Saturday, May 30, 2009

Hay, There's lovely for you!...

TonbridgeBlog is back from the Hay on Wye Literary Festival, frankly wishing he was still there in the middle of the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons surrounded by arty actor and author types with a choice of forty bookshops in a town half the size of Tonbridge. I saw a load of famous people such as a performance by my fave poet Roger McGough and the first female Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, as well as Sue Perkins, Anthony Horowitz, the Archbish of Canterbury and amazingly Desmond Tutu, surrounded by several beefy dog-collar wearing "minders" standing right there a few feet away from me. I've made Hay an annual family pilgrimage and always feel physically knackered but mentally refreshed when I return; I can't think of anything bad to say about the place. As they say in Wales: There's lovely for you!...

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Welcome back! Now what's happening in Woolworths?? I spot a whole load of plastic containers in the shop window. Could it be Poundland Extra? I see also Mojo's has opened near the Station - anyone been in??

Paul Bailey said...

I thought the trend for silly pub names had died a death, in Tonbridge at least, with the closure several years of the Watchdog; or was it Flat Foot Sams? The Poacher at Tudeley was called The Pig in Hiding for a while, until sanity prevailed.

Call me a boring old fart, but pub names used to actually mean something. Pubs were often named after famous people, or had something to do with a bit of local history.

Older readers will remember that the recently re-opened pub in Barden Road used to be called the South Eastern, in reference to its proximity to the railway. The new name sounds specifically designed to appeal to the younger crowd, for whom tradition and history seem to mean very little.

I'll reserve judgment though until I've had a look in the place, and on the plus side it's good to see that the pub has finally re-opened after such a long period of closure.

Anonymous said...

I have wondered what is happening in Woolworths. It seems the fixtures and fittings have prices on them too. It is causing quite a stir in the High Street with most passers by taking a quick peek through the windows. Haven't we all nothing better to do with ourselves in our sleepy little market town.
Paul I agree with you about silly irrelevant pub names. They mean nothing and play no part in the community or history of a town.
Hey the Archbishop of Canterbury at Hay!I have great respect for him. There is a complex philosophical mind firmly fixed under his mitre. Bet he wasn't wearing that at Hay. I am not a religious person but always read his lectures online. Brilliant sociological reflections. Have a read if you have time. He should be Prime Minister.

Anonymous said...

The chemical smell of perfume has been decending on Tonbridge again. It comes from a company called Drytec who are based based on the Industrial Estate. Nobody seems to be taking the odour seriously as it smells like perfume. However, it won't be until you all get cancer, or MS, or Parkinsons that you will all regret not thinking about what may be in that smell. It is a suggestion you think very carefully about what those chemicals can do to you and your children and not dismiss it or forget about it. Do you really want to take the risk of not thinking about what you are breathing in. Why is this company allowed to pollute the centre of Tonbridge. The smell has been reported on some days as far as The Ridgeway. If you are concerned, and in all honesty you should be, the next time you notice the smell let Environmental Health at TMBC know the time and the place where it was noticeable.
Do your health a favour and think about what it could be that you are breathing. It could be something rather serious. Do you really want a chemical polluting company in the centre of Tonbridge? The town would benefit if it wasn't around and so could your health.

Paul Bailey said...

We sem to be getting further and further away from Tonbridge Blogger's original piece about Hay on Wye. Haven't been there myself, but would like to someday soon.

Noticed the smell from Drytech earlier this evening. As a chemist, I am not overly concerned, as it's only a fragrance, so let's skip the scaremongering.

As a home-brewer though, would rather smell the aroma of malt and hops over the town anyday. Anyone interested in starting a commercial brewery in the town?

ps. Why all the anonymous posting?

Anonymous said...

As a fellow chemist I am concerned. I have done my research. Many of the substances that this company use are banned in the USA. It wasn't long ago that the public thought that cigarettes weren't harmful. I suggest you do a little research on this company yourself because you will immediately recognise what they are using and what the substances could cause.

Paul Bailey said...

Point taken anonymous. Will check this one out for myself.

KayBe said...

I was wondering what the smell was too. I agree with Paul that "anonymous" Is doing a bit of scare mongering. And thinking its a bit of a coincidence that Anon is a chemist too... haha. However Paul please could you keep us updated on what your research on the company and chemicals it is using. Thanks