Is it back to the mud......?

My enthusiasm for a market stall was still running high on Monday morning as we set off in the Herald to check it out. By 2pm in the afternoon following a disastrous first attempt, a disappointing visit to a possible supplier and another unsuccessful drive around Brighton we parked the car and started walking. Brighton is possibly one of the most confusing places to drive around. It's a bit like a rabbit warren and the lack of road names on actual roads coupled with the requirement to drive at 100mph everywhere means lots of beeping of horns and stress! As I have said before, Brighton is not a place to drive around - the best option is always by foot. So we parked and walked, in the wrong direction. I used to be so good at map reading and always considered myself to have a good sense of direction. Clearly, this is no longer the case - I had been taking us in all the wrong directions all day. Martyn took over the map reading and eventually we found it - closed of course - and run down to say the least. There is talk of a new one being built, hopefully somewhere people can find it! All in all a disappointing day. My hopes of becoming a market trader may not come to fruition, if I can't source locally and collect I'm stuffed! I can't really expect the office at the marina to take deliveries for me and most suppliers are online only. When did the world beyond online ordering cease to exist? I had a vision of getting up early hitting the wholesalers then off to the market to trade my wares, if I can find it......! My other concern is that if we couldn't find the market how do people new to the area even know it's there? The truth is, they don't. There isn't even a sign anywhere for it. I think the reality is that in order for me to be able to get my idea up and running I need a shop. The smallest one I can find. This is my new mission!

Tuesday was Martyns day for a mission. With nothing new on the job front and no calls from the advert he placed he decided to amend his C.V. slightly and get out there again. We made the changes, in hindsight much needed changes and took a drive down to Hove and Shoreham. Having left the amended C.V.s at the chosen establishments we decided to have a drive into Shoreham. We had been told about the houseboats in Shoreham on a few occasions and now seemed as good a time as any to take a sneaky peek. The town itself is quite pretty but the sight of the houseboats is something else! They seem to go on for miles. The tide was out when we visited so they were all sat in the (rather pongy) mud. I knew there were quite a few Military Torpedo Boats there but didn't realise just how many. They line the banks of the river one after another and accommodate some very interesting 'wheelhouses'! The superstructures that sit upon these amazing hulls are wacky, artistic and creative to say the least. I have to say though without wanting to be disrespectful to the owners / creators of these dwellings, it's not my thing. I would much rather see them with a wheelhouse in keeping with the boat and in a usable condition. I guess the answer to that from some would be that at least they are still being used. The jury is out....!
We had a walk into the town, it's quite a lovely little place with every shop you would need including gift shops and the like. It's probably not a bad place to live. Martyn has told me to get used to it because at the rate we're going we'll have to just sneak up on the mud and hope to stay there next year!! Harrumph..... not sure I like it that much....!
So today, well, there may be news on the job front for Martyn and he had two calls in the space of five minutes from people requiring his welding services - bit like buses! That's where he is right now, not on a bus but in Hove welding. Let's hope this is the start of things turning around for us. I really hope I haven't just jinxed it!