Life in perspective....

This morning I was confronted with a very sad scene in Tonbridge High Street right on the Little Bridge. There were Police and an ambulance already present so there really was nothing I could do personally to help except get out of the way and not stand there gawping, as others were automatically doing. An old lady was lying on the pavement receiving what looked like desperate emergency CPR from a paramedic. The lady had the indignity of having her chest exposed for passer's by to see but I'll guess that that was the least of her worries. I do hope that they were able to revive her but I have to say that it looked less than 50 50 from what I could see. If anyone has heard any news please comment below. I know this sounds a little cliched but, I tell you, it doesn't half put life in perspective when you see a scene like that right there before your eyes. There was I deep in thought about my day's work, last night's leadership debate and apprehensive about the book fair and all the work involved in that this weekend and suddenly someone is right in front of me who may have taken her last view of Tonbridge. I hope it was a nice one....

Election fever grips Tonbridge....

....er actually not really. I haven't seen any pictures of John Stanley like the one of Greg Clarke's ugly grinning mug as you drive into Southborough. Nor have I spotted many posters for the Lib Dems in people's windows. My next door neighbour is proudly and shamelessly displaying two big Labour posters in his front windows in a street which, I'd guess, is predominantly Tory voting. (Well he is a scouser! A posh one but nevertheless! No offence Dave if you read this!) The Green Party have pushed a leaflet in my hand in a flying visit to my shop but, I suspect, only because the candidate is a regular customer. I've had a UKIP brochure given to me and, curiously, a traditional weights and measures leaflet at the same time (is that a UKIP thing?) But no blatant electioneering so far, no walkabouts, no pressing of flesh at the Civic Society Design Awards dinner I attended the other night. Where are the Tonbridge and Malling parliamentary candidates hiding out? Does John Stanley think that this is such a safe seat that he can afford to take his electorate for granted? I would have thought that, by now, I'd have seen at least a couple of the candidates in the town centre eager to be assured of our votes. Maybe they, like the rest of us, are sitting with bated breath waiting for the next gaffe and, probably, scared to make their own; or else sitting by the TV ready for tonight's instalment of the Prime Ministerial Debate....

Fifteen minutes of fame....

Any bigots out there? As Gordon Brown puts his foot right in his mouth TonbridgeBlog asks: what is a bigot anyway? Here's the Oxford English Dictionary short definition: "obstinate and intolerant adherent of creed or view." I'm sure there are other longer deifinitions which would explain the word more fully, but this one says enough. So was the elderly lady from Rochdale a bigot? I'd say no more so than about half the population so you can draw your own conclusions on that one. You've only got to go in a real pub and listen to the regulars talk, or sit in a factory canteen (and yes I have done that many times in the past) to hear what the average working man or woman (whatever that may be) thinks about issues such as emigration. I remember feeling horified and outraged, as a student working on a holiday camp, when the men in the gardeners hut remarked that Enoch Powell was right that there were too many West Indian immigrants and now there were the rivers of blood he had predicted. Ok that was in the early 1980s and I'm sure that views have become a little more tolerant these days but I'd wager that many a factory and office worker still, at the very least, mutters the odd "bigotted" view to themselves or close colleagues. Of course they do. So, is your opinion of Gordon Brown or politicians generally any different? To be honest the only thing I'm surprised about is that anyone is actually surprised by this supposed revelation. I bet that when Gillian Duffy (the old lady in question) reflects back on this episode she'll realise it was all a storm in a teacup as she banks her estimated £50,000 the Sun is reported to be giving her for her exclusive story! I think it was Andy Warhol who said that everyone gets 15 minutes of fame, well Mrs Duffy certainly got hers yesterday....

All the fun of the book fair....

At the risk of blatently advertising my own event the West Kent Book Fair is sure to be a great family day out (now stop that!) this Sunday. Leave those mobile phones and e-book readers at home and go and see an amazing selection of rare, out of print, not so rare and in print books from 300 (come off it!) ok about 25 booksellers from all over the World (alright the South East of England) at the incredible, the magnificent, the intellectual, the memorable, the refreshingly relaxed, stupendously (oh now he's gone too far!)

Alright alright it's just a book fair, but if you fancy it do come along, there's bound to be a welcome cup of coffee just waiting for you in the book fair cafe (sorry I just can't help myself I'm soooo excited!) Sunday 10am to 4pm in Old Big School, off the High Street, Tonbridge....

Tonbridge Arts Festival officially launched....

I went along to the press launch of the Tonbridge Arts Festival yesterday evening at the Angel Centre. There was quite a turn out from many of the arts groups involved, from local businesses who may wish to become involved and indeed from the press. The Courier are the media partners so they were there doing a sort of roving report, asking those attending what they thought of the whole thing. There were artists with large and colourful fish on their heads, handing out small fish badges to everyone presumably to demonstate the theme of the festival: Fish, er, sorry.... the River. There was a wonderful professional magician called Jonathan Shotten doing close up magic, making things appear, disappear and reappear right in front of your eyes, which I always think is the best way to marvel at magic. A guitarist called Hamish, who won the recent schools Tonbridge Has Talent contest, performed his winning piece and other groups had us dressing up in costumes and taking photos of the "other you!" which was more fun than it might sound. And then there was Committee Chairman, Andy Brett's, presentation on where we were at with only six short months to go before it all kicks off on October 15th. He did a very competent, and mercifully short, stint during which we learned all about the work involved, the famous and ordinary people inolved, the progress made, the venues etc etc. He might as well have just said look at the web site which is exactly what you can do right now. It's still being built (by students at West Kent College) but is taking shape as is the whole event. I for one hope that this will be the first of very many annual arts festivals around October for many years to come and I'll be able to look back and say that, in my small way, I helped create that....

Volcano latest....

Next time a volcano erupts you know what to do! This message has been outside my shop for the past few days...

Volcanic Ash chaos over... now the legal battles commence....

This is a comment I just posted on the Guardian web site next to a blog on the subject of the end of the "volcanic ash crisis" (as it has been referred to in the media) The headline of the article suggests that, now the disruption is over, the finger of blame is starting to be pointed. I thought I'd share it with you. And yes I know it's got very little to do with Tonbridge but so what:

What is the problem with being stuck in some far off holiday paradise with all meals, accomodation and entertainment laid on and all paid for by those lovely insurance companies. Come off it why can't people just enjoy the moment and make the best of it; even turn it into an adventure. Have we all become so stuck up our own backsides that we can't see that no one is to blame for this other than Mother Nature. I wouldn't put it past the Americans to sue her but not us Brits, not quite yet! Can you imagine what would have happened if an airline had flown and then there had been a disaster. Who would be blaming who then?

Pizza Express Tonbridge is, well, alright....

Yesterday I did something I hardly ever do these days: I went out for lunch. Well actually my sister insisted on it as my Mum was staying with her and they were coming over for the day to visit. Against my better judgement we went to Pizza Express, as big sis had some vouchers. So I shouldn't really complain now should I as that might be looking a gift horse in the mouth. And I know that one or two of the regular commenters on this site are getting a little agitated whenever I have a go at local businesses; but anyway I can only tell it as it is and have absolutely no axe to grind with Pizza Express Tonbridge. In fact the prospect of going there was a nice one and, as it was another unseasonally warm sunshiney day, I had booked a table on the balcony overlooking the river. Sounds nice doesn't it but there was something missing and I was very close to requesting a change of table to just inside when I took a look at the table they'd reserved. It was a small wooden garden table which, quite frankly I wouldn't have allowed in my allotment (if indeed I had one) let alone in a restaurant. It was unsteady, stained with food, olive oil and wine and probably bird crap thrown in for good measure. The chairs were just too low for the table; that said our waitress was good enough to offer my mother, who's in her 80s, a higher chair from inside and the staff were, generally, very attentive and friendly. The floor on the balcony looked dirty like they had only just opened the area up for the season and hadn't quite got around to getting it ready in time. Judging by the dried up flowers they hadn't got around to prettying it up either. Without going in to too much detail about the food we had garlic breads, salads and, of course, a pizza. Guess what the pizza, only a Margarita, was pretty tasty as you might expect what with it being a pizza restaurant; I know this because my mum saved me a slice but I plumped for the Salad Nicoise. Actually that too was quite nice and my sister had a chicken salad, which was also not bad at all. We only had a bottle of water so I can't comment on the wine. The garlic bread was ok although wasn't the large round pizza sized one which we were expecting but more like large dough balls, so we had to order another one to go with the olives for nibbly starters. I say garlic bread but in fact I couldn't taste even a hint of garlic so it was really just buttered dough balls. I left feeling reasonably full and satisfied and we had had a nice talk the three of us and the sun had stayed shining throughout. So what, you may be thinking, am I complaining about? Well that's just it, I can't put my finger on it because, as I said, it was mostly quite nice. Maybe that's it I though it was hoping that it would be much better than just quite nice, ok, mediocre, so so, average, reasonable. I had hoped for something better but then maybe I'm hoping for too much from a chain restaurant who would obviously rather that everyone felt it was just alright rather than try to go that extra mile. Maybe next time I'll have a few glasses of wine with my meal so I'll be too mellowed to notice any shortcomings....

Watch out for flying bikes....

Now you might say that these boys' time would be better spent looking for a job rather than doing wheelies outside the Tonbridge Job Centre, or even reading a good book, playing golf or maybe even drinking in Weatherspoons (if they're old enough) but I say: What tosh! I can think of alot worse ways to waste your time. They have obviously spent, or maybe misspent, many an afternoon and evening perfecting their largely useless BMX skills, but Boy are they good. Ireally leke some of the little creative touches they put in the clip as well, like the choreographed stunts and the blurred view in the car reflection (see I did actually watch it!) Even the passers by in the film, which was shot in Tonbridge and Hastings, seem sometimes visibly awestruck (when they're not dodging out of their way that is!) Mind the gap is number two in the most played list on YouTube when you search on Tonbridge with over 167,000 views (that's probably more than BBC Cymru!) and well worth five minutes of your time I'd say so watch it....

Chav's in Tonbridge Park?...

Believe it or not this short film is the most viewed clip on YouTube if you search on Tonbridge at the moment. It's a film about some Chav's (whatever they are) in Tonbridge park and the battle which breaks out with some, presumably non-Chav, locals. It's ruined a bit because YouTube has disabled the sound track because apparently it infringed copyright (oh come off it YouTube) but, nevertheless, strangely compelling. Think of a cross between Clockwork Orange, an episode of Benny Hill, The Matrix and a Tarrentino film and you'll be nowhere near. It's unique, a one off, oh just watch it....

A song for Tonbridge....

And on the subject of music about Tonbridge: did you know that there's an album just been released by an artist called Matthew Herbert called, simply, Tonbridge. I'm not sure what genre it is or how exactly to describe it but you can listen to it here (you may need Spotify if you haven't got it you may as well have it as it's all free) and decide for yourselves. I'm assuming, because, he's a Britist artist, that the track is about our Tonbridge and not the American one but it was a little odd to see Tonbridge along side the other tracks like Milan, Dublin, Palm Springs, Porto and Valencia. I can make out something about the river in the lyrics which could inspire anyone. Food for thought for the forthcoming Tonbridge Arts Festival whose theme is water and the river....

Train spotters of Tonbridge unite....

I know that this is a little sad but, if you want to know what it used to sound like on a Tonbridge railway station platform in 1957, listen here Vintage Train Sounds – At Tonbridge In 1957, Beside The Line To Tunbridge Wells, On The Climb To Somerhill Tunnel It is actually incredible how it would have been the norm to hear the comings and goings of the great steam trains being taken for granted. If you listen for long enough it's strangely compelling and relaxing. Someone has put togther a whole album of this er music. Ok ok I'm a closet train spotter!...

Tonbridge High Street is bursting at the seams!...

To use the blogger venacular: OMG! Tonbridge is packed this afternoon? Is it a Bank Holiday w/e or have I missed something? Possibly because it's nearing the end of the schools Easter break, I'm not sure. Why is everyone queuing the length of the High Street when there are two big car parks the Castle end of town, which is only a five minute walk to the South end of town. I never understand that. Good to see so many people out and about in the sunshine though....

We'll keep the Blue flag flying here....

Well maybe not!....

We'll keep the Green Flag flying here....

No this is not an ad for breakdown insurance! Just a note to say that, whilst I probably won't be voting for Steve Dawe, the Green Party candidate for Tonbridge and Malling, I was pleased to see that he is standing. I don't know him all that well, except from civic society meetings and as a customer in my bookshop, but what I do sense is a man of principle and a hard working man dedicated to his cause. He has shamelessly supported environmentally friendly issues for a long time, long before they became fashionable. It's good to see a real local man of conviction standing and, who knows, with politics in the changeable state it is at the present time, he may even do very well....

We'll keep the orange flag fying here....

So the Liberals may be in with a bigger chance than many gave them credit before this week's leadership debate. What some have overlooked is that was the first of three televised debates and that star performer, Nick Clegg, may not find life in the spot light so easy for the next two as Cameron and Brown learn from their experience. Will this make a likely overturn of Sir John Stanley's large majority in Tonbridge and Malling any more likely? I'd guess not but it'll be exciting to find out. Cameron's call for real change may yet not have the outcome he was intending; as we move into a people power-inspired phase of politics it may be the Lib Dems who hold the balance of power and then they can drive through electoral reform; and with proportional representation we really will see real change as the political map is dramatically altered possibly forever. As a politics student in 1980 I never thought that I'd see that as a real possibility now I think it could be on the cards within the next five to ten years....

Search for the heroe inside....

I heard on the radio yesterday afternoon that there were some heroes in our midst. Two guys who were drinking by the river in Tonbridge (presumably Weatherspoons, although that wasn't mentioned) were summoned to help when an elderly lady had slipped into the river nearby. Luckily they had their wits about them and went to help out. One, who said he was a member of Tonbridge canoe club, dived into the river while the other stayed on the bank to help pull the lady out the river up the steep bank. I gather all this was somewhere near the big bridge although I'm not quite sure. It's amazing what some of us will do when the need arises. One minute the two men are sitting enjoying a quiet pint in the Spring sunshine, the next they are risking their own lives to save an old lady from drowning and in the process become local, and probably national, heroes; and well deserved too. Great heart warming story....

Orange is not the only hair colour....

If anyone saw me around Tonbridge High Street yesterday afternoon, assuming you know what I look like, they'd have seen that I was walking around with orange tints in my hair. (Sadly I didn't think to have a photo taken. ) Let me assure you that this was not a political statement of any kind. TonbridgeBlog was not announcing his intention to support the Liberal Democrats during the forthcoming general election, this is a slur and a falsehood. No the story, very simply, is that I went to have my hair cut (at Jay's in Paddock Wood for the record) and the young boys in the chair before me were being offered Pink, Red, Orange or Blue tints. So we all thought it would be a giggle if old grey hairs (that's me) had a bit of colour added. I plumped for orange because I had to choose one of them; in fact I nearly went for Tory blue but changed my mind just as Jamie (the barber) was unscrewing the the top of the tube of hair colouring. The main idea was to shock my kids when I got home, which worked very well, and it was only driving home that I realised that it might be deemed party politcal. But then, come to think of it, so could many other activities like eating oranges, stopping at red traffic light and supporting Chelsea football club!...

Is it goodbye Bishops?...

If it closes I'll feel a little pang of guilt; I'll admit that. Walking past the, still fairly new, greengrocers this morning my heart sank. It's a lovely sunny Saturday and the place was all closed up at 9-30. The guy on the fruit stall opposite, with whom I struck up a conversation while buying a couple of bananas and a few apples (cox English if you're interested,) said that he thought they had staff problems because they were ill. Does that sound plausible? I did hear a rumour earlier in the week that they may be closing. So why should I feel guilty? Well I made so much of their opening and made optimistic noises about the revival of Tonbridge High Street and how pleased was I that some entrepreneur had had the guts to risk opening a traditional business against the big guns of Sainsbury's and the Co-Op. Then, I suspect like most shoppers I bought the odd apple and bunch of grapes from them, maybe a box of dates at Christmas, but largely forgot all about them when doing my main shop. You see it is more convenient to get your fruit and veg while getting your other groceries from the supermarket and, if I want to, I can always call in at the Shipbourne Farmer's Market on a Thursday and stock up on all sorts of lovely produce for the weekend. In short if it's inconvenient, in the long run, and we humans don't bother, to go out of our way for much these days. I'm really sorry if Bishops of Tonbridge is forced to close, and I do feel a tad guilty because we will only have ourseves to blame....

No Future for you!!!!

Spurred on by the death of the, maybe not great, but certainly huge figure of Malcolm McLaren TonbridgeBlog asks: Is there a future for this little town of ours? The town's changed alot since the punk days of the mid 70's so what will be the scene in another thirty or so years? Will the Angel Centre be at last torn down as the council realises its collosal mistake in allowing it planning permission in the first place? Will the, almost forgotten town centre strategic plan to revitalize the Botany area and the riverside ever come to fruition? Will there ever be a town museum that we can all be proud of? Will the Transport Hub status that Tonbridge has had bestowed on it ever result in a revamped railway station compex thus realising the area's huge potential to become a major shopping centre? And will the dullards suposedly responsible for a vision for the town at least ensure that visitors to the see proper gateways at the North and South ends of the High Street instead of being greeted with crumbling buildings, a badly designed railway station facade and a Poundstretcher! Let us please see some action so that we can all have a Tonbridge to be proud of in the future. We mean it man!...

Oxfam Books in the news again....

"Traditional bookshops are closing, but Oxfam bookshops go from strength to strength. The charity chain has been much criticised by the trade. I'll be taking a new look at the issues and offering a humble petition." 'betweenthelines' Book and Magazine Collector May 2010 issue.

Now that sounds like a familiar topic! I must remember to buy a copy next month....

Crunching blow for Apple's i-pad....

Shame that! I see in the news that there are problems with the newly launched i-pad wi fi connections. That'll teach those big wigs at Apple for trying to do away with the printed word!...

What's happening to Angel Walk....

What is it with Angel Walk shopping arcade in Tonbridge. The Pavilion, which is not more than 100 metres away, seems to be thriving with a full quota of shops boasting Jessops and Boots among others. Yet Angel Walk which, on the face of it is pretty much the same, is going downhill in an ever decreasing spiral. There are already four empty units in the mini precinct and there's soon to be another closure when Holland and Barrat move onto the High Street into a smaller unit. Is the landlord of Angel Walk charging too much? Is the Pavilion doing something better to market its retail units; or is it just that businesses get the jitters when their close neighbours start an exodus? Any thoughts?...

County Council glossy magazines a waste of ink....

"Around Kent" the new trendy looking magazine from those well known publishers of style magazines, Kent County Council, dropped through my letter box today. I can't help thinking that these publications are basically a total waste of time, paper, ink and our money. Why do they find the need to congratulate themselves in this way. They are not providing any news, just a quickly read, easily forgotten mag which promises alot by a glossy cover and delivers very little. I don't want to see style guru Chairman of KCC, Paul Carter's ugly mug staring out at me like an egotistical MD of a local UPVC conservatories company. Please KCC stop wasting our time with these ill thought out and expensive projects. I don't need you to tell me there are pot holes on our roads, I can just drive down my road and nearly lose my wheel axles if I don't manage to dodge them all. Spend our money on what you do best. Now what was that again?!..

Crew Warehouse sale rummage anyone?....

I haven't mentioned this before because I thought I'd keep it a secret but there's a Crew Clothing warehouse sale going on at Tonbridge School right now. I wanted to go along there with ten or so other people who were in the know and pick up a few bargains. No such luck. I don't know how the heck all the hundreds of people who'd turned up had heard about it but, I'm not kidding, the place was like a church jumble sale. There were people of all shapes and sizes having a right old rummage through the clothes which were mostly piled up on large tables in the middle and round the sides. The car park was chocca full, they were having to redirect people to the sports centre car park. There was a queue of people with huge piles of "bargains" on push chairs, over their shoulders, waiting at least half an hour to pay. I had a brief look, cos I do like crew clothing these days but do you know what, I don't think the prices were that low anyway and you can buy alot of this stuff off their web site at similar prices. I just don't get it sometimes with people and supposed bargains must be the herd mentality or something. I walked out without a thing, I just couldn't bring myself to wait that long, feeling like a sheep following the flock. (That's herds and now flocks!) I really would rather pay full price than go through all that nonesense. But then that's just me....