Tales from Brighton

"Bright in that happy land, beams every eye.

Kept by a Father's hand, love cannot die.

Oh, then to glory run, be a crown and Kingdom won,

and bright above the sun,

reign for aye."

(Nick Cave, Happy Land)

Back in Brighton, did not see that one coming! A blessing?! Back with friends in the city of dreams. Friends that has become my family and the city that hunts my mind. It hits me with lighting and feelings of belonging somewhere. Belong in the city that is so bright that no-one can be sad. It colours your heart, your creativity and soul. It’s where imposing high ceilinged houses and apartments look out on the English sea. The North laines with its nooks and crannies, where you eat, shop and observe the people of Brighton. The Brightonias, a strange, colourful, great, unlikely mix of people. A walk on the beachfront leaves you back in wonder. On the beachfront you pass by, grannies with purple hair in stylish 50s dresses, punks withMohawks of incredible heights, skaters practising neck breaking stunts, women wearing bunny outfits to celebrate a friends last day in freedom and Tibtanian female munks in orange cloaks. Brighton leaves you with a feeling of freedom. An unbeatable freedom and love to life. A love to a city that will hunt your mind forever.

So here I am, back in Brighton for a couple of days. The last couple of days have been a great mix of visits to pubs, eating great pub food and drinking local ale with Ilke, checking out the local bookshop with a high risk of never leaving the mountain of amazing stories, chilling on the beach in the company of Agnes, a good book, strong coffee, gazing at the sea, clubbing in colourful and heartfelt gay-clubs, dozing with Matthis in front of the TV eating stuffed pita and last but least looking for Nick Cave!! This unexpected visit to Brighton is a blessing, I find it hard to be angry with the ash. A couple of days in Brighton has eased my heart. In Brighton I find peace within. And this time around I will not find it hard to say goodbye,as I know I will soon return for another round.