Dreams of ukuleles and houseboats in Shoreham-by-sea

On Sunday morning I went to the Ukulele Breakfast at Shoreham's Beach Dreams festival. This year's uke event was led by Wukulele's Harriet Booth, Uke At The Duke's Lawrie Stevens and Teena Fox. In the middle of a marquee - edged with craft stalls and a cafe serving proper coffee, cooked breakfasts and homemade cakes - the trio introduced complete beginners to basic uke strumming techniques, armed them with some starter chords and then led us all in a rousing jam session.

The route back to Shoreham station took me along the riverbank and to the Good Ship Verda, open for the tenth year running as an exhibition venue on Adur Art Trail. Verda is the creation, home and studio of artist Hamish McKenzie. This vast vessel includes an ex-passenger ferry and a 1970s Duple Dominant coach among its incredible architectural features. Inside, the shiny wooden floor slopes dramatically and light streams in through a glass dome in the ceiling. The coach windows are hung with yards of covetable vintage Liberty Bauhaus fabric. It's a work of art in itself.