Hope you enjoyed the drawings of the cliff lift and Beachy Head on the previous post. More by Ola Plonka, all in Byron's Vampire

Ola's illustrations for Byron's Vampire continued

More illustrations by Ola Plonka, who visited the site of Byron's house in Hastings

And here are the illustrations for Byron's Vampire by Ola Plonka, who was a student at English for You, Hastings

Link to website showing Innocente Messy's designs

Click here to look at some of Innocente Messy's designs

So proud of fashion designer from Hastings.

Let me introduce Innocente Messy by posting her press release for you to read. Innocente came to Hastings 8 years ago:

Contact Innocente Messy

Telephone 01273780925

Cell 07889598350
Email messyinnocente@gmail.com

Website innocente-messy-bfwd.squarespace.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 8, 2014

Brilliant young designer, Innocente Messy, is poised to launch her AW16 collection
Inspired by the 1960’s MOD Subculture and mixed in with influences from her home country of Congo, Innocente Messy’s AW16 collection will be the sensation of the season when it is released February 2015. Ready-to-wear luxury fashions, Innocente Messy’s sense of style and unique eye on culture make this collection the must have of the season. This line will certainly make a mark on the fashion world and bring Innocente Messy to the foreground of the industry.
The designs for the AW16 collection are hand-crafted, made from sustainable fabrics and are ready-to-wear fashions of the highest calibre. The collection will also include African hair braids made with jersey that will complete the styles with a touch of traditional African styling. Messy’s styles juxtapose European fashion with cultural elements from her native Africa.
The daughter of a seamstress, Messy’s love of fashion was created at a very young age. Messy arrived on British soil 8 years ago as a refugee. Now, at just 22 years old, she is a fashion design graduate of the London College of Fashion and has interned with Ada Zanditon and Alice Horlick.
“This is one the most unique and comfortable pieces of clothing that I have ever worn or had made for me.” – Joe Alvarez, Celebrity Photographer
After graduating from the London College of Fashion, Messy began her own line that features sustainable fabrics and entirely hand-crafted garments. Several of Messy’s designs can be seen on her fashion website, innocente-messy-bfwd.squarespace.com.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Innocente Messy at 01273780925 or email at messyinnocente@gmail.com.

New photos of Hastings

Great pictures of Hastings taken by Przemek (and London, Oxford, Hever...)

photos taken while I was teaching in Yerevan, Armenia this month

Hastings Old Town UK, Good Friday

Here's a link  to a short video of the Good Friday procession of witness. It is worth waiting the few minutes for it to load. It's moving, and you'll recognize the Old Town streets and steps. 
Good Friday Procession of Witness in Hastings Old Town

These photos were taken at Hastings Tourist Information Centre this morning. The front of the T-shirts promotes English for You, Hastings. The back promotes Hastings, the most famous town in the world.

These photos were taken at Hastings Tourist Information Centre this morning. The front of the T-shirts promotes English for You, Hastings. The back promotes Hastings, the most famous town in the world.

Edward Capell and the Bard - Hastings and the Shakespeare connection

click here to find out about   Hastings and Shakespeare

Click on this link to read about Lord Byron and The Vampire

Bygone Hastings resident inspires vampire craze, by Fiona Cullen

Chapters 18 and 19 of Phantom of the Hastings Caves

Chapter 18   The prowler in the shadows

As Joy put her Yale key in the top lock in her front door, Dave’s mum opened the door.

“Hi, Molly,” Joy said. “Thank you so much for what you’ve done tonight.”

“It was no problem,” said Molly. “I wasn’t in bed when you phoned from Brighton. I came straight round. Steve and Madeleine are asleep.”

“Great. They’d have been fine on their own, but as they’re fostered I have to take extra care of them.”

“I know,” said Molly. “And there were the burglaries.”

“Yes. But the thief won’t come back. There’s nothing left to steal. Oh, hello you two.”

She bent down to stroke Steve’s two scruffy Jack Russells, who had suddenly run down the stairs.

When Joy stood up, Molly said, “Joy, I’m worried about Dave.”

“Why?”

“Well, Trevor phoned me and told me Dave had gone to Jack’s house as Trevor was going up to bed. I rang Dave’s mobile just now to see if he was still there, and there was no signal.”

“Maybe he’s gone home and switched his phone off and gone to sleep.”

“No, he hasn’t. Trevor texted me and said Dave’s not home yet. Oh, Joy, I know we worry too much. Dave doesn’t want us to wrap him up in cotton wool just because he can’t see.”

“I know.”

“And there’s another thing, Joy. I was looking out for you just now, through the window, and there was a man in the street. He was walking up and down, looking up at the houses. And then when your taxi stopped, he moved into the shadows, away from the lamplight.”

“Let’s take the dogs for a late-night walk. We can see if the man’s still there. And then we’ll go to your house and see if Dave’s back.”

“OK. I don’t want to go to Jack’s house and wake his dad up. He needs his sleep. He’s working too much and he’s looked awful recently.”

“Yes, I know,” said Joy as she put the dogs’ leads on. “Right, let’s see if the prowler is still wandering around out there.”

Chapter 19   A silken touch

“Do you think he’s gone?” Dave asked Jack.

“Yes, I think so,” said Jack, glancing at the entrance door to the caves. “He hasn’t shouted for a while.”

“I recognized his voice,” said Dave. “It was the man who came and talked to me at the hospital when Joy was having her head checked after the burglary. He said his name was Enver.”

“Enver?”

There was a gasp and a rustle of silk from behind the ticket desk.

Jack leaned over and shone his torch down behind the desk. He saw the ghostly girl crouching on the floor.

“Did you hear that? It’s the girl,” said Dave.

“Yes, she’s here, Dave. Behind the ticket desk.”

Dave moved closer to the desk and said, “Hi. Don’t be scared. My name’s Dave. I’m with my friend, Jack.”

“She’s trembling all over, Dave,” said Jack. “And her skin is all clammy and wet.”

He was interrupted by something crashing against the door.

“Liridona!” Enver’s voice shouted. “Liridona!”

“Jack, go to the office and phone the police from the landline,” said Dave. “Tell them there’s someone breaking into the Smugglers Adventure.”

As Jack walked over to the office, something crashed against the door again.

Suddenly, Dave felt a silken touch against his hand and a light breeze on his face as the girl ran past him in the direction of the Monks’ Walk. He set off after her. He felt sure that he could catch her up. The lack of light in the caves at night was no problem for him, but the girl would have to move slowly in the darkness. He walked quickly and silently down the Monks’ Walk.

Copyright © 2013 Fiona Cullen

All rights reserved.

ISBN-13: 978-1492203292