Midlands Easter

I am home after almost two weeks away for the second time this year although despite an excellent visit which I enjoyed very much it has ended in a most unsatisfactory manner as I have a streaming cold brought on from moving from back and forth from hot to cold, and which together with losing a remote for the garage door and then find I had bought the wrong black ink cartridges what started as a good day end somewhat disastrously.

So I shall try and look back remembering the positive experiences commencing with an early morning train journey from Newcastle to Newark North gate. I decided to pay the £3.20 Metro fee rather than wait until 9.30 and risk the rush to the platform for the 10,25. It proved he right decision because the train arrived on the platform around 9.30 and was ready for boarding just after 10am. I enjoyed a small Americano coffee as I had dome a couple of hours later the previous Thursday and assisted a young woman who was being seen off by her aunt and wanted to know which end of compartment E was her seat. I speculated if this yet to be another journey where I would have interesting encounters as occurred on my visit to Croydon the previous weekend.

I had been allocated an aisle sweat at a table at the opposite end of the compartment and was free only until Durham when I was joined opposite by two men, one a teacher, I suspect going to London for a union conference The fourth seat was taken up at Darlington but by then I earmarked on of two free seats on the other side of the carriage and with the second seat free throughout the journey. I took care to keep all my luggage close to hand and at Newark Northgate remembered to take the lift up to the cross track bridge and then the second lift down to exist where I was being met. There was an excellent lunch where I opted for a stew with unlimited vegetables and a glass of Pepsi before heading to Travel Lodge where I was allocated a familiar room with a flat screen television and remote only to find that I had left the connect cable at home. I also forgotten to bring an extension cable to checking that there was time to take the bus into Mansfield centre and go in search.

The bus stop was only a short walk in the cold air from the Travel Lodge and with a selection of four buses taking the five to ten minute direct route to the bus station by the Four Seasons shopping centre which I had visited once before when I thought I lost a mobile phone, only to find it had slipped under the carpet of he back seat of my car over six months later. A walk around the main shops and then in the revealed no where likely to provide the items but having seen what appeared to be a second centre the other side of the bus station I made my way to find a large Argos store opened until late on the Thursday evening.

The connect cable was expensive given that I had two already at home rather like the SCART leads where I seem to have several and where a different kind of cable now connects the Blue ray DVD Played and Sky box to the TV for 3 D and HD films. However the extension cable for the Sleep Apnoea machine was on discount and both will now be kept in case to ensure they are available for future trips. The next planned in May is also to Croydon and London for the cricket at the Oval when Durham play Surrey.

Returning to the bus station I noted that its days are numbered as on the 1^st of April the new station located close to the railway station, and some three minutes away is to open. The existing station appeared more than adequate to me although the waiting area is covered it also open to the weather on one side whereas the new centre has a fully enclosed waiting area space as I was driven past at one point.

For the evening I eat the three small rolls I had baked early filled with pate and a few pimento olives. There was a few dried digs and pieces of liquorice to finish and I also had a mushroom cuppa soup instead of coffee. I was ready for sleep early but was disturbed by the constant banging of a door which I subsequently discovered involved two teenagers with their parents in rooms either side of the corridor. After I remonstrated the noise ceased and I was able to have a good overall sleep.

The following morning I made my way back into Mansfield for a coffee and toast at Debenham’s after using the two £1 boots vouchers for responding to the Daily TV and radio survey exchange as part payment for two packs of the shop brand of digestion tablets.

The subsequent intention was to walk in Clumber or Rufford Park. It was colder than anticipated and the walking comprised a visit op the Roast Buffet restaurant where coffee was drank until the food was ready at midday. The road was satisfactory but the vegetable choice limited and the cost comparatively expensive but given the circumstances the meal was appreciated. Every two years one of the local dance studios puts on a show at the Palace Theatre In Mansfield and in the evening I made my third visit. The studios takes pre school children through dance examinations including the General certificate level school examination. This was only one of three similar studios performing at the Theatre over the Easter period. My information is that the studio premises is rectangular whereas the stage at the Palace Theatre is more square which does create some problems adjusting routine and coupled with the atrocious weather over the past weeks this has prevented many students from attending all the practice sessions and couple with attempting to included all the students in one or more performances I thought that overall the show failed to match the previous two although saying this the overall level of performance is remarkable given that the young people attend classes outside of the full range of school activities, other interests and their family lives. I particular enjoyed the grand finale which included several big band swing numbers including Sing Sing Sing made famous by the Benny Goodman band and Gene Krupa’s drum solos in particular,

Given that the school provides classes in traditional dance-the ballet, the modern which comes under the umbrella of Jazz and Street, plus tap dancing and theatrical where singing is added the cost of attending plus providing for the multi costume changing is significant especially if parents decide to send more than one of their children to the activity. It is not just the poor who are being accepted by the policies of the Coalition government in terms of welfare benefit reforms with the loss of the child allowance part of the family credit for those in the middle class together with the controls on public sector incomes and significant reduction in public sector jobs.

I introduce this aspect because yesterday on April the 1^st, traditionally April Fools day, marked the start of the bedroom tax where those living in public funded social housing had their income reduced for every bedroom of a certain size regarded as unoccupied and where there was also a reduction related to Council tax although generally the level has been maintained which means that although there has been a freeze on wages with a maximum 1% overall for the coming year with also pressure for authorities and agencies to hold back on incremental increases where pay scales are in operation, the outcome has been severe reductions in some services as well as reducing the managerial and supervisory levels which always is to the significant detrimental impact on quality.

I visited the Subway adjacent to the Travel Lodge for breakfast less and one morning the breakfast comprised half a chocolate Easter egg although I did have two rounds of toast with coffee on the motor way journey home which came around £4.50 more that the cost of a McDonald’s Chicken sandwich meal which included a coffee rather than soft drink enjoyed not once but on successive evenings at the branch across the way from the Travel Lodge.

There was an added bonus because the company has reintroduced its Monopoly Board give way with literally millions of prize. In addition to the buy six get one free coffee stickers the coffee and the French Fries have additional stickers added and these provided instant prizes which yielded two apple pies (99p) each and one fruit bad fresh grapes and apple slices and a breakfast porridge carton where I assume the normal cost is similar, In addition one collects monopoly prizes which includes weekend breaks, and more expensive holiday and 3D TV’s. However given the limited number of these prizes most people will have to settle for the freebies. In addition to those mentioned there is a third category of award made available to everyone who registers on line and then enters the code of individual properties. I have not completed this task but so far there has been a 20% discount for Raleigh cycles, a free swimming lesson, 20% of other purchases as yet unidentified as the voucher has to be printed out and a free printing of digital photos for the cost of postage although this appears too good to be so.

The highlight of Easter Sunday was a visiting in the city centre of Nottingham to watch the Nottingham Panthers Ice Skating team beat the Fife Flyers in the second leg of the quarter finals of the play offs competition at the cities FM arena. I have a vague recollection of being taken to an ice rink to watch while other relatives went on the ice and noting how cold it was and to gaining the impression that this was professional sport pone to fights and rough stuff and where decisions and results were often questionable.

Having said that when Sir John Hall attempted to establish the idea of general sporting club attached to Newcastle United with sponsorship of both the local Basketball and Ice Hockey team I know a former colleague switch his time and money from Sunderland AFC because the enjoyed the atmosphere and also the winnings. There is no longer a Newcastle Ice Hockey team. The team was originally based in Durham, the Durham Wasps and then appears in various guises and continued despite financial difficulties up until 2011-2012 season.

There is now no club in the north east with Hull and Sheffield from Yorkshire, Belfast, Northern Ireland, four from Scotland and one from Wales and another the Midlands Coventry. There arr teams playing at Ice Rink include the Whitley Bay Warriors and also matches between Universities There are teams Notting playing at all levels with the National Ice Skating centre built next to the FM arena.

I enjoyed the game in which the Panthers showed the great individual skills and team play although for long periods they were held by the opposition who came tot eh second leg 4 goals to 2 in the lead but the Panther went to the semi finals and possibly the final next weekend winning 5.4 aggregate. I noted that the given the small size of goalmouth and heavily protected goalie it was difficult for anyone to score with a direct shot coming at the goalkeeper and that the hat appeared the only way to score is to create a situation where one players appeared to be bearing on the goalie to shoot but was able to accurately pass to another player able to immediately hit the small puck into the goal before the goalie had time to turn.

So I am back full of cold and I have spent the first day watching TV and sleeping with little inclination to write. Yesterday was little better and today Thursday I have attended to more which I hope to report before the week ends

Croydon, Wallington, Mitcham, Waterloo, Millenium Dome and Wimbledon

I do not have the time before making my third visit of the year to provide a considered account of my short visit to Croydon, Wallington, Wimbledon and the Millennium Dome experienced in artic conditions, including one blizzard. True the visit cannot compare with visits made to the Olympic and Paralympic games last summer but the experience was of interest and enjoyable apart from the walk to find an oriental buffet restaurant on the Sunday morning.

 

The greater part of two days was taken up with private talk with three relatives but I did see the prequel to the Wizard of Oz- Oz The Great and Powerful in 3 D and a viewing of one of the last showings of Les Miserables advertised in London. There were three very good meals, some reading and a little television and several noteworthy encounters with strangers.

 

Thursday morning was sunshine bright when I set off and the weather was such that I took the decision to turn off the central heating having kept it on low throughout the two weeks I was away over Christmas and the New Year, and again over the long weekend visit for my birthday.

 

On the walk to the Metro station I went around the green on the hill rather then crossing diagonally because of the steps, loaded as I was with the case, the rucksack and the Sleep Apnoea machine. I noticed, a young woman in dark glasses because of the sunshine taking the route I would normally, with another young woman exercising her dog and as the two paths converged so did I with the young woman in the dark glasses and unexpectedly she smiled and asked if I was going anywhere interesting. I do not recollect having previously identified the same person from my street or having previously encountered on the hill and while greetings of the day or comments on the weather are passed between strangers I could only think it was someone whose home I called upon in relation to the subsidence in the back lane. Later realised I must have looked similar to those men (and some women of the street, who carry all their possession  in a shopping bag trolley loaded with other bags and who dress for  being outside, including sleeping in all weather, with wool hat, gloves as well as coat and good walking shoes or boots.

 

I found myself telling her where I was going and what I would be doing as well as having a short return before going off again and afterwards debated whether this had been wise. She said she would pray for God to be with me so on balance I decided that she spent her day attempting to put into practice her spiritual beliefs and I was one of many with whom she spoke.

 

I enjoyed a coffee at the station after eating the three small roles I had baked earlier, filled with a Belgian Pate and a few olives with pimento. I watched a train for London arrive on platform 3 shortly after 11.30 which surprised as the 11.58 I was taking was scheduled for platform 4. My first reaction was that the train would turn round platforms for the noon train which meant there would be opportunity to find a good seat and store luggage at leisure. Alas I was mistaken for this was the 12.25 to Kings Cross, a train which I could have booked but at twice the cost of my selected ticket.

 

The consequence of the train from Scotland arriving was that everyone rushed to get on and could find nowhere to place their luggage with my case close to an exit door, the Sleep Apnoea machine in a vacant space on the luggage rack some distance from my seat and my seat part of twosome at the aisle and not a table. It also took sometime to reach my seat because of people coming in both directions However the journey was a good one with only stops at Darlington and York.

It was always a gamble to arrange a trip to London in March although for the past two years the weather in March and April had proved better than most weeks of the summer, especially two years ago when the sun shone hot at the start of the Cricket season and I sat in shirt sleeves, proclaiming how good it was to be alive. Having paid the accommodation and travel in advance I took the decision to make the journey.

 

I attempted to retrieve my luggage before the train reached Kings Cross only to locate but after going up and down the carriage several times I could not see the Sleep Apnoea machine bag. I had to wait until the last person left the carriage and saw the machine covered by a coat and the luggage of the last passenger a middle aged man on his own and I wondered if he had seen the orphan lap top looking bag and hoped it was unclaimed. I was too relieved to challenge his failure to alert me.

 

At St Pancras I topped up my Oyster Travel card with £20 and did not have to wait long for the next cross rail train to Brighton. It was cold when I left the station at East Croydon for the short downhill walk to the Travel Lodge. At booking in I asked if a flat screen TV was available but I was advised that they had no way of knowing which rooms had one. It was agreed I would go back if not successful which I did. Unfortunately the next room did not and I had to make do with a traditional set.

 

For the evening meal I purchased some chicken wings from Waitrose, four pain au chocolat, and a Ben and Jerry chocolate and fudge tub of ice cream for £1.69, (£1.50 at Asda). I turned the heating on the electric convector fire to the maximum.  Lunch was the Toby Inn in Mitcham where mine host had lost a great deal of weight and clearly had a health problem from which he made a recovery. From the bus stop we crossed the grass because of the driving sleet finding the round muddy, taking the path way round on the return journey. I enjoyed a beef roast dinner with a mountain of vegetables and shared the free chocolate fudge sundae, free for my birthday, normally £3.98 so it was a good gift.

 

On my journey to Wallington I had missed both the direct buses the 154 and 157 and waited in the cold as three other buses all with longer routes and different stops came and went. Then the 154 and 157 came together and I checked which was direct and which went round the former London overspill estate on the former site Croydon Airport, Roundshaw Park. Because of the threat of heavy rain I was advised to catch the 454 single decks bus which although went round the islands, as the expression goes, but stopped just before the Travel Lodge. What I did not appreciate was just how around the island we would travel. First there was the circuit around the Roundshaw Park estate but it did means passing the new St Elphege School. I say new although it is at least four decades since it moved from Demesne Road, now a day nursery, to its present location and where the school did not bring its records although I cannot believe that they were destroyed.

 

The bus then went down Beddington Lane from the Plough Inn to the ASDA supermarket where it turned around and then did of the local industrial and commercial factory area close to Mitcham before stopping lose to the Ikea store at the end of Purley Way and then heading for Croydon Ampere Way, Waddon, stopping at Reeves Corner, West Croydon Bus station and Katherine Street my stop. Along the journey were more than twice as long than necessary I enjoyed visiting familiar and some unfamiliar areas of my heritage.  I crossed over the road to Sainsbury where cheese twists were purchased for the morning, a sandwich and a chocolate bar for the evening meal which I enjoyed with some soup.

 

Snow was falling heavily elsewhere and although I was committed to visiting the Millennium Dome I was not sure that my relatives would be able to make the journey from the country to the station for the journey to Waterloo.

 

Saturday morning was cold with snow falling and settling but nothing like as bad as the Whiteout encountered travelling home from Mansfield and although I missed the next available train to London Bridge I was able to get a direct train with a change of platform a few minutes later. As on my journey to Croydon I noted the extent of new and converted building going on south of the station along the railway tracks.

 

I like Waterloo station where trains go to Teddington, Richmond and Kingston reminding of the three years I lived at Teddington, came to know Richmond, Twickenham and Brentford/Chiswick as well as Hampton Court and Kingston and the route from there to Cheam, Sutton and Wallington. The station remains busy despite its loss as the start of the Channel Tunnel High Speed trains which have moved to St Pancras. It was too old to sit so I moved around looking in Smith, noting the restaurants with one public. Time was taken for coffee when my relative arrived and then the short journey by the Jubilee Line to North Greenwich.

 

There was no security check at the Dome although security guards with dogs were noted. After showing the layout the focus was the Oriental buffet which was deserted on arrival and only had half a dozen table customers when le around 2.15 for the cinema. I managed three plates in the hour and half of the three hour midday slot attended and one sweet bowl. It proved a well balanced mixture with a first plate of meat appetisers, then some deep fried prawns, chicken and noodles in various sauces including chilli, then five deep fried crab claws and a number of pieces of chicken in different forms. Finally two scoops of chocolate ice, one of vanilla over which was piled some fresh fruit and some tinned fruit salad. The account for two plus drinks was £20. Coming out of the cinema between five and six a transformation had occurred with thousands of people making their way to the arena eateries and bars including the Sky before for a performance of The Script. There were fifty plus queues waiting to enter the twenty or so restaurants in the main thoroughfare inside the dome but fewer queuing in the open air for the restaurants situation at the of bottom offices blocks on the between  the station, the river and the Dome. With the coloured lights shining brightly the atmosphere inside the Dome had been transformed. There was a similarity between the black and white opening of the original Wizard of Oz film, and the Prequel and our morning arrival changing to the glorious digital colouring of afternoon film and the sense that the place had come alive as we left. 

 

Returning to Croydon  taking the Teddington train from Waterloo to Clapham Junction and then a crowded standing all the way coastal train ending at Portsmouth and Southsea but with a first stop at East Croydon, where I made do with soup and a couple of hot cross buns, some dried figs and liquorice.

 

My morning was leisurely and I decided to investigate if the oriental buffet option close to the Travel Lodge was opening for Sunday lunchtime. The place looked closed closed although there had been a Sunday noon time opening. Possibly the lack of trade and weather was a factor. I decided to investigate if there was another in the main restaurant area in South Croydon.  There are some sixty establishments on the walk from the Travel Lodge down George Street, along the High passing the Grants complex and along the South End where there is a greater variety of food cultures including the Beirut. There was one other Oriental Buffet which was decidedly closed closed. The quality and price range was also significant from the sandwich bars and takeaways to those where a two course with drinks before and coffee for two would cost between forty and fifty. I passed the site of the Davis Theatre now apartments but could not remember the location of the Grand.  On the way back I considered the Wetherspoons at Grants but this was already packed out and decided that unless I fancied something else I would settle for the one in George Street. It was bitterly cold, was it cold!

 

At the restaurant I secured a table for four with a comfy bench seat against the wall in the far corner where I enjoyed a half roast chicken with a good range of vegetables and a pint of Carling Black Label for £7- £6.95 to be precise. I thawed out fortunately as I missed the next tram to Wimbledon and explored the Alders Arcade now given over to eateries but with wind howling down there were few customers for the seating although some hardy souls had come to purchase and take away. I was able to peak in at the now empty Alders store closed after 150 years for the second time and one suspects permanently.

 

 

The journey to Wimbledon involved going round the Reeves corner site where the insurance claim is still to be settled and the neighbouring shops are still bordered up. There was and remains something odd about what happened here and the protracted negotiations over a settlement.

 

As the on board announcer constantly reminded it is essential to swipe the Oyster card before getting on the tram as the route ends as part of the Wimbledon Underground and Railway station and if you just swipe on departure you are charged the full underground rate.  For the second occasion I forgot the location of the Odeon Cinema where one of the last showings of Les Miserables was taking place just before 3pm I was tempted to go for a coffee at the adjacent Morrisons supermarket but decided to book the ticket to ensure an aisle seat.

 

The young pretty assistant at the ticket desk then said “You come from Mansfield? I come from Mansfield but in a in a mid European perhaps Polish accent. I had obtained the Odeon cinema points card on one of my rare visits to the cinema there several years before and by coincidence had exchange some of my accumulated points for a free ticket on last visit to see Song for Marion on my birthday. The young woman added that she had never met anyone from Mansfield since coming to London. I checked and a queue was forming so I resisted asking her why she had come to London forgetting to look on her hand to see if there was a ring or rings. However she asked about the book I was carrying, The Cruel Sea, which so far I had not made time to read further since the train journey south. I first briefly explain how I cam from London, lived in the North East but obtained the card in Mansfield where I stayed several times a year and then something of what I knew about the Cruel Sea. She added that her best friend still lived in the town.

 

I went over to the Morrisons and although there was no café they had a coffee machine. I then purchased two packs of roast beef sandwiches at half price and one of prawn mayonnaise, a packet of crisps, a bounty bar and three Eccles cakes for the price of 2, cheap at £1. I returned to the cinema for a read of the local free paper and to keep warm before the film commenced. My ticket was an anywhere seat but there were also bookable premium seats indistinguishable from the rest as far as I could see.  I sat in the wrong seat and had to move with cinema almost full. Behind me there were two rows of seating which looked different from the rest and which I assume were the premium seats. There were only a couple of people in the end row so I risked sitting at the aisle more comfortable and with a better view. I therefore had opportunity to enjoy the film in almost perfect conditions. 

 

I enjoyed an Eccles cake back at the cinema and one in the evening with sandwiches. I also had the Bounty Bar at the cinema and the crisps in the evening, with the third Eccles cake and second lot of sandwiches for breakfast which was leisurely as I did not have to leave until around 11.30 for the 1.30 train to Newcastle. There was time for another hot shower to brace against the continuing sharp winds.  At the station I missed the 11.45 as I reached the platform so with 17 mins before the next there was time for a small Americano at £1.95 it was disappointingly not hot.

 

The cross rail train is no stop to London Bridge where I did not initially notice a woman enter to see her face but she was struggling with her luggage and getting it placed out of the passage way between seats at the allotted was space was already full including with case and bag, I clutched the Sleep Apnoea machine to me as I would for the rest of the journey. As she had grey and white hair, admittedly longer than usual and was small in build and stature I assumed she was old and frail so I went to her aid only to discover she was less than 25 and making a fashion or identity statement. I guess.             

 

My last encounter with a stranger was disturbing at the time and since. At King Cross I noticed the area waiting before the departure notice boards was unusually crowded with the explanation that passengers were held back on Trains to Scotland and to Sunderland until 5 minutes before scheduled leaving and the train to Leeds was being cancelled. The cause was some trackside problem requiring attention. I therefore made my way through the ticket barriers and position against a wall close to the main exit from the first five platforms and where two empty East Coast Trains were being leaned and prepared from fresh journeys. As I waited I noted a hunched figure of what appeared to be a well dressed woman with her head in her hands turned towards the barrier. She did not appear to move. She was possible a druggy asleep and out of the cold but given that she was well dressed in quality and warm what if my assessment was wrong. There were station personnel close by and other walking by but they were concentrating on tasks to hand. A train arrived on the end platform and several hundred passengers alighted some making for the exit barriers where she was sitting. No one went to enquire. I decided to approach a group of four station staff and one went over to investigate. My worst dears appeared justified as although he bent down towards her and was talking. She did not appear to move.  After what seemed several minutes and   communicating via  a radio a wheel chair arrived and the staff helped what appeared to be a semi conscious woman  on the chair and away. As an ambulance had not be called or the police my first assumption may have proved correct. The woman was at least in her thirties. I would never know her circumstances and if my intervention had been for the good or not. I have written to Network rail but do not anticipate a helpful reply.

 

Although the train was crowded with few vacant seats I was lucky in getting the window seat and having the aisle seat unoccupied except for between York and Darlington where I enjoyed a conversation about the weather and the economy which centred on South Shields. However before Doncaster we were held up for about three quarters of an hour because of trackside repairs. This entitles to fifty percent rebate on ticket paid but nothing was said to passengers or the extent of the delay. Reimbursement is available in the form of travel vouchers on line.

 

Back home the house was OK, the pipes were not frozen and the Cricket season ticket arrived. The snow had kept away but cold winds remained artic.

New Year in the Midlands

I spent New Year’s Eve at the Travel Lodge near to Mansfield watching fireworks from my window in the village of Sutton in Ashfield, and from London on the TV, then watching the greater part of London’s New Year’s day parade on the Public Broadcasting channel which is repeated this evening when I plan to watch the opening section when I missed. The event was one of the highlights of the extraordinary visits made this year to Shoreham and Farnsfield to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

For once I delayed  preparations to a few days before and then had a panic about the amount of space that would be available and had a trial placement of everything in the car the day before departure. It would be OK and because of the number of meals eaten out or provided I brought back the emergency rations of tins of rice and backed beans, although several packets of the instant soup were consumed.

On previous visits I set off early to arrive for lunch but in this instance I was having an evening meal at the Marston Inn at the junction with the road to Mansfield along the road between the A1 and Nottingham/Leicester which passes by Clumber Park(National Trust). And Rufford Abbey (English Heritage) both of which I have written about following previous visits to Robin Hood Country.

The White Hart once independent is now a Marston Inn which offers 2.1 main course meals from an extensive menu and Specials board and which until recently also provided a two course special for two people for a total of £9 and previously for several years for £8 from midday until 6pm. The combined portions of the two courses provided a more substantial meal that the single main course. The Inn also offers a glass of iced tap water for free or a jug for the larger  gatherings and the coffees are excellent accompanied by an after meal mint and over Christmas a chocolate.

Because of the evening meal I packed some lunch but forgot the coffee I stopped at Wetherby services and was shocked to find the £3 cup of coffee has arrived, the price of  a  whole packet from a supermarket.  I settled for a small cup at £2.89 but the medium and large are now over £3 and I envisage the £5 cuppa before I depart consciousness. Who  remembers the two and half pence cup of tea at Joe Lyons Corner houses in 1950‘s?  I earned  £5 a week in 1956 and after two University Diplomas from Oxford and Birmingham in 1963 my pay went up to £20. In 1956  the money paid for keep, clothes, travel season ticket, visits to jazz clubs, pubs, football and occasional gramophone long play records.

I made three visits to the White Hart enjoying two chicken breasts in barbecue sauce twice (Sticky Barbecue Chicken £10.50) and a small rack of pork ribs and a single chicken breast also with lashings of barbecue sauce on the third (£11.55) There is also Deep South Barbecue Beer Chicken for £10.50 and from the Mighty Meals Menu Barbecue Chicken Melt £11.75. It is forty minutes to midday all this reference to food is making me hungry and I will break off to place the steak in the oven to be accompanied by a special brew steak together with a special relish and mustard one of many apposite Xmas gifts. I have prepared the fresh veg which at £1 for a large parsnip, a medium Swede, two medium onions and eight  medium size carrots for £1 sufficient for three to four helpings.

The thought of all the good food also wipes away the memory of two horrendous back to back journeys in pouring rain, cold wind and  sometimes fog from home to the Midlands and then to Shoreham,  On the  second day knowing that there would be an evening meal waiting I decided on a good breakfast visiting the Subway adjacent to the Travel Lodge opened in competition to a sandwich  and roll selling bakery in what was previously a large bookmakers. I am not  a fan of  Sub which I think is poor value despite the including of various toppings and sauces although with a drink at £3 becomes competitive with the Boots and some supermarket meal deals. However the breakfast sub of bacon  or sausage at 99 pence or both in one for £1.50 is good value and now better than the offer from the bakery, especially if you say no to the  coffee using the facilities at the Travel Lodge. 

The fireworks on New Year’s from the banks of Thames had a red white and blue aspect with strong echoes of the Olympic games triumph without inappropriate excess.

Last year the two mile New Year’s parade from Green Park to Parliament Square was badly affected by the weather which limited the performance at the roadway arena before the various Mayors of London and invited guests who this year includes the Ambassadors from China, Brazil, Italy and Indonesia and who acted as he judges of the competition between the London Boroughs

The route of the parade was changed in 2010 in order to ensure that USA watchers and those from other  countries were able to see the great sights of the capital to include the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly Circus and the three hour  plus event  is increasingly geared up top the USA and overseas audience with descriptions of Hotels and invites from the casts of a number of West End Shows. The   commentary is also geared  for the overseas audience

It is estimated that half a million people stand along route or to gain a place in the covered stands, particularly those at the roadway arena at the end of the March where bands perform a routine. I need to check if it is all ticket or just the stands with the objective  of raising money for charity as well as awareness of London as a Tourist destination.

A feature of recent years has been the appearance of High School and University marching bands from the USA including the Valley Forge Military Academy and College, the Stephen F Austin State University Lumberjack Marching Band, the German Town High School Warhawk Marching Band, Garringut High School Marching Admirals, Walker Valley High School Mustang Marching Band, Gadsten School District Marching Band, Stone Bridge High school Marching Bulldogs, Adrian College Marching Bulldogs, Beverely Hills High School Marching band, The Spirit  of Great Oak and Guard. Band, the Schurr High School Spartan legion, University of South Florida Herd of Thunder Marching Band, The South Downy High School band from Knox County, plus the Spirit of America Dancers, the Universal Cheer Leaders association, The American Chinese Art Society traditional Dance Troupe and the predominantly USA based ladies of the Red Hat Society with members in Australia and South Africa.

From the UK  a Scot band from Leicestershire(Ibstock) and The National Mass Bugle Band, made up from a range of  local bands attempted to show   that the UK was attempting to get in step with their USA cousins and failing, However there was a competitive marching band comprised of London based Nigerians and two displaces from London based Bolivians with costumes brought over from the Home Country. The cosmopolitan aspects was generated more from the various floats and displays from the London Boroughs but this aspects needs to be widened if the International appeal is to be developed. It is regarded as one of the great city parades in the World..

Over half the London Boroughs provided floats or displays which usually feature personalities from their areas as well as designed to attract the attention of the judges who award cash donations to favoured charities. This years participating was Barking and Dagenham, Brent Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Haringey, Havering, Hounslow, Lambeth, Merton Redbridge, Southwick,  Waltham Forest and Westminster,

There are also display groups which have featured on a regular basis as well as those appearing for the first time, including a parade of Police Cars through the ages, Heroes for Charity, UK Carnivals, the Donkey Breed Society, Merrydown Morris, the Goldwing Owners Club GB,  South Connections (Lambeth Carnival band), The Pearly Kings and Queens Association, the Veteran Cycle club. The Latin American Heritage plus the Kites of Nassar Volent (France), the Warlingham and District Mock Hunters, the Protogem Dance Company, and with creating great interest 250 London Olympic Gamesmakers and about 60 members of the Pandemonium Band of drummers who performed  at the Opening Ceremony.

I watched less TV than usual ranging from Ceebies programmes to Dr Who and the final two episodes of Young Merlin with the death of King Arthur and the coming to power of Queen Guinevere and the destruction of the enemies. There was the suggestion of Merlin surviving to the present day and the promise that Arthur would return when the time was right. There was also the three parts of Lord of the Rings although I did not see from beginning to end.

There less said about the Football the better with humiliating defeats for Newcastle who now face a relegation avoidance battle  after putting up a dismal performance against Brighton in the FA Cup third round although Sunderland who have managed a few wins also managed a draw at Bolton 2.2 coming from behind with the prospect  of a home draw if they succeed in the replay. The sporting highlight was in fact a re showing of the Ryder Cup win at Medinah which I saw again yesterday and which I regard as the greatest  Sporting  event of the past year, over the Tour De France and individual  achievements at the Olympic Games.

Excluding expenditure which I would usually make at this time of the year I estimate that the fortnight only cost under £700 with  Meals £300 (including £ 78, £78  £45 £43 £20 £20 rounded up with gratuities) accommodation £200 and Petrol and Car parking £ 135 with other extras £50.  I used Credit Card supplied vouchers for the cinema visit and worth several fold more in terms of priceless experience and memories.

Shoreham by the Sea

I am home for the first time in two weeks having returned early evening Wednesday January 2013. It is Saturday afternoon as I watch Newcastle on their way to losing the FA third round tie to Brighton for the second year in succession, 1.0 down and  with  ten men on the field.

While this is a piece about my Christmas visit to Shoreham by the Sea and Brighton my priority is to ensure that my sleeping with the Apnoea treatment machine is more productive than recently despite maintaining a 7.3- 7-5 average a night. However I did  fall asleep  while watching the opening of the Hobbit and did not feel as fresh as expected on several days. The problem may have been the need to change the air filter where  I forgot to bring the replacements and the different environments and absence of routine. The position has been good since return.

The second priority has been exercise to help weight reduction and improve fitness. The Wii Keep Fit coach commented that I had been absent for two weeks and the first day Was a struggle but the yesterday and today has been good. I have ordered the Wii sports disk having tried golf, boxing with an opponent who I knocked out three times and indoor bowling at which I was poor. However these games will be an addition to the current programme as I want to extend sessions of indoor activity to one hour.

I was encouraged while away with the scales showing half a stone less than anticipated but this I put down to the scales although despite some good eating which I shall report over the next two pieces I showed a small reduction on return which has been maintained and if anything improved.

I am going to undertake some catch up writing over the next few days and then concentrate on the artwork programme once more until March when I have three visits, two to the Midlands and one to London

The clothes were washed on return with two drying cycles but there is still some iron to do, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps Monday! I booked a seat for the Metropolitan Opera relay of Les Troyans later today at 5 and for the first performance of Les Misérables on the 11th at 11am.The outside plants have been watered noting the emergence of twelve Hyacinths bulbs which have been transferred to the outside window ledge. I have also sorted out the finances. Say no more, and replaced black ink cartridges having found I had purchased the wrong ones before setting off on the Christmas trip, There was no problem replacing them including the one where I had opened the pack before realising the mistake from the local shop where I am well known..

The walk into town was enlightening with the pub closest offering a sale with fish and chips at £2.45 and Sunday roast and sweet for £5.45, given some of the meals purchased while away including fish and chips, albeit hand cut chips for during my stay at the small but extraordinary town of Shoreham by the Sea over the Christmas period. The sales in South Shields are offering 50% reductions

Shoreham by the Sea is a town of under 20000 people, (2011 yet to become available) tends to overshadowed by neighbouring Brighton and Hove, Worthing and Littlehampton which forms  one seaside conurbation along the south coast  with some half million people. Yet in some ways it provides one of the best examples of quintessential England. It does have a seaside,

Shoreham Beach but is located in a separate area outside the  town centre over the river Adur and across from the important port. The Seaside area is fashionable providing a home for the broadcasters Chris Evans and Mike Mendoza and former Spurs player Mel Hopkins and in fact a large number than average of personalities were born in the town or have become associated with the area,  particularly writers, artists, musicians, photographers and professional sport  including Leo Sayer, the band Absent Elk.Phyillis Peasall, Chris Bennett, Judy Upton, Ted Walker Marcus Tudgay Gemma Spotfirth.

The Trotskyite Irish writer Brian Behan lived in the town before moving to Brighton and to his credit he came to recognise what a dangerous man the Socialist Labour League head and Fourth International Committee Founder Gerry Healey became in terms of his destructive subversive impact on British Industry and associated trade unionism. (I have written about this before hence the repeated references whenever I get the opportunity but is mentioned for it is counter everything that Shoreham has been and remains)

Most people passing along the  main coast road will only tend to note Shoreham as a large and important commercial port  recorded by the Romans as Portus Adurni.  According to one source the name Shoreham came into common use after the Saxon invasion in the fifth century AD. In Norman times, Shoreham was said to import wine and export wool and remained the greatest port on the south coast for almost three centuries. Trade expanded after King John landed at the port with a large army in 1199 and by the beginning of the 13th century, the port had become a Royal Arsenal.

In 1346 Shoreham supplied 26 warships for Edward III to fight against the French in battle and ships continued to be built at Shoreham Port until the mid-20th century.

King Charles II left from Shoreham port in 1651 when he made his great escape from Oliver Cromwell and the Roundheads, fleeing to Fecamp in France after paying Nicholas Tattersell £60 to cross the Channel aboard his ship the ‘Surprise’. Shoreham Harbour (and later, Port) Authority was established as a trust by Act of Parliament in 1760 when the Harbour Commissioners met for the first time. The Act allowed a new harbour entrance to be built to overcome the problem of shingle blocking the old one. However the new entrance was built poorly and began to build up with shingle like its predecessor after only a couple of years. In 1816 a new Harbour Act allowed for the construction of an improved entrance at Kingston Buci in the location of the present day entrance.

During the second half of the 19th and for much of the 20th centuries trade flourished as first a coal gas production works and later two coal-fired power stations were built on the south side of the impounded basin, the Canal, together with new locks and harbour entrance breakwaters. However, as with many businesses the late 1980s and early 1990s were not kind to the port. The closure of the second power station in 1989 meant that coal was no longer imported in large quantities hit the port fairly hard.

However, in 1996 a change of management precipitated a new approach to the running of the Port, concentrating on the import and export of bulk cargoes such as aggregates, timber, steel, grain, oil and biomass. Shoreham has also developed as a major fishing port. Today, Shoreham Port boasts a first class suite of services and facilities meeting the needs of all port users including: 2,000 square metres of covered transit warehousing; Paved open storage areas in excess of 25 hectares; A bulk-handling terminal; A 50 metre long dry dock facility, and a range of maritime services including hydrographic survey, towage, diving inspections etc. Tenant companies operating at the Port include Tarmac Aggregates, Cemex, Arcelor Mittal, Stobart Biomass, Ahlmark Shipping, Parker Steel, Dudman Aggregates, and Valero Oil. Together with the number of out of town warehouse style stores and firms on the other side of the coast road it is not picturesque and therefore the casual visitor is likely not to stop to visit two of the oldest churches in the town or enjoy a meal at one of several quality restaurants.

I have written before that I am not a religious person in terms of the main religious belief systems and have major objections to organised religions in the way they have become political and state weapons, especially the  absurd Church of England created by a fornicating murderous  monarch with no redeeming characteristics and where we now have the ludicrous position with a woman as its official head but rejects women holding the position of Bishops. The Church of England also underpins the aristocracy in general and in the past white supremacy having allied itself to slavery, colonization, war and to capitalism all things which its the supporter of  its Christian founder are reported to have said he condemned.  While listening to the radio, Five Live, Friday afternoon film reviews, the news reported that  homosexual men can become bishops if they are celibate which I find an absurd compromise.

So going to a Church of England service albeit a Christmas Carol service was a challenge, especially some of the aspects of the Christmas story which the C of E and other faiths now admit is  in part a fairy story produced at a time to help the conversion of the uneducated from many cultures and tongues into adherents. My first visit was on Sunday evening to the now Anglican Church of St Nicolas, on a site of a building going back to the 5th century AD and founded by AngloSaxons in the 10th century, with additions in the 12 and 14 centuries followed by Victorian era restoration. The Church as the unusual aspect of two aisles facing the small central area with its altar and services as he parish church along with its larger neighbour in the Town centre known as the Town Church and both with the same Priest in charge The Reverend Ann Waizenenker.

It was an interesting juxtaposition that earlier in the day I had lunch in Brighton at the Japanese style restaurant chain of Wagamama where unlike  in the UK  the complex amalgamation of Shinto and Japanese Buddhism is reported to be followed by over 80% of the population with some estimating the figures as high as 96 %. Whereas in England there has been a reduction from  71.7 to  59.4% over the past  decade with those declaring they posses no religious affiliation rising from 14.6 to 24.7%.

Given a choice of ethnic style restaurants Japanese follows French, Italian, Chinese, Indian. Spanish and Thai  but precedes American USA although in practice my weekly diet covers a Thai sauce stir fry, an Indian curry, Italian Salami and Olives, and a pizza. This year I decided against buying in Spanish Turron and Spanish sweets, although I use dried figs on a regular basis and occasionally Greek Feta cheese and Greek black Olives. At Brighton Wagamama I enjoyed a Chicken tama rice main course -grilled chicken breast stir-fried with courgettes, mushroom, red and spring onions in an oyster, ginger, garlic and wine sauce. served on sticky white rice £8,45 and shared in side dishes of  Pork ribs in barbecue sauce £6,45, Gyoza (steamed chicken and veg dumplings) £5.40, and negima yakitori (grilled chicken and spring onion skewers) £5.70. On top of this parking was £13 although included  a shopping visit.

On the following day the order was reversed with attending the afternoon service at the extraordinary  church of St Mary De Haura .My information is that it was founded at the end of the 11th century as a large cruciform church which, due to its original scale, has been described as a collegiate church—a reflection of the port of Shoreham's importance at the time. The former east end of that building survives to form the present church, and much 12th-century work remains, however the larger area which  I was shown on the visit was destroyed through failure to maintain so that one wing on what would have been four remains, but is still a large building and functions as the church for major religious and social events, as well as serving its small town-centre parish. English Heritage has listed it at Grade I for its architectural and historical importance.

As a measure of the importance of the service in the town calendar tickets enabled parishioners to get good seats in he central aisles but required queuing for up to an hour before the doors were opened to ensure placement and fortunate the weather was dry but chill. There was also reserved seating at the very front. Part of the reason why the rest of the church quickly filled with some standing at the back reminding of Christmas midnight mass of my  Catholic childhood at St Elphege Wallington was because of the special choir drawn from St Mary’s and St Nicolas plus  local singers of quality under  the musical direction of  Stuart Hutchinson( also organist). Barbara Sealy for Musical arrangements and the professional organist John March, whose playing before and after the service drew applause especially the Pastoral Symphony from the Messiah. Another of the five pieces of music noted was the Carillon de Westminster by Louis Vierne.

The service opened with O Little Town of Bethlehem in which the choir sang descant. After which there was the opening Prayer and Lord’s Prayer.  The first reading was Genesis 3 8-15. The Choir sang a  15th century carol adapted by Peter Warlock. Followed by God Rest You Merry Gentlemen.. The second reading was from St Luke 1 26-38a with a Choir carol Joys Seven arranged by the Musical Director followed by the hymn Angels from the realms of glory.

The third reading was from St Matthew 1 18 to end and he Choir carol As Joseph was a walking Richard Terry, followed by I saw three ships. The fourth reading was from St Luke 2 1-7. With the choir singing the Holly and the Ivy and the Hymn  In the Bleak midwinter then the choir once more The Truth from above.  The Fifth reading St Luke 2 8-20 with the choir Oh leave you sheep and the  hymn Nowell. The sixth reading St Matthew 2 1-12 with the Choir singing Starry night followed by We three Kings. The seventh and final reading was St John 1 1-14 with Elgar’s I sing the birth and after prayers His Praises We’ll sing followed by O come all ye faithful and the choir ended the service with Gaudete and the congregation Hark the Herald. The final piece of music was Symphony number 1 by Louis  Vierne.

The plated collection was for the Worthing churches Homeless Project and the St Mary and St Nicholas Church school and which I would be surprise if  each benefited by at least one thousand pounds. The cost of the service was met from other sources. The point needs to be made that the service was of the same order at that experienced  at Durham Cathedral and witness on TV from other Cathedral  at a regional and national level.  One does not have to be  religious to appreciate,

Afterwards an attempt was made to revisit La Galleria in East Street, having visited before and impressed with this intimate authentic Italian restaurant but was not surprised to find it booked out with a 90 minute wait for a table and which by good fortune meant being able to visit Brio, an Italian family run restaurant in Brunswick Road, where there was plenty of room.

I had a large glass of Volpicella £5.45 while waiting for a delicious Ravioli al granchio allo zafferano £9.95 where the pasta was filled with crab and cheese in a saffron and cream sauce. I savoured each morsel and would have enjoyed twice as much. Unfortunately the chosen  pudding special is not listed on site and comprised a warm concoction with a side dish of home made ice cream which was extraordinary and one of  a dozen choices I wanted to taste at £5.50. I ended the meal with a white coffee although I added little of the milk.

There are 23 places to chose to eat out in the area and on Boxing Day many were open and booked but a place was secured at Chambers Bistro in the Old Town Hall and former Custom’s House on the basis of vacating  in 75  minutes which provided for a glass of wine, a main course and coffee although a pudding would have been possible. The bistro is highly regarded by visitors recording their impressions on the Trip Advisor  and although pricey on eh day it offers an exceptionally value one to three course special menu 12 to 3 and 6 to 10 £7 to £13 and which I will partake on  my next visit if they continue with a starter of half a pint of  shell on prawns. A main course of coq au vin with buttered new potatoes followed by a  carrot cake with orange and mascarpone icing or Tiramisu.  On the day I enjoyed and Italian Merlot Castelbello del Veneto £ 5.45 and line caught Haddock in Harvey’s beer batter, hand cut chips £10.95  plus a shared side order of petite pois and a house made Tartare sauce followed by a neat Americano.

There was roast duck on Christmas Day and an excellent home made Christmas cake with lots other goodies including a new treat of peppered  nuts. Before leaving there was a midday visit to Brighton Marina where there is free parking for a Cineworld showing of the Hobbit followed by a meal at Nando’s. Brighton Marina was created between 1971 and 1979 and has the look of a compromise which in fairness there were plans for extensive modernization and development rejected by the local authority with an alliance of the Conservatives and Greens. The result is a mismatch of style and buildings. The present supermarket has no cafe  with the only choice for a cuppa appeared to be McDonalds and a Wetherspoons although there is also a Subway and a coffee shop listed.  Admittedly on a drizzly day in Winter  is not the best time to make a judgements but I came away with the impression of an unattractive mess compared to developments I know in France and Gibraltar.

I did not enjoy the Hobbit because  the seats and  seating layout was old fashioned so that when a tall man sat upright throughout in from of me part of the screen was blocked out. I will view the film in cinema again and then comment after finishing the reading of the story as one  of  my Christmas gifts. I enjoyed more the visit to Nando’s based on the Portuguese flamed grilled Peri  Peri chicken where you are invited to chose from plain, Lemon Grass, medium hot and hot. I  had a quarter chicken medium hot with chips and coleslaw which was good rather than outstanding.  As soon as I saw the Mediterranean salad of  one companion I knew I had made a mistake  as the large bowl contained  large olives and Feta cheese celery and cucumber as well as splashed with olive oil and garlic with the chicken peri peri to taste. As the companion found the mixture too seasoned and hot I was able to make short time of the cheese, the Olives and much else.

Before leaving Shoreham I visited the huge Marks and Spencer’s on the road  on a  site with a supermarket and McDonald’s plus a garage in the midst of what can be described as the residential new Shoreham sandwiched between the Coast the Old Town and the A 27 dual carriage way. I purchased two pack packs of  four single coloured handkerchiefs using part of a Christmas gift card.

When visiting  Worthing  several year before I found a traditional  jazz playing in a square  on a Sunday morning  and then found they played gigs at the Shoreham Airport Restaurant and bar part of the outstanding Art Deco building which is worth a visit yet to be made. The now private airport is supported by the restaurant which include 20 piece big band nights which are free to attend, passing the hat round with free entry after the food  closes at 17.30. A visit here and to the Chambers restaurant is a must for the future.

Another aspect of the town worth mentioning is that the most expensive of roads of private housing leads from the station with its level crossing and view of Brio and  Galleria and where the station takes commuters into London as well as Brighton and other coastal towns. There is also a bus service from Brighton to Portsmouth along the coast road. all of which makes Shoreham an exceptional small town where in the High Street and  there was no sign of the economic destruction by the coalition of South Shields town centre. It was back to the Midlands for the New Year

Midlands visit October 2012 part 2

While continuing work on the second part of Camilleri’s Snack Thief it is time to bring my weekend in the Midlands October 5^th to 8^th up to-date.

I enjoyed lots of good food, not Montalbano standard where the pay of Italian police Inspectors appears extraordinarily well, eating out at great food restaurants and flying to Genoa for regular weekends at the home of his long term woman and she likewise is able to fly to him and rearrange her occupation to suit his life style, work and other interests. I have never understood the quality of lives some people in reality as well as in fiction live when relying on one family income, even if that is at an above average level.

The food, the glorious food and I repeated the lunch of a chicken breast with barbecue sauce potato chips and salad with apple crumble on the Monday before departing as I had on the Friday lunchtime of arrival. On the Monday I decided upon custard with the apple crumble whereas on the Friday I had a dollop of plain vanilla ice cream. On Sunday I went for a walk in Rufford Park, grounds of the former 12^th century Cistercian Abbey where the monks led an austere life of prayer and hard work. I eat a lunch of roast beef with horseradish sauce in a medium size crispy baguette and a trio or was it quartet of roast potatoes with a little gravy from the neighbouring table un a covered veranda outside the restaurant as that inside was fully booked and which my understanding is a regular situation at weekend where the roast meat buffet with good wines has become famed. The full roast meal was around £7.25 while the satisfying baguette £3.95 and the morning was pleasantly warn in the sunshine and OK to be outside when clouded. Only a week ago I cannot remember the evening meal for certain but chicken curry comes to mind while but on Sunday there was a salmon salad at lunchtime and a chicken breast in a delicious sauce with vegetables in the evening. It was during this weekend I discovered the art of preparing a toasted sandwich using what I call a sleeve although Lakeland sell as a bag and the writing of this at the early evening time of 4.30 this Sunday 14th stimulated me to making a cheese and tomato toasty using two thick slices of bread which had to be forced into the aperture but had sprung free ready when I returned after typing a few more lines. Apart from drinks and two packets of crisps, my other snack was part of a carton of grapes over three nights.

For breakfast there were mushrooms and tomatoes, with the addition of instant porridge one morning and a bacon roll with coffee from the bakery close to the Travel Lodge at £2.14 although afterwards I noted a breakfast sub with coffee at the new Subway for £2. The Subway is using the premises of the former betting shop and I noted it was open at 10pm when I returned on the Saturday evening. In rounding up the food remembered over the week it is only fair that I record again that on the Friday evening fancying an ice cream I purchased a pack of cornet wafer chocolate ices creams for only £1.20 and after considering offering two of the four to the receptionist or some arriving customer I consumed the lot although after enjoying two the third was more than sufficient and the fourth was definitely too much.

It therefore also seems appropriate to record my visit at this point to the former austere living Cistercian Monastery of Rufford Park now managed by English heritage although owned by Nottinghamshire County Council. It became a private estate in the 17^th century with the fourth Earl of Shrewsbury, one George Talbot whose grandson converted the Abbey into a Country House. The sixth Earl main claim to historical fame is as one time keeper of Mary Queen of Scots and as the fourth husband of Bess of Chatsworth and Chelsea in addition to Hardwick Hall and who was previously married to the William Cavendish whose family became the Dukes of Devonshire and still are. A daughter of her marriage to Cavendish married the eldest son of the Duke by his first marriage.

The country estate then became owned by the Saville Family of Yorkshire including the sixth Earl of Scarborough who inherited when his brother died and who was part of the Lumley family whose home was Lumley castle, now a hotel, overlooking the Durham County Cricket ground and the town of Chester Le Street.

I have visited the park before one Christmas when for a modest additional charge the grounds were festooned with coloured lights and although I walked around the lake or at least part of it my impression was of a much smaller land area and I cannot remember seeing the ford which is known as the water splash and where one can stand overlooking as vehicles of different sizes go through, some cautiously while others travel with abandon The road is closed when the overflow from the lake is such that the ford becomes dangerous. The walled garden is well set out and there are three shops as well as an information centre staffed by Nottinghamshire County Council on Council services and issues together with an exhibition and a children‘s activity area. Two of the shops are on two storeys and sells a range of crafts and pottery artwork in one and outdoor clothing in the other while the third is a traditional gift shop including books, cards and a range of souvenirs. There is also a traditional cafe restaurant service hot food, snacks and afternoon teas. What was interesting is that here a filled jacket potato cost more than the hot beef or turkey baguette. There were a score or more of tables in the courtyard here and all occupied as the sun was out and seating well sheltered from a cool wind.

Both Newcastle and Sunderland featured on Sky TV as did Warrington in the Grand Final Challenge Cup. The successful English ladies cricket team played Australia in the Final of the 20 20 World competition

First off was Sunderland whose game away against Manchester City commenced while I was enjoyed lunch at Rufford Park. I did not anticipate a good result especially as the City start to season was not as good as might be expected from the current Premiership champions who secured their title in the final game of the season at Newcastle, a game where I was present. I was able to watch the second half with resigned masochism as City increased their first half lead of one goal to three.

There was a different expectation on Saturday evening when the bookmakers had Warrington to beat Leeds at odds of 8 to 15 against after they had won comfortably in the mid season cup at Wembley. However I was not convinced as Leeds who had finished the season in the lower part of the top eight as they have in many season yet not only make the Grand Final but had won more times than any other club, and had beaten Warrington in last year’s semi final on the way to take the Final for the fifth time. Warrington had fought back in the first half 14.14 and Leeds came out with a renewed determination which quickly gave them the edge gaining 12 points to Warrington’s 4 to take the title again as worthy winners 26-18. Warrington in their first event Grand Final appearance gave a good account but they and their supporters went home disappointed,

On Sunday morning it was also true that throughout I felt England also the favourites having beaten Australia by seven wickets already in the competition were chasing the game after the Aussi, put in to bat, had an excellent start and when the England team’s big guns went out early I feared the worst. In fact the game ended closer than expected only four runs short and six off the last ball would have won it. Newcastle had beaten Manchester United at St James’s Park last season and the way both teams had started the year suggested that whichever team took command in those opening minutes was likely to end the game victorious. They lost 3.0 and although they had chances as with the other matches over the weekend the result was never in doubt.

Just as well the food and the company were brilliant.

Midlands weekend October 2012

It is 22.30 on Monday October 8th 2012 having returned earlier in the evening from a successful, enjoyable, interesting and productive weekend in the Midlands and which included several good meals and a visit to Rufford Park, Nottinghamshire which contains the ruins of a 12^th century Cistercian Abbey and the former country house seats of the Earl of Shrewsbury and then the Saville family of Yorkshire. The journeys provided the opportunity to listen to the BBC play productions of Le Carre’s Honourable Schoolboy and the Secret Pilgrim having also listened to Tinker Tailor before departing and commencing Smiley’s People over the latter part of the journey home, and reading most the first Andrea Camilieri Montalbano novel to be made into a Television 90 film during the visit, called The Snack Thief. I also watched Newcastle lose to Manchester United on Sunday, Sunderland to Man City, Warrington to Leeds on Saturday and the English Cricket Team to Australia in the World 20 20 Cup. Not good weekend for the teams supported or watching them. When was the Ryder Cup? When were the Olympics?

I made a major shop at Asda on the way back on entering South Shields cashing in a £7 voucher for the expenditure of over £50 as well as acquiring a three month supply of shaving gel and razors.

During the visit I solved a major problem and came to several major decisions of long term significance.

I commenced preparations for travel on October 4^th when I noted a clear blue sky in the morning and which became a feature of the weekend with much sun which warmed, although without sun there was a cold wind although it was still possible to eat out lunch under an awning on the Saturday lunchtime at Rufford Park.

I had risen later than usual on the Thursday having stayed up to finish listening to the BBC radio play of Tinker Tailor and also watching some of the BBC TV serial on DVD. Deciding as I did so that I also wanted to create a separate Blog series on Google of Le Carré writings. I put the first collection of Smiley writings which I numbered 1-5 in relation to the first five written works, appreciating that the extent of previously missing spelling and typographical mistakes that still persists in my work because of the unwillingness more than inability to apportion time to ensure the mistakes were spotted and corrected. Because of the decision to recheck all the items the process took longer separating the Le Carré pieces from what else the writing included and together with the writing about the author and the subject of spies, and aspect of my own experience which can be made public. All of which will be included later when I have completed the Smiley and other works to hand.

In fairness to me I had also brought the case downstairs and listed on paper what else was required before the following morning. I decided to cook a portion of sprats for lunch as I would be away on the Saturday and the fill the car with petrol at the Morison’s garage at Seaburn rather than call in on my was the following morning.

I noted at 12.50 that I had enjoyed the sprats where I have the cooking and washed up from yesterday as well as the day, finished the carton of grapes, some of which were unpleasant contrasting with the delicious and wholesome red grapes at £1 a carton which came and went all to quickly at Morison’s, and enjoyed a glass of Pepsi diet with ice and then watched the latest film version of Jane Eye. I only have a vague memory of the 1944 film version with Joan Fontain and again the 1970 Susannah York. There were TV series in 1973 1983 and 2006, with further film versions in 1996 and 1997. I acquired copy of the book when at Oxford in the early 1960’s and in the 1990’s I visited the parsonage in which Charlotte Bronte was raised with her family and which is now a museum. I also walked on the moors. Jane Eyre remains one of the great heroines created in British literature, and the Bronte sisters, remarkable writers in the English Language. I added the Jane Eyre book to the reading list shelves and which contain 35 books in addition to the Le Carré read plays DVDs both to be viewed as well as some viewed, and some viewed and to be written about. I will write a review of the Jane Eye film separately.

I was organised for travelling by the evening having gone to Morison’s much later that hoped for the petrol and calling in at the Supermarket which I found in an extraordinary state undergoing a dramatic upheaval as they have relocated the butchers, salads, and deli counters and relocated the frozen food to where there used be soups and stationary, electrical goods against the coast road back wall. They are also replacing all the other display shelving but bit by bit so bread was in two places and stationery, electricals was all over the place. I forgot inexpensive crackers which was my only interest but spotted bags of the butter mintoes I use at night to counter the dry mouth and liquorice as an aid to comfortable regularity, on offer at three bags for £2 which compared favourably with the single bag price of 89p coming to an overall saving of £1.74 which paid for the petrol used to get the petrol rather than stop, once I started out in the morning as gone are the days of 5 am waking for the swimming and seven hour sleep have become the minimum. I made a mental note to stock up further on return plus the cream crackers.

I have lost/mislaid my small umbrella and could not find one at the Morrison store and was too lazy to go to Azda on the way back where I knew they had them. I noted that Morrison had three Lexmark printers in store, where the asking price after an assistant checked is £50. This time I noted the number and checked with IJT to find they are the most expensive of cartridges although also listed as recycled ones. I will give this a miss and go to IJT.

I had undertaken a washing and drying of clothing but on examining the presently favoured brown trousers worn with brown house jackets and green coat I saw that they need washing so this was undertaken and then ironed. I did some writing but by 10pm I was ready for bed

Friday October 8^th with the alarm set for 7 I had a good 8 hours use of the Sleep Apnoea machine which I carefully packed for the journey. I decided it was time to wash the lower bed sheet which I replaced and remade the rest of the bed. I had washed and ironed the brown trousers for the journey as well as ironing a pair of green trousers and decided on four white shirts one a day. There was little included in the Cool bag this occasion, just some tomatoes and mushrooms for breakfast with packets of porridge, but no tins of beans or rice, cream crackers to go with the soup, fruit, drinks, croissants Danish pastries or pain au chocolate than I have taken and used on previous trips of a similar nature with the car. I did take some liquorice and the butter mintoes.

I was ready to depart well before nine checking I had included the phone charging cable, the mobile internet USB and a USB storage drive. I had brought the lap top up to date the previous day. I brought the car to the garage having to move and put back the barriers around the partially repaired subsidence holes and the road closed notice after moving he car back onto the road way. I had not had time for a coffee or breakfast so decided to call in at Asda, a little out of the way, for a large bacon roll and coffee which I consider expensive at £2.74, especially as I thought the umbrella would cost over £5 to reclaim the £1 parking fee only to find the umbrella cost only £3.68 and as it was approaching 9.30, I forewent the fee rather than go back and purchase something for £2.

I had arranged to meet someone for lunch at 12.30 arriving at 12.20 and listened to most of the Secret Pilgrim which proved to be a look back at the life of a contemporary of Smiley and precipitated by a talk George had given to the latest graduating class of Spies from their training centre of the Circus, Sarratt. I will write a review separately. The lunch was good (and talk long) with chicken, barbecue sauce and chips with salad followed by apple crumble and ice cream. There seemed be more crumble and than apple. There was Pepsi with lemon and ice and a standard coffee. Later there was chicken soup and toasted cheese sandwiches.

I registered at the Travel Lodge early evening and was pleased to be on the ground floor, deciding to visit the nearby Tesco to replace the cheap shaving foam (which had proved next to useless and was binned the following morning) by a can of Gillette Gel which I had acquired on a previous visit as well as Gillette razors at 10 for just over £1 which were also more effective than those bought recently at Asda. The following day I purchased more packs of the instant razors and also two more cans of the Gel. I purchased a carton of grapes which I eat over the three days for 98 pence and a great wicked indulgence, a pack of four cornet ice creams for £1.20 just 20 pence more than for the Feast I enjoyed at the Croydon Travel Lodge the weekend for the Paralympic Games. I did not anticipate eating the four ices and considered at one point offering two to the receptionist who had given a good welcome back recognising from previous visits although the last occasion was back in March as I stayed at Nottingham Riverside for the August visit for the cricket.

I admit I eat all four cones and did feel a little sick by the end. Whether because of this on the upheaval of preparing for the visit, the journey, the subjects which I talked over, I did not have the most settle of nights which several wakings and restlessness before sleeping. One problem had become the tenderness of the skin at the bridge of the nose from the CPAP machine and then rubbing of the spectacles. On assembling the machine it has spurted water with the major leaks notice I feared the problem was being caused by the travelling. I then noted I had fixed the tubing to the wrong connection and once rectified there was no problem. Perhaps this had been the problem with the previous machine-human incompetence! I settled down and read the opening chapters of the Snack Thief