Bank Holiday Monday

I am bracing myself for rat-catching duties - but it's such a beautiful day I got distracted and decided to go for a bike ride instead.

Down Harold road to the Stade - they are working really fast on the new Gallery and Community space - and the area was packed, so much for the merchants of doom, it will be buzzing when they finish. I was going to have a look at the Banksy but I couldn't be bothered in the end, I've seen it on the telly and I think it's naff. The council have already protected it with a Perspex sheet. I cycled all along the cinder path next to the beach - past the brightly coloured beach huts and granite sea defences that sparkled in the sun.

The area is thick with sea cabbages and looks like Dungeness. Some of the beach huts are palaces - and very modern. The sky was blue - the tide out and beaches lovely and clean. Met a woman with 3 silver whippets and a man with a beautiful fawn Italian Greyhound. Up Galley Hill and over into Bexhill - which was packed. It's the De La Warr 75th anniversary weekend - there was a vintage car rally and they were just gearing up for a beach concert and a big photo shoot.

Cycled home along the Bexhill road - the promenade gardens along the front in St Leonards are really well maintained. Town itself was not too busy - and managed to get up the hill in nearly one piece. Knackered now - slightly tingly from the sun, but very relaxed. Beautiful day, beautiful part of the country. Lovely.