Further reminiscing about the old days came to mind again while I was in Limehouse. I was bored one night so went for a stroll 'inland'. You can imagine my surprise when I happened upon a small park, surrounded by the most wonderful Georgian terraces. These houses on York Square, and a few streets around it had survived the blitz and are now I am sure much sought after properties being walking distance from Canary Wharf and less than five minutes from the Docklands Light railway ( DLR).
As I further explored the area, I revisited The Queens Head, a Young's pub which I and a work colleague, Mike McBride, had been to in the late 70's when we were attempting to join the 135 Club.
This club was open to anybody who had travel to, and drank in, every one of the pubs which made up the Young's estate. The number fluctuated as the brewery opened and closed pubs, but the 135 Club name remained.
We visited the Queens Head after we had knocked off The Ship in Rotherhithe, The Crown in Lee and The Richard I in Greenwich. We then darted through the tunnel, ticked off the Queens Head then bombed down the A11 to Barking to do The Britannia, a fine pub with a figurehead as the pub sign. Sadly it is no longer in the Young's estate. So much for drinking and driving.
The final pub we visited some time later to qualify for the 135 Club was The Bishop out of Residence, in Kingston, Surrey. It was its opening day and we were lucky enough to get John Young, the chairman, to sign our card. It was 31st October 1979.
Young's no longer brews beer after selling its Wandsworth brewery in 2007 and tying up with Charles Wells, the makers of Wells Fargo. Earlier this year it sold its last remaining share in the joint venture and now concentrates on its real estate. Young's beer is still available in its outlets, but it is now brewed exclusively by Charles Wells.
Anyway, back to The Queens Head, and York Square. It may be an urban myth, but the word is that the Square and the pub gave the producers of Eastenders, the perfect model for Albert Square and the Queen Vic which feature so prominently in the soap opera.
The pub was really quiet when I went in and messageboards do indicate this to be the case. You wonder how some of these small old traditional outlets do survive.
Across the square was another pub, The Old Ship, which was closed the night I was there. It is one of the major drag artist pubs in the East End and attracts a gay and mixed crowd on the nights it is open. On Thursdaynights one of the drag queens hosts a quiz night. That would be quite interesting.
Given the area these pubs are located I would have thought a gastro and a wine bar would have been a perfect combination, given the gay community in Limehouse seems to be well served elsewhere. That said, the pink pound is still a most welcome commodity!!
Thursday 22 December 2011
Thursday 8 December 2011
Betamax and 8 track tapes
This list was published in the paper this morning. Now I have highlighted those which I do, and there are quite a lot, but I don't think I am in any way a digital dinosaur.
Duties for digital dinosaurs:
1. Ring the cinema to find out times
2. Go to the travel agents’ to research a holiday
3. Record things using VHS
4. Dial directory enquiries
5. Use public phones
6. Book tickets over the phone
7. Print photos
8. Put an ad in the shop window
9. Ring the speaking clock
10. Carry portable CD players
11. Write handwritten letters
12. Buy disposable cameras
13. Take change for pay phones
14. Make mix tapes
15. Pay bills at the post office
16. Use an address book
17. Check a map for a car journey
18. Reverse charges in payphones
19. Visit a bank or building society
20. Buy TV listings
21. Own an encyclopedia
22. Queue for car tax at the post office
23. Develop and send off for photos
24. Read the Yellow Pages
25. Look up something in a dictionary
26. Remember phone numbers or have a phone book
27. Watch videos
28. Have pen friends
29. Use a phone directory
30. Use pagers
31. Fax things
32. Buy CDs or have a CD collection
33. Pay by cheque
34. Make photo albums
35. Watch programmes at the time they are shown
36. Dial 1471
37. Warm hot drinks on the stove
38. Try on lots of shoes in shops
39. Hand wash clothes
40. Advertise in trading papers
41. Send love letters
42. Hand-write essays/schoolwork
43. Buy flowers from a florist
44. Work out how to spell something yourself
45. Keep a personal diary
46. Send postcards
47. Buy newspapers
48. Hang washing out in winter
49. Keep printed bills or statements
50. Go to car boot sales
32 I did yesterday, and 45 is what this blog is all about. What is very worrying though is the implication that books, newspapers and other printed matter is considered old hat by the younger generation. That contrasts with the comments made recently by Peter Andre where he extolled the virtues of the bedtime story read from a book with pictures and charactures, and not a Kindle. People develop an imagination, and creativity by examining the written word and there isno better way of doing it than by using an encyclopedia or dictionary.
I remember my Uncle impressing on me the value of looking up a word in the dictionary or a topic in an encyclopedia, and then absorbing the work or article above and below it, that's how a vocabulary builds up, not by embracing Wikipedia.
As for number 50, what better way to spend a Sunday morning than rummaging through somebody elses cast offs looking for that one item you have craved for years. I love it, and indeed, one of my first blogs extolled the virtues of car boot sales
Duties for digital dinosaurs:
1. Ring the cinema to find out times
2. Go to the travel agents’ to research a holiday
3. Record things using VHS
4. Dial directory enquiries
5. Use public phones
6. Book tickets over the phone
7. Print photos
8. Put an ad in the shop window
9. Ring the speaking clock
10. Carry portable CD players
11. Write handwritten letters
12. Buy disposable cameras
13. Take change for pay phones
14. Make mix tapes
15. Pay bills at the post office
16. Use an address book
17. Check a map for a car journey
18. Reverse charges in payphones
19. Visit a bank or building society
20. Buy TV listings
21. Own an encyclopedia
22. Queue for car tax at the post office
23. Develop and send off for photos
24. Read the Yellow Pages
25. Look up something in a dictionary
26. Remember phone numbers or have a phone book
27. Watch videos
28. Have pen friends
29. Use a phone directory
30. Use pagers
31. Fax things
32. Buy CDs or have a CD collection
33. Pay by cheque
34. Make photo albums
35. Watch programmes at the time they are shown
36. Dial 1471
37. Warm hot drinks on the stove
38. Try on lots of shoes in shops
39. Hand wash clothes
40. Advertise in trading papers
41. Send love letters
42. Hand-write essays/schoolwork
43. Buy flowers from a florist
44. Work out how to spell something yourself
45. Keep a personal diary
46. Send postcards
47. Buy newspapers
48. Hang washing out in winter
49. Keep printed bills or statements
50. Go to car boot sales
32 I did yesterday, and 45 is what this blog is all about. What is very worrying though is the implication that books, newspapers and other printed matter is considered old hat by the younger generation. That contrasts with the comments made recently by Peter Andre where he extolled the virtues of the bedtime story read from a book with pictures and charactures, and not a Kindle. People develop an imagination, and creativity by examining the written word and there isno better way of doing it than by using an encyclopedia or dictionary.
I remember my Uncle impressing on me the value of looking up a word in the dictionary or a topic in an encyclopedia, and then absorbing the work or article above and below it, that's how a vocabulary builds up, not by embracing Wikipedia.
As for number 50, what better way to spend a Sunday morning than rummaging through somebody elses cast offs looking for that one item you have craved for years. I love it, and indeed, one of my first blogs extolled the virtues of car boot sales
Wednesday 7 December 2011
Docklands revisited
I am experiencing the East End of London at the moment in a way I have not done for over 35 years. Work has taken me down to Canary Wharf, and I am billeted in Shadwell between Wapping and Limehouse.
Now Shadwell is a huge tenement style development which recently has been populated by the Bangladeshi community. It contributes to Tower Hamlets challenge as a deprived inner city borough.This maintains the heritage of the area as it has been the home and settlement for South Asian sailors brought over to work for the East India Company as well as Chinese and Greek seaman many of whom intermarried and co-habited with locals. It is interesting how areas of high poverty can co-exist so close to wealthy financial districts like Canary Wharf.
The stretch of land between the Limehouse Link , a four lane highway parallel to Commercial Road, and the river Thames is now a sought after settlement for people employed in Canary Wharf. New blocks of flats have been built and many of the old warehouses have been converted into sought after residences. Many have kept the name of the wharves on which they reside.
It was down to Wapping that I ventured initially to re-visit the Prospect of Whitby one of the oldest riverside pubs in the Capital. A regular haunt for 'hanging' Judge Jefferys in the 17th century, there has been a tavern on the site for over 400 years. Execution Dock next door got its name from the practise of tying pirates to stakes in the river and waiting for the tide to come in and drown them.
Last night there was no evidence of that, just a good traditional pub menu and a few good beers. The pub is now on the tourist track and two coach parties came while I was there, but the pub layout allowed one such to go upstairs to the function room and another into the restaurant, leaving the drinkers to the bar area.
Now when I was last here in about 1975, there was a roaring log fire. This has been replaced by an enclosed wood burning stove but other than that it stays a good old fashioned pub which befits the area.
The other 'trendy' riverside pub in the area is The Grapes in Narrow Street, and no premise could have been better placed. The pub was recently acquired by Ian McKellen, Gandalf in Lord of the Rings amongst other things, and an ex-gay lover, and must be one of
the narrowest pubs in the C0untry. There is seating for 8 as you walk in, four stools beside the bar and seating for about 12 in the back bar. A small terrace overlooks the river at the back.
There is a restaurant upstairs, but I took the opportunity to try the bar menu, and found this delightful combination. The only thing to spoil the visit was the fact the two barmaids were amongst the most miserable and dull you could have. Pity really as the place needed a bit of vitality behind the bar to finish it off.
On the subject of gays, I was lucky to spot the local pub, The White Swan, was listed as a gay pub before I went in to it. otherwise I could have been in trouble, Limehouse must be a spot!
Now Shadwell is a huge tenement style development which recently has been populated by the Bangladeshi community. It contributes to Tower Hamlets challenge as a deprived inner city borough.This maintains the heritage of the area as it has been the home and settlement for South Asian sailors brought over to work for the East India Company as well as Chinese and Greek seaman many of whom intermarried and co-habited with locals. It is interesting how areas of high poverty can co-exist so close to wealthy financial districts like Canary Wharf.
The stretch of land between the Limehouse Link , a four lane highway parallel to Commercial Road, and the river Thames is now a sought after settlement for people employed in Canary Wharf. New blocks of flats have been built and many of the old warehouses have been converted into sought after residences. Many have kept the name of the wharves on which they reside.
It was down to Wapping that I ventured initially to re-visit the Prospect of Whitby one of the oldest riverside pubs in the Capital. A regular haunt for 'hanging' Judge Jefferys in the 17th century, there has been a tavern on the site for over 400 years. Execution Dock next door got its name from the practise of tying pirates to stakes in the river and waiting for the tide to come in and drown them.
Last night there was no evidence of that, just a good traditional pub menu and a few good beers. The pub is now on the tourist track and two coach parties came while I was there, but the pub layout allowed one such to go upstairs to the function room and another into the restaurant, leaving the drinkers to the bar area.
Now when I was last here in about 1975, there was a roaring log fire. This has been replaced by an enclosed wood burning stove but other than that it stays a good old fashioned pub which befits the area.
The other 'trendy' riverside pub in the area is The Grapes in Narrow Street, and no premise could have been better placed. The pub was recently acquired by Ian McKellen, Gandalf in Lord of the Rings amongst other things, and an ex-gay lover, and must be one of
the narrowest pubs in the C0untry. There is seating for 8 as you walk in, four stools beside the bar and seating for about 12 in the back bar. A small terrace overlooks the river at the back.There is a restaurant upstairs, but I took the opportunity to try the bar menu, and found this delightful combination. The only thing to spoil the visit was the fact the two barmaids were amongst the most miserable and dull you could have. Pity really as the place needed a bit of vitality behind the bar to finish it off.
On the subject of gays, I was lucky to spot the local pub, The White Swan, was listed as a gay pub before I went in to it. otherwise I could have been in trouble, Limehouse must be a spot!
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Swing low sweet chariot, you're as low as you can go
A comment by Des Kelly in the Daily Mail this weekend really hit the spot.
....'rugby union can no longer look down its nose at footballers in a condescending manner. The game is up. Posh lads misbehave too.....'
Both halves of the comment are true, the linkage, however, may be inappropriate. The rugby players who considered themselves superior to professional footballers were themselves professionals. They were, however, army officers, teachers, solicitors, bank managers, policemen and doctors. All five nations had them in their ranks, although the farmers of Scotland and the miners of Wales were only too happy to put it over the English toffs given the chance.
These days rugby players are sporting professionals. There are no career backgrounds to mould a stereotype out of, and thereby lies the problem which has been laid bare at the feet of the RFU in England. The players are interested in money, they want to do the job with as little effort as they can, and they have no respect for the old school who are trying to hang onto the remnants of the game as they knew it.
The other home nations, with maybe the French as an exception, have had less of a cultural upheaval as they embraced professionalism. There is less money, are less clubs and less players, and we all know the Welsh were being paid anyway, long before they were allowed to be!!
So English rugby is in one heck of a mess; no structure, no CEO and no team management. Who then is going to step forward as the catalyst of change? I wonder if Seb Coe knows anything about rugby?
....'rugby union can no longer look down its nose at footballers in a condescending manner. The game is up. Posh lads misbehave too.....'
Both halves of the comment are true, the linkage, however, may be inappropriate. The rugby players who considered themselves superior to professional footballers were themselves professionals. They were, however, army officers, teachers, solicitors, bank managers, policemen and doctors. All five nations had them in their ranks, although the farmers of Scotland and the miners of Wales were only too happy to put it over the English toffs given the chance.
These days rugby players are sporting professionals. There are no career backgrounds to mould a stereotype out of, and thereby lies the problem which has been laid bare at the feet of the RFU in England. The players are interested in money, they want to do the job with as little effort as they can, and they have no respect for the old school who are trying to hang onto the remnants of the game as they knew it.
The other home nations, with maybe the French as an exception, have had less of a cultural upheaval as they embraced professionalism. There is less money, are less clubs and less players, and we all know the Welsh were being paid anyway, long before they were allowed to be!!
So English rugby is in one heck of a mess; no structure, no CEO and no team management. Who then is going to step forward as the catalyst of change? I wonder if Seb Coe knows anything about rugby?
Monday 14 November 2011
The Dinner's in the Dog
Trouble is we never had a dog, so more than likely the dinner was in the bin. So what brought that on then? A bit of history will explain.
It has just come to my attention that a pub in East Croydon, The Porter and Sorter is about to be demolished to make way for a redevelopment. The site of which the pub is a part sits opposite a ten story building which used to house the major London computer centre for IBM.
It was here nearly forty years ago that I first started work. I attended the building for aptitude tests and interviews before being offered a job as a computer operator, working a three shift system for the princely sum of £1200 per annum plus shift premium. Occasionally one was required to work 'float' which meant you covered core hours 10am to 6pm and it was while working these hours that the Porter and Sorter came into its own.
The pub was the hub of the social network of the building. The management team would go there after work, and occasionally the sales director and other high flyers would join them. It was a place where all grades in the Company could go and socialise in a way rarely experienced now. The hours just passed in a blur, but with the station right next door, people would fall out of the pub and not need to think about drinking and driving. The problems occurred when you got home bladdered several hours later than expected.
At one point previous to my employment the brewery decided the pub needed a new name, so they commissioned a competition to find a suitable one. A smart man in IBM suggested The Sweaty Sock for no better reason than he was a Jocko. Word got round that this was the proposed IBM name and consequently it won hands down. The brewery, however, did not feel it was an appropriate name and given the pub sat between the station and the post office, The Porter and Sorter was the name they decided on.
The work ethic of the seventies and eighties was very much a work hard, play hard one, and the pub epitomised all that was good about the office. Sadly all that has now been lost as people work from home or are based on client premises. IBM is closing offices with great regularity now, with the Croydon branch closing nearly 15 years ago. The social fabric of the business is being fragmented as a result. Graduates joining the Compnay now know no different, and with their extensive training programme and intern arrangements, they are one part of the organisation which maintains a community feel.
Its we 'living legends' who watch with sadness as the fabric which we were such a part of crumbles before our eyes. The demolition of the Porter and Sorter may just be the final nail in the coffin. Its work Jim but not as we know it.
It has just come to my attention that a pub in East Croydon, The Porter and Sorter is about to be demolished to make way for a redevelopment. The site of which the pub is a part sits opposite a ten story building which used to house the major London computer centre for IBM.
It was here nearly forty years ago that I first started work. I attended the building for aptitude tests and interviews before being offered a job as a computer operator, working a three shift system for the princely sum of £1200 per annum plus shift premium. Occasionally one was required to work 'float' which meant you covered core hours 10am to 6pm and it was while working these hours that the Porter and Sorter came into its own.
The pub was the hub of the social network of the building. The management team would go there after work, and occasionally the sales director and other high flyers would join them. It was a place where all grades in the Company could go and socialise in a way rarely experienced now. The hours just passed in a blur, but with the station right next door, people would fall out of the pub and not need to think about drinking and driving. The problems occurred when you got home bladdered several hours later than expected.
At one point previous to my employment the brewery decided the pub needed a new name, so they commissioned a competition to find a suitable one. A smart man in IBM suggested The Sweaty Sock for no better reason than he was a Jocko. Word got round that this was the proposed IBM name and consequently it won hands down. The brewery, however, did not feel it was an appropriate name and given the pub sat between the station and the post office, The Porter and Sorter was the name they decided on.
The work ethic of the seventies and eighties was very much a work hard, play hard one, and the pub epitomised all that was good about the office. Sadly all that has now been lost as people work from home or are based on client premises. IBM is closing offices with great regularity now, with the Croydon branch closing nearly 15 years ago. The social fabric of the business is being fragmented as a result. Graduates joining the Compnay now know no different, and with their extensive training programme and intern arrangements, they are one part of the organisation which maintains a community feel.
Its we 'living legends' who watch with sadness as the fabric which we were such a part of crumbles before our eyes. The demolition of the Porter and Sorter may just be the final nail in the coffin. Its work Jim but not as we know it.
Wednesday 26 October 2011
Coke en stock
Steven Spielberg is about to hit another rich vein of media revenue when he releases The Adventures of Tintin later this month.
For four years, however, Bienvenu Mbutu Mondondo, a Congolese citizen has been conducting a case of racism against one of the earliest books, Tintin in the Congo. The book was banned in Britain in 2007 for making Africans look like monkeys and talk like imbeciles, however, it is from a bygone age and the publishers when defending the charges have described it as like taking a knife to Charles Dickens works based on his portrayal of Jews.
While Belgium's record on slavery in the Congo still causes emotions to run high, The Red Sea Sharks, the nineteenth of the Adventures of Tintin, written and illustrated by Herge, features the young reporter Tintin and his side kick Captian Haddock as the hero's, when they battle against slavers in West Africa.. Indeed the books original French title is Coke en Stock a codename used by the villainous antagonists of the story for African slaves. This might have been a better book to use as an example of the exploitation of the Congolese population when looking for a racist test case.
For four years, however, Bienvenu Mbutu Mondondo, a Congolese citizen has been conducting a case of racism against one of the earliest books, Tintin in the Congo. The book was banned in Britain in 2007 for making Africans look like monkeys and talk like imbeciles, however, it is from a bygone age and the publishers when defending the charges have described it as like taking a knife to Charles Dickens works based on his portrayal of Jews.
While Belgium's record on slavery in the Congo still causes emotions to run high, The Red Sea Sharks, the nineteenth of the Adventures of Tintin, written and illustrated by Herge, features the young reporter Tintin and his side kick Captian Haddock as the hero's, when they battle against slavers in West Africa.. Indeed the books original French title is Coke en Stock a codename used by the villainous antagonists of the story for African slaves. This might have been a better book to use as an example of the exploitation of the Congolese population when looking for a racist test case.
Monday 17 October 2011
Good game, good game.....
You get to know when Christmas is sneaking up on you. The television running order begins to be dominated by programmes, the format of which is decided by viewers preference.
The X -Factor must be the market leader in this particular category, so it is difficult for other networks to pitch against it and expect to do well. As a best effort, the BBC put their own celebrity tomfoolery fest, Strictly Come Dancing, on a tad earlier in the hope of maintaining the audience later into the evening. I doubt it works, and i do wonder how they continue to pay homage to the doddering old fool who comperes it.
Many years ago Bruce Forsyth was a marvellous performer in the old Victorian music hall traditions. He was multifaceted and as a result got many major roles in theatre and television.
He is best known for hosting Saturday Night at the London Palladium in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and hosting high profile game shows like The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right and The Price is Right. All in all he had a long and successful career.
Not satisfied with that, however, he suddenly decided he should be Sir Bruce Forsyth, and started a very public and, to my mind, distasteful campaign to obtain his ultimate goal. He is a fairly ruthless individual on the golf course, where he takes the attitude that if he is playing everybody else should get out of his way, and he brought the same attitude to his knighthood campaign. He solicited the help of high profile friends and colleagues, and eventually in the 2011 Birthday honours list he achieved his aim.
Personally I think it stinks. I have always thought the award of an honour by the Queen should be something which surprises as much as rewards, and to be blatant about such a thing would immediately disqualify the person from ever receiving it.
Sir Bruce, however, got his award and he continues to crack puerile jokes and struggle to read his q- card every Saturday night, so at least those watching Strictly can see at first hand what a bumbling buffoon he has become. Didn't he do well!
The X -Factor must be the market leader in this particular category, so it is difficult for other networks to pitch against it and expect to do well. As a best effort, the BBC put their own celebrity tomfoolery fest, Strictly Come Dancing, on a tad earlier in the hope of maintaining the audience later into the evening. I doubt it works, and i do wonder how they continue to pay homage to the doddering old fool who comperes it.
Many years ago Bruce Forsyth was a marvellous performer in the old Victorian music hall traditions. He was multifaceted and as a result got many major roles in theatre and television.
He is best known for hosting Saturday Night at the London Palladium in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and hosting high profile game shows like The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right and The Price is Right. All in all he had a long and successful career.
Not satisfied with that, however, he suddenly decided he should be Sir Bruce Forsyth, and started a very public and, to my mind, distasteful campaign to obtain his ultimate goal. He is a fairly ruthless individual on the golf course, where he takes the attitude that if he is playing everybody else should get out of his way, and he brought the same attitude to his knighthood campaign. He solicited the help of high profile friends and colleagues, and eventually in the 2011 Birthday honours list he achieved his aim.
Personally I think it stinks. I have always thought the award of an honour by the Queen should be something which surprises as much as rewards, and to be blatant about such a thing would immediately disqualify the person from ever receiving it.
Sir Bruce, however, got his award and he continues to crack puerile jokes and struggle to read his q- card every Saturday night, so at least those watching Strictly can see at first hand what a bumbling buffoon he has become. Didn't he do well!
Friday 14 October 2011
Fork 'andles
I've a rugby club golf trip coming up shortly and one of the evening themes is ecclesiastical dress.
I just popped into the local fancy dress shop and asked for a dog collar, she passed me a collar for a dog!
I felt like The Two Ronnies!!!
I just popped into the local fancy dress shop and asked for a dog collar, she passed me a collar for a dog!
I felt like The Two Ronnies!!!
Sunday 9 October 2011
Once a policeman, always a policeman
When I started this blog in 2007 there was a Rugby World Cup scheduled, in France, and my trip to Bordeaux was documented, as were other aspects of the event. England you may recall got thumped by South Africa in their group game, were panned by the press, had a player revolt and eventually reached the final where they lost again to South Africa.
This year England stuttered through the group stages before they lost yesterday to an average French side in the quarter finals. To describe the French as average may be heaping too much praise on them, only their performance against Wales in the semi final will see whether I am being fair or not.
One expects French teams to have you on the edge of your seat every time their three-quarters get the ball. Alas that has not happened for a number of years as constant rule changes have seen the space on the field condensed into narrow corridors of opportunity which are swiftly snubbed out by brick outhouse size players.
Consider the game today when Australia beat South Africa. South Africa had 74% of the possession and Australia made a whopping 147 tackles in the game, that's nearly two a minute.
It was exciting but for totally gladiatorial reasons. There was little running rugby in the match.
England, of course, can't play running rugby. They are often starved of the ball by the opposition and the good sides use that superiority to run England ragged. Ireland in Dublin this year, New Zealand and South Africa at will, and now France.
The boys do go out on the lash occasionally in reverence to the old game of rugby which I and my peers played, but unfortunately the British press, particularly the red tops, are less inclined to reminisce about the good old days. Its a game for today and sadly England are a team for yesterday.
The coach Martin Johnson has not yet fallen on his sword, and with the RFU without a CEO and CIO equivalent, there is nobody to unsheathe it for him. Rob Andrew is a chartered surveyor by trade. You would think he would be able to identify the structural damage which the Johnson era is causing to the English game.
He indicated in his press conference that this group will get better as they are a young side. I suspect Cuerto, Shaw, Tindell, Thompson, Deacon, Easter, Moody and Wilkinson will be flattered by such accolades. There were young players Johnson could have picked, but he builds a team in his own (public) image, dull, grumpy, unimaginative and uninspiring. Move over and let someone else have a go. The game is still the low point of a day out at Twickenham, it needs to change
This year England stuttered through the group stages before they lost yesterday to an average French side in the quarter finals. To describe the French as average may be heaping too much praise on them, only their performance against Wales in the semi final will see whether I am being fair or not.
One expects French teams to have you on the edge of your seat every time their three-quarters get the ball. Alas that has not happened for a number of years as constant rule changes have seen the space on the field condensed into narrow corridors of opportunity which are swiftly snubbed out by brick outhouse size players.
Consider the game today when Australia beat South Africa. South Africa had 74% of the possession and Australia made a whopping 147 tackles in the game, that's nearly two a minute.
It was exciting but for totally gladiatorial reasons. There was little running rugby in the match.
England, of course, can't play running rugby. They are often starved of the ball by the opposition and the good sides use that superiority to run England ragged. Ireland in Dublin this year, New Zealand and South Africa at will, and now France.
The boys do go out on the lash occasionally in reverence to the old game of rugby which I and my peers played, but unfortunately the British press, particularly the red tops, are less inclined to reminisce about the good old days. Its a game for today and sadly England are a team for yesterday.
The coach Martin Johnson has not yet fallen on his sword, and with the RFU without a CEO and CIO equivalent, there is nobody to unsheathe it for him. Rob Andrew is a chartered surveyor by trade. You would think he would be able to identify the structural damage which the Johnson era is causing to the English game.
He indicated in his press conference that this group will get better as they are a young side. I suspect Cuerto, Shaw, Tindell, Thompson, Deacon, Easter, Moody and Wilkinson will be flattered by such accolades. There were young players Johnson could have picked, but he builds a team in his own (public) image, dull, grumpy, unimaginative and uninspiring. Move over and let someone else have a go. The game is still the low point of a day out at Twickenham, it needs to change
Tuesday 4 October 2011
Move that aerial a bit will you......
Today was a pivotal one in so far as the broadcasting of Premier League football in pubs and bars is concerned.
While it may now allow these establishments to screen events for a much cheaper rate, and ensure some of them stay as viable businesses, let's not lose sight of the wider implications.
It is, after all, great news for Greece, perhaps they can now use the income from their cheaper signal decoders to reduce their budget deficit!!!
While it may now allow these establishments to screen events for a much cheaper rate, and ensure some of them stay as viable businesses, let's not lose sight of the wider implications.
It is, after all, great news for Greece, perhaps they can now use the income from their cheaper signal decoders to reduce their budget deficit!!!
Friday 16 September 2011
Take a bow son, take a bow....
I have been wondering about the quality of sports commentators over the last few weeks.
I have always been very negative towards Eddie Butler when he has tried to commentate on rugby for the BBC. I think I am justified too. He is an ex-captain of the Wales 1st XV and as such should have a good grasp of the Laws of the game, and some sort of tactical nous. He demonstrates neither. His side kick Brian Moore is a very clever narrator and writer, but he adds nothing to the Stadler and Waldorf double act which they have long been.
I was relieved, therefore, that neither are being involved in the ITV coverage of the Rugby World Cup in the coming weeks.
I am now seriously considering my position. The ITV coverage is awful. Its not all their fault of course, well actually yes it is, but neither ITV or BBC have sufficient regular commentary opportunities given most of the day to day rugby is on Sky. That said, Phil Vickery, son of Cornwall and all , adds about as much specialist insight as Gabby Logan would. Poor old Steve Ryder must wonder how he manipulates his panel of experts such that they do not resemble a bunch of Muppets.
So rugby has a challenge, but in a few weeks normal service will be resumed and Sky will be back in the driving seat. You have to feel, therefore, for Sky. Last season they sacked Andy Gray and Rob Key from their prime time football slots for inappropriate sexual comments which were caught on mike, off air.
I suspect now they wish they had disciplined them and left them in their roles. Why? well they have been replaced by Geoff Snelling, and there is no problem there, but he is being supported by Gary Neville and Ray Wilkins.
Now if I was an insomniac, the chances of me staying awake through a Sky televised footie match would be absolutely zero. You could train Neville to say all the right things, but an accent and the associated inflection are inbred. He is the dullest, least emotional, man you could wish to have on commentary. Maybe if Snelling dressed in a referee outfit you might see some rage out of him, otherwise its all gloom and doom.
The same is true of Wilkins. He brings his own brand of English to the role, and his comment is as bland as his play was. Come on Sky sort it out.
On BBC there is at least the option to listen to the radio commentary rather than the TV. I do remember Sky having a 'crowd noise only' option, I wonder if they still do?
I have always been very negative towards Eddie Butler when he has tried to commentate on rugby for the BBC. I think I am justified too. He is an ex-captain of the Wales 1st XV and as such should have a good grasp of the Laws of the game, and some sort of tactical nous. He demonstrates neither. His side kick Brian Moore is a very clever narrator and writer, but he adds nothing to the Stadler and Waldorf double act which they have long been.
I was relieved, therefore, that neither are being involved in the ITV coverage of the Rugby World Cup in the coming weeks.
I am now seriously considering my position. The ITV coverage is awful. Its not all their fault of course, well actually yes it is, but neither ITV or BBC have sufficient regular commentary opportunities given most of the day to day rugby is on Sky. That said, Phil Vickery, son of Cornwall and all , adds about as much specialist insight as Gabby Logan would. Poor old Steve Ryder must wonder how he manipulates his panel of experts such that they do not resemble a bunch of Muppets.
So rugby has a challenge, but in a few weeks normal service will be resumed and Sky will be back in the driving seat. You have to feel, therefore, for Sky. Last season they sacked Andy Gray and Rob Key from their prime time football slots for inappropriate sexual comments which were caught on mike, off air.
I suspect now they wish they had disciplined them and left them in their roles. Why? well they have been replaced by Geoff Snelling, and there is no problem there, but he is being supported by Gary Neville and Ray Wilkins.
Now if I was an insomniac, the chances of me staying awake through a Sky televised footie match would be absolutely zero. You could train Neville to say all the right things, but an accent and the associated inflection are inbred. He is the dullest, least emotional, man you could wish to have on commentary. Maybe if Snelling dressed in a referee outfit you might see some rage out of him, otherwise its all gloom and doom.
The same is true of Wilkins. He brings his own brand of English to the role, and his comment is as bland as his play was. Come on Sky sort it out.
On BBC there is at least the option to listen to the radio commentary rather than the TV. I do remember Sky having a 'crowd noise only' option, I wonder if they still do?
Tuesday 9 August 2011
Heros and Villains
Amateur psychologists will be having a field day today following an increase in the looting and rioting which is affecting London, and now, other parts of the Country.
There always seems to be a backlash from the black community whenever their brothers and the police are involved in arms related confrontations, particularly when one of their own ends up dead. Events in Tottenham which led to the death are still subject to the two sides of a story principal, but with the Broadwater Farm estate being a tinder box ready to ignite, it is no surprise that N1 felt the first tremors of unrest.
Should the police have seen it coming, well probably yes, and they probably did, but not to the extent that it flared up there, and then spread like wildfire through most of the deprived boroughs of London.
The looting portfolio surprised me though. Times are hard, and people in these run down areas are affected more than most, so I would have expected most of the looting to be centred on Tesco or Sainsburys to allow them to stock pile food and drink . interestingly it was the electrical stores and clothing outlets which people were filmed targeting, with JD Sports in particular being stripped of clothing fit for a riot!!
The fact that the usual suspects were listed on the news bulletins as being affected by rioting was again a sad indictment of the progress, or lack of it, being made in the inner city areas like Brixton, Toxteth, St Pauls, MossSide and the Bullring area of Birmingham in the thirty years or so since the last great uprising. It is interesting that the youths at the vanguard of those riots are now probably parents in their own right. I wonder whether they fell responsible or let down?
There seems a great will on behalf of the man and woman in the street to not allow these riots to devastate their own neighbourhood. The social networks which are thought to have allowed mobs to congregate in the first place are now being used equally effectively by the Joe Public clean up squads which are being formed in Croydon, Hackney, Bethnal Green and other areas to minimise the damage and debris.
With the police now assessing the use of rubber bullets as a deterrent, I would rather see the Cheshire Regiment or a few Para's just back from Afghanistan let loose on the so called British citizens whose freedom they have been six months protecting. That would clear the streets pretty quickly.
There always seems to be a backlash from the black community whenever their brothers and the police are involved in arms related confrontations, particularly when one of their own ends up dead. Events in Tottenham which led to the death are still subject to the two sides of a story principal, but with the Broadwater Farm estate being a tinder box ready to ignite, it is no surprise that N1 felt the first tremors of unrest.
Should the police have seen it coming, well probably yes, and they probably did, but not to the extent that it flared up there, and then spread like wildfire through most of the deprived boroughs of London.
The looting portfolio surprised me though. Times are hard, and people in these run down areas are affected more than most, so I would have expected most of the looting to be centred on Tesco or Sainsburys to allow them to stock pile food and drink . interestingly it was the electrical stores and clothing outlets which people were filmed targeting, with JD Sports in particular being stripped of clothing fit for a riot!!
The fact that the usual suspects were listed on the news bulletins as being affected by rioting was again a sad indictment of the progress, or lack of it, being made in the inner city areas like Brixton, Toxteth, St Pauls, MossSide and the Bullring area of Birmingham in the thirty years or so since the last great uprising. It is interesting that the youths at the vanguard of those riots are now probably parents in their own right. I wonder whether they fell responsible or let down?
There seems a great will on behalf of the man and woman in the street to not allow these riots to devastate their own neighbourhood. The social networks which are thought to have allowed mobs to congregate in the first place are now being used equally effectively by the Joe Public clean up squads which are being formed in Croydon, Hackney, Bethnal Green and other areas to minimise the damage and debris.
With the police now assessing the use of rubber bullets as a deterrent, I would rather see the Cheshire Regiment or a few Para's just back from Afghanistan let loose on the so called British citizens whose freedom they have been six months protecting. That would clear the streets pretty quickly.
Thursday 4 August 2011
Tunnel vision
I went for an MRI scan last night at the Clatterbridge centre for oncology. There is no need to get worried, the oncology department has the permanent scanner and is quite close to home, and it was some inflammation and pain in my foot which is the problem.
The doctor called it a form of tendinitis affecting the hollow foot tendon. The hollow foot tendon (aponeurosis plantaris) runs from the heel bone under the sole, and is attached to all five toes. The hollow foot tendon is a functional extension of the Achilles tendon, and is instrumental in maintaining the arch running the length of the foot.
I had the classic symptoms; pain when running and playing golf, as well as when applying pressure at the attachment point of the hollow foot tendon directly under the heel bone. The pain is often most pronounced slightly on the inner side of the attachment although in my case it was the outer.
I was prescribed anti-inflammatories, and asked to leave it a while. if there was no improvement then a corticosteroid injection would be necessary. The reason for the MRI was to ensure they knew what they were doing with the needle as a number of injuries requiring treatment can easily be overlooked during a clinical examination. In cases where satisfactory progress is not in evidence, an ultrasound examination is performed as early as possible. Ultrasound scanning enables an evaluation of the extent of the change in the tendon; inflammation of the tendon (tendinitis), development of cicatricial tissue (tendinosis), calcification, inflammation of the tissue surrounding the tendon (peritendinitis), inflammation of the bursa (bursitis), as well as (partial) rupture
I hope none of this is relevant to me, as the initial pain has now subsided and I was able to get out running last night after I came back. If it turns out to be a heel spur or similar I guess I will have to live with that as surgical removal is not usually performed these days.
Anyway, back to the scanner. Its a scary beast which rumbles and grumbles as it performs its analysis. As it was my ankle under investigation I went in feet first and my head was able to stay outside the machine. The process took 45 minutes and hopefully they got my whole foot in the scanning process as my big toe has started to play up and it would be useful if that was diagnosed as well.
That could be gout or arthritis or any number of other things, but that's something to worry about once the results come back. Clatterbridge is under review at the moment, with many of the general hospital functions being relocated to Arrowe Park. The Oncolcogy unit is also rumoured to be moving to the Royal in Liverpool which would be a disappointment as having such facilities close to home is always a bonus.
The doctor called it a form of tendinitis affecting the hollow foot tendon. The hollow foot tendon (aponeurosis plantaris) runs from the heel bone under the sole, and is attached to all five toes. The hollow foot tendon is a functional extension of the Achilles tendon, and is instrumental in maintaining the arch running the length of the foot.
I had the classic symptoms; pain when running and playing golf, as well as when applying pressure at the attachment point of the hollow foot tendon directly under the heel bone. The pain is often most pronounced slightly on the inner side of the attachment although in my case it was the outer.
I was prescribed anti-inflammatories, and asked to leave it a while. if there was no improvement then a corticosteroid injection would be necessary. The reason for the MRI was to ensure they knew what they were doing with the needle as a number of injuries requiring treatment can easily be overlooked during a clinical examination. In cases where satisfactory progress is not in evidence, an ultrasound examination is performed as early as possible. Ultrasound scanning enables an evaluation of the extent of the change in the tendon; inflammation of the tendon (tendinitis), development of cicatricial tissue (tendinosis), calcification, inflammation of the tissue surrounding the tendon (peritendinitis), inflammation of the bursa (bursitis), as well as (partial) rupture
I hope none of this is relevant to me, as the initial pain has now subsided and I was able to get out running last night after I came back. If it turns out to be a heel spur or similar I guess I will have to live with that as surgical removal is not usually performed these days.
Anyway, back to the scanner. Its a scary beast which rumbles and grumbles as it performs its analysis. As it was my ankle under investigation I went in feet first and my head was able to stay outside the machine. The process took 45 minutes and hopefully they got my whole foot in the scanning process as my big toe has started to play up and it would be useful if that was diagnosed as well.
That could be gout or arthritis or any number of other things, but that's something to worry about once the results come back. Clatterbridge is under review at the moment, with many of the general hospital functions being relocated to Arrowe Park. The Oncolcogy unit is also rumoured to be moving to the Royal in Liverpool which would be a disappointment as having such facilities close to home is always a bonus.
Wednesday 3 August 2011
Father of the Bride
On Friday number one daughter, Rebecca, got married to her long time sweetheart Jon, at a lovely service in Great Budworth, Cheshire, and later there were drinks and merriment at Arley Hall near Knutsford.
The bride looked wonderful, and I got to make yet another speech. This one was in English and a clip of it is here.
The bride looked wonderful, and I got to make yet another speech. This one was in English and a clip of it is here.
The bride made her own speech, something which is at odds with the formal wedding protocol, but the rule book seems to have been ripped up in all walks of life these days, and as she had been planning the event in her mind since she was six years old, who were we to deny her moment.
The lucky couple are now in Barbados on honeymoon, I am sure they are having a wonderful time
Tuesday 2 August 2011
The Return of the Jedi
Over three years ago I wrote about Andrew Ainsworth taking on the might of Lucas Arts over the copyright of his storm trooper outfits.
Andrew, you may remember ran a commercial operation selling the kit from a small shop on Twickenham green.
Well I am delighted to report that he won his case, and is now able to expand and continue to provide outfits to all those Star Wars anoraks out there. The helmets can be as much as £500, and the outfits upwards of £1000, but there is the demand, so good luck to him, and its one in the eye for corporate bully boys.
Andrew, you may remember ran a commercial operation selling the kit from a small shop on Twickenham green.
Well I am delighted to report that he won his case, and is now able to expand and continue to provide outfits to all those Star Wars anoraks out there. The helmets can be as much as £500, and the outfits upwards of £1000, but there is the demand, so good luck to him, and its one in the eye for corporate bully boys.
Monday 27 June 2011
Big box, little box
SWMBO is in Ibiza at the moment on number one daughter's hen 'night'. It's funny how a night can turn into five nights, but that seems the way of it these days. There are seven friends and family who have gone, and it sounds like they are having a rum old time.
The hotel is a bit like Colditz, with the swimming pool area being locked until 08:30. I suspect that is to stop them skinny dipping, their reputation must have foregone them!! The Germans must be frustrated though as they would not be able to grab the sun beds in their usual 06:00 dawn raid.
The crew have found a beach bar and restaurant where they can relax away from the Essex crowd, it looks a bit Pete Tong to me though, and last night they had a bop till they drop night at Pasha, one of the super clubs which San Antonio is famous for. It opened at midnight and SWMBO was most put out that the others bailed out at 05:00 as she wanted to go through to the close. I guess you got breakfast then, on the way home!!
All this just shows that the wedding is close at hand, I better practise my speech more this time in case that ends up on YouTube too!!! I think the piano playing will go out the window though.
The hotel is a bit like Colditz, with the swimming pool area being locked until 08:30. I suspect that is to stop them skinny dipping, their reputation must have foregone them!! The Germans must be frustrated though as they would not be able to grab the sun beds in their usual 06:00 dawn raid.
The crew have found a beach bar and restaurant where they can relax away from the Essex crowd, it looks a bit Pete Tong to me though, and last night they had a bop till they drop night at Pasha, one of the super clubs which San Antonio is famous for. It opened at midnight and SWMBO was most put out that the others bailed out at 05:00 as she wanted to go through to the close. I guess you got breakfast then, on the way home!!
All this just shows that the wedding is close at hand, I better practise my speech more this time in case that ends up on YouTube too!!! I think the piano playing will go out the window though.
Tuesday 7 June 2011
Dead as a Dodo
We have just returned from our annual holiday, this year choosing Mauritius instead of our usual St Lucian resort. St Lucia suffered badly in the recent hurricanes so we thought we would give it a year to re-establish itself. Add to that the fact the golf is not now all inclusive and it was time to look around.
So, as well as some golf nearby, all inclusive was the preferred option, and swimming and spa treatments were the ideal choice for SWMBO. Now Mauritius has many luxury 5 and 5+ star hotels, but getting all inclusive options is a problem. The beer and wine at establishments which are half board, for example, can make the cost rocket.
We were delighted therefore to fall upon the Tamarina hotel. It is a new boutique hotel which opened on New Years Eve. it has 50 rooms, a spa and is attached to the Tamarina golf club. The golf club wends its way through an estate of tasteful one level villa's and is a very good test.
It also had an all inclusive option which included spa treatments, green fee's and local brand drinks, so we were sorted.
We flew overnight 12 hours both ways with Air Mauritius which was fine, although I would not have liked to do the flight during the day. Their service and on board entertainment were a bit nineties and would have struggled with the attention needed if you were awake. Still we got both ends refreshed and ready to go.
The hotel is about 45 minutes from the airport and is nestled between a deer park and the beach. when we arrived there were about 35 people booked in, and that fluctuated to a low of about 16 so it was really quiet. There were honeymooners and grey pounders mixed together and it worked well.
There were a couple of problems, one being the food selection which was pretty limited, but the staff did try to do variations on what resources they did have. The pools were not really conducive to swimming in either as they were built for looks rather than practicality, but the sea was warm and very shallow so that was fine.
Local wine was included, but we did splash out a few nights, and given the villa clientele was predominantly Saffa's and Frog's the wine list was excellent, if somewhat pricey.
One of the honeymoon couples was hit hard by the collapse of their holiday company while they were there, but the hotel did the best it could to continue to make their stay pleasant. The hotel gets paid 30 days after the holiday ends, so the collapse cost them all of the May revenue from that company. Their price was cheaper than the price we paid, but that was probably the reason why!
As well as playing the local golf course, I took a trip inland one day to play the Gymkhana Club.
It was laid out in 1844 by the Royal Navy, and having played Royal Marrakesh which was designed at about the same time by a British Army officer, I felt I needed to complete the double. The course was average and quite short, I suspect the initial 9 hole layout was better than the extended 18, as there is really insufficient land, but it was interesting to see the memorabilia in the clubhouse. It included a letter dates 1889 from General Gordon explaining the King's view of the place.....'.tell him to go to hell'....'but Sir, we have no posting there!'.....' right. then send him to Mauritius'......and also had a moustache spoon , glass mounted on the wall. I love looking at honours boards in golf clubs and here, Major this and Colonel that were listed as prize winners up until the mid-Twentieth century when more traditional Mauritian names started to appear.
But back to the hotel. The group which owns it also runs a rum distillery. They have a new product, Pink Pigeon, which they launched recently in Monte Carlo. The pink pigeon is a rare bird native to Mauritius which was in danger of going the same way as the Dodo in the mid 1970's. It was saved by the action of Gerald Durrell and his team at Jersey Zoo, and now 350 pairs are restablished in Mauritius with backups, if you like, at the zoo still.
The night we left they were having a big 'do' at the hotel so we missed that unfortunately, but we have brought some back from Duty Free. It's interesting that the island is still covered in sugar cane plantations. You expect Al Pacino to burst out of one of the fields any moment. These days it is used in the rum making business as very little sugar is now exported. That gap in the economy has been filled by tourism.
So all in all a good run ashore. We would go back, particularly for the golf, but maybe as part of a two centre holiday and stay at one of the more lively resorts as well. We have been back over a week now and it seems like we have never been way, ho hum!
So, as well as some golf nearby, all inclusive was the preferred option, and swimming and spa treatments were the ideal choice for SWMBO. Now Mauritius has many luxury 5 and 5+ star hotels, but getting all inclusive options is a problem. The beer and wine at establishments which are half board, for example, can make the cost rocket.
We were delighted therefore to fall upon the Tamarina hotel. It is a new boutique hotel which opened on New Years Eve. it has 50 rooms, a spa and is attached to the Tamarina golf club. The golf club wends its way through an estate of tasteful one level villa's and is a very good test.
It also had an all inclusive option which included spa treatments, green fee's and local brand drinks, so we were sorted.
We flew overnight 12 hours both ways with Air Mauritius which was fine, although I would not have liked to do the flight during the day. Their service and on board entertainment were a bit nineties and would have struggled with the attention needed if you were awake. Still we got both ends refreshed and ready to go.
The hotel is about 45 minutes from the airport and is nestled between a deer park and the beach. when we arrived there were about 35 people booked in, and that fluctuated to a low of about 16 so it was really quiet. There were honeymooners and grey pounders mixed together and it worked well.
There were a couple of problems, one being the food selection which was pretty limited, but the staff did try to do variations on what resources they did have. The pools were not really conducive to swimming in either as they were built for looks rather than practicality, but the sea was warm and very shallow so that was fine.
Local wine was included, but we did splash out a few nights, and given the villa clientele was predominantly Saffa's and Frog's the wine list was excellent, if somewhat pricey.
One of the honeymoon couples was hit hard by the collapse of their holiday company while they were there, but the hotel did the best it could to continue to make their stay pleasant. The hotel gets paid 30 days after the holiday ends, so the collapse cost them all of the May revenue from that company. Their price was cheaper than the price we paid, but that was probably the reason why!
As well as playing the local golf course, I took a trip inland one day to play the Gymkhana Club.
It was laid out in 1844 by the Royal Navy, and having played Royal Marrakesh which was designed at about the same time by a British Army officer, I felt I needed to complete the double. The course was average and quite short, I suspect the initial 9 hole layout was better than the extended 18, as there is really insufficient land, but it was interesting to see the memorabilia in the clubhouse. It included a letter dates 1889 from General Gordon explaining the King's view of the place.....'.tell him to go to hell'....'but Sir, we have no posting there!'.....' right. then send him to Mauritius'......and also had a moustache spoon , glass mounted on the wall. I love looking at honours boards in golf clubs and here, Major this and Colonel that were listed as prize winners up until the mid-Twentieth century when more traditional Mauritian names started to appear.
But back to the hotel. The group which owns it also runs a rum distillery. They have a new product, Pink Pigeon, which they launched recently in Monte Carlo. The pink pigeon is a rare bird native to Mauritius which was in danger of going the same way as the Dodo in the mid 1970's. It was saved by the action of Gerald Durrell and his team at Jersey Zoo, and now 350 pairs are restablished in Mauritius with backups, if you like, at the zoo still.
The night we left they were having a big 'do' at the hotel so we missed that unfortunately, but we have brought some back from Duty Free. It's interesting that the island is still covered in sugar cane plantations. You expect Al Pacino to burst out of one of the fields any moment. These days it is used in the rum making business as very little sugar is now exported. That gap in the economy has been filled by tourism.
So all in all a good run ashore. We would go back, particularly for the golf, but maybe as part of a two centre holiday and stay at one of the more lively resorts as well. We have been back over a week now and it seems like we have never been way, ho hum!
Monday 6 June 2011
Judges got talent?
I was brought up on good old variety shows on the tele when I was a lad. They were common in the clubs and theatres around the country, as the walls of the Old Packhorse public house will demonstrate. It stands next to the site of the old Chiswick Empire and lists many of the acts which performed there on a regular basis.
Saturday Night at the London Palladium and The Good Old Days with Leonard Sachs were family favourites as we all gathered round to look at the audience of the latter dressed in period attire, and watch the acts of the day, be they dancers, comedians, jugglers or magicians. A real variety in fact.
As a result I have enjoyed the Britain's Got Talent set of shows in the last few years, but sadly I will not be watching any more, as the judges or the contestants seem to have lost the plot big style.
This year in the first two shows to identify finalists, the public and the judges put through two average pianists and two child singers. The trick cyclist and the magicians were excluded by the judges vote. They followed a weird dad dancing guy, somebody with dancing eye's, except they didn't, and a couple of extras out of The Matrix, I , II and III. A poor substitute for JLS and three dog acts also got too much air time, and then the winner was announced as a Scot with a very powerful voice who Simon Cowell had rejected at boot camp in the X-factor last year.
The prize, apart from £100.,000, is a place at the Royal Variety Performance to sing for the Queen. Good for him, but there is a clue in the name, just where are all the comedians, ventriloquists, magicians and jugglers. A good old fashioned circus act would not go amiss either particularly if it featured a lion tamer or a few seals balancing beach balls on their noses. Arf, Arf.
Saturday Night at the London Palladium and The Good Old Days with Leonard Sachs were family favourites as we all gathered round to look at the audience of the latter dressed in period attire, and watch the acts of the day, be they dancers, comedians, jugglers or magicians. A real variety in fact.
As a result I have enjoyed the Britain's Got Talent set of shows in the last few years, but sadly I will not be watching any more, as the judges or the contestants seem to have lost the plot big style.
This year in the first two shows to identify finalists, the public and the judges put through two average pianists and two child singers. The trick cyclist and the magicians were excluded by the judges vote. They followed a weird dad dancing guy, somebody with dancing eye's, except they didn't, and a couple of extras out of The Matrix, I , II and III. A poor substitute for JLS and three dog acts also got too much air time, and then the winner was announced as a Scot with a very powerful voice who Simon Cowell had rejected at boot camp in the X-factor last year.
The prize, apart from £100.,000, is a place at the Royal Variety Performance to sing for the Queen. Good for him, but there is a clue in the name, just where are all the comedians, ventriloquists, magicians and jugglers. A good old fashioned circus act would not go amiss either particularly if it featured a lion tamer or a few seals balancing beach balls on their noses. Arf, Arf.
Thursday 2 June 2011
Five gold rings
My frustration with the London olympics, and LOCOG in particular, holds no bounds at the moment.
Firstly, I have been rejected, ignored and deflated by my inability to get any sort of interview for jobs with them, over the last five years. This, despite my experiences in the volunteer arena gained at the Atlanta event in 1996, and the chief executive of LOCOG, Paul Deighton, indicating that there is no training for olympic games work, other than experiencing it first hand. Really the volunteers have no idea what they are letting themselves in for.
Secondly, I have been ignored in the great ticket raffle as well. Is it fair to have a ballot, or should the tried and tested Ticketmaster approach have been the way to go? I suspect that LOCOG are rubbing their hands as they shifted many more tickets for the minor sports, than they have expected, while leaving thousands frustrated with no tickets or more tickets for some events than they wanted. I wasn't greedy and went mid-price, so it will be interesting in the last chance disco to see what I am offered there.
To add insult to injury, the German site Dejtour has already sold all its athletics, cycling and gymnastics tickets on a first come first serve basis. they do have women's beach volleyball semi-final tickets available still though....hmmmmm!
Oh well, just off to practice my synchronised swimming, while pondering the question , If one of them drowns, do they all have to?'
Firstly, I have been rejected, ignored and deflated by my inability to get any sort of interview for jobs with them, over the last five years. This, despite my experiences in the volunteer arena gained at the Atlanta event in 1996, and the chief executive of LOCOG, Paul Deighton, indicating that there is no training for olympic games work, other than experiencing it first hand. Really the volunteers have no idea what they are letting themselves in for.
Secondly, I have been ignored in the great ticket raffle as well. Is it fair to have a ballot, or should the tried and tested Ticketmaster approach have been the way to go? I suspect that LOCOG are rubbing their hands as they shifted many more tickets for the minor sports, than they have expected, while leaving thousands frustrated with no tickets or more tickets for some events than they wanted. I wasn't greedy and went mid-price, so it will be interesting in the last chance disco to see what I am offered there.
To add insult to injury, the German site Dejtour has already sold all its athletics, cycling and gymnastics tickets on a first come first serve basis. they do have women's beach volleyball semi-final tickets available still though....hmmmmm!
Oh well, just off to practice my synchronised swimming, while pondering the question , If one of them drowns, do they all have to?'
Wednesday 20 April 2011
Doing my bit....
The Portugese economy seems to be the next one to require an EU bail-out. It would appear that they are unable to produce enough product to be able to service their debt, rather than be suffering any major banking crisis. Consequently twenty of us decided to pop over for a bit of golf and see if that helped them out!!
It was the 20th year of the Algarve Cup, and one member of the party, 'Yorkshire', had attended all of them. I was a mere novice with thirteen years behind me, however, I was unable to attend last year due to family commitments, and have also served a one year ban after receiving a red card, sometime in the past.
So with twenty participants being an apt number to have on tour, we had to think up villa themes and thought the terrible twenties would be as good as any. Consequently I was a member of the Charles Lindberg villa and others included the Flappers, the Louis Armstrongs, the Charlie Chaplins and the Al Capones.
We also had some additional tour guests this year and so we had to provide nicknames for them. Its a tradition in the City where most of the boys work, to have a nickname, as it is in the fire service, in which none of them work!!
Now the footballer mentality of adding ie on the end of a name gave us our first . One of the chaps had a surname of Tait and was called Taitie by his friends when he arrived. We soon changed that to call him Neeps. There was a father and son combination with surname of Simpson so they quickly became Bart and Homer. Bit of a no brainer really.
Mark Hurley became Liz, and John Kendall became Mintie. One of the group was fairly nondescript, and a name was proving difficult until he shot 17 points one day in the stableford. Now as 17 is the Boots own range cosmetics, he became bootsie, and unless he reads this blog he will still be wondering why!
Our final newcomer looked just like Dobby the house elf from Harry Potter so he was tasked with collecting the fines on the final night, using a sock as a collection vehicle. Quite good I thought!
It was the 20th year of the Algarve Cup, and one member of the party, 'Yorkshire', had attended all of them. I was a mere novice with thirteen years behind me, however, I was unable to attend last year due to family commitments, and have also served a one year ban after receiving a red card, sometime in the past.
So with twenty participants being an apt number to have on tour, we had to think up villa themes and thought the terrible twenties would be as good as any. Consequently I was a member of the Charles Lindberg villa and others included the Flappers, the Louis Armstrongs, the Charlie Chaplins and the Al Capones.
We also had some additional tour guests this year and so we had to provide nicknames for them. Its a tradition in the City where most of the boys work, to have a nickname, as it is in the fire service, in which none of them work!!
Now the footballer mentality of adding ie on the end of a name gave us our first . One of the chaps had a surname of Tait and was called Taitie by his friends when he arrived. We soon changed that to call him Neeps. There was a father and son combination with surname of Simpson so they quickly became Bart and Homer. Bit of a no brainer really.
Mark Hurley became Liz, and John Kendall became Mintie. One of the group was fairly nondescript, and a name was proving difficult until he shot 17 points one day in the stableford. Now as 17 is the Boots own range cosmetics, he became bootsie, and unless he reads this blog he will still be wondering why!
Our final newcomer looked just like Dobby the house elf from Harry Potter so he was tasked with collecting the fines on the final night, using a sock as a collection vehicle. Quite good I thought!
Tuesday 19 April 2011
Candy Cabs
We had some friends staying at the weekend, and that gives us a chance to do a few things which are out of our regular routine. So on Saturday we went to walk the wall around Chester.
Chester is the only completely walled City remaining in Britain and one marvels at the planning which went into making the spans wide enough to take a four lane duel carriage way, and install zebra crossings at strategic spots on the walk!!
We saw the Mott and bailey castle, the cock fighting pit and amphitheatre, the edge of the harbour wall which is now embedded in the bank of the race course, several miles inland, and the tower from which King Charles stood and watched his army defeated in the battle of Rowton Moor.
The fact you can't see Rowton Moor from the tower is, of course, irrelevant.
We managed to stop for an ice-cream half way round by the river, and finished with a pie and pint near the cathedral. All a jolly good wease
Sunday we went to West Kirby which has been featured in the BBC programme 'Candy Cabs'. We wandered around the marina, where from the shore it looks like people are walking on water. We also stopped for a while to watch the annual Wirral egg chase. This involves hundreds of bikers and scooter riders burning it up around the coast all to raise funds for Claire House Hospice. The way the bikers has decked out their trusty steads was a joy to behold. Jolly well done to all of them
Chester is the only completely walled City remaining in Britain and one marvels at the planning which went into making the spans wide enough to take a four lane duel carriage way, and install zebra crossings at strategic spots on the walk!!
We saw the Mott and bailey castle, the cock fighting pit and amphitheatre, the edge of the harbour wall which is now embedded in the bank of the race course, several miles inland, and the tower from which King Charles stood and watched his army defeated in the battle of Rowton Moor.
The fact you can't see Rowton Moor from the tower is, of course, irrelevant.
We managed to stop for an ice-cream half way round by the river, and finished with a pie and pint near the cathedral. All a jolly good wease
Sunday we went to West Kirby which has been featured in the BBC programme 'Candy Cabs'. We wandered around the marina, where from the shore it looks like people are walking on water. We also stopped for a while to watch the annual Wirral egg chase. This involves hundreds of bikers and scooter riders burning it up around the coast all to raise funds for Claire House Hospice. The way the bikers has decked out their trusty steads was a joy to behold. Jolly well done to all of them
Sunday 3 April 2011
Live and let die....
Liz Taylor passed away a few days ago, and so brought to a close the latest chapter of the rugby club death list. This session had run for six months and provided a tidy sum for Julie, the winner. It was less than the several thousand won when John Forsythe popped his clogs a few sessions ago, but at least the Duchess of Death, Kerrie was not the winner. Kerrie has won more times than anybody, so woe betide any celeb she picks in future.
One of the picks last time was Jim Branning out of East Enders, somebody I know personally from our time together at Wyke Green golf club. It would have been strange to have to tell him that he had been selected in the list although I guess he knows he is a prime candidate.
Some wag at the rugby club did say we should have a death list comprising members of the club. That is taking the list to a place which I suspect nobody wants to go, particularly if you are one of the more mature members, or a life member, as that category of member seems to pop off soon after being nominated.There are loads of
death pool web sites out there and it is amazing how many celebs do keep leaving us.....here's to President Mugabe, my choice at the moment, riddled with cancer and sure to stop a bullet sometime. That said, Zaa Zaa Gabor is not too bright, Ronnie Biggs must be hanging by a thread and who's to say one of the Douglas family will oblige? Carpe Diem.Thursday 10 March 2011
Groupon, Groupon, Groupon
We spent the weekend in the North pennines, near Alston. Alston is reputed to be the highest market down in the Country and in keeping with such towns it had 8 or nine pubs and a fair splattering of idiots.
It used to be a mining town when the locals were involved in excavating lead. Today the lead mines are all closed. The lead is still there but now too deep to extract for any commercial gain.
These mining areas do seem to have the knack of rejuvenating though, and currently a Canadian outfit is boring for other mineral deposits.
The locals also had the opportunity to place a wind farm in the area, but rejected it. The benefit of free electricity for the community was outweighed by the weekend residents wanting to preserve their scenic views, and why not?
We were staying as part of a Groupon offer....buy a room for £60 instead of £200, then spend shed loads of money in our bar and restaurant. It was a good weekend so I declined to complain about the poor quality shower, low temperature hot water and lack of taxi's, that's my townie mentality coming out.
We took the opportunity of visiting Hadrians wall while we were so close to it. It qualifies as our Unesco World heritage site of 2011. We had a bit of a roll in 2010, visiting the Maritime Mercantile City in Liverpool (handy that), the historic centre of Rome and Saltaire in Yorkshire. 2009 saw us in, the old town in Edinburgh, Machu Picchu and Cusco. where to in 2012?
It used to be a mining town when the locals were involved in excavating lead. Today the lead mines are all closed. The lead is still there but now too deep to extract for any commercial gain.
These mining areas do seem to have the knack of rejuvenating though, and currently a Canadian outfit is boring for other mineral deposits.
The locals also had the opportunity to place a wind farm in the area, but rejected it. The benefit of free electricity for the community was outweighed by the weekend residents wanting to preserve their scenic views, and why not?
We were staying as part of a Groupon offer....buy a room for £60 instead of £200, then spend shed loads of money in our bar and restaurant. It was a good weekend so I declined to complain about the poor quality shower, low temperature hot water and lack of taxi's, that's my townie mentality coming out.
We took the opportunity of visiting Hadrians wall while we were so close to it. It qualifies as our Unesco World heritage site of 2011. We had a bit of a roll in 2010, visiting the Maritime Mercantile City in Liverpool (handy that), the historic centre of Rome and Saltaire in Yorkshire. 2009 saw us in, the old town in Edinburgh, Machu Picchu and Cusco. where to in 2012?
Friday 18 February 2011
Don't break the seal
The Six Nations rugby came to Twickenham at the weekend, and, as usual we were there!
It was a very strange day though. The stadium was full with 83,000 souls being there, and yet the surrounding streets, pubs and restaurants were remarkably quiet. This may have been due to people cutting back on their hospitality expenses, or, more likely, an increase in family groups and couples attending the game.
Italy always seem to be the least popular game for the die hard supporters to attend, and tickets are often placed with Ticketmaster to gain access to the non-rugby club portion of the public.
Now this different demographic generated a problem which Twickenham Stadium was not geared up to cater for, namely, insufficient ladies toilets. Now long queues at ladies toilets are commonplace at many sporting arenas, but Twickenham has been able to cope pretty well in the past. Not this week though.
The increase in lady spectators is one reason for the extra queues, but the other is the increase in the number of ladies who are now drinking pints. Whatever happened to Babycham or Cherry B as the lady ruggers tipple of choice.
It was a very strange day though. The stadium was full with 83,000 souls being there, and yet the surrounding streets, pubs and restaurants were remarkably quiet. This may have been due to people cutting back on their hospitality expenses, or, more likely, an increase in family groups and couples attending the game.
Italy always seem to be the least popular game for the die hard supporters to attend, and tickets are often placed with Ticketmaster to gain access to the non-rugby club portion of the public.
Now this different demographic generated a problem which Twickenham Stadium was not geared up to cater for, namely, insufficient ladies toilets. Now long queues at ladies toilets are commonplace at many sporting arenas, but Twickenham has been able to cope pretty well in the past. Not this week though.
The increase in lady spectators is one reason for the extra queues, but the other is the increase in the number of ladies who are now drinking pints. Whatever happened to Babycham or Cherry B as the lady ruggers tipple of choice.
Saturday 29 January 2011
You've been Tango'd
I really think this blog should be read in the style of David Attenborough.
We were in the Merseyside suburb of Birkenhead last night witnessing an annual ritual performed by the species Homo Sapiens. They were frequenting the local watering holes in numbers rarely seen at other times of the year as they prepared for their mating dance later in the evening.
The explanation for this increase in activity can be attributed to the fact that the last Friday in January is the first pay day since Christmas and the New Year, and consequently the frustrations and stifled emotions of Homo Sapiens can be released. It is a rare sight, and one we were privileged to witness so unexpectedly
To prepare themselves for this particular activity, the female of the species has her own particular ritual which sees her make herself suitably conspicuous to her potential mate. This she achieves by burying herself in a habitat know as the tanning studio. In here females administer to each other coverings and lotions which are selected from a range of colours within the orange range of the light spectrum. Products easily obtained in the Merseyside area.
Belisha Beacon seems to be this years preferred shade, that should make them flash their wears at the right moment.
We were in the Merseyside suburb of Birkenhead last night witnessing an annual ritual performed by the species Homo Sapiens. They were frequenting the local watering holes in numbers rarely seen at other times of the year as they prepared for their mating dance later in the evening.
The explanation for this increase in activity can be attributed to the fact that the last Friday in January is the first pay day since Christmas and the New Year, and consequently the frustrations and stifled emotions of Homo Sapiens can be released. It is a rare sight, and one we were privileged to witness so unexpectedly
To prepare themselves for this particular activity, the female of the species has her own particular ritual which sees her make herself suitably conspicuous to her potential mate. This she achieves by burying herself in a habitat know as the tanning studio. In here females administer to each other coverings and lotions which are selected from a range of colours within the orange range of the light spectrum. Products easily obtained in the Merseyside area.
Belisha Beacon seems to be this years preferred shade, that should make them flash their wears at the right moment.
Monday 24 January 2011
That's another fine mess you gotten me into
We went to our first wedding of the year at the weekend and a mighty fine do it was too, well from what I can remember. The wedding was that of the best friend of our eldest daughter who we have known for years. Kate was marrying Gareth and it was a bit like an Emelia Fox and Jamie Carragher look alike wedding.
I have to say the venue was fit for OK! or Hello! though. One does not associate Liverpool with stately homes, but nestled in the countryside just outside Kirkby, a right, rough part of town, lies Knowlsey Hall, the ancestral home of the Earl
of Derby. It is a fabulous place with lakes and gardens designed by Capability Brown, and an interior in part re-styled by Adams. We were lucky enough to stay in one of the nine bedrooms in the house and so have a chance to wander round a bit.
The Derby family owned a large tract of land in the North West, and the Isle of Man at various stages in their history, but they are best known for their sporting interests and political adventures, with horse racing being the foremost association with them these days.
An early Earl, when Governor of Canada, presented the Stanley Cup as the premium ice-hockey trophy, and the Derby and the Oaks are both named after aspects of the family. Portraits of horses, most by Lynwood Palmer, litter the walls of the house, with their most recent favourite, Ouija Board, featuring prominently.
The Knowlsey safari park forms part of the estate which is surrounded by 9.5 miles of sandstone wall, but sadly bisected by the M57 these days, and much of their revenue comes from the agriculture, shooting and wedding markets, however, the place seemed pretty unspoilt as far as I could see and if it helps to preserve the heritage that's fine by me.
I have to say the venue was fit for OK! or Hello! though. One does not associate Liverpool with stately homes, but nestled in the countryside just outside Kirkby, a right, rough part of town, lies Knowlsey Hall, the ancestral home of the Earl
of Derby. It is a fabulous place with lakes and gardens designed by Capability Brown, and an interior in part re-styled by Adams. We were lucky enough to stay in one of the nine bedrooms in the house and so have a chance to wander round a bit.The Derby family owned a large tract of land in the North West, and the Isle of Man at various stages in their history, but they are best known for their sporting interests and political adventures, with horse racing being the foremost association with them these days.
An early Earl, when Governor of Canada, presented the Stanley Cup as the premium ice-hockey trophy, and the Derby and the Oaks are both named after aspects of the family. Portraits of horses, most by Lynwood Palmer, litter the walls of the house, with their most recent favourite, Ouija Board, featuring prominently.
The Knowlsey safari park forms part of the estate which is surrounded by 9.5 miles of sandstone wall, but sadly bisected by the M57 these days, and much of their revenue comes from the agriculture, shooting and wedding markets, however, the place seemed pretty unspoilt as far as I could see and if it helps to preserve the heritage that's fine by me.
Tuesday 18 January 2011
Home alone
Just off the North West coast of the Wirral peninsula is a set of islands referred to as Hilbre islands. They are accessible at low tide and are a regular tourist attraction. There is a colony of seals, several privately owned cottages, and a research station on the three pieces of land
Hilbre Island is the largest island of the group , that sit at the mouth of the River Dee estuary.
Situated 2 miles from the coast at West Kirby it is the smallest inhabited island off the coast of the British mainland, or at least it was.
The island sits at the end of the group of three, the other two smaller islands being called Little Eye and Middle Eye.
Hilbre also hosts a ten foot solar powered lighthouse, operated by Trinity House, a few other out buildings and did have one inhabited house lived in by the R.S.P.B warden who looked after the islands for the present owners.
Its history goes back to the Bronze age, but during the late 1700's until the mid 1800's it was a place of commerce, hosting a customs house and Inn. In 1856 it was bought by Liverpool Docks, and remained with them until 1945, when a local council took it over and used it as a telegraph post. In 1974 the borough council took it over, using it as a tourist retreat for walkers and bird spotters.
Due to it's large bird population, seal invasion and it's own endemic species of Field Vole, the island became of significant interest to nature lovers, and was bought by the R.S.P.B in 1983.
This then lead to it being cited as a Site of Special Scientific Interest ( S.S.S.I ) in 2001.
The problem now is that the current warden has retired, or given up their monastic existence, and the island is now without a permanent and resident warden.
Now you would think this an ideal get away from it all sort of job, but then consider, no electricity, no running water and open to the full blast of the Irish Sea as well as being cut off from the mainland 12 to 14 hours a day. The list of applicants is not a long one!
What's for tea tonight dear? Seal soup again, with gull eggs and cockles?
Hilbre Island is the largest island of the group , that sit at the mouth of the River Dee estuary.
Situated 2 miles from the coast at West Kirby it is the smallest inhabited island off the coast of the British mainland, or at least it was.
The island sits at the end of the group of three, the other two smaller islands being called Little Eye and Middle Eye.
Hilbre also hosts a ten foot solar powered lighthouse, operated by Trinity House, a few other out buildings and did have one inhabited house lived in by the R.S.P.B warden who looked after the islands for the present owners.
Its history goes back to the Bronze age, but during the late 1700's until the mid 1800's it was a place of commerce, hosting a customs house and Inn. In 1856 it was bought by Liverpool Docks, and remained with them until 1945, when a local council took it over and used it as a telegraph post. In 1974 the borough council took it over, using it as a tourist retreat for walkers and bird spotters.
Due to it's large bird population, seal invasion and it's own endemic species of Field Vole, the island became of significant interest to nature lovers, and was bought by the R.S.P.B in 1983.
This then lead to it being cited as a Site of Special Scientific Interest ( S.S.S.I ) in 2001.
The problem now is that the current warden has retired, or given up their monastic existence, and the island is now without a permanent and resident warden.
Now you would think this an ideal get away from it all sort of job, but then consider, no electricity, no running water and open to the full blast of the Irish Sea as well as being cut off from the mainland 12 to 14 hours a day. The list of applicants is not a long one!
What's for tea tonight dear? Seal soup again, with gull eggs and cockles?
Monday 17 January 2011
Unlucky for some
I notice that there is talk of the introduction of a new sign of the Zodiac, Ophiuchus, which would bring the total number to 13. I am not sure the fanatics who run their lives by the star signs would be overly excited about being star sign number 13. They would be forever cursing their luck, be faced with a raft of glasses each half empty, and searching out black cats to try to maintain the equilibrium.
Now Ophiuchus, the serpent slayer, has been known about for centuries, so I do wonder if it was a slow news day that pushed its discovery into the limelight, or whether some mad American journalist was having a bad day.
Imagine being down on yourself and deciding it was all in your stars. Guess what the answer is, lets create a new Zodiac sign and move into a more compatible astrological plane. That will also mess with the head of any partner who is trying to work out somebodies compatibility characteristics.
Now Ophiuchus is not entering the charts at number 13, oh no, they sneak in at number 12 pushing Sagittarius down to 13, happy Christmas to them then.
Now on a personal note I am Pisces, a female water sign. I have an addictive personality, am a dreamer and eccentric with some creativity thrown in, well at least I was. Now, I am a male air sign, Aquarius, aloof, scatterbrained and a know it all.
We, actually, if you read ten definitions of each birth sign on the web, you would be pretty much anyone and anything you wished to be. It all in the stars you know.
Now Ophiuchus, the serpent slayer, has been known about for centuries, so I do wonder if it was a slow news day that pushed its discovery into the limelight, or whether some mad American journalist was having a bad day.
Imagine being down on yourself and deciding it was all in your stars. Guess what the answer is, lets create a new Zodiac sign and move into a more compatible astrological plane. That will also mess with the head of any partner who is trying to work out somebodies compatibility characteristics.
Now Ophiuchus is not entering the charts at number 13, oh no, they sneak in at number 12 pushing Sagittarius down to 13, happy Christmas to them then.
Now on a personal note I am Pisces, a female water sign. I have an addictive personality, am a dreamer and eccentric with some creativity thrown in, well at least I was. Now, I am a male air sign, Aquarius, aloof, scatterbrained and a know it all.
We, actually, if you read ten definitions of each birth sign on the web, you would be pretty much anyone and anything you wished to be. It all in the stars you know.
Wednesday 5 January 2011
2011 - food heaven
It really is frustrating trying to find sensible constructive comments about restaurants by searching on the Web. One is never sure whether the owner is posting, or whether you only get to hear about the one or two bad experiences, and rarely about the good times.
A lot of basic information seems to be missing as well. Can you park, is it on a bus route, and if so, which one? What are the staff like? Is it a 'regulars' place and do they make you feel like one? Is it child and dog friendly, and should, therefore, be avoided by the dinkies and grey pounders amongst us?
So, I am going to try to be a restaurant critic for the Wirral, and see if I can produce a useful web site based on my experience of restaurants, take-aways and pub grub. I am not a foodie, or a wino, so don't expect specialist comment on there. It's really about whether I like somewhere and more important whether it likes me.
I could start with a few reviews of the regular outlets I use , but I won't. I am going to slip those into the Blog as it starts to get established. So watch this link, I will try to do a unit a week, and see whether I develop a following and see some of the comments I get.
If people do not like what I say or have a different view of a place, it could get lively, bring on the starters!!!!
A lot of basic information seems to be missing as well. Can you park, is it on a bus route, and if so, which one? What are the staff like? Is it a 'regulars' place and do they make you feel like one? Is it child and dog friendly, and should, therefore, be avoided by the dinkies and grey pounders amongst us?
So, I am going to try to be a restaurant critic for the Wirral, and see if I can produce a useful web site based on my experience of restaurants, take-aways and pub grub. I am not a foodie, or a wino, so don't expect specialist comment on there. It's really about whether I like somewhere and more important whether it likes me.
I could start with a few reviews of the regular outlets I use , but I won't. I am going to slip those into the Blog as it starts to get established. So watch this link, I will try to do a unit a week, and see whether I develop a following and see some of the comments I get.
If people do not like what I say or have a different view of a place, it could get lively, bring on the starters!!!!
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