richly in the 11th century when the original castle was first built!

AGOL Takes UK: Arundel Castle