A new Tonbridge blogger!!!!

There's a new blogger in Tonbridge called Tonbridge Daily which tries to give you a snippet, yes you've guessed it, daily about Tonbridge. I happen to know the author of this blog quite well and she certainly knows the town well. There's a nice piece about the newly refurbished Rose and Crown on the site which is worth a gander. I would add the blog to the useful list to the left but then she might take over from Tonbridge Blog in popularity and we couldn't have that!...

Tonbridge Twee up....

Apparently Tonbridge Blog missed the Tonbridgetweetup last night at the Rose and Crown Hotel. I think the idea was that all the twitter people from the Tonbridge area should get together and meet up (thus tweet up you see!) have a few drinks and generally socialise with each other. Well I thought about going but decided that I was washing my hair instead. It just sounded a bit too, well, twee for me. One of the best things about twitter for me is the anonymity of it all, if you go around actually physically meeting all your fellow tweeters (or is it twitterers, or just twitts maybe) then you might end up liking them and actually being nice to them all and that would certainly be too twee for me. If anyone especially does want to meet me then they can jolly well just come along to my twook shop at twoo Bank Stweeeet. That said, when is the next Tonbridgetweetup? I may just go along the once just to see how twee it could be....

Country Market saves the day....

I decided to walk down to work in the dreadful rain this morning across Tonbridge. It looked more like November than late August but that's the English summer for you! When I got as far as the High Street I realised that I had brought no lunch with me. Thoughts of a day starving at my desk were soon pushed away by the opportunities I remembered lay in front of me (the advantages of being on foot!) A sandwich from the Co-op would have been the obvious and quickest answer but I decided that this wouldn't be at all adventurous. Then there's always the Pepper Grinder sandwich bar which does a mighty fine Tuna mayo bagette. The day was saved though when I saw the sign next to Lamberts Yard advertising the Tonbridge Country Market. This is always worth a visit on a Friday morning for a choice of home made cakes, bread from Rusbridge Bakers of Southborough, fresh fruit and veg from a smallholder and lots of other treats. This visit I was purely interested in today's lunch so I opted for home made sausage rolls and an individual quishe, some shortbread biscuits (for elevensies) and a fudge brownie for afters. I could have bought so much more but then I'd have to keep it all day and carry it home in the evening so that was enough to be going on with.  Now I've made myself hungry so I'll have to go and eat them!...

Discovery apples give away....

The reason Mr. Books has been able to make the incredible offer of an apple and pad with every book sold is that I've had an absolutely amazing crop on my tree at home this season. I only have the one Discovery tree but, my word, has it produced some apples this year. Well we do live in the Garden of England. I must have lost as many on the ground as well but no matter, there's been plenty more where they came from. In fact I'm surprised the tree hasn't fallen over with the weight of them all! If I knew how to store the juicy beauties properly they'd probably last until 2013 but the truth is after the first two dozen or so you get a bit bored of eating them, even as sweet and delicious as they are. So you see I can spare a few apples to give away to loyal customers. Not quite an i pad but then you can't eat an i pad can you! (very easily anyway)

Free Apple + pad offer....

Apple + pad looks a bit like apple i-pad (geddit?!)

Ok my amazing offer of an apple + pad on the black board outside Mr. Books only fooled one or two folks yesterday and it was only a bit of fun. Laughter remember that. We used to do it before the recession!...

Crunch time for Mr. Books?...

Spotted this amazing offer whilst out and about in Tonbridge this morning. It's incredible what some retailers will do to drum up trade. Surely he'll be out of business in no time if he's serious with this one....

South Tonbridge Pub Crawl Part Two....

So the challenge of a half pint in each of the pubs in South Tonbridge on a Monday evening had been set and my wife and I had already been to three (see last post.) Walking in the vague direction of The Punch and Judy or maybe the Foresters it suddenly hit me that there was one pub in South Tonbridge I'd never been to in all of my 22 years living in the town. The Nelson, on the corner of Nelson Avenue and Cromer Street, nestled on, some say the right side of the nearby railway tracks. This establishment has the appearance of one of the those old Victorian  public houses more at home in the East End of London; big and imposing, a bit out dated but sometimes they can be the best places. When we eventually arrived there, having walked around the houses a few times to find it, I must confess to feeling a tad disappointed. Firstly it looked closed, as there didn't seem to be enough lights on from the angle we approached it. Then we entered to the scene which was becoming familiar: a barmaid looking very unbusy, being mostly ignored by the half dozen blokes in there sat around glued to football on the large sports screen. I'll be honest and say that my first reaction was to walk straight out again but my wife had already found out that the served Whitstable Brewery's Bay bitter and had put the order in for two halves. This turned out to be our best move of the evening. Teri, the bubbly barmaid, who confided in my wife that she was no footy fan, seemed positively delighted to have the company of some new customers and within a few minutes was swapping Jamie Oliver recipes for Salmon and roasted vegetable dishes! They had happy hour going until the first goal scored, which meant that we had enjoyed our first drink at a knock down price. Teri was good at selling the place too, saying that the new landlady was making a real effort by introducing music nights, food theme nights and interesting beers to try to turn the place round. We must have enjoyed it there as it became the first pub of the evening where we indulged in a second half (steady on now!) We had the same again as this was the only bitter they were serving last night and it was very enjoyable, although this time it was full price as one of the Man U players had, rather annoying, broken the deadlock on about 70 minutes. We left the Nelson with the distinct feeling that we'd discovered a hidden jewel of Tonbridge and that we'd definitely be back. We decided to make the last stop of the night the Punch and Judy, at the back of Tonbridge Police Station, probably the least adventurous of all the pubs we'd been to as we have had a few drinks in there fairly recently. We were glad we did though as the first thing I spotted when approaching the bar to order was the Tonbridge Brewery logo. What a delightful sight. I never understand why local pubs can't support local beers and here was one that was doing just that. The P&J isn't the most atmospheric or pubs in the area by any means and it was a Monday night, but, hey, I'm a sucker for good beer. Two halves of a very tasty Auburn Myth later and we were ready for setting off back home after a wonderful educational beer and pub tour of the South end of the town. Best pub of the night: The Nelson. Best beer of the night: without a doubt the Auburn Myth. Share your own thoughts on the best pubs in the town....

South Tonbridge Pub Crawl Part One....

I don't often go on a pub crawl in Tonbridge. Or anywhere else for that matter. So last night, on a crazy summertime whim, my wife and I set off on our optimistic tour to try the beers in the pubs of South Tonbridge on a Monday night! Full of hope (well we don't get out much!) our first stop was the Primrose Inn on Pembury Road, which could be described as my local, except I've only actually been in there maybe four times in my 22 years living in Tonbridge, which might tell a story in itself. The beer was a very passable Harvey's Best Bitter but I'm afraid the atmosphere was a near death experience as a handful of regulars sat around watching football on the large sport screen. Well I guess it was Man United vs Tottenham and the first home game of the Premier League title holder's season so I might have expected this. We sat and chatted in a quieter corner and might well have stayed longer but for the task we'd set ourselves of having a half pint in each of the pubs we hardly ever frequent.
Next stop was The Cardinal's Error, right on the far edge of town, an old, many say haunted, drinking establishment. The choice of beer was uninspiring so I'm afraid it was another Harvey's for me and, even worse, a John Smith's Smooth, for my wife. I always find Harvey's Best a little too hoppy but I must say this one was perfectly acceptable. Again though the atmosphere was completely killed by the football coverage which this time seemed to be on full volume. They did have a covered area outside mainly for the smokers but even there the sports screen dominated so we had to sit in the corner so we could talk a little over the Mancunian strains of Gary Neville's half time summary of a goaless period. The trouble is I am a bit of a fan but if I'd wanted to watch the game I probably would have stayed at home and drank cheaper and nicer beer, but it was hard to keep my eyes from drifting over to the action on the TV screens. So we stayed for just the one half, didn't see a ghostly image of a lady in wide a brimmed hat and moved on to our next destination, The New Drum down Lavender Hill way. This is the sort of pub where you just know that the regulars will look at you as you walk in and indeed that proved to be the case. It reminded me just a little of that scene from American Werewolf in London when the two young tourists walk into the Yorkshire pub and everything goes silent! I exaggerate of course but you get the idea. This pub always looks out of place to me, almost like it should just be a house, but I guess that's how all pubs once were. Here it was impossible to get away from the football as there seemed to be a large screen on every wall. All eyes, except the barmaid's (who said she couldn't stand the game) were on one of the screens. The beer was Harvey's again but also Green King IPA and, curiously, Doom Bar, a Cornish light bitter which I'd tried many times on my holidays in that part of the world and is normally very refreshing. Problem was that I think I was the only person who'd sampled it that evening as I'm pretty sure I got the beer that had been kept warm in the pipes. Consequently it wasn't very enjoyable so that half became the quickest downed of the evening so that we could move on. But where to go next....

£1.40 for a litre of diesel? That's a bit rough!...

Back in Tonbridge I spotted this magnificent looking Bedford Truck recently in Sainsbury's Petrol Station probably bound for a classic car show or some such thing. Naturally Tonbridge Blog had come prepared and was able to whip out his camera phone to get this shot (with the owner's approval of course.) As you can see the owner has taken a great deal of pride in his vehicle which looked absolutely immaculate. I bet it isn't half thirsty for gas though. I was particularly taken by the little pooch in the seat beside them which just looked so cute and out of place in such a macho looking lorry I just wish she'd have behaved herself and posed properly for the photo! Clever little thing though as when I asked her what she thought of the price of  litre of diesel these days she replied "Rough." I couldn't agree more!...

Tonbridge Weather Forecast: The Stone is dry today!...

I was tickled, tickled I was (that makes me sound like Ken Dodd!) to see this rather unusual way of forecasting the weather whilst down in Cornwall. Apparently they have a better success rate than Kaddy Lee Preston on BBC South East! Hang up your own stone and put it to the test....

Cornwall Blog. Now there's a thought!...

What a lovely sunset from our holiday flat balcony

Waxing down our surf boards: Surfing Cornwall eh!

 I promised I wouldn't bore you with all my holiday photos from Cornwall because we all know how tedious that can be. Come on we've all been invited round to see the family or neighbour's holiday slide show and had to sit through, sometimes literally, thousands of similar shots of their family on the beach with boats and different objects in the background! After all this is a Tonbridge Blog not a Cornwall Blog (although that is a thought!) In any case I spent most of my time in the sea body boarding or swimming so it would have been tricky with the camera. But anyway here are just a few choice ones:

The Cadgwith Sea Shanty Singers at the Fishermans Festival

Prize winning catch for the smallest fish of the day

The largest catch of the day at the weigh in

Abbey Funeral Directors Advertorial....

There now follows an advertorial by Abbey Funeral Directors who are based on Tonbridge High Street. They like Tonbridge Blog so much that they're prepared to pay to take a link on it:

In a society where, according to a poll commissioned by the Foresters Friendly Society, only about 39% of the population have made a will, it is surprising that so many people are now looking to purchase a funeral plan.  

Part of the reason may be to protect assets. In the event that residential care is paid for from an individual’s personal assets, ring fencing savings to pay for funeral expenses may not work. When they are means tested, savings are just savings and your plans for their use has no importance, where a funeral plan is a purchase; the money has been spent and can’t be counted as part of your financial assets.

Whilst there is clearly financial value is buying a plan, for many people the main reason is to remove that responsibility from their families when they die. This only works when the plan is one which performs well at the time of need.

Often people approach us who have made some provision. Regrettably, too often they come to us with a plan that we cannot accept. Some insurance based schemes restrict the plan holder to using a particular funeral group. These details are often in the small print and come as an unpleasant shock. Also insurance backed schemes only promise a sum of money, the value of which will be eroded by inflation and may be insufficient to fund the funeral

Christine Parker and her daughter Jo, directors of Abbey Funeral Services Ltd are happy to discuss either existing plans or the purchase of a new plan. Their plans are totally flexible and portable and can be used at any funeral directors. If the plan holder moves to another area the plan can move with them to a local firm.

Chris and Jo will be hosting a coffee morning at Christ Church in Tonbridge High Street on Saturday 1^st October 2011 when they will be available to answer any questions regarding funeral planning, both new and existing.

 

ChrisP

Christine Parker

Managing Director

Abbey Funeral Services Ltd           

01732 360328

mob.07887553467

www.abbeyfs.co.uk

Taste the difference at the Tonbridge Farmers Market....

Steve The Chilliman, organiser of the Tonbridge Farmers Market, came to see me today in my shop to give me some flyers for the markets and also to have a chat. The market held last Sunday, which I missed as I was still on my hols, apparently wasn't as busy as the July event but, according to Steve, people had come to buy rather than just out of interest which is an encouraging sign. The next one is on September 11th and then the second Sunday of every month thereafter. He's also starting some special themed events at some of the markets coming up, so watch this space. I love the whole concept of farmers markets and they are great for the town and  the community. The only thing is though we have to support them by going along and buying some of the produce which is usually a bit more expensive than the supermarket but so much more tastey....

Back from Cornwall....

PS. I was half expecting to come back to a burnt out shell of a shop and having to put the pieces together but it seems that thankfully the riots didn't get this far. Cornwall wasn't quite like being abroad but I didn't have a mobile phone reception for most of my stay there and I only found out about the city riots a few days after the worst of them were over. Probably for the best really as I'm not sure I could have stood the blanket 24 hour news coverage of it all in minute detail. I find you don't get nearly as stressed out about events in the news when you bury your head in the sand (almost literally in my case!)

Tonbridge Blog is back....

Yes it didn't take much to work out that Tonbridge Blog was on holiday last week and in fact up to yesterday. As a matter of fact I'm going to be on semi holiday this week as well as I feel a little cheated having only had about a week and a half off since last summer (get the violins out!) It's a hard life being self employed sometimes. Since you ask yes I had a lovely time in Cornwall which, these days, feels a bit like a second home I've been there so often in the last few years. Did loads of surfing (well body boarding actually but same sort of thrill) lots of eating simple food like fish and burgers and saw lots of beautiful coves and the like. In fact I've had a bit of a sea over-load and I'm just glad to be back on firm land in the Garden of England. On the other hand I could quite easily have spent the rest of the summer in the West where the weather is best. Who wants to see some photos?!..

August Tonbridge Insider Out Now....

Read all about it. Read Tonbridge LOG, the printed word extention of this Blog, in this month's Tonbridge Insider. Haven't got your copy? Can't find a copy? No matter you can read it online as a kind of virtual magazine....

Talk among yourselves for a bit....

Share your news with the people of Tonbridge, chat about something, give us some juicy gossip (obtained legally of course and preferably not through phone hacking!) get something off your chest. Go on try blogging it really can be quite liberating....

Come and see Mr. B....

No not Mr. Books but Mr. B! If anyone went to Tunbridge Wells Boys Grammar School when a certain Mr. Dereck Barnard was in charge now's you chance to get your own back. Visit Mr. Books next week (probably only on fine days when he feels like it!) have a chat, buy some books, test his product knowledge and generally put him through his paces! Dereck will be in charge for the week so make him feel welcome....

To Bee or Not to Bee?...

I love bees. They work hard, they get very little reward personally for their efforts and, so far as we know, they never complain; in fact they spend most of their lives waggle dancing. In many ways they are the living proof that The Big Society might just be successful! Best of all, in my view, they provide us with the most beautiful breakfast substance available HONEY. Winnie the Pooh, that bear of very little brain, was obsessed with the stuff and who could blame him?! I'm obsessed with the stuff. (Does that mean that I also have a tiny brain? (Not necessarily!) So what is it about this stuff. I don't really know but what I do know is that I love it spread on toast and, better still, drizzled over my fave summer breakfast of the moment: Greek yogurt mixed with sliced banana and a handful of crunchy oat cereal. Try it you'll love it, I'm not sure I invented this treat but I've certainly gone some way to perfecting it. (Works equally well with a dollop of summer fruits.) The honey just finishes it off nicely and gives it that lovely rich sweetness that only good quality honey can. I have no proof for this except my own personal experience but I'm now convinced that local honey cures you of your hay fever. A bold claim I know but I'm not the first to say this. Let's just say that the jar I purchased from the Bourne Valley Farm stall at the last Tonbridge Farmers Market, pictured, worked for me and no they're not paying me to say this although they can if they wish!...

More on Pedestrianising Tonbridge High Street....

There's quite a body of people who want to see Tonbridge High Street pedestrianised. I've said before in previous posts that I have mixd views on this subject. Most folk tend to vote for what's best for them personally so I suppose I ought to be all for it. Tonbridge Blog is certainly all for bringing more trade into the town if that's what it will achieve. Fran Long has sent me a link to an e petition so if anyone feels strongly enough about it you know what to do:

Tonbridge High street has air quality that does not meet EU standards, due to heavy traffic congestion.  This is bad for our health.  Please sign the petition for pedestrianisation, using the link http://www.petitiononline.co.uk/petition/pedestrianise-tonbridge-high-street/3310 You may use either home or work address, whichever is local. Please forward on to anyone else who you think would be interested.

Thank you

Fran Long

Damn those Midget Gems!...

Dentists again this morning. That's the fifth time in under a month. First it was a crown fitting, then back for some lovely root canal work and dealing with a tricky absess! About 3 hours in the dreaded chair in all. Then, just when I thought it was all over before going back for another crown to be fitted in November, I was eating a curry the other day and crunched down on something hard (most probably a peppercorn) then there was an awful grinding noise and the terrible realisation that about a quarter of my tooth had cracked off. Luckily I'd eaten most of the meal by this time so at least I didn't have to chew on further! The pudding course had to be postponed for another time. Thus the visit today to sort that out. Damed those midget gems (my fave choice of sweets when I were a lad) and thank heaven for National Health dentists. So far I've had around a thousand pounds worth of treatment for £204. Still a fair chunk of my hard earned cash but a snip in comparison....

Tonbridge Farmers Market Number 3 coming up....

I'm really looking forward to the next Tonbridge Farmers Market on Sunday August 14th. If the July one was anything to go by it really is not to be missed. Behind Waitrose car park is the venue, with free parking (cos it's a Sunday) right opposite. Don't forget to visit the organiser, Steve The Chilli Man's, stall but prepare your taste buds for an onslaught of spices first. I tell you those dipping sauces ought to come with a government health warning! People of Tonbridge this is a great addition to our town and we need to support this one. Over 50 stalls selling every type of local produce imaginable, a covered eating area where you can sample the delights from the market and some craft stalls as well. What's not to like?...

Tonbridge Half Marathon here we come....

Here it is the route of the very first Tonbridge Half Marathon. Sunday September 25th. Bring it on!

Books on Tonbridge....

And while we're on the subject of books here's a montage (good word that) of my favourite books on Tonbridge. All available in Mr. Books naturally. Don't tell everyone though because there really aren't enough to go round. Neve's 1933 book The Tonbridge of Yesterday, for example, is so scarce that people have been known kill for it!....

Tonbridge Yesterday and Tonbridge Today....

The back cover of Arthur Neve's well known and sought after book, The Tonbridge of Yesterday, makes interesting reading. It refers of course to the now demised Tonbridge Free Press which was around for well over a hundred years and written, edited, compiled and printed right here in the town. Whatever happened to the paper that was once the pride of Tonbridge? I'll tell you something it didn't, as most people seem to think, turn into the Kent and Sussex Courier which now seems to be the town's adopted local paper. No, in fact it morphed into the Kent Messenger, which most people now think of as a Malling and Maidstone title....

Tonbridge Half Marathon Training....

If anyone's concerned about my injury prone training schedule for the Tonbridge Half Marathon in September worry thee not. I'm still going out at least once a week, having overcome my calf strains, doing between 7 and 10 miles. The other day I ran from the foot of Quarry Hill along the Penshurst cycle trail, then cut across the fields to Leigh, on the road to Powder Mills, then back towards Tonbridge on the foot paths and linking up with Tonbridge Park, finishing at Quarry Hill. That's got to be at least 8 or 9 miles. Not bad for an old codger I thought to myself as I did the all essential warm down excercises. In fact I'm champing at the bit to go out for another long one. I've decided that I run better with about a four day gap between runs rather than trying to go out every day. I'd love to go for that magical sub two hour time but just finishing without stopping would be an achievement in itself for a man who's basically not built for distnace running on his first attempt....

A drastic way to avoid the inlaws!...

Just a typical scene on the Medway

My inlaws arrived yesterday so I thought what better day to go on a canoe trip down river towards Yalding. That would be an achievable destination as it looked about half way on the Medway Canoe Trail map which I'd managed to get hold of when I went on my last excursion on the Royal wedding day (scroll down if you must.) This time I was a little late setting off from the slipway at Tonbridge park but reckoned on about six hours maximum even with stops. (Incidentally I should point out, just in case they read this, that I wasn't really going off on a trip to get away from my sister in law and family, honestly I wasn't, it was just that the conditions were almost perfect: calm, fairly still waters, sunny but not baking hot, bit of a gentle breeze, river flowing but not too fast; conditions which you only see every few weeks on the day you can spare the time.)Having gone down part of this canoe trail a couple of times now I really cannot think of a better way to unwind. I like the gentle exercise, I like the song of the paddle and the canoe as it glides through the water, I love seeing the wild life and I like the feeling of being close to home and yet in a completely different environment. The only thing I could do without is those damned lock gates; for a solo novice canoeist, in an open canoe, they pose a bit of a challenge. The town lock fish gate is an easy way to get down the lock, it's a slow controlled shoot which just gently plonks you down and on your way towards the Cannon Lane bridge and beyond it the next lock, Eldridge's where there was supposed to be another fish gate/canoe shoot. This should have been finished in June but clearly work has over ran which meant a 100 metres portage (that's what we canoeists call carrying your canoe from the platform above the lock to the one below or vice versa. Fine did that no problem. Next lock was Porters Lock where I'd had a little scare last time when water rushed in my canoe, who's name is Tallulah by the way, so I was wary of this steep little shoot which is graded easy but I'd say they need to look at that grading again. I was quickly down towards the bottom and expecting the surge of water coming over the back gunnels, so leant forward slightly and, rather stupidly, stuck my paddle in to slow myself down a little. This action, and my over compensating lean, resulted quickly and dramatically in a capsize! Over I went one way, paddle still in hands, Tallulah the other way, water still rushing from the shoot pushing us both further down stream. I have done capsize routine before though not since my school days so, to be honest I knew I'd be alright so I was more concerned about the canoe. It all happens in seconds but you kind of go into slow motion mode on occasions like this. In a short space of time I'd got a hold of the canoe, now half full of water but the right way up, put the paddle inside it, noticed a shallow area on the bank to the left and swam my way to that point across the current of the shoot. Phew! Safely on the bank, now to check my gear and empty out the gallons of river water from my canoe. Thankfully, I had prepared for such an eventuality so this didn't actually take that long. I'd had the foresight to have my gear in a water proof holdall, my mobile phone was around my neck in an Aquapac water tight bag and similarly my money in an Aquapac wallet. My Yak buoyancy aid had done what was expected of it. I hadn't had the foresight though to wear swimming trunks or a wet suit so the next hour or so was going to be wet and uncomfortable but it was sunny and canoeing is a great way to keep yourself warm and I wasn't going to let it spoil a lovely day. I hadn't even got half way by this point, so I paddled on all the way to Yalding. I decided to portage round the next three locks to avoid a similar incident especially since the shoots were all graded red or black ie. moderate and difficult. Another time I'll be a bit more adventurous but I'd had my one swim for the day thank you very much! The sight of my support vehicle at Yalding (my wife) was a very welcome one even though by now my clothes were pretty much dry. I could go home to a very well earned hot shower followed by dinner with the inlaws washed down with a couple of bottles of beer....

Hampstead Lock. End of the trail... for now

Beer Festival Verdict....

The SIBA Beer Festival was a lovely way to spend Friday evening. With over a hundred different beers and ciders to choose from though, all lined up along one side of a large marquee, I felt spoilt for choice. What a great problem to have though. I think I only spent about £7.50 on beer with each £1.50 token buying me half a pint of any beer there but I must have drank about twice that amount. That or they were so strong that I only needed half as much to feel more than a little merry. (Probably a bit of both!) Even trying a finger of quite a few beers before committing to my half pints it would have been impossible, even for a hardened darts player, to get through every beer there. Rather ridulously there were a couple of beers on sale which were over 10% alcohol by volume (abv) which I did sample but to me they taste a little like treacle. Now I actually quite like treacle but I wouldn't want to drink half a pint of it! The Ten Per Cent Club is definitely not for me! I decided that I seem to be drawn to the mid strength, around 4.2 to 4.8% abv, best bitters. Not sure why but I do seem to like some of them such as Old Dairy's Red Top and Hepworth's Sussex Bitter. I was fortunate to be able to sample quite a few lovely examples but the beers that stick out as being particularly notable were The Flower Pots' Bate's Best Bitter,   TEA by Hogs Back, Sovereign by Tunbridge Wells Brewery, Larkins Best Bitter, Filo's Ginger Tom, Langham's Hip Hop, Westerham's 1965 Special Summer Ale and Summer Pearle and Whitstable's Native. All excellent beers in my humble opinion. I love alot of the names as well. Names with attitude. By far my favourite though, of those beers that I managed to sample, was Hog's Back Brewery's Summer Ale which the brewery's bumpf describes as: Ideal for those warm summer days/light straw coloured ale/refreshingly cool taste/thirst quenching. It may not have a name with any attitude but I would describe it as, quite simply, nectar in a glass....

Primary School League table!

League tables or primary schools! Whatever next. I'm not sure what much of this means other than they appear to show that most of the Tonbridge schools performed slightly better than the average for the rest of Kent or is it national schools. Anyway, for what it's worth you can see the rest of the table HERE

Pedestrianisation of Tonbridge High Street?...

A regular in Mr. Books is Steve Dawe who, among other interests, is involved with the Green Party; we often have some fairly lively conversations about local matters and occasionally Steve even buys a book! Today's topic was whether or not Tonbridge town centre should be pedestrianised. Steve, not surprisingly, is all for it but I've always had my reservations seeing it as a double edged sword. Surely by closing off the High Street to traffic you'd be reducing potential passing trade to shops, I argued. Apparently not though, according to Steve. All the evidence of other towns and cities (such as Canterbury) points to reduced traffic and pollution leading to increased numbers of people (footfall) in the centre. In other words it seems that shoppers enjoy the experience in a town free of traffic and will come in especially eventually because of that. By the end of our conversation I was starting to come around to the idea. After all it's not like Tonbridge has an awful lot to lose, it's hardly a thriving shoppers paradise as it is so why not take a calculated gamble and go for it? I'm sure there are complex issues involved and that it couldn't be done over night but it has to be worth looking into at least. There's an old Chinese saying that goes something like this: if you risk nothing then you risk everything. Is it time for Tonbridge and Malling council to take a risk?...

Fantastic new Tonbridge Farmers Market....

The Organiser: He calls himself Steve The Chilli Man

Well TonbridgeBlog went along to the new Farmers Market, just behind Waitrose, on Sunday with a totally open mind. Even if it was only as good as the one at Shipbourne Church I'd have been delighted. Let me tell you though that this one was in a totally different league to Shipbourne and Hildenborough's efforts (good though they are.) The Tonbridge market had over 50 stalls and was absolutely fantastic; the weather helped as it was a glorious morning on Sunday but, that aside, this is a market you really should find the time to get along to whatever the weather. It had bread stalls, two or three speciality butchers, game, olives, chillies, (and even olives and chillies together!) cakes, fruit and veg, summer fruit stalls, a hog roast, cheese, local beers, ciders, olive oil to name just the ones I can remember; oh and a few craft stalls. It was somewhere between a lively French market and a food festival. There was a lovely central covered eating area where you can enjoy a coffee and taste some of the local produce you've just bought. There was plenty of free parking right opposite. I may even take a stall at the next one to flog a few books as I can see this market growing in popularity as the months go by. These events take a lot of organising and considerable financial risk, it's great for Tonbridge that someone has bothered to put it on for us; only thing is it only continues if we go along and support it and by God it's worth supporting. Organiser, Steve The Chilliman, told me that it's early days yet but, judging by the response so far, it will be a permanent fixture in the town. The market is held on every second Sunday morning of each month from now on....

Your Tonbridge Farmers Market Questions Answered....

The second of the regular Tonbridge Farmers Market is on Sunday so try to get along to support it. Shamefully I missed the first one so I'm very keen to get along to this one. There have been a number of questions asked about the market and some comments have asked, for example, why not weekly market? or why can't it be in and around the Castle? Well the organiser, Steve, has just left quite a lengthy (and timely) comment about it against an older post which  I thought should be highlighted here:

Just wanted to give you guys a reminder that this Sunday we have the second Tonbridge Farmers Market.
Also, I had read your comments and wanted to respond to them, maybe I can help...
Sebfox, you ask why monthly and not weekly, and who decides.. well, We, the organisers decide.
However It is based on various factors such as, Tonbridge has a market with 50 stalls, if we were to go more frequently then the stall holders would not sell every week.. which would mean most would only attend once a month anyway. Also... quite frankly, there just isn't enough local producers to cover all the farmers markets, which means quite often the producers you will see at Tonbridge, will also be attending many of the other regular markets around Kent. Local produce is in high demand.
Another point is that having over 12 markets a year would mean that we would need planning permission, which takes us into a whole new ball park. The cost of running a market is high, So in it's second month of running it does not have any where near enough funds to be able to run weekly.
Quite often what you find with weekly markets is that they are much smaller, they are also normally run by a charity/ volunteer which has a site that is free to use, such as church yards, or village halls. The main reason the market is not along the river is that through the winter the grass area can not be used, which would mean no markets through such a great season.
And the reason the market is not at the castle is that it is not available through out the year, which would mean moving the market around. That was one of the major problems with the old Tonbridge farmers market... people never knew when it was on because it moved too much. (that is what a couple of local people have told me, so please don't quote me, however I can see that would naturally cause a problem, so it is likely)

I hope I have been helpful, and answered some of your queries, thanks for blogging about it.. I hope that the market is a real success. The people of Tonbridge have asked for one for a long time... it's a work in progress.
It's great to hear feed back, honestly it is... so please keep in touch.
Come by the chilli stall and say Hi to me this Sunday's Market.

Tonbridge Half Marathon Training update....

Update? More like Upset! Another set back in my Tonbridge Half Marathon Training. After doing the longest run I think possibly ever last Friday, and feeling absolutely fine, I then went out two days later and felt my calf straining again. This was only after a couple of miles and therefore was deeply frustrating as I'd only just got into my stride. I tried to walk it off and decided to shorten my run but had to end up limping home which always makes me feel like a bit of a berk when in running attire. Several days later after ice treatment, gentle stretching, wearing compression socks and a few days of walking across town to work the calf still feels tight. What to do next? All the information says rest it for a couple of weeks at least. But will I be able to resist the temptation to go out again this weekend. Knowing me probably not. I've even considered barefoot running shoes, which is a bit of a misnomer, apparently they improve your running style so that it becomes more natural. I like the sound of that. Any other tips? (Apart from: give it up you're an old man! Or take up fishing! Sensible, constructive tips please.)

Dr. Who in Tonbridge?...

Tonbridge Civic Society are holding their Summer Event this Sunday at Postern House which, if you don't know, is the largest house along Postern Lane on the outskirts of Tonbridge. I think I'm right in saying that, once upon a time, Postern Lane was once the main road to Rye in the days of the stage coach but nowadays is a little used gated private road. I'm able to attend the event as for the first time in years it's being held on a Sunday instead of the usual Saturday. It will be a really beautiful setting, especially if the weather holds out, and I've even managed to persuade my teenage children to go telling them that they'll get to meet David Tennant, who owns the house. They are dying to meet the former Dr. Who but if I tell them it might be a different Mr. Tennant then they probably won't go! Am I being cruel, or is this fair game in the getting your kids off Facebook campaign?!..

Opera Brava this Weekend at the Castle anyone?...

Just tried to blag some freebie tickets for this weekends Opera Brava concerts at the Castle this weekend. Specifically I fancied the Candlelight Gala performance of opera classics on Saturday evening. Not being a fanatic I thought the Magic Flute on Friday, even though they are offering 2 for 1 tickets for this, might be a little too heavy so the Saturday programme seemed like it'd be a good taster which would wet my appetite for more culture this summer. My contacts at the council have told me that "Not even council workers have been offered any freebies!" Imagine that, the very idea that they themselves should have to pay for the events that they organise! I know I was being cheeky because, truth be told, I did just fancy a nice night out, but I would have been able to report about it on this blog and in The Tonbridge Insider and I can't possibly get around to all events if I have to fork out for them all. I'm afraid though that now either I won't be able to go or I'll have to pay £70 for the pleasure! Quite a hefty chunk in these straitened times when I'm saving up for holidays etc. (Get the violins out.) Am I asking too much? Is anyone else going this w/e? I wonder whether the Tunbridge Wells based Courier reporter has to pay to get in!...

Tonbridge (very) early Friday morning....

I was up with the larks this morning to take my son to school for his day trip to Switzerland. It sounded like a fantastic idea going to see the Large Hadron Collider, near Geneva, when he first brought the letter home about seven months ago and very educational; how could we deny him that one? But when the harsh reality of getting up at 5am this morning kicked in I'm afraid I momentarily lost  my enthusiasm for the whole idea! Actually I'm sure he'll have a great day so long as he doesn't stick his head in the collider or get shot through the tunnel at the speed of electrons (or is it protons?!) I'll be testing him on his theories of the most fundemetal questions of physics when he returns tonight to make sure that the money we spent on the trip was justified! The St. Johns Road is pretty well empty at that time in the morning so there's a lesson there for all those Tonbridge folk who work in Tunbridge Wells. Set off at 5-30am every morning, avoid all the traffic and then just drink lots of coffee all day to keep awake! When I arrived back home it was still before 6 o'clock and it was a beautiful morning. I had no excuses. I'm in training for the Tonbridge Half Marathon, as some of you may have gleaned, I had plenty of time to get a long run in and still be on schedule to open up the shop. I felt wide awake and it'd been over a week since my last run so off I went. I could have listened to the radio or read a paper but decided to go for it.
Tonbridge really does look quite beautiful on a sunny day at that time in the morning. People were out walking their dogs near the Vauxhall Inn, rabbits were hopping and bouncing across Postern Lane, the golden fields of wheat looked especially wonderful, the river was shimmering in the morning light around Cannon Lane Bridge, the trees along London Road were in full leaf and provided some welcome shade, the water of Barden Lake seemed crystal clear, gardens looked fresh and green. The few other people I encountered were all friendly; there seems to be an unwritten camaraderie at that time of day as if you're all part of a special early birds club or something. I reckon I'd ran 8 or 9 miles by the time I reached Quarry Hill and that was quite enough but it felt good and I can now feel smug for the rest of the day. That is until I flake out about midday!...

Half way through 2011....

Well that's it then people of Tonbridge. As John Lennon and Yoko might have said Half a year over and a new half just begun! Did it go quick for you? Can you look back and say Yes I really achieved something in the first half of 2011? Did you take up a new hobby? Do something you are particularly proud of? Did you do something life changing or read the best book you've ever read? Organise an event? What? Share it with the rest of Tonbridge. Go on. Maybe there was something bugging you throughout these last six months. Maybe there's a dark secret you want to get off your chest. Go on share the burden. Hope you enjoy the second half....

Support Amazon and kill the independent bookshop?...

Most of you will no doubt have bought books on amazon. Some of you may recognise that they have had a major impact on the demise of many independent bookshops. You may care or you may not and simply prefer the convenience of buying via the internet. I personally have mixed views seeing both the strengths and threat of amazon and indeed many other book web sites. According to Sheppards, the book trade bible, though one Seattle based bookseller had no doubts in their minds whatsoever. Bit strong but they do have a point:

J.B. Dickey, the owner of Seattle Mystery Bookshop, has refused to host a signing or stock books from Amazon’s new Thomas & Mercer mystery imprint.

Dickey published his entire email exchange with a writer about this topic (the author’s name has been deleted). Entitled “You Can’t Shake the Devil’s Hand and Say You’re Only Kidding,” his post should inspire some debate among independent booksellers. What do you think?

Here’s an excerpt: “Sorry to say that we cannot offer you a signing. We cannot do anything to support, help or benefit Amazon. They’re the enemy of independent bookshops and aiding them in any way – mainly ordering their books and selling them and promoting them – would be suicide. Things are tough enough without cutting our own throats.”

Tonbridge Teachers Strike out!...

It's an absolute disgrace that these poor teachers are forced to go on strike and close down Tonbridge schools against their will just to keep their pension rights. They worked damned hard all their lives for these rights and are suddenly being told that they are going to have to work even longer and even harder and pay even more. It's not as if they get enough holiday and they have to work for most of it anyway. They are paid inadequately, considering their intellect and skills, in the first place and what's more....

It's an absolute disgrace that these teachers who are getting massively more pensions than the rest of us are have stooped so low as to cause all this disruption and close down schools in Tonbridge. It's not like most of them work that hard anyway and now the government wants them to pull their weight and work as long as people in proper jobs they are getting all shirty. They get about twenty weeks holiday a year and only work till about ten past 3 most days and are paid quite enough as it is for a load of stroppy layabouts and what's more.... (Careful I might know some teachers better tone that down a bit! I'll edit it later.)

Lightning strike in the dentist's chair....

Throughout pretty much the whole of yesterday's tropical style storm I was laid back in my dentist's chair with needles, drills, scrapers and all manner of other implements being rammed into my poor old mouth. At least the noise of the cracking thunder kept my mind off it a little and, luckily the dentists managed to avoid being struck by lightning. I hear that a house in the Slade area of Tonbridge was not so lucky and actually was struck by lightning. Apparently there were fire engines racing to the scene yesterday afternoon so I'm not sure how much damage was done to the house; perhaps someone has some further news on this?...

Three cheers for Mr. Mayor....

Tonbridge is certainly getting its money's worth out of our new Mayor Brian "Whiskers" Luker. I've spotted him three weekends in a row now doing speeches, shaking hands and mingling at, firstly, the Tonbidge Carnival and Fete, then at last weekend's fabulous Freedom Parade and then a couple of hours ago at the Slade School fete. He certainly likes to put himself about a bit does our Brian! I might even get to have a chat with him on one of these occasions....

These rustic bowls are my very own creation....

No really they are! Remember a little while ago I mentioned that I'd been to have a go on Mike The Potter's potters wheel well here are the fruits of my labours which I'm very proud of. Okay maybe you wouldn't even buy them from a bric a brac stall for 50p but that doesn't matter when they have emotional value. They are my work, my creation (with a bit, okay then, alot of help from Mike but nevertheless my work!) I will enjoy eating peanuts out of them as long as the bowls and/or my teeth hold out! The two bowls even stack very neatly inside one another almost as if I'd intended for that to happen! Thanks once again Mike for letting me have the opportunity to have a go.....

Slade Summer Fete: a lovely traditional event....

Don't mess with these kids!

Medieval style drumming

Mind your fingers young squire!

Are they burgers a-cooking over yonder?

Just got back from spending a lovely half hour or so at the Slade School Summer Fete. It's only just around the corner from my shop and I know, from past experience, that it's usually a particularly well organised and fun packed event. I love these old fashioned fetes they give you a nice warm sense of belonging as you wander past the tombola, bric-a-brac stalls, children's toy stalls, burger and Pims tents. I even won not one but two prizes on the tombola: a nice bottle of Shiraz Rose and a jar of home made marmalade, both of which I love. On closer inspection the marmalade turned out to be Tomato Marmalade so it'll be interesting tasting that one! I mean what do you do with it? Put it on your toast in the morning? Or do you treat it like a chutney and have it on cheese? There's always loads of games for the children to enjoy like football penalties, basket ball, even archery. This year there was a Medieval theme (thus the archers) which meant we were treated to a drum band, medieval style dancing and marshal arts. Hang on is that Medieval? I guess it could be if we stretch things a little! I tell you after a couple of glasses of Pims and, a burger and some delicious Kent strawberries and cream it really didn't matter. It's still on now if you're in the area till 2-30pm....

Off to Slade summer fete....

It's happening right now so I'm off there to have strawberries and cream and win a bottle of Cabinet Sauv on the tombola!

SIBA Beer Festival: Heaven sent?...

My taste buds are involuntarily going wild at the mere thought of this year's SIBA Beer Festival which will take place in a marquee to the rear of Tonbridge Juddians Rugby Club on Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 16th, 17th and 18th. If last year's was anything to go by this is one not to be missed for fans of proper beer. I'm not exaggerating when I say that going to the event last year changed the beer drinking part of my life for ever. Since then I've been far more picky when it comes to what beer I buy in the supermarket, I invested in a copy of the CAMRA Good Bottled Beer Guide, which became a further source of information; okay for a while I did become a bit of a beer bore, it has to be said, but I'm sure you can forgive me for that. Wherever I travel in the UK I now try to find the local small independent breweries' ales. Generally they cost a bit more than the average gassy big brewery alternative but I'd say they are worth every penny and more. Imagine this scene: it's a lovely sunny evening in mid July, you walk in free, you buy a souvenir half pint glass you are then completely spoilt for choice as you are faced with well over a hundred different casks of beer down one side of the marquee, stacked three high along a fifty yard bar with loads of knowledgeable, bar staff (some of them are even pretty girls!)   Ok there's no football, golf or motor racing going on but isn't this pretty close to most men's idea of Heaven! The majority of the beers are produced by micro and medium sized inde breweries, so you get a great smug feeling of doing one's bit for helping further the cause of real beer and boosting the local economy.So get your selves down there on at least one of the three days and give your taste buds a treat. More information to come on times nearer the weekend of the event....

Olympic tickets....

I, like millions of other people, applied for quite a few London Olympics 2012 tickets. In fact if I'd been lucky enough to get all the tickets I'd asked for I'd have been taking out a second mortgage by now! As it turns out I had nothing to fear on that score. I noticed that the organisers had taken £66 out of my bank account last week and I was guessing which event I would be lucky to attend next August. Would it be the Opening Ceremony in all it's quintessential British glory?Would it be the 100 metres final with Usain Bolt breaking his own World Record yet again with such casual ease? Or maybe it would be the event I really wanted to see above all else: the 110 Hurdles Final (my event back in the day!) If not these what then: a swimming event in the giant fish like pool? Gymnastics? To see the future Nadia Komenich perhaps or Olga Korbut? The 1500 metres semi finals? Actually what I've been allocated is the Women's Football Final at Wembley. Not bad, and nice to be going to anything at all but I would have put it top of my list. That said I intend to take my daughter along, who's starting to show some real promise in the game, to enjoy seeing the new Wembley Stadium as I'm yet to have the pleasure. With a bit of look our girls will be in the final. Better than not getting anything and I'm already looking forward to soaking up the atmosphere of the Olympics albeit not in the Olympic park.  Anybody else get the tickets they wanted?....

Fairlawns Footpath Public Enquiry....

Someone has brought the public enquiry about the threatened closure of the footpath at the back of Shipbourne church. I wasn't aware of this at all to be honest. It seems that Tonbridge Rugby Club is the somewhat unusual venue for these court room like procedures. Here's the information that was sent to me today:

Just to remind you that the public enquiry about moving a famous
footpath in shipbourne is on this week. It's being held in the Tonbridge
rugby club. Started yesterday, and continues today (Wed) and Thursday,
before moving to Maidstone next week. Members of the public are entitled
to be there (9.30-5ish)

The atmosphere is electric, as any court of Law, with the inspector as
the judge. In one corner we have the hugely powerful and wealthy
landowner and their top barristers, aided and abetted by KCC. In the
other, brave little Shipbourne parish council  and doughty Kentish men
(and women) trying to protect walkers rights against all the odds.

The path is in Shipbourne behind the church. At the kissing gate it is
the one on the right. Fairlawns estates have been working on closing
this path for many years, since they built a fine house next to the path
and surrounded it with 'grounds'. This route is part of the Greensand
way and was an ancient drovers way, so the path has been used for
centuries, and is still heavily walked today.

Will wealth and stealth win again?


Chris Miall

Freedom Parade on YouTube....

For those of you who missed the Freedom Parade on Sunday first of all: Shame on You! Second of all there are quite a few clips of the day's events posted on YouTube including this one by someone who has the complete audacity to call himself Trevor (Spielberg) Arnold. He actually goes further than that and uses a Star Wars-esque theme tune! Thankfully Trevor does live up to his name in some parts of the mini epic movie managing to capture parts of the day quite masterfully. Have a look for yourselves and while you're at it check out the other clips. I thought the whole day was lovely. Weirdly old fashioned but lovely nonetheless; nothing wrong in being a bit patiotic once in a while I say. Let Tonbridge Blog know what you think....

Freedom Parade in Tonbridge....

Tonbridge High Street came alive about 2pm

Drums beating, colours flying

Bayonets fixed

Crowds gather at the Big Bridge for speeches and music

Fabulous day at the Freedom Parade. Real patriotic stuff. It just shows you that we, as a town, seem to still be proud of our soldiers, perhaps more than ever. At least everyone there today seemed to recognise the sacrifice that these boys and others like them are making on our behalf. It actually did make me feel really proud watching them. They are, after all, the most decorated regiment in the history of the British Army. Even an old cynic like me had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. Here's some pictures from the day....

Marching back up the High Street

Maybe in a few years lads!

Trouble makers steer clear of Tonbridge today!...

There's haven't been this many police in Tonbridge certainly in the twenty two years I've lived here. There's all the Community Police Officers from, it seems, every town and village in the area, then there's the regular beat officers but, on top of that, there seems to be almost a paramilitary contingent of seriously mean-looking, hard nosed coppers. The sort that you'd be a fool to cross. If these guys say it's Thursday today then, trust me, just agree with them! Then there are sniffer dogs around, armoured personnel carriers, bomb squad officers. All this for The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment Freedom Parade which starts at 2pm. Presumably anyway. Even the bins are out of use, covered over with signs saying do not use. I would suggest that today will be a great, safe and fun day out for most people. But, if you are a shop lifter or a trouble maker, I would suggest that you avoid Tonbridge today!...