Why no electric bikes Halfords?!..

Not wishing to go on about electric bikes too much here is a copy of the email I've just sent to Halfords having looked at their web site and been surprised that they don't appear to sell ANY electric bikes:

"Hello, I'm suprised to see that Halfords aren't at the forefront in driving forward electric bike sales. Surely these machines are a major part of the future solution to transport problems in Europe and the wider world. Are there any plans in the pipeline at Halfords to sell an affordable, good looking, light weight, longer range selection of e-bikes? People who live in hilly areas would be encouraged to ride more without dreading having to struggle up those steeper ones, school children would be attracted to them giving them greater independence, commuters would love them and would get to work quicker and cheaper, town centres would eventually be unblocked as riders see the benefits of not sitting for hours wasting their lives in traffic jams. What's not to like?! But they need to be affordable! I'd love to hear your views,

Best Regards
Bookshop Owner, Commuter, Loyal Halfords Customer, Leisure Cyclist, Ex-Motorcylist, concerned about the environment."

Is the electric bicycle the future of transport in Tonbridge....

Thinking about buying an electric bike. I've had this in the back of my mind for quite some time now as I'm pretty convinced that they are part of the future of transport. They're clean and green, they encourage people to leave their cars at home without the dread of getting up those steep hills (Quarry Hill in my case) they are virtually noiseless; in fact, for town use they're as ideal a mode of transport as you can get in my opinion. With the introduction of some very sporty looking fold up models they are becoming a real solution to transport headaches everywhere. So why not for Tonbridge? The power assist variety allows you to pedal but with the major advantage of being able to glide your way up steep hills with far less effort than the pedal only bikes. So what's holding me back getting one if they're so good. Mainly the price tag. Electric bikes are still pricey at around £750 even for the budget options, the latest ones, with quicker charging batteries and better looking frames can be over £1,500. Compare that with that beautiful lightweight Marin Moutain bike in Cycles UK I've had my eye on for a while at about £350, which seems expensive in itself for a bike these days. I suppose if you look at electric bikes as being cheapish motor bikes then that price tag wouldn't hurt so much; but if you compare them with the cost of a pedal bike then they are still far too expensive for most pockets, including mine. Why can't the Goverment, who claim to be promoting all things green, get right behind them as a project, support British companies to supply them and give real incentives to buy them. That way the cost of them would come right down as more and more would be produced, bringing production costs down to sensible levels. I hear that there might actually be a move to have them reclassified and impose road tax on e-bikes which would have, disastrously, the opposite effect and make them less desireable and less affordable. Also there are many improvements to battery range, charging times and stability and weight still to be introduced before I'm prepared to part with my cash. Having said that just picture the scene in the not too distant future: a visitor coming to Tonbridge sees the queue of traffic and thick smog all along Tonbridge High Street. He (or she) diverts to one of the new Park and Ride sites over on Canon Lane and at Mabeldon and Shipbourne Road on the outskirts of town. He parks up and within a couple of minutes is whizzing effortlessly into the town centre on their snazzy new electric hybrid pedal assist folding sports bike laughing at the stressed out car drivers, who are still snaking their way along the High Street in the hopeless belief that they'll still be able to get a parking space at Tonbridge Sainsbury's. So there you have it my new business idea: Mr. E-Bikes!...

And they say advertising doesn't work....

I'm not saying that ads can't be annoying and intrusive, judging by some of the comments already made on TonbridgeBlog (and to my face) some of you don't like it. But one of the advertisers on this site has already got some business. FROM ME! Yes, I've been looking for a supplier of environmentally friendly cotton bags for my shop on and off for the last two years or more. Then up pops an advertisement for Stuart Morris, supplier of tea towels for schools, T Shirts, mugs and, you've guessed it, cotton bags. I went to their web site, picked up the phone and enquired about their bags and very helpful they were too. I'm about to order at least a hundred of their shoulder bags, with a view to ordering many more in the future. So you see advertising can and does have its uses!...

Is TonbridgeBlog at the top of a very slippery slope?!..

Yes some bright sparks have already picked up that TonbridgeBlog is carrying advertising for the first time ever! I do feel like a bit of a fraud actually having been quite evangelical about not carrying the beastly interferring things, which constantly pop out at you and flicker at you, making you lose....concentration, but hey ho! It's just an experiment so expect to see a few different formats in the next few days and weeks from banners and skyscrapers to buttons and pop outs; half banners, squares, small rectangular shaped ones, colourful ones and text only ones. They may all be there. Why though after all this time of resisting the urge?? Well partly out of sheer curiousity to see how it all works, afterall TonbridgeBlog did come from an advertising background, as some of you may know, a tiny bit to see if I can generate a bit of revenue from it (although I'm doubtful on that one) and partly because Google do everything for you, so I don't have to be bothered with any admin or chasing up of ad copy etc. The technology is there so why not use it? Anyway like I said, only an experiment at the moment. Good idea or is TonbridgeBlog at the top of a very slippery slope??..

In search of the perfect pint in Tonbridge....

It seems that we have another Tonbridge blogger among us. Paul Bailey has formed a breakaway blog called, rather self explanatorily (if that's a word) Paul Bailey's Beer Blog. I've a sneaking feeling that this man used to run the Cask and Glass down Priory Street which was a really nice idea and a product of a lifetime passion for, well, beer. The usp (to use the marketing jargon) of the Cask and Glass was that they served well kept real ales and cider on draft so that the customer could taste the various, ever changing guest beers, you know Harvey's, Larkins, Chiddingston Ciders, Ramsbottom Sheep Dippper, that kind of stuff, then choose a couple or four pints of the one they like the most (if they weren't already half-cut from the tasting that is! The idea obviously appealed to the current owners as they bought Mr. Bailey out when he decided to get a proper job and get his evenings back, and not only that they've now expanded the concept to another shop in Hastings. I'm sure that the idea is probably an old idea rehashed, but nevertheless a very successful formula when done well and Paul certainly did it well. He's even building a mini brewery in a large shed in his back garden for goodness sakes. You'll have got the idea by now: Paul knows what he's on about when it comes to beer. So if sunny evenings out walking through the glorious rolling Kent countryside as an excuse to find the Holy Grail of the perfect village pub pint is what appeals to you then have a look at his blog....

What to do on a sunny Fathers Father's Fathers' Day....

Get planning those barbeques for these long early summer evenings because we're in for some lovely summer weather by the look of it. At least, that is, if this ten day forecast on weather.com is anything to go by. That's what I've got planned for Fathers Day a burger, king prawn and tuna barbe, washed down with some tins of Australian lager and a few glasses of Cab Sauv. Before that I might just go for a longish bike ride or a walk across the beautiful Kent countryside. After that I'll probably just collapse in the chair and let the kids do all the work just for once. I used to think that Fathers Day was just a load of commercial nonesense but as I get older I'm getting the hang of it! Incidentally why is it Fathers Day and not Father's Day or even Fathers' Day??..

Tonbridge Arts Festival meeting on Monday anyone?...

There's a little plot being hatched to hold a literary festival in Tonbridge. It's something I've been thinking about organising even before Mr. Books was born. Trouble is that's pretty much all I did, think about it that is. Oh and I did talk about it a bit as well! Now a small group from West Kent College have got some heads together, including mine, a few from WKC, Tonbridge School, the library, the Council, and some local business people and are actually doing more than just talking about it. The event is likely to be extended to be a full blown Arts Festival, rather than just a Lit Fest and to take place in October 2010. It's still very much early days in the planning process but there is an open meeting about it this coming Monday June 22nd at the Angel Centre Riverside Suite from 6 to 8-30pm. So if you have any strong views on what sort of event Tonbridge deserves and maybe you'd like to help out by getting involved in some way then now's your chance. Let's put Tonbridge on the map by building a festival on the scale and with the reputation of Hay on Wye, which attracts 500 authors from all over the world, has top of the bill musicians and comedians performing and host talks by the likes of Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, and Desmond Tutu. See you there....

Ivy House poetry nights? "Sorry about that!"

The Ivy House Dining Room and Bar don't want to host Poetry at the Pub anymore. Their manager simply gave me a very curt "We're now a dining area in here (the old main bar area which used to house the poetry nights) we're not looking for just people drinking anymore..." I told him that the nights used to regularly attract over 30 people on an otherwise quiet night for the pub. "Sorry about that!" was his equally curt reply, as he rushed off to serve the three occupied dining tables. There seemed no point in trying to persaude him so off I toddled with me tail between me legs! So it's off to find another venue so that hopefully Poetry at the Pub can live again. Such a shame though really cos let's face it they're not going to fill the place out every night with "diners" are they? thirty people x 3 to four drinks each on average that's around £4,200 he's just lost across the year! Worth thinking about in these straitened times? Apparently not!...

Follow TonbridgeBlog Twitter updates!...

At the risk of sounding pretentious: Follow my Twitter updates at http://twitter.com/TonbridgeBlog

Today's posts: I dream in emails and worn out phrases! Not my words but those of Tonbridge band Keane. Can't stop playing "Pretend That You're Alone" today.

Poetry at the pub nights to start again soon in Tonbridge. Please spread the word and let me know if interested. See www.mrbooks.co.uk

@camdenlockbooks trouble is they can get our discounts usually elsewhere. Tricky one!

@iaindale shouldn't a Speaker be able to, well, speak. I'd have thought that it kinda went with the territory!

In a report on unusual museums in UK: Leeds Castle, Kent. A collection of dog collars, mostly dating from the Middle Ages (no dogs admitted)

And my favourite Tonbridge Carnival picture....

There's just something about this shot of the Sea Cadets' Band relaxing on a hot Sunday afternoon in the shade of the trees nearby after the formalities of the Carnival parade inbetween performances on the Castle lawn. I like it anyway....

Tonbridge Carnival in Pictures....

As promised some pics from that magnificent day last Sunday. Didn't we all have a lovely time the day we went to Tonbridge! Someone please tell me though: what do Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story and Lepracorns have to do with Tonbridge. Who knows and well done to the Tonbridge Lions who help organise and marshal the event every year and hopefully also raise an awful lot of money for local charities. It would be nice to know just how much if anyone out there knows.

What do you mean you missed the Tonbridge Carnival!

The crowd of at least 10,000 lined Tonbridge High Street in the glorious June sunshine as they patiently awaited the annual procession, to be followed by a fete on the Castle lawn. There was a real atmosphere of people eager out to enjoy themselves this year, you could almost feel it in the air. Perhaps the last year of economic doom and gloom has had an effect on everyone and a good excuse to let rip and enjoy themselves was very welcome and timely. It's all quiet in the streets now but only half an hour ago I was stood near the Big Bridge snapping away on my camera phone as each band, each wacky float went by. At first I thought that it was going to be a bit of an anti climax as Tonbridge's very own Cheryl Baker, which anyone over forty can just about remember from that Eurovision band Fiz Bucks or something! I thought for a split second, Oh no! is that the best Tonbridge can muster? But it certainly wasn't as I was very pleasantly surprised, amused, and entertained by marching bands of, I might add, a much higher standard than usual, music, local school children proudly displaying their school colours, Tonbridge Angels chanting and dribbling along the road, theatre groups, even a lifesize Buzz Lightyear stepping into infinity (and beyond) majorettes and twirlers aplenty, men on stilts, karate displays (pretty tricky on the march, I'd imagine!) mad Irish dancers and lepracorns singing about St. Patrick's Day (Why?!) and not forgetting the Tonbridge Lion, he always has to get in right at the end. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am now off to the Castle to watch some bands playing and dancers dancing. I might even let my hair down and have a beer or two. Where are the pictures I hear you all ask? Well, you'll just have to wait a day or so as I forgot to bring the little memory stick thingy device which helps me upload (or is it download?!) onto me computer. I can't be perfect all the time you know....

Tonbridge Carnival anyone?...

Tonbridge Carnival procession will start in about twenty minutes so you'll have to be very quick if you don't want to miss those majorettes and twirlers! Don't worry though cos the carnival atmosphere will continue for the rest of the day on the Castle lawn. Worth a trip if you're not doing anything else exciting. Mr. Books will also be open all afternoon. What on a Sunday?! It is you know. So come on down!...

Buying a house in Tonbridge anyone?...

A while ago someone flattered me, and slightly freaked me out at the same time, by saying that this blog was the reason she and her boyfriend had decided to move to Tonbridge. Yes it did really happen, I don't make this stuff up you know! Well if there's anyone else out there reading this and looking for a totally unbiased opinion about this town of ours don't let this YouTube clip of the flooded park near the swimming pool put you off. It only happens about twice a year and that flood barrier up river at Leigh is sure to hold off the worst. Isn't it?! Maybe be cautious and don't by a new house on the flood plain.... What's that you say they're all on the flood plain. Oh Dear. Gulp or should that be Glug!...

Would you pay £28k for one of these masterpieces?...

Some of you may recall seeing a large hairy gentleman appearing on that BBC programme Dragons Den, where a diverse cluster of business people have to pitch an idea to five "Dragons" who will only part with their real cash if they think the proposition is sound and that there's something in it for them. This man actually persauded the Dragons in the den to part with, from memory, £90,000! That man was none other than Tonbridge Sculptor Guy Portelli who produces a weird (and wonderful) range of sculptures that he calls his pop icon collection. He's been reported on quite a bit both nationally and extensively in local rags and you may have seen him around town. Of course he has a web site (doesn't everyone?!) and there's already a link to it on the left of this page. I particularly like the John Lee Hooker and the John Lennon pieces; they all definitely have something quirky and intersting about them and I'd definitely give them house room, if I had the room in my house. Just one thing though Mr. Portelli: I seem to remember that you told Duncan Ballatine, or was it David Khan or that sour faced blond, woman whose name escapes me, that each one sells for around £28,000. And you said it with a straight face. Now were you 'avin a giraffe to hoodwink those Dragons (who deserve to be hoodwinked in my humble opinion) or is that really true?...

It's not big and it's not clever!...

Now I'd like to talk about a very serious matter indeed. Some young men, and you know who you are, have been up to no good last night riding a certain old bike up and down the High Street in the early hours. A very kind man in his mid twenties, who'd obviously been out on the raz last night himself judging by his dischevelled appearance, came into my shop just now and asked if I'd lost a bike. I didn't realise I had as actually I'd forgotten to put the Mr. Books delivery bike away last night. (Normally she's tucked away safely in the shop.) Now TonbrigeBlog doesn't mind a bit of high jinx on a warm summer evening, but boys did you really have to rip the G-lock off and cause damage to the bike, not to mention losing one of the pedals, which admittedly was loose anyway? Come on lads, how I am I going to make those book deliveries now without me faithful old butchers bike?! It's the first time it's happened in over four years so I suppose I had it coming. I'm particularly annoyed because I was going to ride it in the Tonbridge Carnival tomorrow along the High Street, I guess the young scallies spilling out of SOS, or wherever they'd been, got there first and decided to do a dress rehearsal! And I suppose you all think it's all very amusing.... PS if anyone does find an old looking pedal in the High Street area you know where to bring it....

Parish Church Summer Fete today....

And if you want to get in the mood for the Tonbridge Carnival tomorrow then you could always stroll down to the Parish Church in the centre of Tonbridge old town where they'll be holding their Summer Fete today from 2 till 4-30pm. Craft stalls, cakes, tombolas and throw squashed tomotoes and wet sponges at the vicar will probably be the order of the day!...

Kelly the shooting star....

If you do make the effort to go to the Tonbridge Carnival Procession on Sunday from 1pm who knows you may even be rewarded and catch a glimpse of our very own Dame Kelly Holmes. Here is the double Olympic Gold winning local hero making a sneaky appearance a couple of years ago much to the delight of the thousands of Tonbridge folk lining the road side. Incidentally Kelly has a childrens book out called Katy the Shooting Star about a scruffy cat down on its luck who rises up to become a winner (sound familiar?!) and she may be coming along to the West Kent Book Fair in Tonbridge later this year to launch the second instalment. So put October 25th in your diary if that floats your boat....

The twirlers are back!...

It the Tonbridge Carnival tomorrow in case you didn't know. I'm pretty sure that it leaves Brook Street, near Judd School, at 1pm. I can't wait to see the martial arts demonstrations, men on stilts, scout and boys brigade bands, local school floats, drama and music clubs making fools of themselves (all in a good cause) and not forgetting those Tonbridge Twirlers! See you all there....

Taxi to the Newsnight Studios please!...

I think the phrase is OH MY GOD! BBC Newsnight have just phoned me completely out of the blue to ask if I can make it to their studios to talk about the death of local newspapers caused by the rise of local blogs. They have obviously had a gander at TonbridgeBlog and decided that it's a good example so I suppose I should feel slightly flattered. They are probabbly right in their hypothesis that the days of local rags are numbered and that now everyone in the community can be roving reporters ever in search of gossip and policemen tripping over in the street to capture for ever and put in cyberspace. If only I'd been passing armed with my camera phone when the Tonbridge Job, at the Securitas depot, was done a fews years back! The possibility of you or I being able to capture those kind of events is increasingly likely with the rise of digital cameras and mobile internet technology. You see all I have to do is see it or think about it, then I can almost immediately type out a story based loosely on the facts and it's right there on TBlog for the whole world to see. Can the Courier do that? Or would they have to be called out from the luxury (and dryness) of their cosy offices several miles away from the action, interview people while making shorthand notes in their little pads, then go back to the office, take most of the rest of the day to formulate their report and commit it to computer. (I sound a bit like an updated 1970s advert for SMASH, the instant mash potatoe.) Then the sub editors get their hands on it and pull it around, tweaking the odd word here and there, so that it only loosely resembles the original piece, then the over all Editor may have to finally approve it. Then they have to wait maybe another five days until the report actually appears in the paper, by which time it's probably completely out of date anyway, the news having moved on to a completely different agenda. Certainly I think local newspapers are dying a slow death, it's inevitable, you can't turn back the technology clock. But then again so are national newspapers, magazines, television and radio, desktop computers themselves, which made all these things possible in the first place. Books I have deliberately chosen not to mention. They of course are here to stay! Did I agree to go to the Newsnight studios? Actually no, but only because I didn't want to disappoint the good people of Tonbridge by closing down the bookshop all day for ten minutes in a Shepherds Bush Studio. Now I'm starting to slightly regret that decision. I'm stepping outside my shop. Taxi!!!

That's the wonder of good old...Poundstretcher!...

Some of you have commented that TonbridgeBlog hasn't mentioned the stirrings at the old Woolworth shop on Tonbridge High Street. Yes I have noticed the arrival of some stock in there. It looks like an extension of Poundstretcher from near the Rway station. I'd guess that they are moving, if temporarily, to take advantage of th bigger premises and slightly better location. It never ceases to amaze me just how many people need cheap plastic storage boxes though! It's probably not the sort of shop that many in Tonbridge would like to see, but we're far from being the only High Street that this is happening to. The reality is that, for the time being at least, value for money is what sells....

Is Sir John Stanley squeaky clean??..

I couldn't help but notice during the politicians expenses scandal that information about Sir John Stanley's expenses claims was noticeable in it's absence. Does this mean our long-standing erstwhile MP is squeaky clean? Or could it be that the Daily Telegraph still has more dirt to dig? We'd like to think it's the former wouldn't we? Come on Sir John, if you're out there, speak up and tell us all where you stand....

Ststststop ddddigging outside my shshshop pppplease!...

I cccccan hardly hhhhhear myself think and my bbbbbbbooks are shshshshshaking on their shelves as some men from South East Water are digging up the road right outside Mr. BBBBBBooks shop. My God it's almost dddddeafening. Apparently there's a water leak under there somewhere. I'm nnnnnnnot sure they've considered the cccccconsequences if the buses and lorries cccome down here and cccan't get by their ffffflippin great hole!....

Vote for the Lines and Signs Party!...

As I went to vote last night around 8pm on Pembury Road I noticed two Civil Enforcement Officers (formerly known as Traffic Wardens) leaning on the wall outside. I joked with them to stop intimidating voters by looking menacing outside the polling station but actually they were, for once you might say, being helpful by directing traffic to park ON double yellow lines. Let me explain: they had coned off a small section of the curb next to the Baptist Chapel, which had become a polling station for the day, so that people voting who were too lazy or unable to walk could go and exercise their democatic right to put some crosses in boxes next to people's names they'd never heard of before. Very nice of them, those nice council employees! As I walked out having used up my floating votes for another (two) elections I joshed with them that I'd voted for the Lines and Signs Monster Raving Parking Attendant Party. Oh how we all chuckled!!..

Modernist meets Medieval!...

As promised here is a pic of the new possibly £squillion+ extention of the Castle. Well it was a little too 1980s in that Tourist Information Centre so you can understand why the Council felt the need to squander, sorry wisely spend, the budget can't you! It's sort of modernist meets medieval if that's possible. What do you all reckon?...

Warning to all real ale fans....

A beer festival right in the heart of Tonbridge at The Tonbridge Juddians Rugby Clubhouse, on the weekend of July 3rd, 4th and 5th. Thirty different beers, local ciders £2.50 a pint. What's not to like?!..

I'm no architect but....

...has everyone seen the new extension to Tonbridge Castle. Apart from the budget for this which must be a million squid or so (significant, perhaps even unnecessary in these straitened times some might argue) I'm not sure that a fairly modern, cutting edge design like this is sympathetic to a medieval, Norman inspired, stone castle. I may warm to it but that was my first impression. I'll get some pics on the TBlog soon so you can all give me your opinions....

Green bags update....

TonbridgeBlog thought it was too good to be true. It turns out that Associated Packaging of Canon Lane, Tonbridge don't, as I'd been led to believe, supply bags made from recycled paper. Also their biodegradable bags are just that but they are not compostable bags, that is to say they cannot be just put on the compost heap like the sample bags I've received from the London Bio Packaging Company, which they claim are made from plant matter and are not oil based like other plastics. I wouldn't have known that there was any difference before this excercise but, it seems, the difference is huge. So I'm almost back to square one in that I cannot source anything locally unless Associated Packaging order in a couple of pallet loads from LBP (which to be fair they still might.) I'm staggered actually that it is this difficult to try and be green and do my bit for the environment. I understand now what that Al Gore was banging on about in the eco film, Inconvienient Truth, (watch it if you haven't already) for it really is inconvenient to go out of your way just to get some bags or stationary or whatever else. The other inconvenience is that even when you find a company which can supply the packaging, like London Bio Packaging, they are roughly four times more expensive than the non bio, and arguably stronger, equivalent. Small wonder then that most businesses just don't bother. I'm teetering on the edge of just simply not bothering but I'm also slightly inclined towards spearheading a national campaign to use green bags. I can feel something stirring inside me, could be wind but I think it's more than that this time....

Tonbridge Greenlinks directory anyone?...

Although the previous article indicates that I'm somewhat cynical about some of these Green initiatives, TonbridgeBlog actually thinks that having a Greenlinks Directory is a pretty good idea. Does it really have to be in paper format though? Probably not, given the impact on the environment. So here's your chance, businesses of Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and the rest of West Kent. Show off your green credentials by commenting below and I'll post a link to each web site deemed worthy enough and not just green wash. It's worth a shot and could actually be the start of something worthwhile!...

Little Green Bags!...

After having gone to a talk hosted by the Gaia Parnership at the Hay Festival (as one does!) which was all about eco greenish issues and saving the planet by all of us working together as one world in harmony, I decided to do something about my stationary and paper bag suppliers for my business. I must confess that before this I didn't have a clue whether my bags were made of recycled paper or if they were biodegradable or from sustainable forest sources, not a clue. I seized the initiative and telephoned one of the numbers in the "Greenlinks Directory" which I'd picked up at Hay on Wye. The company in question, Reprodux Design and Print of Hereford, who made all sorts of bold claims in their literature about recycled papers and vegetable based inks, said that they couldn't supply bags and told me to "Google it" to find out. Not really what I was hoping to hear I must say. But I pressed on, spending some considerable time going out of my way in my determination to do my bit and make a difference. After having left messages with the Green Party and a host of other organisations I ended up talking to the Soil Association to find out who supplies their Organic Food generic bags and was told of two more companies who were manufacturers of these type of bags. I honestly was amazed at how much effort was required to find the answer to the fairly simple question of where I could get hold of those little green bags. To cut a very long story short, through this rather circuitous route, I found out about and have now arranged to see a company called Associated Packaging, who have a range of biodegradable carrier bags and recycled paper bags based in, you've guessed it, Canon Lane, Tonbridge.

First Impressions of the New Ivy House....

I finally made it to the New Ivy House for a quickie the other night after work. As I was on me bike and a bit parched, I thought I'd have a larger shandy and sit on the tables outside. Very pleasant it was too, although that was more to do with the glorious evening sunshine than anything the pub had to offer. My first impressions were: Oh that looks quite nice! Smart looking tables and chairs, still the old basic layout, bar area seems to have been smartened up a bit. The larger shandy, shandy mind you, cost me £3.50, which I must say I questioned having thought he must have got it wrong. It's cheaper than that in the Rose and Crown Hotel, I thought to myself, which is saying something, although I'm not quite sure what. But no that was the correct price; I think the bar man, or was he a waiter? said that the Harvey's was £3.20 a pint. Now I don't go out much these days, and at those sort of prices it's no wonder, but I'm pretty sure you can get a perfectly good pint in Tonbridge for a whole pound less than that. The Ivy Dining Room and Bar, to give it its full and rather grand name, is obviously trying to position itself from the word go as a slightly upmarket experience. Good luck to them but I rather fear that they will have a job on their hands and that there will be lots of nights when the inside of the pub (sorry dining room) is on the empty side. All I'll say is the food, which I haven't tried yet, better be damned good! Last Saturday evening, and to be fair it was only about 7pm, there was one person eating, and she was sitting outside, the inside tables were completely empty. I had a chat with Simon, the owner of Cycle Ops, who I usually only catch the odd hello and cheeky passing comment with, so that was quite a good thing, and I would have stayed for another drink, so glorious was the evening sunshine, but at £3.50 a pint I decided to toddle (actually wobble since I was cycling) off back to my 50p can of ice cold Fosters in the garden....

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!...

Victoria Hislop Book Signing today....

Yes it is still on this afternoon from 4 till 5pm. Form an orderly queue along the High Street and around the corner into Bank Street. Her first novel, The Island, was critically acclaimed winning several prestigious awards, and the follow up, The Return, is currently number two on the best seller list. They are essentially beautifully written, historical novels; The Return centering around the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, which spilt the country in two. Come along to Mr. Books, Bank Street, Tonbridge, opposite Church Lane, buy a signed copy or two and to have an informal chat with Victoria, who is a Tonbridge girl after all....

Laugh? I nearly wet meself!...

Went to a fantastic night of comedy at the Tonbridge Juddians Rugby Club club house last night, so feeling the effects today. Aching sides that is and also an aching head (well you need a couple of beers to loosen yourself up a bit to allow the comedy to have its full impact I always find.) These guys were the real deal, from the London comedy circuit so they were polished performers. There were no moments squirming in your seat thinking when are they getting off the stage, not even an embarrassing pregnant pause. The compere held it all together really well, although he did use the f word quite alot. Football? Federalism? Ferns? Fundementalism? No the other one! Frank Skinner, that famous sweary comedian, apparently tried doing his whole live act without saying fuck (oh it slipped out!) and concluded that it actually made no difference at all to the level of laughter. So there's a lesson for us all there, maybe somewhere, who knows. Anyway all three acts were brilliant but the final act, and of cause I've forgotten his name, who had a brilliant combination of fast talking one liners, general nuttiness bordering on insanity and anal slapstick (imagine a cross between Harry Hill, Groucho Marx and Le Petomain and you'll be in the vicinity) had my sides splitting from start to finish. This night, which was a charity fund raiser, organised by Adam, one of the young first team players, should definitely become an annual event. Can I remember any of the jokes to share with you all? Can I f....

Tonbridge County Secondary School 1949-1950?...

I've just acquired some old school magazines from the late 1940s and early 50s for Tonbridge County Secondary School for Boys. Now was that the name for Sussex Road before it became a primary school or was it Slade or another school that doesn't exist anymore perhaps? This is where my lack of local knowledge, being a man of the North whose been down this way for 25 years or more, really shows up. Any true Tonbridge thoroughbreds out there will instantly know the answer and probably think TonbridgeBlog incredibly dim for not knowing!...

Victoria Hislop Book Signing this Saturday...

Just a quickie, all I have time for, to say that Victoria Hislop's Book signing is still going ahead but the time has changed to 4pm to 5pm on the same day ie. this Saturday May 23rd. I've changed all posters, web site, infomed press and radio stations, all you have to do is show up, if you like her books that is....

The Ivy House is back in business....

I noticed that my old favourite pub in Tonbridge, The Ivy House, has now reopened after several months of being refurbished. I also noticed that they've given it a new name for the 21st Century. It now officially the Ivy House Dining Room and Bar; they've taken down the old pub signs and replaced them with some very dull looking ones. I know that it has to attract people with money and serve food and have an outdoor lounge, cos that's what customers expect these day; and I know that they are a commercial concern and have to make a profit but, oh, I do hope it hasn't lost its old and wonderfully seedy atmosphere. I may just have to toddle on down there later on this evening to find out!...

Collectors and spotters....

I often wonder about the weird and wonderfully diverse group of people who are book collectors. They come in all shapes and sizes and from all walks of life. From bus drivers, financiers, car dealers, aristocrats, even tramps. I've had them all in my shop and it's hard to pin point just what has led to their particular book obsession, be it Rider Haggard first editions, observer books, books about trains or boats, buses or trams, football or chess. So I was particularly interested in a brilliant collection of photos on the Guardian web site today about spotters, because I think they're basically the same type of people. That is to say people who spot things; birds, trucks, boats, sharks you name it there's a spotters fan club for it. There's probably a book collector spotter out there somewhere! I'll leave you to judge for yourselves....

Tonbridge entourage?!..

Someone tells me that there was an entourage of six cars, flanked by a number of Police motor bikes seen in Tonbridge yesterday. I didn't spot it. Anyone know who it might have been? My thought was our estwhile MP Sir John Stanley using up the last of his expenses before the big clamp down! Or Whacko Jacko, who apparently has been looking at houses in the area, now there's a thought....

Victoria Hislop in my shop? Shurely shome mishtake...

Well I've had an interesting day what with sorting out the MOT and service on the car. A customer in the shop recommended Alba in Hildenborough, who seem to have done a very competent job as far as my untrained eye can see. They even offered to drop me back in Tonbridge and to deliver the car when it was finished. I elected instead for the fold up bike in the boot and ride back into town option since it was a reasonably nice morning, then got a lift there this evening. It did cost well over £250 all in once they'd added in the fully synthetic oil, new wiper blades and other bits and bobs, but they were very nice. I stopped off at the Hildenborough farmers market this morning on my way back from the garage and thought it looked very good, and quite busy, considering it was only about 9-15. Why the heck can't we have a weekly farmers market around the Castle? I wondered to myself as I perused the green veg, mushrooms, bread and cake stalls, plants, fish, butchers, crafts and soaps and other lovelies, what's not to like?! Oh and I've been chatting with local, and becoming famous author, Victoria Hislop about doing a book signing at the next Book Fair in October. She tells me that she went to both Slade Primary School and the Tonbridge Grammar School for girls, so she truely is a local lass. As it turns out she might not be able to come to the fair but she has agreed to come along to Mr. Books Bookshop for an informal book signing and chat next Saturday, May 23 from about 10am to 11am. So if you fancy a signed copy of her highly aclaimed debut novel The Island or her best selling follow up, The Return, you know where to come. Don't tell too many people though as she's asked me to keep it lowish key! Now I've just got figure out where to put all the other books to make room for hers!...

Poetry in Tonbridge? Yes please or Whatever....

No news on the Ivy House poetry nights in Tonbridge, they are still refurbishing the decaying old, seedy (but lovely) place. By the way I noticed the other day that the pub sign seems to have been removed, so perhaps a name change is in the offing. In the meantime here's a poem called Whatever by the new, and first female, Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, which I thought was particularly lovely despite, or maybe because of, her rather strange sounding voice. The Poetry Archive site allows you to read many poems and, more interestingly in my opinion, allows you to listen to the poets themselves reading their own material. In fact there are even old recordings such as Tennyson reading The Charge of the Light Brigade if you prefer the more traditional stuff....

Fate or coincidence at Mr. Books....

To my amazement I had in stock two old hardback books by Lloyd C. Douglas, The Robe and The Big Fisherman, which a lady really wanted for a Christening present tomorrow. When she walked in I'm afraid I hadn't heard of either of the titles so I said that she'd be lucky to find them and could merely point her to the section in the shop where they might be. Within two or three minutes she had found them both almost popping out of the shelf at her. Considering that I've been known to take an hour, sometimes more, finding a book which I know I have, so this was just a little spooky. I'm not a great believer in fate, but this was certainly a huge coincidence. Still I was glad to be of help; and to take her money!...

Think of Three beautiful things....

I still enjoy the occasional look at Three Beautiful Things, which is a locally based (Tunbridge Wells) blog which does exactly what it's name suggests. Three positive things are mentioned each day which have caught the writers attention. Sometimes they are fairly mundane things, other times they are really quite poetic. I think it has stood the test of time because it's so brilliant in it's simplicity. Ok it can be a bit gooey sometimes, but other times she hits it spot on for me and strikes a chord. See what you think....

Community Life....

Even several months on people still come into my shop and say things like: "...when are you going to start writing the Tonbridge Community column in the Courier again?" Which is nice, but the problem is that they didn't treat us Community Life correspondents too well, otherwise I'd still be writing it. Apart from abruptly deciding not to pay us all (and they were only paying us £9 a week anyway!) they never asked us in to see the print works or editorial floor, nor did they ever pay us the odd visit. They lost a lap top computer containing all our personal information, including bank details, and offered us a derisory compensation to fob us off. They never even organised a get together once a year for us all, consequently I only ever got to share ideas and chat with around three or four of the other writers. You'd have thought that with us all being so spread out they might have at least done that once in four years. So I'll never say never but I have to say it's very unlikely that I'll write the column again in the foreseeable future. £100 a week, a car and free luncheon vouchers? When do I start!...

Tonbridge Juddians: Unconquered....

What an amazing season the 1st XV team had at the Tonbridge Juddians (TJs) Now I knew they'd had a few whapping great big wins this season but wasn't quite aware of their massive achievement. Even when you take account of the money the club have spent on recruiting new professional coaching staff and some, more or less, semi-pro players its still stunningly good. The record speaks for itself: 44 points out of a possible 44 points with 22 wins out of 22. TJs finish 8 points clear of second placed Bromley and were promoted with a Played 22, Won 22, Drawn 0, Lost 0, Points For 1085, Against 163, Points Difference +922 record. Over a thousand points! Incredible! If they can do anything like as well in the higher division next season they'll probably be promoted again. I may even go down to watch them a bit more next season, when the matches will, hopefully, be a little less one-sided. Enjoy your summer lads, you've earned the rest....

P'd off....

Couldn't help but notice that the Civil Enforcement Officers (that's traffic wardens to you and me) now have cars to take them to and from their patch. The cars (photo to follow soon hopefully) have a big blue "P" on the side. Is this P for Parking, are they a mobile car park? Can we park in front or on top of the Parking Attendant Mobile? Will they soon just issue tickets from the dry comfort of their luxury Berlingos? They've probably got the technology so it might not be long. Possibly a little bit extravagant with our community charge money in these hard times; afterall walking to and from their territory has always sufficed before. Many of us wish they would all just P off...

Au revoir Tonbridge Civic Society Committee....

And speaking of committees, last night I informed the Chairman of the Tonbridge Civic Society that I no longer wish to be considered for re-election onto the Excecutive Committee. Effectively that means that I step down as of now, although officially after the society's AGM at the Angel Centre on Tuesday May 26th. I've really quite enjoyed the experience of being actively involved in matters which directly effect the the look of the town; I think the society has its heart very firmly in the right place, with no hidden agenda of any kind. Just a bunch of, mainly retired, Tonbridge folk who care about their town, want to promote civic pride and wish to see new buildings particularly in the town centre being well thought out and built to aesthetically pleasing designs. There can't be anything wrong with that can there? Ok it probably does attract a few busy-bodies who may occasionally stand in the way of positive progress, but surely that's better than nobody caring. So why have I stepped down then? Because, not being retired yet, I really couldn't give the exec committee role the time and commitment it deserved, I have done my four year stint, perhaps it's time for someone else, with time on their hands and fresh ideas to give it crack. I will continue to pay my ten quid a year family membership and attend as many of their open meetings as possible, maybe I'll even help out on the newsletter or with PR from time to time, because I do believe actually that the TCS does make quite a considerable contribution to the town. Anyone can join, and some of the meetings really are very entertaining and informative; the Civic Design Awards, which is their flag ship event is held in the lovely surroundings of Somerhill Hill House and Gardens, and you get a nice buffet meal and pretty much unlimited wine, all for £12, which can't be at all bad. Click on this link to find out more; and I've just noticed that the top photo on their home page is actually a picture of me (and my daughter) walking away in the distance through the Market Quarter development, which won last years design award, and that photo now takes on a new significance....

Decisions by committee....

The Tonbridge Decorative Fine Arts Society don't half move quickly. They asked me a while ago if I'd put something in my column in the Courier. A column which I hadn't written for over six months! I replied saying pretty much that but I'd be glad to include a link to their website on TonbridgeBlog. Low and behold, 2 months later and probably several committee and sub committee meetings later, they've sent me the reply below. I know I'm being a bit cheeky taking the micky out of them, because they are probably very decent people, but it tickled me just how long such a simple decision can take. I can just picture them now getting to the fourth item on the AOB part of the agenda and then agonising over the advantages and disadvantages of being on such an outspoken site.
"Dear Mr R Thanks for your e-mail 3 March 2009 mentioning your Tonbridge blog. The committee would be very pleased if you could put a link on it to our web site.www.nadfaskentarea.org.uk This is the web site for all NADFAS societies in Kent and there is a link to the Tonbridge TDFAS society. Kind regards Barbara C TDFAS"

So what's best then a committee or a dictator running the society? I hear you all cry in unison....

The Tonbridge Garden show revisited....

Well I went to the Garden Show this morning. Saw lots of plants, shrubs, garden seats and tables, some animals in very small pens with collection boxes hung on the fence collecting for an animal sanctuary, lots of cheese, a delicatessen and other foody stalls including the African Spot selling biltong, at least one artist selling his paintings and doing a painting while he was at it. Then there were people selling, garden whirlpools, outdoor clothing, wind chimes, I even saw, rather bizarely, some didgeridoos for sale. Would I have have paid the £4 entrance fee had I not had a complimentary ticket? Probably not, although clearly lots of people didn't seem to mind. I do wonder if it might be more sensible for the organisers to go for a nominal sum of say a pound and charging the exhibitors very slightly more, which they won't mind because the visitor numbers will inevitably increase which benefits them. Now it's off to the Craft Show at Penshurst! Not really, but, if anyone has been or is going they could report back by commenting below....

What's on in Tonbridge....

There's the Garden and Home Show, under new management, on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday at the Sportsground Park; they do charge to get in so that you can spend money, which I always find a little odd, but it might be worth a look. Then there's the Craft Show at Penshurst Place if you fancy a day out there in an idyllic setting, or you could even cycle over there on the Tonbridge-Penshurst cycle trail, mostly off road, if you're feeling more energetic. There'll be lots of men with long beards and unwashed hair, wearing jumpers made on their own pedal-knitting machines making wicker baskets and pots, and there's sure to be something of interest for the whole family if you like that sort of thing. Then, there's the Postcard collector's fair on Sunday at the Angel Centre from 10am to 4pm if you want to go and pay ten quid or more for an old photo of a long demolished Tonbridge shop or a macabre postcard of a mangled train wreck from the famous accident at the railway station in the steam days. Oh and my bookshop, Mr. Books will probably be open on Saturday and Sunday because there'll be so many people around I'd be a fool not to. I used to get paid by the Courier to write this kind of stuff! Looking forward to a nice sunny weekend, have fun at the fairs, or you could just stay in the garden....