The Argus, news, sport, events, jobs, homes for Brighton, Hove and Sussex

Alice, 38, lives in Hove with her husband, young son and dog. Our Reluctant Housewife will try anything once, even if it’s only to get her out of the house!

TOP TEN: My favourite pubs in Brighton and Hove

I miss my local in London. It was a proper one-size-fits-all boozer, frequented by old regulars, kids from the estate, media-types, local celebs and families. We knew the owners, lived four doors down and cherished our hidden gem just two roads away from the mire of Camden market. It was the first pub we took Dog and Baby to when both just babes! We have carefully passed our knowledge on to friends new to the area - just as it was given to us - and since moving away we miss it dreadfully. So the search is on for our new Shangri-La…

Brighton Celebrity Chefs: Is something fishy going on?

Brighton has seen two new celebrity restaurant openings recently, Jamie Oliver has opened an Italian and TV presenter Dermot O’Leary has a hand in a new venture based around fish. I have nothing against either of them, in a roundabout way I have worked for one and with the other – nice guys both. So far so good, but why are they here in Brighton?

Square Pegs, Round Holes: The Darker Side of Getting Social in Brighton

Last time I posed the question: Are people nicer in Brighton? And came to the conclusion that yes, they were. However, that doesn’t mean I haven’t come across the odd sod or been reduced by an encounter since moving here…

Are people nicer in Brighton?

After having lived in London for so many years I would say that yes – generally people are nicer down here than in the capital. Could it be the sea air? OK maybe its not all sunshine and roses, there are always exceptions to the rule and am sure that I am seeing things through rose-tinted specs being new to the area, but let me give you some examples…

TOP TEN: Things that happen on a dog walk…

We are lucky because Brighton and Hove is awash with lovely open spaces and if you have a dog then you are spoilt for places to wander and ponder with your pooch. From large sports fields, to cute overgrown parks right down to the dog-friendly beaches you can usually find a different spot to exercise your hound every week if you wanted to. However, just because the location changes the things that happen on that walk usually won’t… so here is another Top Ten from me – this time situations you can guarantee will happen while you are out with your dog! As usual I would love to hear about your own experiences…

Love letter to my son.

Dearest Boy, lets not shout at each other anymore, lets go to the seaside and fall in love with each other again. Lets let the sunshine and waves wash away the frustration that we feel. And as we watch the tide pull back lets create a childhood full of love and sun, one that I hope you remember. Will you remember this? Will some part of your unformed memory keep hold of a fragment of sunshine and sea-sound and label it idyllic when you are older? Please, I hope so, this and not the shouting.

Puppies on Parade

Another beautiful Brighton weekend and we decided to take advantage of the sunshine and yet more local events by dropping in on the Paddle Round The Pier festival on Saturday. We weren’t sure what to expect but entering the ‘festival village’ it became clear – bar the beer tent and smattering of kids rides - it was little more than a trade show for watersports fans. Still we meandered for half an hour and watched the ‘paddlers’ out on the waves, but it wasn’t really for us. We knew we were in for something rather more exciting, glamorous, sparkly and err woofy (?) on Sunday…

My Booky Nook

Am following up my last literary post with another - but this time Baby gets in on the action! A gorgeous new bookshop for kids opened up near me in Hove recently and it seemed the perfect place to meet up with another local mother for a catch up, little did I know I could fall in love with a shop, but I have.

Art & Literature – dipping my toe in Brighton’s cultural waters

Ah Art and Literature – two words that inspire such delight, two words that conjure up cultural and creative pursuits, two words that could be as easily substituted by Pleasure and Passion – they mean virtually the same to me. So its been fun to realise that last week I managed to indulge in a bit of both virtually outside my own front door.

Gym'll fix it for me...

As I walked along the cold seafront this morning pushing Baby in his covered buggy, being battered from all sides by wind and rain, it occurred to me how much I had changed. A few years ago I would never have done this; if possible I would still be in bed with a cup of tea and enjoying a biscuit or two with Baby. In fact I would probably have come up with any excuse to avoid what I was doing and where I was going. Where was I headed? Not to unavoidable work, not to a meet a friend I hadn’t seen for ages – no, I was going to the gym!

Mummy Loves Disco!

It’s coming up again soon! That monthly rave where adults can let their hair down, have a drink, chat to like minded individuals, showcase new clothes and dance moves and - best of all - feel like they are part of the real world again. Only one stipulation – you have to take a toddler to gain entry!