Happy (Insert Milestone Here) Day, Dave!

I arrived in Brighton on my birthday one year ago today. The past two birthdays have been spent in airports and on trains so I am relieved that this year it will be spent wearing fancy dress at a gypsy jazz joint.

Here are my thoughts on Brighton as posted on my old blog. This was written a year ago in a cheap hotel in Kemptown just three days after I had arrived here:

Naturally, I have been constantly comparing this city with Detroit. People drink a lot in both places- the only difference seems to be that everyone drinks slowly at all times of the day here while, in Detroit, people binge drink but just at night. I can’t seem to find any gyms or health clubs here. Joggers must jog in a secret location. A scarf seems to be as necessary as a pair of shoes and if people don’t clutch them closely around their necks then they leave them loose and casual like one might wear a sweater. The buses run on time and the bus stops are stocked with orderly people. I have yet to find a clinic, other than a couple of chiropractors. Other than the Royal Pavilion, the town is devoid of stunning architectural statements such as the Roaring 20s skyscrapers of Detroit. Even if they fail to make you gasp, most streets look beautiful and consistent here, like the whole city was built in a day or two.

Some of these impressions have been reinforced (scarves, buses), others have been debunked (binge drinking, joggers), and the jury is still out on some of the others (architecture, health clubs).

But I love both of these cities equally and I am going to return to my slogan during my relocation: ain’t nobody gonna break my stride. By re-posting the awful video that inspired this quote, I am renewing my vows to this mindset, this mentality for another year.

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