Friday
My colleague and I have recently been having lunch together on a Friday, using it as a way of exploring the local eateries. I mentioned a few weeks ago, that we went to one called Tamarind Thai Cafe that I chose, which was great. However, my colleague is not a particularly creative or imaginative, so instead of choosing somewhere new, as had been the intention, he suggested going back there. When I said I’d rather not, he decided to get fish and chips instead! So that meant I had to find something new to do – so on the way to meeting my cousin, I popped into Westfield as they’ve got free parking until the end of the month! However, instead of emerging among the shiny shops, I somehow took a wrong turning, ending up in a delivery area that I couldn’t find my way out of, which looked like a concrete bunker, as if a reminder of why I shouldn’t go shopping! I ended up surprising a shop worker who was having something to eat, and he guided me out, after laughing. A lot. I then had a pleasant walk around the shops, including Habitat, Coast, Monsoon and so on, before heading to central London where I enjoyed a pint at the Hemingford Arms. This pub is just around the corner from my sister’s house, and each time I have driven past it, I’ve thought to myself how welcoming it looks. It’s every bit as nice as I expected. It was built in 1850 and is cosy, warm and full of character; just like you imagine inns to be in Victorian times. We then went to Upper Street and had fajitas at Desperados Mexican Cantina and Cocktail Bar (a bar that apparently caters for birthday parties, hen night parties, and divorce parties!).We then topped that off with a quick pint in the Mucky Pub which was brilliant, with a stonking selection on the jukebox! I loved that it billed itself as the Best Pub On Queen's Head Street..! and told people “no under 18s unless they've got 4 legs!!” Went home, with a new diversion off the M4, onto the A4 and back on a junction later at J6.
Saturday
New thing was going to Newbury Tool Hire first thing to borrow a sander!
Sunday
After frequenting a car boot sale at Trinity School (not a new thing as I was sent down here to do a story on the A-level results when I was a reporter here four years ago), then Homebase and stocking up with house stuff (including some Linda Barker wallpaper which we opened and then found was stained *mad, mad, mad* , we rewarded ourselves with a walk in the countryside. Except we never made it to walking. We were served by a wonderfully cheerful and friendly woman in the Vitality Farm Shop “where the donkeys are!” on the Pangbourne Road in Theale, where we bought lots of veg and I ripped hundreds of paper bags accidentally, much to the lady’s amusement. We then stopped in the carpark at Beale Farm Park, but didn’t have enough money to get in (£8.50 each), before deciding to head home, where I realised I had made an apple pizza instead of an apple pie! The other new thing I did, is something I am very embarrassed to admit to! As a schoolgirl in the very late 80s, there was a tremendous fuss about Dirty Dancing when it came out, with many of my school friends in love with the wonderful Patrick Swayze. I never got round to watching it, so nearly 20 years later, after the very sad death of the great Patrick, I sat down to watch it (just after watching another tribute -this one to the brilliant and entertaining Keith Floyd.) And what a brilliant film it is, living up to its hype, with great performances and breathtaking dance scenes.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday
New thing today was popping into a business based up the road from us to see the editing of a film they are putting together for us. Link to follow!
I also planned to go to a gig tonight, but ended up going home (and taking about three hours over it) a different way, along the A4 from Maidenhead, which meant going through the middle of Reading, which is a nightmare at the best of times. Very pretty road before you get to Reading, including stopping at a garage in Littleworth Common for a refuel.
I also planned to go to a gig tonight, but ended up going home (and taking about three hours over it) a different way, along the A4 from Maidenhead, which meant going through the middle of Reading, which is a nightmare at the best of times. Very pretty road before you get to Reading, including stopping at a garage in Littleworth Common for a refuel.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday - looking for a new England - a Miss England!
Memorable day, but not really because of the new things I did, which were: stopping in a back street in Ealing while I searched for my wallet (which it turned out was on my desk) and then later going into One Stop in Theale looking for screenwash and sandwich filling (I found neither!). However, the main attraction of the day was meeting Miss England, Rachel Christie who collected a Mégane Coupé Cabriolet (when in fact she thought she was getting a Clio!
http://www.am-online.com/news/story/?nID=42900840
A very talented and beautiful young lady, and a worthy winner of Miss England! Next stop: Miss World!
http://www.am-online.com/news/story/?nID=42900840
A very talented and beautiful young lady, and a worthy winner of Miss England! Next stop: Miss World!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Banal...and canals...
Tuesday
New thing was a post office in Acton.
Wednesday
Working from home today which means I have to actively seek out my new things. Today I ended up going to the launderette around the corner to see how much the tumble driers cost in anticipation of rainy days.
It’s 20p for three minutes
Thursday
Lunchtime cycle into town including trying to get to Northcroft to get a swimming timetable. Unfortunately, I took the wrong bridge over the canal into West Mills. When I finally arrived at the reception, the woman was so surly that it’s put me off doing exercise!
Friday
The Sun Inn outside Newbury. The woman behind the bar didn’t make any eye contact with me at all, so I didn’t end up having a drink.
Saturday
New thing was going to the Newbury Show (even though I’ve done it before), specifically the new things were sitting in a Porsche Panamera, a VW T5 and a Mini One. I also watched celebrity chef Mike Robinson butcher and cook a roe deer which was a first. After the show, headed for Highclere where we went to a pub called the Red House, which I’d not even heard of before. Very nice, complete with friendly Labrador.
Sunday
New thing was the bus from Newbury town centre to the showground for the Newbury Show again.
Monday
New thing was going to the London Apprentice pub which is now our new local! Reminds me of going into pubs as a youngster. Left suddenly when one of my drinks came served in a glass with lipstick on the rim.
New thing was a post office in Acton.
Wednesday
Working from home today which means I have to actively seek out my new things. Today I ended up going to the launderette around the corner to see how much the tumble driers cost in anticipation of rainy days.
It’s 20p for three minutes
Thursday
Lunchtime cycle into town including trying to get to Northcroft to get a swimming timetable. Unfortunately, I took the wrong bridge over the canal into West Mills. When I finally arrived at the reception, the woman was so surly that it’s put me off doing exercise!
Friday
The Sun Inn outside Newbury. The woman behind the bar didn’t make any eye contact with me at all, so I didn’t end up having a drink.
Saturday
New thing was going to the Newbury Show (even though I’ve done it before), specifically the new things were sitting in a Porsche Panamera, a VW T5 and a Mini One. I also watched celebrity chef Mike Robinson butcher and cook a roe deer which was a first. After the show, headed for Highclere where we went to a pub called the Red House, which I’d not even heard of before. Very nice, complete with friendly Labrador.
Sunday
New thing was the bus from Newbury town centre to the showground for the Newbury Show again.
Monday
New thing was going to the London Apprentice pub which is now our new local! Reminds me of going into pubs as a youngster. Left suddenly when one of my drinks came served in a glass with lipstick on the rim.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Berkshire! And Brain of Britain!
Tuesday
Theale again!
Wednesday
Down to Dorset
Thursday
Drove right through and onto Rockwell Heath on the hunt for all the local newspapers, before attending a launch event at www.Wellingtonmotors.co.uk
Friday
We tried really heard to go to a pub in Montacute as my new thing, as I wanted to show Mabel around this beautiful Somerset village. One pub wasn’t yet open and another seemed to be temporarily closed, so for new thing ended up going to the Grange in Oborne. It seemed to be deserted apart from an old couple sitting in the bar. We waited for 10 minutes and then went.
Saturday
New things today included stopping off in Okehampton for a cup of tea at the Little Red Rooster Cafe and a look around some of the shops. A lovely town, which seems to be fighting off all the usual high street shops. Then went to St Austell and had a walk around. We’ve been here before so went to the Ram Wertha Pub (still don’t know what this means, assume it’s Cornish?) for lunch before heading to St Stephen near St Austell and the holiday cottage that Mabel’s parents are renting. We then went back to St Austell in the evening for a lovely meal at the Hop and Vine pub opposite the church which had an unusual menu including tanginess alongside the more usual pub fare.
Sunday
Started the day by visiting the Lost Gardens of Heligan www.heligan.com which is a beautiful garden, and also enabled me to make endless jokes about “finding the lost gardens”....Heligan is described as one of the most mysterious estates in England, having been rediscovered after a century of being overgrown. As well as fabulous gardens, kitchen gardens, there’s a jungle, woodland walks and glass houses. We started with the woodland walk, passing the Mid maid, Grey Lady and Giant’s Head, before heading to the subtropical jungle where the wooden path winds round massive leaves and bamboo. We were truly blessed with fantastic weather all weekend, so it was with some reluctance that we tore ourselves away and hit the road, stopping off to have something to eat. We tried Cullumpton, where the whole town appeared to be asleep and sleepwalking towards complete closure, before heading to Willard and stopping off at the Halfway House where the food was good but the service was not. I actually emitted a huge laugh when the waitress slammed down my plate with such force that the salt pot jumped into the air. She had no idea what was so funny. Coupled with earwigging a conversation between two locals, I was in hysterics when we left. “Did I tell you I’ve got a f**cking cool VW campervan?” “No! Have you passed your test?!” “No.”
Monday
New thing was going to Japanese restaurant Itsu just north of Oxford Circus. £.480 (I could have sworn it said £3.80) for some spicy salmon and avocado sushi at Itsu before heading to BBC Radio House for Brain of Britain where the new things continued with the security staff paying particular attention to my shoes, before we were sent into a waiting room before being ushered into to the radio theatre for two rounds of the gentle, yet difficult quiz (it IS difficult despite the fat man behind me breathing through his mouth noisily and muttering “dead easy” to himself.
Theale again!
Wednesday
Down to Dorset
Thursday
Drove right through and onto Rockwell Heath on the hunt for all the local newspapers, before attending a launch event at www.Wellingtonmotors.co.uk
Friday
We tried really heard to go to a pub in Montacute as my new thing, as I wanted to show Mabel around this beautiful Somerset village. One pub wasn’t yet open and another seemed to be temporarily closed, so for new thing ended up going to the Grange in Oborne. It seemed to be deserted apart from an old couple sitting in the bar. We waited for 10 minutes and then went.
Saturday
New things today included stopping off in Okehampton for a cup of tea at the Little Red Rooster Cafe and a look around some of the shops. A lovely town, which seems to be fighting off all the usual high street shops. Then went to St Austell and had a walk around. We’ve been here before so went to the Ram Wertha Pub (still don’t know what this means, assume it’s Cornish?) for lunch before heading to St Stephen near St Austell and the holiday cottage that Mabel’s parents are renting. We then went back to St Austell in the evening for a lovely meal at the Hop and Vine pub opposite the church which had an unusual menu including tanginess alongside the more usual pub fare.
Sunday
Started the day by visiting the Lost Gardens of Heligan www.heligan.com which is a beautiful garden, and also enabled me to make endless jokes about “finding the lost gardens”....Heligan is described as one of the most mysterious estates in England, having been rediscovered after a century of being overgrown. As well as fabulous gardens, kitchen gardens, there’s a jungle, woodland walks and glass houses. We started with the woodland walk, passing the Mid maid, Grey Lady and Giant’s Head, before heading to the subtropical jungle where the wooden path winds round massive leaves and bamboo. We were truly blessed with fantastic weather all weekend, so it was with some reluctance that we tore ourselves away and hit the road, stopping off to have something to eat. We tried Cullumpton, where the whole town appeared to be asleep and sleepwalking towards complete closure, before heading to Willard and stopping off at the Halfway House where the food was good but the service was not. I actually emitted a huge laugh when the waitress slammed down my plate with such force that the salt pot jumped into the air. She had no idea what was so funny. Coupled with earwigging a conversation between two locals, I was in hysterics when we left. “Did I tell you I’ve got a f**cking cool VW campervan?” “No! Have you passed your test?!” “No.”
Monday
New thing was going to Japanese restaurant Itsu just north of Oxford Circus. £.480 (I could have sworn it said £3.80) for some spicy salmon and avocado sushi at Itsu before heading to BBC Radio House for Brain of Britain where the new things continued with the security staff paying particular attention to my shoes, before we were sent into a waiting room before being ushered into to the radio theatre for two rounds of the gentle, yet difficult quiz (it IS difficult despite the fat man behind me breathing through his mouth noisily and muttering “dead easy” to himself.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Back to Thursday..now Monday
I have had a mailbag of readers telling me that I missed out last Thursday – and what a new thing it was!!
“New thing today was stopping off at Beaconsfield’s household recycling centre to drop off some newspapers.”
I should have bid you take a seat first lest that was too much excitement.
Monday
New thing today was going home via Theale. Having lived just down the road for two years, I am ashamed to say I’d never been to Theale and wasn’t sure what to expect. From what I saw (without getting out of the car), it looks very pretty with plenty of drinking establishments providing me with new things to do on my commute for some time!
“New thing today was stopping off at Beaconsfield’s household recycling centre to drop off some newspapers.”
I should have bid you take a seat first lest that was too much excitement.
Monday
New thing today was going home via Theale. Having lived just down the road for two years, I am ashamed to say I’d never been to Theale and wasn’t sure what to expect. From what I saw (without getting out of the car), it looks very pretty with plenty of drinking establishments providing me with new things to do on my commute for some time!
Monday, September 07, 2009
Friday
New thing today was a Friday lunchtime date with my colleague Tom at Buon Cibo in Station Road, Rickmansworth (a bit further down the road from the Tamarind Thai Cafe where Tom and I went for our last colleague meeting!). Buon Cibo promised us “all you can eat for £5.99” which seemed like a bold claim, and in fact one which turned out to be a little misleading. We both ordered vegetable pizzas which were very tasty and appeared to be freshly prepared. The only downside was the surly waiter who wouldn’t take our food order at the same time as the drinks order, even when I suggested that it might save him walking backwards and forwards. We were then offered the sweet menu, so I’m not sure where the “all you can eat for £5.99” came into it?
Saturday
Had a very relaxing day walking around Wantage. What a beautiful market town! So nice to see thriving independent shops instead of the same old names in any high street.
Looked around the charity shops, furniture shops, including my favourites the India Shop and the Regent Furniture and Bookshop, which I decided I might move into www.regentfurnitureandbooks.co.uk. We also found a small shop selling food from Hong Kong and Japan and made a pit stop here! We then went to J Brant’s reclamation yard in Brimpton www.jbrantreclamation.co.uk where there was an astonishing range of horse-drawn carts, statuary, old doors and railway sleepers. Managed to come away without buying anything but certain to return! The, not new, really but went to Keep off the Grass for some DJ sets (www.keepoffthegrass.net) in Newbury’s Victoria Park before it started raining. Also stuck our heads around the door of the Square Bar and Grill (never ventured in here when we lived here!), to get some Christmas menus.
Sunday
New thing today was a fantastic walk around Greenham Common, which much to my shame, I had never explored properly before. We had a lovely walk, interspersed with some of the history of this amazing site. Famously used as a missile site in the 1980s saw the arrival of cruise missiles and the peaceful protest from the Greenham peace women. The Greenham Common Trust purchased the former airbase in 1997, before effectively giving it to the local people. It’s now a beautiful common, flanked by a business park, the rents of which are re-dsitributed to worthy causes in the community. I really enjoyed the 7-mile walk and also appreciated just how lucky the town is to have an altruistic landlord which provides a brilliant service to the community. www.greenham-common-trust.co.uk
Saturday
Had a very relaxing day walking around Wantage. What a beautiful market town! So nice to see thriving independent shops instead of the same old names in any high street.
Looked around the charity shops, furniture shops, including my favourites the India Shop and the Regent Furniture and Bookshop, which I decided I might move into www.regentfurnitureandbooks.co.uk. We also found a small shop selling food from Hong Kong and Japan and made a pit stop here! We then went to J Brant’s reclamation yard in Brimpton www.jbrantreclamation.co.uk where there was an astonishing range of horse-drawn carts, statuary, old doors and railway sleepers. Managed to come away without buying anything but certain to return! The, not new, really but went to Keep off the Grass for some DJ sets (www.keepoffthegrass.net) in Newbury’s Victoria Park before it started raining. Also stuck our heads around the door of the Square Bar and Grill (never ventured in here when we lived here!), to get some Christmas menus.
Sunday
New thing today was a fantastic walk around Greenham Common, which much to my shame, I had never explored properly before. We had a lovely walk, interspersed with some of the history of this amazing site. Famously used as a missile site in the 1980s saw the arrival of cruise missiles and the peaceful protest from the Greenham peace women. The Greenham Common Trust purchased the former airbase in 1997, before effectively giving it to the local people. It’s now a beautiful common, flanked by a business park, the rents of which are re-dsitributed to worthy causes in the community. I really enjoyed the 7-mile walk and also appreciated just how lucky the town is to have an altruistic landlord which provides a brilliant service to the community. www.greenham-common-trust.co.uk
Thursday, September 03, 2009
TGI Friday on Wednesday
New thing was going to TGI Friday in High Wycombe for a plate of onion rings. It’s funny that doing something so American actually reminds me of Japan as I didn’t used to go to places like this in this country, but went there in Japan occasionally to help with the infrequent bouts of homesickness. There was one in Akasaka (I think) and one in Shibuya which I went to a couple of times with my good friend Deev. Other very unJapanese things that remind me of Japan are films such as Amelie and Taxi! While I was in TGIF in HW, I felt very old eating my onion rings to the strains of an 8-year-old’s birthday party. Still it counts as a new thing and kept me out of yesterday’s horrendous downpour!
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Inspiration needed for commute!
Friday again
Forgot to mention that one very nice new thing on Friday was going into an Indian Restaurant conveniently placed for our new house! It’s called Coriander and the food was lovely, and they gave us a free beer too! Will certainly be returning! Can always nip to the loo in there and count it as a new thing if I return!
Tuesday
A very poor new thing as I have started my long commute to work once again. Had to dive off the A404 and take the road to Cox Green and White Waltham before getting back onto the A404 again. Dearie me, that rates as one of the most boring things I’ve ever done....Have looked on www.5minutesaway.co.uk for inspiration to break up my commute!
Forgot to mention that one very nice new thing on Friday was going into an Indian Restaurant conveniently placed for our new house! It’s called Coriander and the food was lovely, and they gave us a free beer too! Will certainly be returning! Can always nip to the loo in there and count it as a new thing if I return!
Tuesday
A very poor new thing as I have started my long commute to work once again. Had to dive off the A404 and take the road to Cox Green and White Waltham before getting back onto the A404 again. Dearie me, that rates as one of the most boring things I’ve ever done....Have looked on www.5minutesaway.co.uk for inspiration to break up my commute!
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Hoose
Friday
New thing was loading the back of the van that we’d hired to move house (many many thanks to Mabel’s dad and my own dad for their help – debating whether to put the story of my dad and I and a surly Chesham woman at the petrol station here...) and picking up the keys from the estate agent. Last time I went in there, I seem to recall it was a stationery shop! After moving the first load of things from our new house, we then went to the Chinese Restaurant in Amersham whose name I forget. We’ve been in here before but I thought it was worth a mention as I ordered the sweet and sour prawns on crispy rice which was really unusual – a bit like a Chinese version of rice crispies! First night in new house as new thing, also.
Saturday
New thing was going to Costa Coffee in Tesco to refuel ourselves for another day of shifting furniture down in Dorset.
Sunday
New thing was going in the entrance of a cafe called Brown Sugar in Chesham where the sole customer was shouting loudly. The need to find somewhere nice for lunch outweighed the need to do something new.
Monday
Bank Holiday and new thing was becoming one of those old couples who trawl around the shops instead of using the day to do something useful! We started with all the shops along London Road, then Pinchington Lane then some wood furniture stores before heading to a salvage store which doesn’t seem to be there anymore, and the Best One store on Fifth Road. I hope this is a blip rather than descent into middle age!
New thing was loading the back of the van that we’d hired to move house (many many thanks to Mabel’s dad and my own dad for their help – debating whether to put the story of my dad and I and a surly Chesham woman at the petrol station here...) and picking up the keys from the estate agent. Last time I went in there, I seem to recall it was a stationery shop! After moving the first load of things from our new house, we then went to the Chinese Restaurant in Amersham whose name I forget. We’ve been in here before but I thought it was worth a mention as I ordered the sweet and sour prawns on crispy rice which was really unusual – a bit like a Chinese version of rice crispies! First night in new house as new thing, also.
Saturday
New thing was going to Costa Coffee in Tesco to refuel ourselves for another day of shifting furniture down in Dorset.
Sunday
New thing was going in the entrance of a cafe called Brown Sugar in Chesham where the sole customer was shouting loudly. The need to find somewhere nice for lunch outweighed the need to do something new.
Monday
Bank Holiday and new thing was becoming one of those old couples who trawl around the shops instead of using the day to do something useful! We started with all the shops along London Road, then Pinchington Lane then some wood furniture stores before heading to a salvage store which doesn’t seem to be there anymore, and the Best One store on Fifth Road. I hope this is a blip rather than descent into middle age!
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