Unusual Celebration…

For our friend, Dave’s 50^th a group of his family and friends met at Borough Market for a few drinks before going off to join a very entertaining Jack the Ripper Tour that ended up at Spitalfields Market where we had a few more drinks before getting a meal at a nearby Meze Bar. A slightly unusual choice to celebrate your birthday, but everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly.

More wot I have read…

Silence by Shusaku Endo

This was a book written in 1966 but in such a way as it felt like translations from letters written by the characters. It was interesting to appreciate another part of history that I was not aware of, but the narrative itself did not engage me at all.

‘A Japanese Catholic, Endo tells the story of two seventeenth-century missionaries attempting to shore up the oppressed Japanese Christian movement. Father Rodrigues has come to Japan to find the truth behind unthinkable rumours that his famous teacher, Ferreira has renounced his faith. But, after his arrival, he discovers that the only way to help the brutally persecuted Christians may be to apostatize himself.’

Low Town: The Straight Razor Cure by Daniel Polansky

More of romp through a fantasy world this story was quite silly, but it had diverting characters and rollicking action. A bit of time waster.

‘Welcome to Low Town.

Here, the criminal is king. The streets are filled with the screeching of fish hags, the cries of swindled merchants, the inviting murmurs of working girls. Here, people can disappear, and the lacklustre efforts of the guard ensure they are never found.

Warden is an ex-soldier who has seen the worst men have to offer; now a narcotics dealer with a rich, bloody past and a way of inviting danger. You'd struggle to find someone with a soul as dark and troubled as his.

But then a missing child, murdered and horribly mutilated, is discovered in an alley.

And then another.

With a mind as sharp as a blade and an old but powerful friend in the city, he's the only man with a hope of finding the killer.

If the killer doesn't find him first.’

Green Fingers…

We have had a mixed year in the vegie garden as we had a late and wet spring followed by a very dry and hot summer. Sue has spent a lot of time watering, weeding and generally tending the crops and our most unusual success were two avocado plants growing out of the compost.

Bonny Scotland…

Recently we visited Jamie and Gia at their new house in Edinburgh for the weekend.

It had been some time since we had been in Edinburgh so we did a little sightseeing on our own before meeting up again for a catch up. During our stay, we played a few games, enjoyed the company of their friends and watched a movie.

On Saturday, we went to lunch at a fabulous restaurant called Forage & Chatter that specialised in Scottish inspired dishes. It was delightful and friends commented that the name of the place suited Sue and I very much. We also had a few cocktails at an eclectic bar called Paradise Palms.

On Sunday, we took a long walk along the Water of Leith to Leith itself, from near Dean Village via Stockbridge Market (where I picked up a black pudding scotch egg), stopping for a ‘snack’ at The Ship on the Shore (oysters and champagne for the girls, muscles and calamari and beer for Jamie and me. We returned via Holyrood Park past Arthur’s Seat (luckily, we didn’t have to climb it), the Palace of Holyrood house, Scottish Parliament, the old town beside Edinburg Castle, and finally eating stonking burgers at Foundry 39 (where there was a case of unfortunate mistaken identity – Scotch Bonnet for a dehydrated tomato on Bloody Mary).

Art and Nature…

On a bright autumn day, we visited the RHS Wisley as we are members and we like the gardens. It just so happened that the Surrey Sculpture Society were displaying artwork throughout the gardens and so we followed the trail around enjoying the mix of art and nature.

In and Out in London…

Having enjoyed visiting several interesting places last year with the Open House London weekend event, we decided to do it again this year and we invited my Uncle Terry to join us.

Our route took in some very interesting places such as Foreign & Commonwealth Office, The Banqueting House, Admiralty House, Burlington House (Chemistry, Linnaeus, and Geology Societies), the personable Argentine Ambassador’s Residence and the very grand Guildhall.

We also took in a couple of public houses by way of an interlude and respite, the Golden Lion – King Street and Ye Olde Watling – Watling Street.

Put your hands up…

Listening to our regular radio station I was inspired to book tickets for the Radio 2 All Star Party at Bridlington Spa. Unfortunately, after securing them I found out there was no accommodation in town. This error was compounded when I looked for accommodation further afield on the main train route and booked in at the Star Inn at Nafferton. But I booked for the Friday night and the event was on Saturday. Trying again they did not have vacancy for the Saturday, so I ended up booking a different place for the Saturday. A couple of days before the event I looked at the timetable for the trains and discovered that they were not running on Saturday due to industrial action. Sheesh!

So, on the Friday we had a leisurely drive up to Yorkshire stopping for a visit to the interesting and educational National Trust Workhouse in Southwall.

We drove down towards Bridlington the next morning, taking the Scenic Route and stopping briefly at a church in Rudston with an enormous Neolithic monolith (apparently, the tallest standing stone in Britain) as well as two Roman sarcophagi in the churchyard. At Bridlington, we walked down through the old town (used in the Dad’s Army remake), and then went to the seashore and wandered along the lovely beach, through the harbour and past the amusement arcades.

Near lunchtime we drove up the coast towards Scarborough, but the traffic was heavy (there was a jazz festival on in town) so we continued to Whitby where it was equally busy. We ended up going to the beautiful village at Robin Hoods Bay where we eat a seafood lunch in the Bay Hotel listening to a group singing sea shanties on the boat ramp.

Our second hotel was the Bell Inn at Driffield, and we checked in and had a bit of a rest prior to the party later.

The show was live performances of three of the Saturday night shows hosted by Trevor Nelson, Craig Charles and Ana Matronic in turn. There was also live music from the following: Clean Bandit, Incognito, Lemar, Kid Creole & The Coconuts, Fantasy Funk Band featuring Gabrielle, Jaki Graham and John Turrell.

After several hours of standing and dancing about we eventually bailed just after midnight with very sore feet.

South Coast Sunshine…

There are several lovely spots along this stretch of coastline but Ferring beach is one that is dog friendly and that is the main reason we visited with the Whittenburys and their crazy hound. After a walk along the pebble beach and a paddle in the water we had a tasty lunch at the licensed BlueBird Café. It was such a hit that Sue returned with other friends and their dogs for another visit soon after.

Game Daze…

This time of the year it is difficult to get all our gaming friends together as holidays and other commitments get in the way, nevertheless I managed to sessions of board games recently – one at Derek’s with Martin, and then at Kevin’s also with Martin. I do enjoy playing but I am not particularly adept and it shows as I rarely win a game, but I still had fun.

Under a Shady Tree…

One hot summer’s day (we have had a few of those this year) we ventured out to Winkworth Arboretum where we could walk under the shade of the many and varied trees and around by the serene pond. Nearby is Oakhurst Cottage, a small 16^th century home that has not changed much over the hundreds of years (the National Trust did install a cold water tap in the house for the occupants at their request, but this has since been removed), as it is small, old and fragile the house is only open at certain times and usually as part of pre-booked tours.

Out in the Fresh Air…

This beautiful summer weather has enabled us to spend a lot of time outdoors and as the seasons change to autumn we are reaping the rewards for the hard work in the garden (harvesting crops and flowers to eat fresh, freeze for later in the year and for to pickle and turn into jams and sauces). We have been out walking in the countryside that we are blessed with around home and have foraged through the hedgerows for blackberries to add to our bounty.

A Long Weekend…

Starting on Friday evening with Sue cooking a wonderful dinner for us, her sister Deb, and the Whittenbury clan. It was a good night with plenty of chat, laughter and libations.

The following day we decided to walk some of the excesses off in the local countryside collecting blackberries and wild apples and taking a new route that passed the Dorking Community Orchard and stopping for a little drink at a local pub or three.

Saturday evening, we went to an informal dinner party at a friend’s place with our neighbour and mutual Howard. The host, Neil, had arranged for the food to be cooked by his friend, a former Italian chef, Alex. We had a great time watching Alex create his magic in the kitchen and we perhaps should have stopped there – but martinis were beckoning to some of our party back at Howards.

Sunday was a wet and dreary day so the girls took to the kitchen to create magic and I sloped off to the attic to play on the computer. Later that night we ventured out to the Kings Arms in Dorking to watch, listen and dance to the very entertaining local band the Eclectix.

Bank Holiday Monday was nicer weather so in the afternoon we went to nearby Polesden Lacey where they have live jazz playing to audiences on the main lawn during summer. We had arranged to meet with the Whittenbury’s, Deb and Linda and Mark for a picnic and a relax.

Sussex Prairie Gardens…

The Sussex Prairie Gardens had been on our list to visit for a while so when our friends Paul and Lorraine said they had a stand at a show being held there, we decided to go visit and arranged to meet the Brown there too. The gardens are relatively new (ten years or so) and are laid out in a spiral of beds, some of the outer ones raised to offer wider views. As suggested by the name the planting uses a lot of grasses as might be found on the prairies. The site was quite crowded due to the show, but even so clever planting allowed guests to walk into the beds and find some respite in secluded spaces contained within. After our visit, we went with the Browns to a pub for a late lunch before returning home. I think this is a place we will return to on a non-show day to see it at its best. 

More wot I have read…

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

I was not sure about this book, thinking it would play more with the mystical themes revealed early one, but which spent a lot more time as a family drama unfolding separately for each offspring. The way people react to information they think will impact their lives is an interesting theme and the different responses were well realised, but overall it was a less than satisfying story for me.

‘It's 1969, and holed up in a grimy tenement building in New York's Lower East Side is a travelling psychic who claims to be able to tell anyone the date they will die. The four Gold children, too young for what they're about to hear, sneak out to learn their fortunes.

Over the years that follow, the siblings must choose how to live with the prophecies the fortune-teller gave them that day. Will they accept, ignore, cheat or defy them? Golden-boy Simon escapes to San Francisco, searching for love; dreamy Klara becomes a Las Vegas magician; eldest son Daniel tries to control fate as an army doctor after 9/11; and bookish Varya looks to science for the answers she craves.’

The Ballad of Halo Jones Volume 2 by Alan Moore and Ian Gibson

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

Another interesting concept provided as a mechanic to this story, but not what it is about at all. I got lost in what the author was trying to get across to me and I found the narrative ponderous and a bit tiresome.

‘In a country teetering on the brink of civil war, two young people meet—sensual, fiercely independent Nadia and gentle, restrained Saeed. They embark on a furtive love affair and are soon cloistered in a premature intimacy by the unrest roiling their city. When it explodes, turning familiar streets into a patchwork of checkpoints and bomb blasts, they begin to hear whispers about doors—doors that can whisk people far away, if perilously and for a price. As the violence escalates, Nadia and Saeed decide that they no longer have a choice. Leaving their homeland and their old lives behind, they find a door and step through.’

The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North

I was intrigued by the premise of this story and found it entertaining in execution. Again, as in many of these books, there are deeper themes at play throughout, but they do not takeover or distract too much from the narrative. And I do like the title very much.

‘Listen.

All the world forgets me. First my face, then my voice, then the consequences of my deeds.

So listen. Remember me.

My name is Hope Arden, and you won't know who I am. We've met before - a thousand times. But I am the girl the world forgets.

It started when I was sixteen years old. A slow declining, an isolation, one piece at a time.

A father forgetting to drive me to school. A mother setting the table for three, not four. A teacher who forgets to chase my missing homework. A friend who looks straight through me and sees a stranger.

No matter what I do, the words I say, the people I hurt, the crimes I commit - you will never remember who I am.

That makes my life tricky. But it also makes me dangerous...’

Quiz Night…

One of our local pubs, The Prince of Wales, hosts a regular quiz night and so a few of us decided to put together a team, called "Norfolk ‘n’ Chance" (always about the cheap laugh), and we actually came in 2^nd place. We donated our winnings to charity as we were just there for the fun of it all.

Cycling…

Prudential Ride London is an annual cycling event that comes through our village. In the morning amateur cyclists come through and in the afternoon we get a few laps of the professionals racing through the closed off streets. The wet weather we were experiencing after the heatwave reduced spectator numbers, however there was still a good view from the pub. At least it was probably safer for the participants than the near 30-degree heat that we had the week before.

Sitting in a Field…

This year we went to a new festival (new to us that is as it has been going for 27 years). We drove down to the boarder of Dorset to the Larmer Tree Festival, where Deb, Sue and I set up our campsite in a dry, hot field. Sue had to take it easy as she had just found out she had developed shingles (I had it a few weeks before, and we thought it was not supposed to be contagious).

The site is spread throughout the beautiful establish grounds of and grand house, and it offered a variety of areas to explore – the traditional large open area with the majority of the stalls and performance tents, a secluded main stage area surrounded by trees, a wooded alternative therapy area near the silent disco, a children’s area with activities, and many more.

There were a great variety of acts on including kid’s performers, literary talks, comedy and music of all genres. There were not many acts we knew but half the fun is find new music. We saw the following performances:

Jake Bugg (the bluesy singer songwriter still grateful to be billed as a headliner) 

First Aid Kit (country-folk-pop sisters with great harmonies and big sound) 

Public Service Broadcasting (a multimedia electronic outfit with a reputation for forensic, historic storytelling)

Roo Panes (a mellow singer songwriter)

Elephant Sessions (Scottish indie-folk band with a high-energy set) 

Broken Brass Ensemble (a Netherlands brass band that fuses hip-hop, funk, soul, dance and jazz into a lively performance)

Goat Girl (a young, edgy band from London with potential) 

IDER (London duo poised to break into the mainstream) 

Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker (seen before, this duo combine haunting vocals and expert guitar playing into a sophisticated elegant sound)

Tom Speight (Tom and his female partner on stage make a lovely sound together) 

Laura Goldthorp (a mesmerising singer songwriter receiving some well-deserved plaudits) 

Noah’s House Band (an entertaining novelty act where each song is based on an animal, such as the hydrophobic whale and a duck-billed platypus with an identity crisis) 

Guns of Navarone (a foot stomping 10-piece Ska band) 

The Olde Boston Tea Party (an old-school bluegrass/Americana band with heart and humour) 

Owl in the Sun (a lively Americana/gypsy-jazz outfit) 

Professor Elemental (a novelty ‘Steampunk’ hip-hop act) 

Selby and the Dharma Blitz (an alternative hip hop funk project that provide an infectious groove to their performance) 

Thunderbridge Bluegrass Band (a traditional bluegrass outfit of accomplished performers) 

Jones (Cherie Jones is a British alternative pop singer with a great stage presence) 

Overall, apart from Sue struggling with her illness, it was a very good festival, great hot and dry weather, tasty food and drink, and fabulous new music.

A Local Show…

WESTfest is our local fair held on the recreation grounds. It is a small affair and with the heat some of the activities were curtailed (the dog show was cancelled for the sake of the animals). The local fire brigade also helped by using their hose to keep people cool in the hot weather. Marc, Sue and I opted for the alternative solution of beer and ice-cream.

Capel Military Vehicle Show…

Marc was over from Sweden and stopped with us for a few days. He and I went out to the local Capel Military Vehicle Show on a very hot Saturday. There was a good display of military hardware, folks in uniform, and collectable stands selling all manner of stuff. In the main arena, we saw a re-enactment show between Germans and Americans/Russians, tanks and artillery firing their guns, and a tank tug of war. Next to the beer tent was a dance floor where couples were lindy hopping to period tunes.

Shaken, Not Stirred…

We have had a few earthquakes through Surrey recently and Sue felt on move her the other day. Not what you expect in this part of the world. Even coming from NZ I can’t say I have ever felt one (touch wood it stays that way).