To try and get to know people in our village we made the decision to join in many of the local groups and as we had an interest in growing plants we joined the Gardener’s Club. This week we went to an organised talk on the subject of the Pollination of Flowers. We were not expecting too much but the talk was actually very well presented by a retired ex-bio-chemist who was also a very accomplished photographer. A well organised and informative talk was supported by some interesting detailed slides, though the presenter’s evolutionary, anti-creationist, attitude may have rankled with some of the church-goers in the audience. He also had a very strong opinion against the proliferation of GM technology and in particularly the way Monsanto influences American policy to the detriment of the natural order.
Again we found ourselves to be the youngest, in some cases by far, of the people there, the majority of which were long retired. Not that they were not interesting and welcoming people, it is just that we could do with meeting some more people our own age in the village.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Singing for your supper…
We went out to the Croydon branch of a small restaurant chain called Little Bay for the birthday of a friend. We were in a party of five adults and three children who had all, apart from the two of us, been to this venue before.
The outside of the place was slightly unusual in that the façade looked like a ski chalet, and once inside we saw a photograph on the wall of how it used to be when it was called the Swiss Cottage. But that was before it had been taken over and the inside completely remodelled into some wild fantasy piece. The front half of the restaurant was conventionally laid out and was decorated in gaudy colours with bold designs and unusual lighting, but it was the back half of the restaurant that took our breath away. We descended down a short flight of stairs into someone’s magical interpretation of an Italian Opera house, small intimate tables in the middle of the room under grand chandeliers and surrounded by irregular booths over which were suspended theatre-like boxes with more tables and seating in them. We were shown up a steep set of stairs inlayed with lights in the shape of stars and the like to a large veranda booth where we sat around a kidney shaped table that had images of maps and other ancient looking documents plastered over it. Apparently the theme is enhanced a couple of days a week by performers wandering around singing various operatic tunes to the diners, sometimes climbing up the side of the booths or lying across the tables to serenade you. The artistic imagery around this part of the dining area was very theatrical and this was extended to the toilets where the pictures became more erotic in nature (the children had a separate loo that was decorated with more appropriate Disney characters).
Another departure from the norm for this restaurant chain is the very low prices of the food, which was as cheap as a café but with the variety of dishes that were as good as many bigger restaurants. Apparently the prices are even lower at lunch times and although I have read reports where some customers have been disappointed in other branches with the service and food, I can honestly say that we all found it quite enjoyable, and at £130 for food and drinks for the eight of us it was very reasonably priced.
The outside of the place was slightly unusual in that the façade looked like a ski chalet, and once inside we saw a photograph on the wall of how it used to be when it was called the Swiss Cottage. But that was before it had been taken over and the inside completely remodelled into some wild fantasy piece. The front half of the restaurant was conventionally laid out and was decorated in gaudy colours with bold designs and unusual lighting, but it was the back half of the restaurant that took our breath away. We descended down a short flight of stairs into someone’s magical interpretation of an Italian Opera house, small intimate tables in the middle of the room under grand chandeliers and surrounded by irregular booths over which were suspended theatre-like boxes with more tables and seating in them. We were shown up a steep set of stairs inlayed with lights in the shape of stars and the like to a large veranda booth where we sat around a kidney shaped table that had images of maps and other ancient looking documents plastered over it. Apparently the theme is enhanced a couple of days a week by performers wandering around singing various operatic tunes to the diners, sometimes climbing up the side of the booths or lying across the tables to serenade you. The artistic imagery around this part of the dining area was very theatrical and this was extended to the toilets where the pictures became more erotic in nature (the children had a separate loo that was decorated with more appropriate Disney characters).
Another departure from the norm for this restaurant chain is the very low prices of the food, which was as cheap as a café but with the variety of dishes that were as good as many bigger restaurants. Apparently the prices are even lower at lunch times and although I have read reports where some customers have been disappointed in other branches with the service and food, I can honestly say that we all found it quite enjoyable, and at £130 for food and drinks for the eight of us it was very reasonably priced.
Friday, April 04, 2008
A mixed bag…
We have had a mixed time of things recently from the lows of a family funeral to highs of parties with friends and family. We have been trying to get out and about in the countryside when we can but the weather has not been on our side as it has been quite cold and wet. The local Westcott History Group has a Good Friday walk and this year it was up to one of the sources of the nearby brook. Luckily the weather was in our favour and we had a good time with almost as many dogs on the walk as people.
The other walk we had during Easter was into Dorking to try out a couple of hostelries ending up at the Star Inn where we were so enamoured with the atmosphere we stayed for longer than perhaps we should have. When we entered there was no other patrons in and the bar maid was playing violin, but the quirky artwork on the walls and the Darlek at the end of the bar intrigued us so we encouraged her to play on as we looked about and had a drink. Other people started to trickle in and soon we found ourselves in conversation with total strangers and have a great time. The walk home was a bit of a blur and our wallets were considerably lighter but we didn’t care.
We attended the AGM of the local gardening group that we had joined so that we could meet more people in the village, though many people there also belong to the other local groups as well. It was a cheese and wine evening in the village club and we met a few new people and found out more about the village in bloom competition that will be happening. We have started to work on our front garden and I have trays of flower seedlings in the potting shed next tor the vegetables in preparation as it is possible the judges will be passing in front of our house in their route around the village.
We had a couple of people in to quote for fixing and improving our original sash windows (some of which are jammed shut or have broken cords), but the prices were more than we hoped for and it looks like it will have to be a DIY job with the possible help of a friends and family. We also think the fridge/freezer is on the way out and these built in units are quite expensive to replace.
I am still practicing the guitar, though not as much as I should as I get frustrated with the slow progress. I have also submitted my story to another publisher, though by the lack of response I guess it will be to the same end.
Now that the clocks have changed here to Summer Time we are looking forward and our hearts are lifted with the prospects to come.
The other walk we had during Easter was into Dorking to try out a couple of hostelries ending up at the Star Inn where we were so enamoured with the atmosphere we stayed for longer than perhaps we should have. When we entered there was no other patrons in and the bar maid was playing violin, but the quirky artwork on the walls and the Darlek at the end of the bar intrigued us so we encouraged her to play on as we looked about and had a drink. Other people started to trickle in and soon we found ourselves in conversation with total strangers and have a great time. The walk home was a bit of a blur and our wallets were considerably lighter but we didn’t care.
We attended the AGM of the local gardening group that we had joined so that we could meet more people in the village, though many people there also belong to the other local groups as well. It was a cheese and wine evening in the village club and we met a few new people and found out more about the village in bloom competition that will be happening. We have started to work on our front garden and I have trays of flower seedlings in the potting shed next tor the vegetables in preparation as it is possible the judges will be passing in front of our house in their route around the village.
We had a couple of people in to quote for fixing and improving our original sash windows (some of which are jammed shut or have broken cords), but the prices were more than we hoped for and it looks like it will have to be a DIY job with the possible help of a friends and family. We also think the fridge/freezer is on the way out and these built in units are quite expensive to replace.
I am still practicing the guitar, though not as much as I should as I get frustrated with the slow progress. I have also submitted my story to another publisher, though by the lack of response I guess it will be to the same end.
Now that the clocks have changed here to Summer Time we are looking forward and our hearts are lifted with the prospects to come.
Dancing boy…
Billy Elliott the musical
We were invited out to the theatre with many of Sue’s family in essence to celebrate an Aunt’s birthday, but in reality it is usual for them to get together in this way once or twice a year, often at her Uncle’s expense.
Not everybody had seen the movie and so were unsure what to expect, some of the guys were not looking forward to an evening of ballet. But the storyline of the miner’s strikes and of the tough life in a struggling northern town ensured that the show was edgy enough to counter any other sentimental elements. Overall the acting and dialog were great and the choreography was quite spectacular though one or two numbers were perhaps overlong and one or two songs were a little saccharine for everyone’s taste. There were quite a lot of expletives throughout the dialog but it was used to good comic and dramatic effect and helped emphasise the setting and mood that it could easily be overlooked, even welcomed.
Travelling into and out of town is the biggest drawback to the night and is probably the main reason (along with the big city prices) that we don’t do this more often. There are so many good shows on all the time and it is such a shame we don’t get to see more of them.
We were invited out to the theatre with many of Sue’s family in essence to celebrate an Aunt’s birthday, but in reality it is usual for them to get together in this way once or twice a year, often at her Uncle’s expense.
Not everybody had seen the movie and so were unsure what to expect, some of the guys were not looking forward to an evening of ballet. But the storyline of the miner’s strikes and of the tough life in a struggling northern town ensured that the show was edgy enough to counter any other sentimental elements. Overall the acting and dialog were great and the choreography was quite spectacular though one or two numbers were perhaps overlong and one or two songs were a little saccharine for everyone’s taste. There were quite a lot of expletives throughout the dialog but it was used to good comic and dramatic effect and helped emphasise the setting and mood that it could easily be overlooked, even welcomed.
Travelling into and out of town is the biggest drawback to the night and is probably the main reason (along with the big city prices) that we don’t do this more often. There are so many good shows on all the time and it is such a shame we don’t get to see more of them.
More of wot I have seen…
We had to visit our local library to renew our cards which would have expired as we hadn’t been since we moved to the area. While we were there the library was running an offer designed to attract people back and they were offering free DVD hire when you took out a book. So we pick the following films up.
Nacho Libre
This is a light and fun movie with the usual Jack Black slightly edgy comedy styling. Set in the unfamiliar world of a Latin American monastery it revolves around the cultural obsession with wrestling while introducing elements of forbidden love, trust and honesty and goodliness. Good for a laugh.
300
300 is a movie based on a comic reworking a tale of Spartan heroism against unbelievable odds. The imagery captures the comic feel perfectly and adds to the mythic scale of the dramatic action that wouldn’t have worked in a ‘realistic’ way. Naturally it is a bit of a boys-own type of film and won’t appeal to everybody, but for those who can remember flipping through graphic novels or still do it will probably be just up your street.
Nacho Libre
This is a light and fun movie with the usual Jack Black slightly edgy comedy styling. Set in the unfamiliar world of a Latin American monastery it revolves around the cultural obsession with wrestling while introducing elements of forbidden love, trust and honesty and goodliness. Good for a laugh.
300
300 is a movie based on a comic reworking a tale of Spartan heroism against unbelievable odds. The imagery captures the comic feel perfectly and adds to the mythic scale of the dramatic action that wouldn’t have worked in a ‘realistic’ way. Naturally it is a bit of a boys-own type of film and won’t appeal to everybody, but for those who can remember flipping through graphic novels or still do it will probably be just up your street.
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