Brighton

Brighton beach, Adelaide has been one of my favourite summer haunts ever since we all turned 16 and got drivers licenses. Sometimes we'd head down after school during free period on fridays and get wedges, breathing in the briny air. When we started uni we'd go and get seaside lattes and cake at the marylin monroe cafe. Every now and then my mum and i would take a drive down and muse on the idea of living by the beach. Whenever I was feeling like shit LC always knew that the ocean air clears my mind. This past summer I rode my bike down for a quick dip a few times.

Brighton beach, UK is a whole different kettle of fish. The seaside village is about an hour south of London by train and is a popular summer holiday destination with the brits. For me Brighton means one thing: NICK CAVE.

It was a bit blustery but its had been such a long time since I had seen an ocean that I was very happy to be there. Holding my glasses on my face and battling the extreme weather conditions I walked down the board walk at Brighton taking in the desolate atmosphere of a summer-time hot spot during the winter months. The tempest of the ocean was actually stunning, in my mind a storm at sea holds so much romance and intrigue (see turner). 

Australia is that way

So I headed west of Brighton towards Hove and followed church street until i found 9 Bar, an antipodean coffee house of sorts which had been recommended by....wait for it....NICK CAVE. As i was walking i fantasized about what i would say if i ran into him "Hi Mr Cave, I'm such a huge fan" too boring. "Hi, my parents met at a Birthday Party show at the Ratville hotel in the late 70's" a lie, but he doesnt know that. "I just read your book, i really enjoyed it. You wrote it the year i was born" hmmm, not quite what i am trying to say. 

Anyway, i had these horribly unrealistic ideas about seeing him, even though deep down in my heart i knew that my chances were very VERY slim. I sat down at a table and ordered my double ristretto soy flat white and decided to have a look around the cafe. 

and then

GASP

IT WAS NICK CAVE

SITTING JUST NEXT TO (the family who were next to) ME. 

THIS GUY. Drinking tea and eating carrot cake and sitting next to me. 

AND I MADE EYE CONTACT WITH HIM AND NOW HE KNOWS THAT I EXIST. 

this was my delicious lunch, i would highly recommend the restaurant, the food was great. 

and you might see nick cave. 

It took me like, two hours to calm down. I msged my mum who told me to kiss him. and lauren told me to take a photo. but I didnt. I just sat there and made eye contact with him and ate my lunch and he was there and every single muscle in my body twitched and oh god, it was amazing. it still makes me smile.

Needless to say i will be returning to brighton at some point in the future. it is a really beautiful place. and the atmosphere is a bit more chilled than London, not so many corporate A-holes. but there is still American Apparel. yay. 

christmas time

this is the SIGNED copy of Cave's new book. Pretty psyched, just started reading it. hopefully i will not spill tea all over it like i did with all of my other precious books. sigh.