Chip Chip Hooray!

Apparently this week is National Chip Week, which sounds like an excellent excuse to indulge in one of the simplest yet also one of the tastiest of treats.

Giraffe on Jubilee Street have gone all out and have launched a special spud-tastic menu just for this week, so you can choose whether to have your fries loaded with cheese & bacon, dipped in a spicy adobe & chorizo sauce or why not try a sweet potato fry?


Alternatively head to Terre a Terre for the Brighton spin on the traditional fish 'n' chips - Better Batter & Lemony Yemani Relish. But if you want the classic experience then head down to the Brighton Pier, although beware as seagulls are also big chip fans!

Charlotte

A feat for the feet – Brighton Half Marathon

This weekend 10,000 people will set off from Madeira Drive for the Brighton Half Marathon 2012. And I’m one of those donning my trainers to go for a run around the city on Sunday morning.

Now in its 22^nd year, the Brighton Half Marathon is a popular fixture in the sporting calendar. Places for the 2012 event sold out in record time.

For many runners, the February date is perfect for gauging how well they are gearing up for full marathons taking place a few months later, such as the Brighton Marathon on April 15^th.

For others, like me, thirteen miles is a very very long way.

I have to admit to be being daunted by the distance. I’d never run further than five miles before signing up for the Brighton Half and for various reasons (read poor excuses) I didn’t begin training in earnest until the New Year.

I slowly built up my miles, thanks to support from friends with true running credentials and a few sessions at Withdean track nights (where I consistently finished last).

According to numerous training plans I am sufficiently prepared to reach the finish line, despite not having run as far as 13 miles in one go. Let’s just say I expect to be at the back of the pack.

The route takes participants from the start line on Madeira Drive inland to the Level then to Ovingdean before turning round to head to Hove Lagoon for another U-turn back to the finish line near Brighton Pier. Runners are expected to take no more than three hours to complete the distance (gulp).

There is always a real sense of community spirit among the spectators lining the roads wishing the runners well and looking out for amusing costumes. Experienced runners say the encouragement from the watching crowds is truly magnificent and can help even the most exhausted to keep plodding on. This is probably why the Brighton Half Marathon was a finalist in the community event category of The Argus Achievement Awards 2011, a worthy accolade for a well organised sporting celebration.

I am still unsure what motivated me to attempt a sporting feat so far beyond my usual level of physical activity (my mum delights in telling me she thinks I’m mad to do it). Yet with just a few days to go I am really excited about being part of such a fantastic event in our fabulous city.

I wish good luck and much fun to everyone getting ready to take part, watch or help with organisation of the Brighton Half Marathon 2012. Fingers crossed for good weather and fast feet!

And finally, as it is now too late to sign up to run on Sunday, I thought I’d just quickly mention a couple of other chances to take to the roads in Brighton in the coming months…

Sunday March 25 - Sport Relief. Sign up for the Brighton mile to get active, raise cash and change lives.

Sunday April 15 - Brighton Marathon. There are still charitable places left for anyone wanting to tackle the full marathon experience in this Olympic year.

On your marks, get set, go!

Alix

The power of social media

Like the majority of people I use social media a lot both at work and at home, but even so I'm still sometimes surprised but just how quickly it can achieve results...

Our conference team are in the process of putting together a new sales brochure and the design agency had included a fantastic photo to represent the spirit of the city. However there was a slight snag, while the photographer had given his permission for the photo to be used we did not know who the man in the photo was and therefore had no way of asking him to sign a model release form.

Feeling slightly desperate we decided that as a long shot we would try asking our Twitter and Facebook followers not really expecting to get anywhere. Anyway low and behold within the hour we had our man! Best of all thanks to a little bit of flattery he generously gave his permission for us to use the photo so thank you @PlumptonMatthew :)

So it just goes to show the power of social media!

Charlotte

The Beach Boys on the roof of the Royal Pavilion

We like to think that we know a lot about the city but of course we still get surprised from time to time, for example today we have just stumbled across this fantastic video from the early 1970s featuring the Beach Boys performing on the roof of the Royal Pavilion!