It’s not every day you are asked by the waitress to put the amount of the meal into the chip and pin machine but that was probably the better option after her first attempt was £720.

Today K and I went to Brighton to spend a night away by the sea. Amazingly the beach was full by four o’clock of people sitting on the stones sunbathing or enjoying a drink at the seaside cafes and pubs.

There is something about the seaside in summer. Perhaps it was because we were away from home but it really did feel today like we were abroad.

Turning away from the delights of “The Organist Entertains Singalong” at the hotel we wandered around The Lanes before settling on a fish restaurant.

Despite being short handed (and the rudeness of the owner’s son and his mate) we had a very enjoyable meal and a decent bottle of wine.

“Fancy a drink on the house ?”, said the waitress after the trauma of settling the bill.

After that we headed back the hotel to sleep to the sound of seagulls over the pier.