I visited a traditional country pub yesterday in the village of Charlton, near Goodwood. The pub has kept its dark wood interior and bar, while embracing the modern trend for gastro food. This it does in two separate dining areas which do not interfere with pub ambiance.
For a small pub, it had several cask beers, three ciders and the usually gassy stuff. The cask beers are all local Sussex micro brewers and one was called Fox, the same name as the pub. A plaque on the wall indicated that the first ever WI meeting in England was held here, and a picture on the wall showed Doctor Who, Sarah-Jane and the Brigadier in a scene which was filmed there too. A proper English pub.
Thursday 14 May 2009
Monday 11 May 2009
Britain in Bloom
Yesterday we were able to wander round our urban village, Oxton, and visit 30 or so secret gardens. It was the 30th year that the Oxton Society had staged this event, but the first time we had been able to make it in the seven years we have lived here.
It was staggering to see the variety and complexity of some of the layouts, as well as marvel at some of the houses which are usually hidden behind locked gates and high walls. It also showed us how much there was to Oxton that we had yet to explore.
We discovered unmade lanes with sandstone walls, long winding drives with night lights, small schools tucked away behind huge rhododendron bushes and an array of properties ranging from the mid to late 1800s through the war years to some modern day infills and blocks of flats.
For this one day of the year though, they had all made an effort, even those not included in the chosen 30, by leaving gates open and making front gardens at least a sight to behold.
Many gardens had something to offer in terms of layout, textural usage or planting structure, although most could have benefited by labelling the less common plants which they used, to help those of us who were looking for something different which would survive in the heavy clay and harsh North Westerly wind.
The pick of the bunch, however, was that which was 28 Christchurch Road. The site was originally the vicarage garden for Christ Church opposite, but the garden fell into disrepair and was sold off with planning permission for a house to be built. The vicarage was turned into flats, and that could have been the end of it. The people who brought the plot, however, were aware that the garden had been magical, with grotto';s waterfalls and much else besides. They researched and found the original plans and have now re-created a very impressive place. It is one of the gardens which opens on charity days, so we will probably pop back on 14th June when next it is available.
Full marks must go to the Liver Morrish Dancers who banged out three sets during the day. I do suspect they were getting a bit tipsy by the time they did the 3pm performance, but as its a dying pastime shunned by the youth of today, it was good nonetheless to see them perform with such enthusiasm.
All in all a good four hours spent, during which we met all our neighbours, who we only see when we are all out and about at such a time......
It was staggering to see the variety and complexity of some of the layouts, as well as marvel at some of the houses which are usually hidden behind locked gates and high walls. It also showed us how much there was to Oxton that we had yet to explore.
We discovered unmade lanes with sandstone walls, long winding drives with night lights, small schools tucked away behind huge rhododendron bushes and an array of properties ranging from the mid to late 1800s through the war years to some modern day infills and blocks of flats.
For this one day of the year though, they had all made an effort, even those not included in the chosen 30, by leaving gates open and making front gardens at least a sight to behold.
Many gardens had something to offer in terms of layout, textural usage or planting structure, although most could have benefited by labelling the less common plants which they used, to help those of us who were looking for something different which would survive in the heavy clay and harsh North Westerly wind.
The pick of the bunch, however, was that which was 28 Christchurch Road. The site was originally the vicarage garden for Christ Church opposite, but the garden fell into disrepair and was sold off with planning permission for a house to be built. The vicarage was turned into flats, and that could have been the end of it. The people who brought the plot, however, were aware that the garden had been magical, with grotto';s waterfalls and much else besides. They researched and found the original plans and have now re-created a very impressive place. It is one of the gardens which opens on charity days, so we will probably pop back on 14th June when next it is available.
Full marks must go to the Liver Morrish Dancers who banged out three sets during the day. I do suspect they were getting a bit tipsy by the time they did the 3pm performance, but as its a dying pastime shunned by the youth of today, it was good nonetheless to see them perform with such enthusiasm.
All in all a good four hours spent, during which we met all our neighbours, who we only see when we are all out and about at such a time......
Wednesday 6 May 2009
Tuesday 5 May 2009
And a fruit based drink for the lady
We went to see Al Murray at the weekend, aka The Pub Landlord. He was on at the Echo Arena, and we were curious to see how he would get on as he has had a rough ride in Scouseland on a few occasions.
His act started off as I expected, with him effectively identifying his foils who would be food and drink for him throughout the rest of the show. So, we had the fat bloke, the old bloke, the good looking girls, the intellectual, the getaway driver, a few nurses and secretary's, the lad who worked for a bank, and a few randoms which for this show included a 'finisher' and some stock takers from Morrison. Finally he found the ugly bloke batting way above his average, with a good looking girl.
He then ran a series of gags aimed at or involving each of these stereotypes, and frankly it was all a bit tedious. The stock takers took offense at the 'well you would in Liverpool wouldn't you' joke, and the Gordon Brown stories told in a Scottish accent, so they decided to heckle a bit. Sadly they were not very good at it, and after ten minutes or so they were shown the door.
He proved God was British with a few parables probably not from the Bible, which included alluding to the fact that he always stood his round, even if there were 5000 in the pub, which was amusing, he lambasted the London 2012 initiative, presumably to get the out of town sympathy vote, and ended by extolling the virtues of bacon as a hangover cure.
Would I go again? no, would I recommend him? only if he was doing a 30 minute slot in a comedy club, frankly he should stick to his TV chat show, but as SWMBO indicated, comedians only have a short shelf life so you have to go with it while you can.
His act started off as I expected, with him effectively identifying his foils who would be food and drink for him throughout the rest of the show. So, we had the fat bloke, the old bloke, the good looking girls, the intellectual, the getaway driver, a few nurses and secretary's, the lad who worked for a bank, and a few randoms which for this show included a 'finisher' and some stock takers from Morrison. Finally he found the ugly bloke batting way above his average, with a good looking girl.
He then ran a series of gags aimed at or involving each of these stereotypes, and frankly it was all a bit tedious. The stock takers took offense at the 'well you would in Liverpool wouldn't you' joke, and the Gordon Brown stories told in a Scottish accent, so they decided to heckle a bit. Sadly they were not very good at it, and after ten minutes or so they were shown the door.
He proved God was British with a few parables probably not from the Bible, which included alluding to the fact that he always stood his round, even if there were 5000 in the pub, which was amusing, he lambasted the London 2012 initiative, presumably to get the out of town sympathy vote, and ended by extolling the virtues of bacon as a hangover cure.
Would I go again? no, would I recommend him? only if he was doing a 30 minute slot in a comedy club, frankly he should stick to his TV chat show, but as SWMBO indicated, comedians only have a short shelf life so you have to go with it while you can.
Friday 1 May 2009
Another year goes by.......
Well another year goes by. Here we are on the first May 2009 and my blog is now 2 years old. It all started off you will recall, as a life journey with the focus being the selling of my London home. So whats happened?
Not a lot really, the current economic climate is well documented, and the house has been reduced in price accordingly. Not enough as far as the agents are concerned, but to a level I feel happy negotiating around, and which should give me scope to purchase a flat further down the line.
Up until recently there were three similar houses for sale in the Crescent, with mine being the mid-priced property. The lower priced one is now under offer, so it remains to be seen whether anybody will show interest in mine during June and July. If not, then I will remove the place from the market and bide my time. The number of flats around at the moment is low and their style and locations do not give me any enthusiasm to purchase which is also a bit disappointing, but I continue to take the stance that I am not selling to move into a place I am not happy living in.
Meanwhile its early Summer maintenance up North, and I suspect I have just scarified the lawn a bit too vigorously. Still grass is pretty resilient so it should recover in time for the first cricket match of the new season!!
I have finally got round to ordering a new car and we now are waiting to see if it or the new grandchild arrives first. Number two daughter is certainly growing a big bump and I am sure she can't wait to offload the offspring before the temperature hots up. Number two son is in the Dominican Republic at his bosses wedding and sounds like he is having a fine time. With a personal butler on call to run his bath, and a golf buggy available to transport him around the resort he should be.
What else will this third year in the life of The Philanderer hold I wonder, rest assured you will be the second or third to know.
Not a lot really, the current economic climate is well documented, and the house has been reduced in price accordingly. Not enough as far as the agents are concerned, but to a level I feel happy negotiating around, and which should give me scope to purchase a flat further down the line.
Up until recently there were three similar houses for sale in the Crescent, with mine being the mid-priced property. The lower priced one is now under offer, so it remains to be seen whether anybody will show interest in mine during June and July. If not, then I will remove the place from the market and bide my time. The number of flats around at the moment is low and their style and locations do not give me any enthusiasm to purchase which is also a bit disappointing, but I continue to take the stance that I am not selling to move into a place I am not happy living in.
Meanwhile its early Summer maintenance up North, and I suspect I have just scarified the lawn a bit too vigorously. Still grass is pretty resilient so it should recover in time for the first cricket match of the new season!!
I have finally got round to ordering a new car and we now are waiting to see if it or the new grandchild arrives first. Number two daughter is certainly growing a big bump and I am sure she can't wait to offload the offspring before the temperature hots up. Number two son is in the Dominican Republic at his bosses wedding and sounds like he is having a fine time. With a personal butler on call to run his bath, and a golf buggy available to transport him around the resort he should be.
What else will this third year in the life of The Philanderer hold I wonder, rest assured you will be the second or third to know.
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