Best Shot Monday: Happy New UFO (edited version)

How cool is this???? Click and look at it large! I am stoked by this one!!

So, what IS it I hear you ask????? A fair question which I am at loss to answer. I know WHERE it is (end of Brighton Jetty). I know when I took the shot (about 1 am) but I am as yet unsure of the actual purpose of the structure! :-) Here's a shot of it in the daytime.

So let me fill in a few gaps. It's New Year's Eve 2007. We've been to a lovely party, seen midnight in watching the fireworks from my friend's front steps and now my UK brother in law wants to do what you NEVER do in the UK on NYE.....walk on a beach.

So we headed down to Brighton Beach at around 1am. The temp was still around 36C, the water was heavenly; foam glowing in the moonlight, sand hard and crusty, drunks vocal and damp. The BA, on only her 3rd NYE awake took this shot of the three of us, silly and happy.

In the background of this photo, top left, you can see the structure which is my 'best shot'. It's a sort of 'lit tower' on the end of the pier. I don't know if it has any purpose at all. Perhaps it is a Telecom network tower or something...who knows. Regardless, it is cleverly lit and made a great shot when we reached it at the end of the pier.

The end of the pier was an experience in itself. We met up with party friends on the beach (the joy of mobile phones) and BA insisted on the jetty walk. Half way down the pier we came upon an Asian family training small dogs to stand on their hind legs. Now why didn't I think of doing that for NY?? When we got to the end we discovered the whole NY Testosterone thing.

"Happy New Year love."
"Oh, yes, Happy NY."
"Are you jumping off then?"
(Me)"Hhahahahahahahahha. Not in a million years."
(Him) looks at me as if...well what have you bovvered to walk all this way for??
(Him turns his attention to Big J) "What about you mate??? You jumpin in?
(BigJ has an accent like the Queen)" Err I don't think so, thank you anyway."
"Cuuuuuuuume on mate! It's 2008. It's New Year's Eve. You gotta do it."

Ignoring the confusion in logic contained in the last statement several of us exclaimed over the safety issues involved. None of this seemed to deter Testosterone Man who climbed over the barrier and, clinging Kate Winslett like to the railing, embraced his lady friend in a final exhortation (fantastic word eh??) to join him in his leap into the unknown. She declined but kissed him soundly.

At this point my group urged me to stop taking blog oriented photos of 'the locals' and accompany them back to the relative safety of the shore.Here's a gentleman who made the jump and survived!

Here's a lady who shrieked when I took her picture.
"I can't stand these b***** maggots."
I think she was fishing......or it was a commentary on the locals....

Here's a bunch pleased their mate surfaced after the jump....

Here's the gang suggesting it's time we went home before I got them all into trouble!

We started to walk back to civilisation but my attention was caught again by the partner of Testosterone Man who at this stage seemed to be peering over the edge of the pier into the inky abyss below wherein her love lay, dog paddling. He seemed to be calling up to her that she join him in the water and we began cautioning her as to why it was a bad idea.

"It might be shallow," I suggested,"You could break something."
"Yes, think of all the trouble you went to tonight to make yourself look beautiful," my sister suggested,"You'll ruin your makeup."
"I'd totally go in if it wasn't dark and I had my bathers," called the BA. (not helpful)
"Don't follow the crowd," a friend begged,"It isn't worth it."

"Uh huh," muttered Miss Testosterone Boy..."And I only met him tonight....."

We left the pier, safe in the assurance that she was unlikely to fling herself over the edge for Mr "I Just Met Him Tonight." I've never seen Big J walk so fast. Except for the time we suggested he accompany us into the Supre sale and that was in the opposite direction!!!! :-D

For more Best Shot Monday , click over to Mother May I?

(edited to include more accurate information from the BA)